Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-02-03
4 Letter of Thanks.


Fisk Juvenile Band of Emporium with
about eighteen boys, none Of whom
had ever had any band experience.
Always having been greatly interested
in music and in organizing bands it
was pleasure for me to take these
boys and endeavor to teach them. Ma
turally the first thing to be done by
the organization was to procure in
etruments, but at the time of purchase
only portion of the purchase price
could be paid. The Band proceeded
with the hope that its future work
would reap such monetary rewards as
might free the treasury of its embar-
rasment However, when the Band
became sufficiently proficient TO play
in public, its servicos were often ex-
pected and gladly given gratis. This
was SO in all cases, except the County
Fair and the Fourth Of July engage
ments, From the Fair engagement
S45 90 Was realized, which was used to
detray running expenses, and from the
Fourth Of July, engagement $4,000,
which vas divided in equal parts
among the boys for their encourage
menJ
This mode Of procedure did not re-
move the debt for instruments, but
jeel thag i5 did tide over a period when
public confidence in boy organiza-
ton Of this character needed stimula-
ton, and feel that have demonstrat
ed that Juvenile Band ie not only
possible but OF great benefit to the
boys The discipline, work and organ
ization tends to suppress undesirable
tendencies and bring out and develop
much Of tie good, latent aud active,
with which every boy ia endowed.
With small hopes of the efforts of
the Band being able to throw off the
instrument debt it recently became
necessary for me, in order that the or.
ganization might survive, to go out
with petition for subscriptions to pay
off the debt. This l gladly did with
tho same eagerness to see the debt re-
moved as | have always feft for the
welfare of the boys.
In one afternoon the kind and an
preciated assistance of the public en-
abled me to raise S101OO with which
the balance of the instrument debt was
paid and a bill for music settled up.
The Fisk Juvenile Band is now square
with the world, thanks to those gener-
ous friends who came to the front SO
willingly in support of what l have al
ways felt to be worthy cause and to
which l have given freely and gladly
much time, thought and hard work.
On behalf of the Band | tender many
thanks and much appreciation to those
who came to our aid so generously and
assure them that the Band will now
go OF, encouraged and with feeling
of security.
Last Fall three of my Band boys
went away to school and their places
have been filled with inexperienced
boys, whom trust to soon develop in
to players. hope may be able to do
other boys such service as l did those
who went off to school for they found
that knowledge of Band work en-
abled them to greatly reduce their ex-
penses. My time and trouble in all
cases and especially with these boys
who have entered school, feel to have
been we'll spent, and the thought that
l have been, and am, of service to the
boys gives me the qualification and
pleasure which is my ample reward.
L. 8. FISK.
Emporium, Pa, Feb. 1st, 1910.
Mr.. Fisk certainly gave much valu-
able time and considerable expense
during the many years that he has re-
sided here. He has wonderful execu-
tive ability and this coupled with his
well known reputation as high-class
band master and musician has been
well established. Few men would
have made the sacrifice he has. We
hope our citizens will see to it that the
popular Juvenile Band is given every
encouragement to still further advance
its proficiency, thereby giving Mr..
Fisk an incentive to labor for it's up
building.
An Emporium Boy.