, 1912-04-13
THE NATIVE BRASS BAND AND
FREDERIKSTED.
FACTS CONCERNING A BAND.

Nothing but a sense of appreciation
prompts me to intrude on the valued time
of renders.
On Easter Monday it happened to be our
duty to fulfil an engagement in trederlk-
sted; our band was invited to participate IN
the Moravian Sunday School picnic, and we
felt happy to know we could do something
to add to the pleasure of the occasion.
Playing from the entrance to the town we
we're met at the gate of the Moravian Par
sonage by the Rev. King who led the way
in &c. Next we played Coward Christian
Soldiers on the choir platform, and immedl-
ately aftrr marched at the head Of the pro-
cession to the Oval, where the picnic was
held.
On the Oval, % short distance from the
Moravian tent, the cricketers of st. Thomas
and Frederiksted were hotly contestlng
their game, which resulted in the defeat of
the FrederIksted Club. Then here and
there were other little outings, and a "str1ng
band dance; later in the day masquerades
from the town added to the many attr"c-
tons.
After the Picnic was over the Rev. king,
standing in the yard of the Parsonage spoke
q few appropriate words, the Doxology was
sung, and cheers went up from the happy
people. Thus ended our engagement, aud
voice the sentiments of the entire Band,
when | say that we were deeply impressed
by the manifest appreciation, and our treat
ment on the whole.
In the evening we rendered the previous
w announced programme. A large audi
ence assembled Oh the Wharf including
many st. Thomians, among whom were
Bandmaster Roberts and several members
of his band. l guess it is rare to see peo-
pie on the streets of Frederiksted all night,
but there was dancing in different places
and that was the cause.
FACTS CONCERNING A BAND.
A leader of an amateur band, like men in
similar positions, often get ing'Uttf"de as
compensation for loves labour,
Well, in order to help him to face this
difficulty, his chief aim should be to let his
Instruments be the property OF the band,
and With bard struggles he may OBTAIN a
part by public subscriptions. q know of SIN
Gle individuals in ST. Thomas who h ave pre-
scented Instruments to the band costing be-
tween fifty and one hundred dolllrs)
If he let's each member purchase his own
instrument it is only q question of principle
for his band 10 continue for q long time,
those members know that the present and
future of the band are III their hands and
after q time, they do as they please.
We have a good example in the c.. n.
Brass Band. We saw 10 Members leave the
band, soon after 4 more, then a few more.
but the future existence of the band did
not depend on them it caused the i%nactivi-
ty Of the band for some time. But between
the past two and three months it was reor-
gained, and governed by the same laws as
the bunds of the United States and Canada,
the first time it played since the reoreanl-
zatioa with Is members, the second time
with II, and in Frederiksted with nineteen,
while others are practicing. But what sur
prised the musicians of st. Thomas was to
find that there are but three members re-
naming from the former band.
During all these times of trouble, the
Manager tried to keep to his duties in the