The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-01-04
John PHILIP SOUSA
Is COMMENTED AT 81
From thu Boston Globe,

mo man in the world l envy: I am
satisfied with my calling-I would
rather be a composer than anything
else"
John Philip sousa, the march king"
smiled as he spoke these words. 1t was
withal an ingenious, youthful smile
Tor q man OF 81. who has been half q
century before the public.
Only h white that a crept n
his pointed beard betrays the advance
OF his years. His person Is as 1.-the as
ever, his voice as unsteady clear, his
eye as bright and sure.
I beat them all at Philadelphia Oc-
tober ~ in a trapshooting match" he
said, laughingly. when the matter Of
came up. Il broke IS, which isn't
so a for IL years past half CEN
tury mark"
Trapshooting and horseback riding
are Mr. Sousa's recreations. When he
Is "on the road"-as he is at present,
with the big Hippodrome show-he gets
little time for either.
Three Months for Play.
II get my exercise while here by
walking In the Rack bay and the Fens,"
he said. my shooting average will fall
back to 80 or SO this winter, / suppose.
BY the time I get back to 95 next sum-
mel I shall have to drop the gun and
take up the baton again. / get three
AOthNAA III AiO yCul " pluys
Mr.. Sousa talked of his play, and of
his work, with the enthusiasm Of youth.
To talk with the man two minutes Is
to get a hint Of his great power for
creative work. The thousands who
think Of him only as the leader Of a
band are dealing with but n side Of a
many sided character.
He ranks among the first composers
OF his day. Besides his scores Of
marches that have won him a place
shared by no rival, he has produced not
less than 10 operas, besides a variety Of
lesser works, and has also written a
history of the worlds national music,
many less ambitious works or music,
and a novel.
II had "a pleasant surprise the other
day." said Mr.. Sousa, when a friend
sent me this book as a birthday pres
ent."
The work Is a recent history Of music.
The surprise was in the way / found
myself mentioned In It," the composer
explained. "The author gives the no.
table names in musical history for 600
years. There are but 700. / find my
name among them, and also this state
ment: He has done one particular
thing better than n other man"
Composed March at Sea.
T Asked what he considered his best
march, the composer answered quickly,
The Stars and Stripes Forever" He
then illustrated his statement regarding
the power of inspiration by telling how
his most successful march was COM
posed. :
ut was conceived on board the At
lantic liner T~eutonic," he said. II had
been in England. and had been home-
sick. liz all returning Americans, !
found the fire of patriotism burning
strong within me as the ship headed
homeward.
II conceived the title and form Of the
composition while pacing the steamers
deck, and in the course of the voyage
the march played itself in my brain
fully 500 times. Before / landed in New
York 1t was perfected. No change was
ever made in it,"
One interesting fact about Mr.. Sousa
was developed in the course Of the in
terview. 1t is that though he has COM
posed music that has set millions of
feet into joyous motion, he does not
lance. In this he is like the great COM
poser Of waltz music, Strauss.
But he believes dancing one Of the
| greatest forms Of exercise and mental
tonic.
1.-TWO Of the greatest things for the
world in this generation" he says, ARE
he growth and development of dancing
, nj of golf"