The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-03
BAND
STIMULATES
!. MORALE
New York Officer Discusses
Achievements Of Police
Organization.

Good music ana good morale 60
hand On hand. according to Lieut..
p. @. Fitzgibbon. guiding spirit Of
the glee club ana band Of the New
York police department. who 10 now
visiting Washington.
Pride in the accomplishments Of
the band and glee club. has, ! am
sure. increased the morale Of the
Department and also helped to de-
velop the n1usicAl appreciation Of
its individual members" said Lieu
tenant Eitzgibbon. when seen at
the Lea House yesterday. THE
glee club has mastered many diff
ult operattc selections and these are
now among its most popular num-
bers. OF the eighty.four patrolmen
IN the glee club more than fifty
are capable Of doing good solo
work.
III there should be an embryo
Caruao on the New York police
force we are going to see that he
gets his chance" continued the
lieutenant. Our two instructors,
George Botsford ana Charles A.
Stafford. are always on the lookout
for special talent and several Of
the glee club men are now under
orders 10 rest their voices prepara-
tory TO tests for professional work. |"
Had Great Growth.
The police department band Of
New York has developed, according
to Lieut.. FitzgibbOn, to its present
Stxty.nine.piece organization from
q group Of four or five musically
inclined patrolmen who practiced
In one station house some twenty
three years ago. Since he entered
the force nineteen years ago, Lieu
tenant F1tzgibbOn has constantly
worked for the advancement Of both
band and glee club. Both organi.
zatt0na are now recognized az
unique New York institutions. The
police band welcomed home every
transport bringing troops back from
France. 1t has figured prom.
inent1y at all recent inaugurations
OF New York governors. The glee
club has sung for practically all
the great pereonages visiting New
York. including the King and Queen
OF Belgium, General Joffre, Gen.
eral Diaz, Marshal FOch and ex.
President Wilson. But the club ia
proudest of its record of singing
for the patients Of New YorIk's
many hospitals. 1t is constantly
filling these engagements to bring
cheer to the city's suffering.
When New York patrolman dies
In the performance Of his duty,
both band and gIee club cooperate
In doing honor at his funeral. The
band plays in the procession of
the military funeral which is given
in such cases, while the club sings
at the church services. At a Ro.
man Catholic church. II is usual
to render the complicated and diff.
cult requiem composed by Pietro
Yon. honorary organist Of the
Vatican.
Lauda Big Chief.
Lieutenant Fitzgibbon was en-.
thusiastic In his praise of Commits
sioner Enright's encouragement and
support Of the two organizations.
Had II not been for the Commits.
sioner's interest and active forward.
ing Of the good cause" he said. ait
would have been impossible to have
accomplished anything really worth
while.'
A recent triumph Of the club and
band was the staging Of a "Silver
Jubilee" in which the Bowery of
1895 was brought to life again, Such
famous old resorts as "Steve
Brodie's." "McGurl's Dance Han"
''the Distillery," and Atlantic Gar.
dens" were reproduced for the oc-
caSionG with members of the band
and club CARRIED as female and male
habitues in carefully selected cos.
tunes Of the period.
"a man who enjoys good music
always has a source Of happiness. q
said Lieutenant FitzgibbOn, '.and a
policeman Is no exception. Years
ago when I was patrolling NV beat
In the small hours of the morning.
used to sing for my own en1oy.
ment. The habit has never left
ma,