Evening star., 1925-04-05

that Washington had until 1880. Dur
ing his years in the White House
President Jefferson fostered the band,
and was in many respects the patron
saint OF the organization.
1t made it's Official debut as the
White House band when President
Adams received on New Year day,
1901. 1t was the strains of the Marine
Band that ushered in the first inaug-
| ural ball on the evening of March 4,
| 1909, when James Madison became
President. The band played in honor
of Jefferson as the latter entered
| Longs Hotel" where the ball was
held. Later in the evening when Mad
| ison entered with Dolly Madison on
his arm, the band struck up "Madi-
| sons March" Since Jefferson's day
i 1t has played at every Inauguration
| when that ceremony has called for
the presence of band.
There have been few gala occasions
| at the White House in the last 100
years when the Marine Band was not
on hand. 1t has played at all i'm.
portant weddings at the White House,
including those of Nellie Grant and
Alice Roosevelt. 1t played at the
first egg rolling on the White House
lawn at the f1rst children's party dur
ing the presidency OF Andrew John
son.
At Fsnerals Of Presidents.
Also the band has been much in
| evidence on days Of national bereaye-
ment. 1t led the long procession tina
mourned for President william Henry
Harrison. 1t played the funeral dirge
for Zachary Taylor and for Abraham
Lincoln and accompanied the body
OF James A. Garfeld to Cleveland
At the funeral of William Mckinley
the band played his favorite hymn,
and President Harding during his
term in the White House often re-
quested it to play his favorite air,
Perfect Day"
The band had a place of honor at
q great many historic scenes and in
cfdents. II was present when Presi-
dent Lincoln made the famous Gettys-
burg address. Mr.. Lincoln often ex-
pressed appreciation of the beneficial
effect that the band had on the pub
lie morale during the darkest days OF
the Civil War. Realizing this, he in
sisted that its public performance
should be continued and the outdoor
concerts went on as usual, while the
President often called on it to play
at the White House.
The first toast ever drunk In the
Presidents home was proposed by
John Quincy Adams on September 6
1925. It was Lafayette's birthday and
Lafayette himself was present at the
banquet ~ the guest OF the Preside en-,
and Of the Nation. To the tune of
THE Marseillaise" by the Marine Band
the toast was drunk standing. When
the Prince Of Wales, afterward Ed
ward VII, was entertained at the
White House for week by President
Buchanan, the band virtually lived
there.
Has Had 1B Leaders.
From 1900 to 1925 there have been
Is leaders of the Marine Band. II
attained international prominence
under the leadership Of John Philiu
Sousa, the March King" President.
Hayes. Garfield. Arthur, Cleveland
Harrison and Mckinley were Sousa,,
warm personal friends and were
counted among his most appreciatiye
admirers. The present leader of the
band. Capt. William H. SanteImann
has had charge of It during the past
les years.
!, The Marine Band is q thorough
American institution. There il nothin I
foreign about its origin and there Il
no truth whatever in the old story
which ascribed its origin to q srour
OF kidnapped Italians.
i There IS hardly member of the
band who could not today 60 out intc
civil life and get in a week what the
Government pays in q month, but
there IL no disposition to do SO. There
is no doubt, however, that the morale
Of the organization was affected b,
the refusal over . period Of two years
to grant the allowances that Congress,
had said the members should have
Many OF them on March though,
this would be the last inauguratiou
at which they would peffoYn.