SOUSA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 14

SOUSA.

HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN PUBLIC. In his reminiscensces entitled "Tho Days of My Youth," John Philip Sousa, the celebrated "March King," who is due to appear here at an early date, gives an amusing account of his debut. "By my eleventh year I was a professional. My first appearance in public was as a violinist at a concert given by my teacher at St. Elizabeth's Asylum for the Insane, just outside of Washington. Unfortunately, on the day of the concert, tho baseball club of which I was pitcher, had a match, and I took part. After the game I returned home hungry, tired, and dirty. I found the house in a state of confusion; my eldest sister away on a visit, and my mother so ill I was notallowed to see her. I had but a few mojnentb to eat a quickly-made sandwich, then, going to my room, I got out my Sunday clothes, my clean shoes and stockings, but for the world of me I could not find a sliirt, .tho laundress having failed to return our linen. I hurried to tho Conservatory to tell my teacher the predicament.- That's all right,' he said, 'run .oyer to my wife and tell her to'gi/e yon one of- my shirts.' I went ovci, and the good-natured Mrs. .Esputa put one of the professor's shirts on me. The bosom seemed to rest on- my knees, and as thk collar was many sizes too large, she pinned it together, and I started with the party to" the asylum. When it came my turn to play, 1 tuned my violin, and began the ■ first movement; as tho physical effort of playing became greater, the pins that held the shirt in place suddenly gave way, and it fell from my neck. I forgot my notes, looked wildly at -the dropping shirt and the laughing auditnee, intl rushed from tho stage in.confusion, where 1 sought an obscure corner of the anteroom and wished that I were dead. 'J'n* professor told me I should not have spent the afternoon playing ball, but should have prepared myself for the more important work of the evening. From that day to this I have made it a rule never to swap horses in crossing a stream. I either play or-work, bat I never try to do both at ono time."