Sousa, Bernhardt and Coquelin in Omaha
vx
HUN Jolin Philip Sousa first ap
peared before an Omaha
audience ho was not clothed
In :i faultless uniform and did
not wear tho Immaculate white gloves that
have long characterized the inarch king.
Hnrly Hi the season of 1S71 Milton Nobles
and n company of players headed by May
Stevens came to the Academy of Music.
' Bohemians and Detectives" was tho piny
which tho company produced to a largo
nudlcnce. The piece was nfterward re
christened "Phoenix."
A slender, black-eyed boy played llrs
llddle In the orchestra which furnished
villain music for the villain and hero music
for Nobles and his outbursts of the sort
of sentiment one expects fiom leading men
The orchestra was bad, but Its leader was
earnest In his efforts to bring harmony out
of chaos. Ills duties were many. He
pounded the bass drum during the run
storm, pre dined howling winds with his
screeching violin and played nn nngel
serenade when the heartless villain's spirit
left Its house of clay.
That versatile orchestra leader was 17-year-old
John Philip Sousa; the Sousa who
was destined to thrill all the world with his
self to band leadership. The change was n
fortunato one. In n short time ho was made
dlreclor of tho Marine band, a position he
held for twelve years. Nine years ago he
became leader of tho organization with
which he Is now louring the I'liltcd States
"1 havo fiddled Blncp 1 wiib a very small
boy," the great conductor remarked when
nsked about his early Instruction. "When
1 was 11 years old 1 began to study In J S
Kspuda'a conservatory In Washington
Later I studied with George Felix lienkert
AA
MISS DUCKL1N, SOUSA AND MISS DUF
FIBLD Photo by Louis It. Dostwlck.
marches, the Sousa who was to assume
leadership of tho Marine baud and securo
for himself tho sobriquet, "ICIectric Sousa."
A recital of the great bandmaster's early
struggles must bring consolation to strug
gling genius which Is seeking recognition.
LIko most men who have climbed the ladder
of fame, Mr. Sousa talks very freely of his
reverses and during his recent visit to
Omaha ho told many laughable stories of his
llrst attempts at writing music.
Soiimii's I'lr! f rii .
Mr. Sousa 's second visit to Omaha was In
1SS0. Me was then musical director of tho
f,-key C'omcdv company, which was
jciiig ills opera. "Flirtation." Tho
of the company was short and John
'hllftl SflllRH S flrKl liretntltlnnu nttnmtit na n
composer became a matter of history.
"It was very bad." Mr. Sousa remarked,
as ho laughed about the unfortunate pro
duction. "Hut tin re was one march In tho
T THU STACK DOOU Photo by Louis It.
Dostwlck.
piece which survived tho wreck. Tho
'Flirtation' march, and I came out whole.
I frequently see the pleco for snlo In nnislc
stores and hear It played occasionally."
Hut Sousn wns not discouraged by tho
failure of his opera. Ho went east and
associated himself with companies which
were playing such operas os "Pinafore,"
'Trial by Jury" and "Chimes of Nor
mandy." For five years but llttlo was heard
from the young composer. In 1SS5 tho
"Gladiator March" was published and
proved to bo his first grout success.
Shortly afterwards Sousa abandoned tho
violin and orchestra work and devoted hlin-
SOUSA Sl'BDl'FS TUB It HUPS Photo by
Louis R. Dostwlck.
These men are the only teachers 1 over
had and taught me nil I know about
music."
IIi'ciiKn Into Miu'i-Im-m.
The Sousa band made Its llrst Kuropean
lour last year. It played for several weeks
at tho Paris exposition and then gave con
certs in all parts of l'nglnnd and tho con
t Ineut.
Tho success of "Oladlator March" en
couraged Sousa and In quick succession ho
produced a number of pieces which mado
him famous. "Semper Fldells" was fol
lowed by "High School Cadets." Then camo
"Washington Post" and each subsequent
year has brought forth several popular
Sousa marches.
"The Spirit of Liberty" is Sousa's latest
production and It Is well worthy of a place
along with his other successes. lie has
written several operas, which have been
well received, successful songs mid all
sorts of music, lu fact, but it Is as a com
poser of marches that the world knows
him best.
It wns n strange coincidence that when
tho Sousa band entered the harbor at
Southampton hut spring the American hos
pltal ship Maine was the llrst vessel sighted.
It was an American ship fitted up by phil
anthropic American women and had Just
returned from South Africa. Tho band
struck up "Stnrs and Stripes Forever," and
the disabled soldiers greeted the Inspiring
air with shouts of Joy. "Clod Save tho
Queen" won the hearts of the hospital
crew completely. Then followed "Stnr
t-'l'augled Hat. tier" and a number of other
popular airs.
" ll the WoiIiI'n A 1. 1 ii."
"Wo were about to begin n tour of a
sirnngo country and did not feel sure or a
Kind reception. Hut that scene at
S. uthampton reassured us. It showed us
mat nil tho world Is akin; that the universe
l small, after all, and that no man should
be hound up In his own country to tho ex
clusion of foreigners," said Mr. Sousa
ICvery where wo were received with kind
ness. In Germany, Holland, England,
France and Austria a kindly welcome
awaited us.
"Kuropeans nro not so demonstrative ns
mciicans and do not put the samo rollance
in advertising. For weeks there was but
little applause when we llrst enmo on the
stage. Our audiences seemed to say with
'heir silence, 'Now, show us that you can
play and wo will accept you.' Ktiropenns
aro MIssourlans, but wo seemed to con
vluco thorn that wo know something nbout
music.
"The opinion prevails lu ICurnpo that
Amoricans have no folk song nnd no music
which Is peculiar to tho Pulled States,
ttngtlmo music was a rovelatlon to the
slow-going (icrmnns, but It pleased them.
All tho programs we played contained many
solcctlon3 written by Americans nnd they
wero well received. When I say Ameri
can selections I do not mean ragtlmb
nlono. Wo played much high grndo Amer
ican music, by such writers ns Dudley Duck,
N'evln, Hndley, MacDowell nnd a score of
others.
"Ono night In Berlin wo played what was
styled a Berlin and New York program.
All tho numbers wero written by residents
of those two cities. A funny Incident enmc
to my notice while wo wero lu Derlln. Dur
ing ono of my concerts a portly Gorman
olllcer nttomptod to teach a beautiful girl
how to walk In rngtlmo. My boys snw
the ungainly efforts of tho big follow to
cake walk nnd wero so convulsed with
laughter that I was afraid we would not
got through with tho number."
MB. HI'iltNH AltDT Is afraid of
a camera. During her present
American tour she has eluded
squads of artists who
have sought to pho
tograph tho tragedy queen. A phalanx of
French servanis with a studied Ignorance
of Kngllsh stand between divine Sara and
tho man with a camera.
lu N'ew York anil Chicago the papers
wire ((impelled to go to the newspaper
"graveyard" for pictures of the great
Frenchwoman. She was never In when re
quested to pose for staff artists, and a
curious world had to content Itself with
photographs of the tragedienne which arc
as familiar as stock pictures of Queen Vie
torla.
In Omaha divine Sara did not get off so
easily As usual she was not in the tern
pernment to be photographed anil to In..
Hernhardfs servants talk It would seen
that It Is dangerous to go against tl.
mndnmc's temperament. Madame Is mt
as terrible, however, as her wire-edged
servanis would have the world bellow
In the afternoon of the day she spent In
Omaha Bernhardt went for a drive. A car
rlage arrived at her special car a short time
before she was ready for her dally outing
Tho Bee's staff artist had the coachman
stop where the sun was shilling brightly
and Intimated to him that It would be worth
his while to not start in too great a hurrj
after the great actress was seated.
CoillllIK' '' tl'e 'in llleiHle.
Deuon, madamu'H French coachman,
understood none of tho conversation which
wns carried on by the artist and the local
cnbninn. Presently Coquelin, Madame
Levi, Madame Bernhardt, the actress' two
fox terriers nnd half n dozen maids and
monscrvnnts alighted from the car ami
went to tho carriage. It took several min
utes to tuck madame's tiny feet Into fur
warmers. Meantime the artist focussed his
camera and when the servants got out ef
tho way he was ready to take a picture of
Bernhnrdt. She ordered Union to drive
away, and motioned frantically at the cam
era. But Benon did not have tho lines,
and the local cabman was slow to under
stand the sign language by menus of which
Sara talks to all the world.
The artist moved his tripod to within a
fow feet of tho carriage and deliberately
focused It on the face of tho Frenchwoman.
"Not so close, not so close!" sho ex
claimed, ns sho threw up her beautiful
hands and tried to conceal her face. Then
she gave another order to Benon and smiled
ns the horses started. She had fooled
another artist and laughed merrily ns sho
at Its best, he went to the station at 0 raising her hands In Imitation of n flash-
o'clock. light.
"Madame Is at dinner. She will see no- Scruints were ordered to remove a until-
body," was the exclamation which camo her of wine bottles which sat on the table,
from the throats of half a dozen aennnls and the divine Sara, M. Coquelin nnd other
past whom the artist brushed as be made members of the company wero photographed
".K CHHHKS SO Ft 1,1
his way into the dining room where In in
hardt and Coqucltn were eating The
madame's pictures were laid before her nnd
she gave a little scream of delight.
"You mnko zo cheeks full! I like It!"
I 'I n InIk'n II In I'reiieli,
Mine. Bernlinrdl's Kngtish failed her, and
she burst into French exclamations which
are not Intended for the ears of Americans
who have acquired their French from text
books. The secret of Bernhardt's reluctance to
be photographed was out. She had been
afraid that tlfty-seveu years had mado In-
oads upon her beauty and tho youthful
picture was a revelation to her. The ar
tist was not slow to appreciate the situa
tion. "But, madame. we want a picture of yo.i
In your car Won't jou let me take It
now''" he nsked
jii: i no ilicj uat nbout Hie table while eal
mg their evening meal.
(IlileiH llxlrll Ciiilt'N,
' I want zo picture," madamo remarked,
afli r she had posed. "It Is ho young."
M. Coquelin was called upon to explain
to i ho artist that Madame Bernhardt
wanted copies of all the pictures he had
made of her. A pen was called for and
both Bernhardt and Coquelin wrote their
names ami their San Francisco address
upon the back of the proof which showed
madamo with the full cheeks.
Then Madame Bernhardt Insisted on hav
ing tho artist drink some of her choice
wine, ller servants could not wait on the
man who had mado a youthful looking pic
ture of her. She poured out the wino with
her own hands and made n toast lu tho
rippling tones that have brought nil tho
world to her feet
Such Is the gracious Sara Bernhardt,
""'-iiHk. WJKmcWmt'TBKWf
Wll(l lllll, a.ln.l Bill
the ill in Kara wa.
nnslakeli. An exccl
ltiu picture had been
tal ( u of her before she
got out of range of
'I he Dee artist, who
has a record of never
missing when he once
starts, and that dullght
fill smile was Just thu
exprcfction thu art
ist wanted. Ho reg
istered It on u plato
and the result Is tho
picture of Mine. Horn
hardt and Mine. Lovl
which Is shown on this
page.
One picturo of tho
queen of trngedy did
not satisfy tho artist. Ho developed the "So dark. No good!" she exclaimed,
plates nnd found that thoy woro successful. "Oh, yes; I can lake It all light. I have
Ills appetite was whetted and ho deter- a flashlight apparatus,"
mined to secure a picturo of Bernhardt In Madamo was perplexed for a moment,
her car. Armed with u proof of tho pic- Then her face lighted up as she said. "'.
lure, wiib h showed the Bernhardt smile poul'f!" She made her meaning clear by
who l.-i HiiiTouuilcd by
an army of servants
so solicitous of their
mistress' welfare that
they havo led the world
to believe that she is
a woman whom years
of hard work have de-
eloped Into n terma
gant. More youthful
in uppeurauce and
actions than many
women less than half
her age, It Is impossi
ble to explain why
Bernhardt avoids tho
photographer, unless It
bu thu realization that
other women who are
approaching thro e
scoro yenrs will be
giioved at scolug how
successful a sister has
been lu wnrdlng off all
traces of old ago and lu
renewing her youth ns
the years go by
