The Resourceful Sousa

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1916, Page 3

The Resourceful Sousa

On occasion John Philip Sousa, by his promptness, was the direct means of stopping a panic, which might have had the most disastrous results. While his band was playing before 12,000 people in, St. Louis, the electric lights in the hnl> went out suddenly. People began to move uneasily in their Geats, and some even began to make a rush for the door. Coolly tapping with hie batotn Sousa gave a signal and immediately his band began playing, "Oh, dear, what can t)he matter be?" A tiny ripple of laughter then went round the audience, and showed that confidence hadi partially been restored. When the hand began to play "Wait til> the clouds roll by," the laughter deepened into a roiar of merriment that only ended when the lights were turned on again.