“I of course have commissions to write several operas, and I am at work
on a musical composition which I hope to make the best thing that I
have ever attempted.”
His temperament is well illustrated by an incident on a western
railroad. The Sousa organization, which had been playing in one of the
larger cities, desired to reach a small town in time for a matinée
performance, but, owing to the narrow policy of the railway officials,
the bandmaster was obliged to engage a special train, at a cost of $175.
In the railway yard stood the private coach of the president of the
system, and just before the Sousa train pulled out, the discovery was
made that the regular train, to which it had been intended to attach
the president’s car, was three hours late. A request was made of the
bandmaster that he allow the car to be attached to his train; but
Sousa, with that twinkle in his eye which every person who has seen
him must have noticed, simply smiled, and, with the most extravagant
politeness, replied: “I am sorry, gentlemen, but, having chartered this
train for my especial use, I am afraid I shall have to limit its use to
that purpose.”