Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-25
CITY AND COUNTY.

THE PROMENADE CONCERT FOR THE
FREED CoNTRABANDs, ON MONDAY EVENING
LAsr.-We have already announced this con-
cert as triumphant in all respects. We ex-
pected it would be. Its object was SO emil
nently Christian, and its chief promoters were
so heroic in their spirit and so abundant in
their labors, that it was plain to see that here,
as everywhere in the presence of such a COM
binatiJn, there could be but one result. New
crthelcss it is pleasant to write of its success
as an historical fact rather than as proph-
eCy.
The exercises were divided by the inimita
bic wax figures of Mrs farley into two parts
the promenade first and the dance afterwards.
The promenade from the moment the beauti-
full flower girls came trooping down from
where the great organ will be some day, illus
tratng again how admirably suited are child
hood and flowers, to that when the hands of
the dial pointed to half past nine, presented to
the locker on a constant succession of new
objects of interest All eyes were upon the
costumes. They came in slowly and appar-
tillly llltlG lUOSG
who feel the responsibility of first appearance
in a new character, yet the stream never
ceased through the two concert hours. After
eight o'clock the sight was one OF rare variety
and beauty. Like the changing scenes of the
kaleidoscope, there was no repetition. The
selections were truly cosmopolitan. Side by
side were the Greek and the Turk; the
crowned monarch and untutored Indian; the
Chinaman under his silk parasol, who dis
covered empower and the mariners compass,
but did not apply them to practical ends, and
Brother Jonathan, with his blue cotton cum
bril-" large enough for the whole family at
once, prudently careful of present possess
sions, the old hat and swallow-ta included,
and intent on making all inventions bring
grist to his mill; the Scotchman and the East
Indian; the Sandwich Islander, and others,
Of whom time fails us to tell. Again, if seeking
representatives Of classes, rather than nation
alities, we might have found royalty in all its
degrees-queens, kings, princes, courtiers
military men of many ranks and eras-our
own neutrality-suspicious. having admir-
able representatives; simple peasants, and
grandmothers innocent of crinoline, with
clowns and nuns and pretty vivandiers; the
broad-brim Of the Quakers, gay and fes-
tive as broad, brim never was before, and
supported on each side by fair ones with
plain caps and speech, whose words fell on
hsteni ~ ears, or, if in search of those who
owe their existence to genius alone, but who
are to us all as truly part of this worlds in
habtants our nighbors are, there they
were ! Falstaff, in magnificent array, wisely
came early, while there was room enough
and was greeted with deserved applause, anC
near him two of those "merry wives" of whose
society he was so fond, and for which none
could blame him who saw them; Rebecca
the Jewess; Minnehaha; Mrs. Partingtor
and Ike. Good and evil, peace and VIC
lence, the winged and those who are yet only
possible angels, with more or less success,
found representatives. But the pressure or
our columns forbids any attempt to do justice
to the many actors, even if our knowledge
compassed the meaning and intent of all the
splendid and unique costumes.
The appearance of Gen. Butler was as un
expected as welcome. His enthusiastic re
ception was a proof of the high place tina
courage and fidelity to the national cause ha
in all loyal hearts.
In closing we would acknowledge the obi
cations of that large company to those wome
} who enabled it to enjoy so much; but VIII
/ A4...--l. -I---,----,-- r.nu mUnUrs, the
have enlarged their means by this entertain
ment to help those whose misfortune it is t
be at once the most oppressed and despised q
our countrymen.