The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-24

were Informed by numerous friends Saturday
morning that there would not be any music rs
usual at the Presidsnts grounds that afternoon,
but we thought that as seeing Is believing We
would wander toward the grounds and be sure
| for Ourselves. We wish that all our ynnderipps
would be as we'll paid as was that of Saturday
afternoon. Although the Marine Band was not
In the city, there were quite n number Of per.
sons who evidently thought, rs their presence
| testified, that there was TO be music Of some
kind on the grounds Tho l2th United States
infantry band, composed Of nineteen or twenty
instruments, flled we'll the stand usually occu.
| pied by the rod ooatg and white pants Of the
Marines. Their leadsr-we do not know bis
nane--is fne'looking man, has the musicians
under him In excellent control, and evidently
understands the arrangement Of pieces for differ.
emit instruments much better than does the con.
ductor Of the Marine Band The musicians
composing this band are not so proficient on
their several instruments as are those of the
Marines, neither do they play a. easily together,
but for which there are very good reasons.
!. II 10 comparatively new band, q They
have not, At the present time. nor have they ever
had, the opportunitlss for practice (the making
Of ali hrst.class musical bodies either separately
or together, that the Marine Band has most
always had. 3. Their position during the war
has been such that, comparatively speaking, they
could devote no time to tho absolutely necessary
practice which would enable any band to even
hold its own, whilo the marines have been sta.
toned hero most Of the time, have had all the
practice they desired, besides which they are
and have always been tho crack" band for
years here, (deseryodly so,) which of course gave
them the prestige wherever thoro was tho least
| contact with any other musical association Of
the kind. The marines usually play with little
feeling; this band plays with great deal. When
we arrived on the ground, we could not secure q
programme; but % most Of the airs played were
familiar to Us, II did not matter much There was
u march played just before the arrangement Of
Tampa, which We thought was rather good one,
although there are many of II better character.
Tampa was quite q novel arrangement, taking
the very first of tho overture (the "a time;) and
then IN entirely different part-skipping around
| n real "potpourri ~ We did not like II at FIRST,
but should be pleased to judge of 1t, perhaps
more rightly after hearing 1t again. The ar.
raugoment Of Martha We thought aN1oal better
than Is usual with the many arrangements wo
have heard Of that pretty little opera. Wo must
say, however, that we were more pleased with
tho potpOurri containing (nmong many favorite
airs which We do not at the present moment re-
incmbcr) "Lanigan's Ball" We do not men
tion " Lanigan's Dall' because It is ravorte of
ours, for It Is most decidedly not; but We re-.
member II for the reason that IL was brought
into the arrangement with so much skin and 60
naturally. There were ono or two short passages
in that same potpourri which really without
any jokingl sounded to us like something wo
have henrd long ago Of Beethoyen's, or some
other Of tho great chordists. II wo nro mis-.
taken, we have very good excuse II 10, that
since We have resided in Washington, We have
not heard any band play oven one solitary gem
from any of tho masters of music. II tho pas
snges We have spoken Of arc those Of tho leader 8
own composition, (thoy arc characterized to our
mind as being solemn, tender, and ct the same
timo with q decided Melody he should most
surely write somo moro OF the same class, and
aside from any favOrite airs; but ii they are Of
some others authorship, the leader deserves
great credit for his manner Of INTERVIEWING them
with other "a lsnges Of different style.
We were glad to notice that the band seemed
to DO received with favor by the audience, AZ
attestcd by tho plaudits. We were tho most
pleased of all to see that something moro sub.
stantial than the moro clapping of hands was
given, which was fine bouquet of flowers, sont
by the Presidents daughter, Mrs. Senator Pat.
terson, from the Executive Mansion, to the
leader; and although we woro not near enough
10 boar the message or reply, We rcre near
enough to zee that the leader was rightly affected
and pleased by it 0s no should have been; for
Il Is very seldom that such n testimonial Is Of.
fered eithor in such n pleasing manner or so
justly and disinterestedly in our country. We
hope that while the Marines are away, the
Twelfth infantry band will supply their place,
and give the citizens Of our city OhC or itrC
really classical piccCS. We know that their effort:
In such direction will he hailed with delight
by a large number Of musical people here, over
If they make mistakes in rendering them.
GOVERNMENT CLERKS MEETING.-Thc As
ISOLATION of Government Clerks held meeting
on Saturday evening at Union League Hall; 3
+. Stern, first yico president, in the chair, and
John W. uogg, secretary.
Mr.. d. NJ. Kelsey, of one Of tho Departments
made long and interesting speech, in which HI
J urged tho clerks of tho Governmental Depart
| ments to come together into tho association and
work for each Other's benefit. lie sorry to re,
that these clerks, Rs mass know so little Of each
| other, hundreds of thom being perfect strangeri
} to each other. Mr.. Kelsey also urged that
} prompt measures DO instituted to have Congress
at its July session. continue in force tho twenty
per cent. bill which expires with tho present
month; and to do this, no said, united actor
must DO had, Tho bill was nearly lost Orgi
l nally through the want OF concerted action, anC
he hoped It would not fail this time through tn
: lack Of enorRy on tho part Of any of the clerk
9 interested. Tho speaker also dwelt on tho ne
ossaiiy qf reading ToGm for The bSn.Gt Of tn
L. conplish the desired object Ho also treated OF
! the fabulous prices charged for food and raimen
in this city, and suggested the proprioty Of
establishing clerks headquarters, through
which 10 transmit orders 10 the northern cities
| tue neCessaTics VI anu teCciNo sucu
at reasonable rates. Should one half the en-
ployees in the Departments unite with this asso
citation, and pay an initiation fee Of So and
quarterly dues Of so cents, its income from these
sources alone would amount to $S, 900 or 80, 00C
per annum, and this sum would be found ample
and sufficient to dsfray the current expenses ant
leave a reasonable surplus In its treasury.
Finally, to give stability, security, and success
to this enterprise, liberal charter could be OBJ
tanned from Congress, and thus tho ideal b,
; made benefcent and permanent reality.
Several now members were initiated, wheI
Mr. Pearson offered the following resolution
: which was adopted
> RtSOlUsi, That the joint committee that acted
last winter in presenting to Congress tho claim
Of the clerks and employees OF the several de
partments of the Government for increase o.
compensation be requested, and are hereby au
thorzsd, to ondeavOr to procure through Con
gress at its next session continuation OF the
additional compensation granted at its last sos
| sion.
} Adjourned.
BIDS OPENED.-On Saturday at noon
bids were opened in the Mayors Office for grad
| ing and paving II street north, between Fourtl
and Seventh streets west. Tho bids wero as fol
lows: q. W. O. Eslin-30 cents for grading
81. 80 for paving; 90 cents for new flag 1 cent?
} for reaying old flag 40 cents for gutter. Joshua
Croksey-iS, 81 80, So 3, 80. Owen DALEY
| 20, Sl23, 10, 6, IS p. Crowley 4 Co 80
III 81 49,, 40, 10, 49, D. 7. Noitzey-2S, 81 81
, 49, TO- 49, q. Neitzoy-30 Sl2S, 10, T. 30
John Eschbach-25, 81. 90, IS, 3, dS. The con
tract was awarded to Mr.. Daley.