National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-21
WISHING rows TaSITr FAIR.


The Concert at the Pre-idsnts Grounds Last
satur,iay-Dresmy and Inaudible Music
An Opportunity to Observe the Fashions
rie-Baeks ESoiutins Into Eei-skins.
A beautiful picture was presented at the
Presidents grounds saturday afternoon during
the open air concert Of the Marine band. The
weather was cool and baluy, and the dense
foliage Of the beautiful trees on the western
hilloek threw q grateful shade over the prone
made. Probably the largest and most fashion
able assemblage that has ever gathered within
its limits was present on this occasion, and no
such opportunity was ever there presented of
witnessing the beauty and style of
the ladies Of the District. Their light,
airy and bewitching costumes cOnsorted
well with the surrounding natural adornment.
The spring styles are gay aud attractive aud
are jauntily set of by the captivating Nor
mandy hats. The tied backs were there In all
their glory, and such q display of the female
form divine has not been seen since the days
of elinging drapery affected by the ancient god
desses. The girls with their closely fitting,
elinging skirts and the young men with their
baggy sailor breeches formed quite contrast,
and gave some reason to the expression that q
revolution in the old orthodox system Of dress
ing the sexes is gradually but surely under
way. The pin-back looks charming on well
nodded form, and a. all the girls think they
are included in that category and are SEEM
ingly striving to Guido each other In display
Of their symmetry and loyeliness, there is just
the smallest chance that the fashion may drift
into immodesty and even into indccency. But
the mode" changes so often that II is not at
all unlikely that just as we are becoming ac-
customed to the pin-backs they will be super
coded by another and widely different style,
possibly, but not ut all probable, the huge,
wide-spreading erinolne Of our grandmOthers.
The same fault was found with the music
as on the previous saturdays; it was
too low and subdued. The selections
were good, and the harmony and melody were
excellent but the execution was too soft and
| dreamy, more apt to sOothe than to inspire OF
| animate. The band account for this by say
| ing the acoustic properties Of the grounds are
| bad. Perhaps they are, but it is singular they
were never noticed before. IL Is certain,
nevertheless, that the ability Of the band to
| make these performances audible was never
questioned before, which is the main reason
why the absence of this power is so noticeable
now. II may have been the character OF
| the selections, or u may have been
| the fault of the band that the music was only
enjoyed at Saturdays concert by those imme'
diately surrounding the stand The next con.
cert will probably determine this vexcd
| point to tine satisfaction of all persons in.
terested, and they are many. While the above
remarks are true concerning the generality Of
| the programme, there were two or three pleas,
ant exceptions. The Cuckoo polka" spirited
composition, was rendered with a dash and
vim that revived the dropping energies of all
and inspired them to renewed life and vigor
It will bear repetition and better acquaint
anee. The grand waltz "AmschoenOn Rhein,
with its dreamy, sOul-inspiring measure, wa
also well rendered. The Spanish air, with q
solo for two comets, and the duet from Nor
ua" were excellent, and displayed to great ad
vantage the artistic excellence Of individual
members Of the baud, which Is composed IN
tirely OF finished musicians, and which will
one day assert its superiority. Those wh'
heard all the pieces were loud in their prais'