Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16

1oS FfOmemo0e Concert and the People
who Attend Ii.
sATuRDAY HvHNrNa ocKNEs IN TIE WHITE HOUSE
okoUHDs-suNSRnI. cHIIDREN, Lov1Rs NuRsI-
MAIDS. AND MATrRR-oY-FAcr YoUNG Nn-THI
crscLks AROUND TIE BAND STAND.
Young Phyllis puts on her freshest and daintiest
Dress her brightest ribbon. ana most effective
summer hat, and Corydon dons his stifest collar
ana MS gaudiest summer necktie to 60 to hear the
pano play. To many people these public prone
maze concerts in the White House grounds Satur-
DAY evening and on the east plaza Of the Capitol
wednesday evenings are the most pleasurabie
svents OF the week They watch the sky anxiously
on the concert day, fearful lest clouds may appear
and shower may prevent the concert. 1t is the
only outing" that many city-bound people
get ounng the whole year. On a Saturday, soon
aiter O'Clock, every car coming up from the
nSvy-yaLd VIII bring one or two relocated and
nan6 3, aeime.eS musicians until the fun Marine
1S0o " assembled In the White House grounds
Lnsse passing cars with their brilliant spots OF
RED are signals along the route that the concert
-. While the musicians are assembling, along the
tnoroughfares leading to the White House grounds
inc poopie are coming, some alone, some In groups,
nurse maids with nocks OF little ones, all happy
looking, all dressed In their prettiest summer at
Of I'VE Sansan 70
vehicles, but the smaller gates intended for foor
pssssngers are open, and through these, for half
For some time after the band strses On the peope
come Inc strains or the music heard on neigh
boring streets attract people who are out for
IN TIE GROUNDS
inside the grounds the prettiest pictures are
MADE oy the combination Of shady knolls sun
streakeo velvet lawns, glimpses OF fower-beds
ricn IN bloom the flashing waters Of the big foun-
San, Inc moving throngs, the band-stand in the
central lawn, with its circles OF brliiaptly-cos-
TUNED musicians, the white walls of the stately
mansion at the north and the expanding view
sUutnWaro OF lawn, monument river, hills and SKY.
the OLD habitue OF the concerts has his ravorite
place where the music sounds best to him, If the
who ae IN aSe or sn Sas he best
chains OF promenaders that circle round and
around sso,aa the mn. music-stand There are several
Inc promenaders go in groups, or couples and
Keep going around and around. One circle goes
one way: Inc other reverses the motion. outside
OF these Is circle or fringe, sometimes three or
TOUT deep, Of people who look on. A young woman
with new hat Is pretty sure to get into the NOV
promenading are Of the gentle sex The personnel
Keeps changing, as some step out into the outer
fringe ana others step In TO take their places Oc-
cause jams In the outer row will be found young
men leaning on their canes, or supporting them
tired The most picturesque groups are those scat
tereo about the grounds, for full liberty to walk
or SIT on the grass is one OF the attractions Of the
saturday concerts
SITTING ON THE GRASS.
On the sides OF the knobs facing the music men
stretch themselves out at ease, and women too
sit down on the grass where they can enjoy the
sounds and sights. II is quite interesting TO see
woman, equipped with tournure and other modern
improvements OF dress settle herself on the grass
Ihere Is much preliminary arrangement OF hustle
anu SKIRTS. Then, II she Is sk1lful, she accom-.
and hlrt OF her skirts, and as she pumps down
On Ine grass ner dress settles all neatly arranged
a10ut ner When she rises, OF course, there is
soeIaDie shaking and poking to be done before she
Is satisfied that she is In perfect shape again one
OF me knobs is ravor1te place for the bicycle
riders, score or more OF whom generally come
IN TO hear the music. They push their
wheels up the hill and stack them about
the trunks OF the big trees. In the paths that
vino IN ana out beyond the knobs many little
groups take their seats, and now ana then Couples
can be seen wandering. whose eyes seeming SO full
shyly touching each other, tel OF chords in their
own hearts That mingle In delightful strain, old
as the world, but as new and fresh to each heart
when 1t comes as the lrst matin song OF the birds
In spring. In these winding walks, with their oc-
cas0nal little shadowy spaces and shelters OF
snruOoery, one can often come across couples,
having thelr nrst experience Of the romance OF
love- The flowers, with their fragrance and beauty
the music the rustng foliage the fresh grass, all
ss W enSouIage she development OF the tender
OF undy1ng devotion and ardent love made amid
tnese surroundings might have remained unspoken
the TENDER and sensitive growth had been lert to
the duh and unromantic SURROUNDINGS of a pnrlor
or front door step.
THE NATTER-oF-rACr NAN.
There are matter-of-fact people who come to the
concert and take little note Of these romances
Geing Dreathed out in the air all around them.
There Is the man who stretches himself out at full
lengtn IN shady place, lights his pipe, closes his
eyes and gives himself up to smokers reverie,
"The Black Hussar." There is the still more mat
ter-of-ract man, who does not believe In wasting
time ass even at promenade concert. He seeks out
between the pieces played by the band, unfolds
nis evening paper and reads what the world
y, is oG,ng; Then, when the band strikes
drops his paper on his knee and gives himself up
TO the delight OF listening Director Sousa and his
throng When a popular piece is PLAYED with
spirit they reward the performers with liberal ap-
plause. The band, too, seems to enjoy these con.
STAR reporter that he liked these concerts better
tnan any service the band was called upon to do,
and prepared programs with as much, If not more,
care tnan Tor the performances for which the band
was well paid. AS result the concerts have De-
come exceedingly popular, ana instead OF PLAYING
has at eyery eeScs Of nurse girls the band now
and character.
THE LITTLE PEOPLE
But TO the observer who goes to see the people
Is well as to hear the music there is an important
class that can b. seen scattered over the whole
area that has not been mentioned. The children
though they may not be the most critical auditors
seem to get the most exquisite enjoyment out OF
this hour OF freedom on the grass They can be
seen scampering and roll1cking In every part OF
the enclosure The fountain, with its MANY lets
OF water and its wide basin nlled with gold fishes
Is q source to them OF never-ending delight, The
fright or nurse-mads, who see their little Charges
near the brink; the worry OF mothers whose tod
dlerS nave roamed out OF their sight suggest the
serto-comic side OF domestic life. Now and then
some tired little boy girl who has run TIN he is
preathless, nnds himself In some part OF the
grounds far separated from his mother or his biz
sister, and his little mouth begins to pucker
SoOn, after wandering through the crowd. without
seeing one familiar face he realizes the desoate-
ness Of mis- situation. The life that a little while
ago seemed SO sunshny and joyous now appears
to him dreary and hopeless. and all manner Of
agonizing suggestions haunt his lonely little
heart. Then he sets up q howl. He is a "losf
child" and the policeman taxes him to the little
warch-houSe sort OF pound where lost children
are kept, until redeemed by their parents. There
he cries away until mama comes with f1uttertpQ
heart, kisses the tear-stained cheek and BRINGS
Joy once again to the disconsOlate one.
THE CONCERT OVER
When the last quaver Of the last piece is still
trembling on the air, the man with the big drum
rises from his chair to go; then his brother of the
trombone, and his many other brothers OF the
horns OF various Sizes make movement to leave
the stand and at this the whole gathering Of
people begins 10 stir, There is general uprising
OF those who have been lying down. From EACH
knoll small regiment troops down to the level
The people make their way out by the paths
Nurses, with baby Garages, make rush for the
gates, and generally cause O blockade. In flve or
ten minutes, however, the grounds are empty
musicians can be seen making wild rushes for
street cars. and the people who attended the con-
amid the promenaders on Pennsylvania avenue