Evening star., 1895-07-09
TO RECEIVE THE RIFLES
Blaze Of Light all Along the Ave
uud
Mount Pleasant Field Band VIII Be
Heroes-Afterward Feasting
and Good Cheer.

Arangements have been perfected for
brilliant reception to be given to the drill
team of the National Rifles on their return
from st. Louis tonight. The command is
expected to reach the 9Th street station at
$50 o'clock. and will be there met by an
escort, consisting Of the stay-at-home
members of the Rifles, dressed In civilians
clothes, wearing fatigue caps. They will
carry torches instead Of guns, as will the
other members of the escort-the Corcoran
Cadets, the National Fencibles and Colum-
bia Division, No. 3, Uniform Rank, Knights
Of Pythias. The escort will assemble at
the armory at 7:30, and will thence march
to the station. It Is expected that the
Mount Pleasant Field Band will arrive over
the Baltimore and Ohio in time to partic-
ipate in the reception, although arrange
ments have also been made for q reception
to that organization. If 1t is impossible to
perfect the union Of the two commands
other music will be provided for the Rines.
Ffreworks.
A special meeting was held last night In
the Rifles armory to make arrangements
for the reception, and all the stay-at-home
members agreed that the success or the
drill team was sufficient to warrant their
friends in this city giving them a rousing
welcome home, accompanied by all the fire
18th streets without causing an actual con,
f1agration. Permission has been obtained
from the superintendent OF police 10 lilu-
inmate the avenue in this way ana pyro-
technics have been provided in suf11cient
quantities to make the sky luminous to-
night Two gross of torches have been Sc
cured. and will be used by the escort rms
Is a unique feature in late days. as gen
uine torchlght procession has not been
seen in Washington for some years. Pri-
vate McNichol has charge of the illumina-
ton, and his long experience IN these mat
ters warrants the belief that he will make
a thorough success in his department.
A Banquet.
A committee, consisting of Messrs. Har-
rington and Cunningham, left the city Sun
day night and met the drill team at Cincin-
natl. They will provide the first section of
the welcome home by preparing the minds
of the men for what they are to encounter.
After the parade Up the avenue tonight the
escort and the prize winners will march to
the Rifles armory, on G street, where they
will be rendered great reception, to whlcn
all the lady friends of the organization
reserved for the ladies, while in the drill
room below the military guests Of the even
ing will be entertained and refreshments
will be served.
The Youngsters.
An enthusiastic reception is to be tender
ed tonight to the youngsters of the Mt.
Pleasant Field Band-formerly the Mt.
Pleasant Drum Corps-on their return from
the encampment, where they have scored
a tremendous success. The ladies who are
interested in the organization have planned
to have the lads met at the station at $40.
when their train is due. by the stay-at-
home members. and an invitation to par
ticipate has been accepted by the Mt.
Pleasant Brass Band. and by several of
the juvenile drum corps of the city. After
the young drummers, ifers and buglers
have been met at the station they Will be
escorted to 707 NJ street, where they will
be feasted.
So much enthusiasm has developed
among the members of troop A, National
Guard as a result of their recent march.
that Capt Barbour has determined to in
augurate summer school to drill his men
in the trumpet signals. This will take the
place of the regular drill movements dur
ing the hot nights. The order having first
been given by the officer In charge, it Is to
be blown by the trumpeters. After the
men have become sufficiently familiar with
the calls, the trumpaterS will give the
proper signals for the different movements,
and the men, being furnished with paper
ard pencils will put down the correspond
ing verbal order.
Captain Barbour intends to retain the
records made at these exercises, and those
desiI' ing promotion will find that their per-
centages in this will aid or retard them, as
the case may be. Renewed interest in the
troop appears on all sides, and several ap-
pIications have been received for enlist
ont