The National tribune., 1895-09-12

| way, especially in indoor concert playing. Al
though. when Philip Sousa, the then leader, a few
years ago left and took away with him several
of the best musicians the band still remained
the popular favorte. His successor, Fancuilli,
was considerably jealous Of Sousa's reputation.
and encountered, besides the usual criticism OF
| one who fills great mans shoes, much adverse
comment because he would not play any of
the former leaders popular music. He has
gotten over that but still prefers to play his
| own creations 1t always nettled him, how
ever, to see how the people focked TO see their
| old leader and hear his band whenever he
1 brought it here, and would not flock quite so
larely when the Marine Band gave concerts
where one had TO pay.
"
Sousa, who conducted this famous band for
many years with great distinction, obtained
leave from the Navy Department to take it
about the country, giving regular concerts IN
the principal cities. and in carrying out TINS
| plan he developed the organization as a concert
/ band somewhat at the expense of its military
character. The present conductor, Mr.. Fan
! culii, recognizes that the Marine Band is first
| Of all military band. lie has reduced the
/ preponderance of the wood instruments. and
/ has given up the attempt to initiate orchestral
effects. to which Sousa was devoted. The Marine
Band is one Of the few artistic institutions
maintained by the United States Government,
and its standard has not deteriorated since the
authorities have confined it more strictly than
before to its proper public functions.
u
With the death of George Parker. one of the
old residents of this city, last week, passes
away man more or less prominent from his
connection with important personages. He
was the keeper of famous Congressional
Club at the corner of Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. This was broken mp.
however, in the general anti-gsmbling crusade.
and Parker was forced to retire from business.
The Congressional Club was noted place in its
day, and was she haunt of Webster, Clay, and
Calhoun. Fortunes were won and lost over its
tables and it was a common saying in the city
ut the time that Clay's salary in Congress only
served to stake him in his poker games. The
Congressional was exclusive, and access was to
be had only by card or invitation. Wine and
game suppers were served every night at mid
Of the place, and free to its babitues.
r
The interest that has been SO frequently
demonstrated of late in the youngsters who
enlisted as drummer boys in the early days
OF the rebellion has given rise to considerable
discussion as TO the comparative ages Of these
precocous youths, and has resulted in the title
of drummer boy of some petsble engagement
being bestowed on a number of them. Past
Commander Daniel Williams, Of Lincoln Post.
No. g. Department OF the Potomac, enlisted as
drummer boy when bat little orer III years
old, and at a meeting of the Post last week his
comrades, in a set Of resolutions drawn up
snd adopted, fixed his distinguishing title as
Drummer Boy OF Fredericksburg for all
time. The resolutions rocite that inasmuch as
the title of Drummer Boy Of Chickamsnga"
has been awarded to Johnny Glenn, Avery
Brown is recognized as the Drummer Boy of
Shiloh" William Msgee as the Hero of Muir
freesboro," and the title Of the !" Drummer Boy
OF the Rappahanpock is being competed for
by Comrades Hendershott. Spillane, Gardner
and Others there is in the Department a COM
rade who would be a meritorious competitor
for the honors of the latter field. This COM
rade on Dec. -, 1852, when boy Of ii years,
charged mp the fatal slope OF Marye's flights
with his regiment. the 24th n. j. in Kimbalps
Brigade, of French's Division, which led in
that sanguinsry attack. The resolutions end
by declaring Comrade Williams the " Drummer
Boy OF Fredericksburg"
n
III there is a body Of useful scientific men In
the country it is the Association of Official
Agricultural Chemists now in session in this
city. They come to Washington every year
SO quietly that few people are aware of their
presence. Prof Houston, Of Indiana, lie Presi-
dent. and DIR. II. w. Wiley. of the Agricultural
Department. is Secretary. 1t meets annually
to discuss the method Of analysis OF fertilizers
food stuffs Soils wines, fcrmented liqnors. etc.
The reports are published by the Agricultural
Department, and are recogn lied the world over
the standard methods Of analysis Every
State in the Union has an annual APPROXIMATION
of $4,000 from the General Government for
the maintenance Of an Agricultural Expert
ment Station. Those have been for the most
part conducted with much skill. and have been
OF incslculable benefit to the farmers Under
the wise administration OF Secretary Morton |
their efficiency is apt to be increased.
Washington was for the first hundred wears
Of its existence bounded on three sides by water
the Potomac River Rock Creek and the East
crn Branch-and on the north By the old Mary
land wagon road. which was laid out from
Georgetown to Bladensburg. Tho curves and
sharp turns Of the old boundary, now called
Florida avenue, show the turns made by the
olden waconers.
In the earlier days Of the Capital Congress
devoted itself exclusively TO the public build |
ings gave Washington, Georgetown and Alex- |
andria Municipal Governments aud left the |
country portions OF the District to the control |
OF a few Justices OF the Peace assembled in |
what WAS known as Levy Courts |
Afterward, when Congress sent back tho Vir.
ginR side TO Virginia, the movement To - puio,
of all the Maryland cession BEGIN. 1t was for |
some time proposed TO retrocede Georgetown.
with all the District west Of Rock Creek tn |
Maryland, but the proposal fell almost still
born. and at last, ia 1871. Congress awoke 10 |
the fact that the cession from Maryland had
been made in order that all the ceded territory
might become the seat of Government of the |
United States" rs provided by the Constitution. |
Then one Government. directly representing
the United States authority. was established