The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-23
PARK CONCERT.
Rights of The Listeners
Ignored.
Outrageous Disturbance by
Bicycle Riders.
A Jabber of Tongues and Changing
OF Gongs Makes the Nuisance.

There are many acres of land in Roger
Williams Park, miles of smooth drivewhys
and everywhere there are seats con-
yeniently located and the seclusion OF
groves.
Out of all these. acres a comparatively
very small section is needed for tho accom-
mediation of Reeves band and the thou
sands of respectable men, women and
chiIdren7who would like toinoar th5lmusic
of the evening concerts.
TIE rest OF the park is open and fur
nishes ample room for the capers OF "a lot
of silly idiots who have demonstrated
that they care nothing for music ana
nothing for the comfort OF Others. But
the trouble is these same nuisances won Z
90 off and have their assinlne enjoyment
where it will not interfere with others.
They bunch themselves In groups OF
dozens and scores, as near the band as
they can get and when Mr. Reeves signals
for his musicians 10 begin they think ho
means il for them. And from that
moment until the end of the oopcert there
ia All the racket without the interest or
the intelligence of cage OF Jabbering
monkeys.
Most OF these nuisances. male and
female, have bicycles with them and hel p
out the ulatter of their fool tongues with
the jangling of their gongs and bells,
n 1t is both absurd and outrageous. What
Ia there aboat Nearer My God TO Thee, ="
or Bowen X. Churoh's solo, "Annie
Laurie ;" that inspires hundreds OF peo'
ple to break in on the melody with the
clang OF bells or the rasping of their own
tongues? The more beautiful ana sub
dued the music, the severer the racket IL.
One favorite trick of these :. boy. and girl
hoodlums is TO ruin n march tune by try
inc TO keep time TO it with all their bells
going st once
It is absurd and il is an outrage.
Cs.Eyerything has its drawbacks failings
and faults" said well known citizen at
Roger Williams Park Saturday evening,
who was surrounded with his little family
who had taken car from their home
on the east side. for the park, for the pur-
nose OF listening to the music OF Reeves
American band. It was necessary to take
two cars each way and he had three
children. He therefore paid eighty cents
for the pleasure.
: But the gentleman said Inc fault In this
case Is not with the band, but for all of
that l am sorry that !. and my family
oame here tonight, for IL was,Iato when we
left home. and We were unable To get near
enough To tho musicians To get the full
benefit Of. the concert.
When asked why he felt so much dis
turbed be answered: Just listen TO the
ipcessant clatter Of that gang .of young
bicycle riders, who make more noise than
dozen bands, and such silly talk, enough
TO disgust man.
"lhere are gang of::5houQhtless young
roYnies and the girls are quite as bad as
the boys"
, These remarks set representative OF
The News at work. and he strolled
-. 4 A. ..s,. x.f tha lana ont hAt
ing and found that there was much truth
in the gentleman's statements for it
would seem that is the greater part Of the
Younger element who rode To the park on
bicycles were there for the special purpose
Of annoying those who came 20 listen To
the music.
Ihe conversations were not in the least
interesting To any one ana strange young
men were seen To address equally strange
young girls. Many of both sexes showed
that they had received proper training at
home but now at the park and away
from the control of their parents INDUCED
in remarks that would have made their
parents plush for shame. They were a
noisy crowd and remarks similar to those
made by the East side gentleman could
be heard OH all sides.
One young lady was requested TO keep
quiet by well dressed elderly lady while
the band was playing n hymn, and the
reply OF the young lady was "If you
don't like TO hear me talk go home, you
don't own the park. ~ and this was said in
a most saucy and unladyliko manner, ana
then she began TO chatter away all the
faster.
There is no way to prevent this nui-
sance for it is as the above young woman
said, IL you don't like To hear than talk.
"go home" and there is no law against
talking while listening To the concerts at
for the purpose of being seen and heard.
instead OF ENJOYING the music, so far for
get themselves rs TO make noise sufficient
20 have them arrested TOR reveling or dis
orderly conduct, the authorities might
step in and TO small degree abato this
apominable nuisance.
Ii has been suggested that BOYS and
girls under a certain age be not permitted
60 enter the park unless accompanied bv
their parents, and IL this could be done, ii
would be move In the right direction.
II is understood that the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty To Children is Il.
work on n law that will, i'm measure les
sen tho number of young girls who are
out all of the evening OF bicycles, and the
managers Of the society are OF the opin.
ion that bicycles are tho greatest evil that
was ever invented for the downfall of the
girls, and the remarks overheard would
seem 10 corroborate this theory.
II the parents knew they would think
twice before they allowed them to so q
the park unattended 10y some older Lom
Der OF the family.