The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-08
WOman'S Rescue League Finds
Gate Locked, and Leads White
Children to Monument Grounds
Instead.
MAKE STREET PIANOS
DO FOR MARINE BAND
Permission TO Use Park Granted
BY Col. SymOnS. But Revoked
When He Learned How Invita-
tiOnS Were Limited.

Too strong an adherence to what is
commonly understood as the color
line" today is believed to have caused
hundreds OF the poor white children Of
Washington to gambol on the Monument
grounds instead of the exclusive White
Lot" content with the music of street
organ, when they had been promised the
United States Marine Band and denied
the privilege of using the real table
| furniture from the kitchen of the Exec
utive Mansion
( Unfamiliarity with the significance Of
the honors they had lost probably ae-
counted for the vim with which they
entered into the spirit of the tunes
ground out by a street organ, and the
ayidity with which they disposed of
sandwiches and lemonade left no doubt
in the minds of visitors to the grounds
that rags are still royal rairnent when
worn on holidays
Something in the Wood Pile.
Some days ago letter was received
by the Woman's Rescue League. of this
city. from Colonel Symons, Superfnten-
dent of Public Grounds. stating that in
response TO a letter sent him from the
league, President Roosevelt had con-
sented to throw open the White House
grounds today for the use OF the children.
Yesterday morning. Colonel symons sent
snother letter 10 the league Informing IL
that he bandstand would be erected on
| the grounds. and the Marine Band would
entertain the children for an hour or
/ two.
Members of the league went about On
air making all their preparations for
grand and glorious picnic. when 10, the
bubble burst. Some stanch friend
breathed the information that no col
ored children should be permitted by
the league To eat on White House
ground, irrespective of precedent. and
/ that no "dusky babe" should roll down
the green hills or daily with the gold
/ fish in the fountain
Il Guess I'll Have to Telegraph"
| The wires between N-sn!.v.o,. irnmo-
diately began working overtime. and
I - y eAOSh stSNEAudN diltInOOQ IOk-
/ onel Symons had dictated another let
ter TO his secretary. informing thu
/ league that the first order. Offering the
| White House grounds to the children.
/ had been revoked and the Monument
/ Lot must be substituted: that. owing IL
( the fact that the Marine Band was %
/ play in the White House Grounds this
evening. no bandstand could be erected
on the Monument Lot; that finally, 20
music could be provided
/ Nothing daunted. the Woman's Rescue
| League was IN and about this morning.
/ and early sought out the Syndicate OF
Organ Grinders of the District of Co
| lunItia- When members OF the league
reached the main Office of the syndicate
/ there was hut one man in charge. and
the orly thing left TO offer the league
was a last years piano. Naturally the
! Syndicate of Organ Grinders could not
be so Tepresented-or misrepresented-
and the league was forced to be content
| with a promise of 2 piano later in the
/ day. The piano arrived at noon and TO
/ the strains of The Coed Old Summer
/ Time" the fun was started and hundreds
/ of little hearts made as happy as If the
famous Government musicians were
! there in all their white duck splendor
and offering up the richest chords and
! most inspiring strains of their roper
! toi-1.
Want Dem Presents Back"
While the little ones were quite con-
tent the members of the league are much
distressed that their efforts in behalf ot
charitable purpose were so frustrated
and that an entertainment which they
/ had planned for weeks resulted in such
/ a disappointment to them at least An
interesting program had been arranged
which il was impossible TO carry cut.
the offer OF a piano from a local firm
[ had 10 be declined and as a result of tha
many disappOintments attending the day.
( the league will hold an Indignation meet
4 ing next week TO take further action on
what they regard as unjust treatment by
! sOn'e one in authority.
/ The failure OF me League 10 procure
reduced rates from the street car COM
pany running through 20 Chevy Chase
caused IT to decline Major Armes' offer
Of his sumner home. Fairfield" for the
/ children's outing. AID so il became
necessary TO obtain permission for the
use of some public ground for the oc-
| casion. That the result did not meet
with the favor OF the league is evident,
and it is expected its members Will de-
tcrmine upon some course OF inyestisat-
ing the cause.