The Washington herald., 1909-04-26
Potomac Drive Concerts.
- - Herald:

E1Itcr ne Y aS11ngtoo Herald
For many years II has been the pleas
ure OF washington people and visitors
who walk or use street cars 20 visit the
White House grounds on Saturday after
moons during the warm months and IN
the shade Of splendid trees listen 20 music
BY the Marine Band. ls5tomobnes. car
riages, and h0rsemen we're not admitted.
Apparently. 70 meet the wishes OF the
fashionable set. most OF which Is here
only a fragment Of this o9en-air concert
season. the band has been banished 20 a
treeless spot pretty enough in its way.
but not readily accessible. except by a
long tramp over hot asphalt OF BY paying
fare on the Alexandria car line. where
the service Is not possible except By a
long wait
From the settled parts Of the city a
man and his wife cannot reach the open
fields OF the Potomac drive" except BY
an expenditure Of % cents in car fare,
nearly enough to pay for boat excur-
sion down the river. II they walk, they
are well ieated I'D. and the hot sun while
the concert lasts Is not calculated = re-
duce their temperature. In the event Of a
sudden storm the crowd would be at least
three-quarteTs OF mile from shelter.
There can be no exception taken TO the
giving OF these public concerts. but 20
ask the common people TO 80 out n
the fierce blaze OF summer afternoon,
with prancing horses. and chugging au-
tomobnes smoking and smelling 70
heaven and disputing the highway with
them, is rendering a doubtful blessing.
The first OF these concerts was Il sue
cess. according 70 newspaper reports
The President and his wife were there
Il being the opening OF the series and
fortunately q pleasant day, there was q
crowd out. The Cabinet set. diplomatic
society army and navy officials. and de-
par1ment people were present IN all styles
/ OF conveyances.
The crowd estimated at the opening
/ concert, with its added attractions OF a
band from 3 distant country and a
parade OF fashionable Washington So
ciety. did not reach 10Vo0-rather small
I considering the large number OF visitors
I in the city az this time. Before the sea
I son Is over il IS a safe prediction that
/ The attendance vii dwindle 70 small
/ figures Even under the favorable con-
dition OF parks wiki shade. where band
4 concerts are given, the attendance is
usually confined to people living IN the
vicinity OF the park Nobody lives around
| the Potomac drive. and that people viii
! 90 a second time 10 endure a blazing sun
even TO hear world famous band is
hardly believable. L has been suggested
] IN connection with the Potomac drive
/ that there should be restrictions as 10
I the style OF vehicles 10 be admitted during
/ the concerts. and that a pavilion should
/ be built 50 that the ladies' could get out
! OF their buzz wagons and carriages and
show Of their gowns. The family IN a
I hack OF csrTy-all would be excluded II
Il did not come UP to fashionable Tc
/ QulTements. and the woman with her
( baby in arms would hardly find herself
At home IN the pavilion. This is the way
I they 90 II abroad. and We are gradually
/ getting around 10 Il. and the common
/ people" do not seem 70 be able or care
/ 10 help themselves They are stll alIoweT
10 stand. Il within police restrictions. ard