Evening star., 1947-12-28
By John CIoqett Proctor


back to the early dance pro.
grams and recall the man.
pleasure clubs entertaining tht
public, especially during those two
decades between the '80s and '90s
Such, for instance, as the Musettt
Club, P-X-S of Dawson Lodge, No
16, F. A. A. M; the Owls, Alpha
Club, the IS. S. P. Club the Excel
sior Club, Union Club and th'
Golden Star Club, which were par.
ticularly fond of giving dances dur.
ing the '80s. And scanning furthel
these old programs we find sucf
other early clubs as the Ladies Aic
Society, which gave an occaSiona
dance for the benefit of the German
Orphan Asylum; the Capital Bicycle
Club, National Rifles, Columbia Boat
Club, Brotherhood of Telegraphers
Union Veteran Corps, Martha Wash
ington dress party. Washington Bi-
cycle Club, Washington Light Infan-
try, the Old Guard, Washington
Lodge of Elks, and the Saengerbund
In 1888, the late Judge Siddons ap-
pears to have been an active member
of the National Rifles Cadets, which
met in the Armory of the National
Rifles, then in Marini's Hall, 9l4
E street northwest. The cadets were
organized in 1881, and their early
officers included S. c. Stokes, cap
tain: C. S. Domer, first lieutenant;
P. S. Bosworth, second lieutenant
Some of the other members were
C. E. Engles, Lee B. Mosher. Walter
Wellington, j. Louis Betz, jr.; H. v
Wurdemann, Charles G. Ringwalt
John j. King, Frank A. Hopkins and
T. Arthur Tomlinson. At its dance
at the Rifles Hall, these lads were
satisfied with nothing short of the
United States Marine Band.
Became Commissioner.
But three years from this date
Fred Siddons-or maybe we should
say. Frederick Lincoln Siddons-
graduated from the Columbia
University Law School and was
admitted to practice before the
courts of the District of Columbia
Soon he commenced to climb the
ladder in his chosen profession and
as years rolled by, he became an
honored Commissioner Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and later an able
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
District. 1t was, indeed, pleasing to
to see him grow, but doubly gratlfy-
ing to know such a man as a friend.
A musical organization of much
merit which gave many excursions
and dances during the '90s was the
Washington Mandolin, Banjo and
Guitar Club, which many will no
doubt recall, though it dates back
quite a number of years. having been
constituted on January IA, 1891, and
which was in two weeks time brave
enough to give it's first performance
at the Elks' banquet, held in the
Masonic Temple.
The officers of the club in its early
DAYS were: Americus v. Holmes
director; r. H. Pierce, president;
William M. Hale, secretary; G
Frederick Conboye, treasurer
Charles H. West, business manager
Beside these, the members included
Charles F. McEnaney, H. E. Gal
laher, w. C. Babcock, S. c. Clements
Charles Goodacre, E. A. Kubel anc
Joseph P. Cullen.
Played Many Benefits.
The club was not long in winning
for itself the good will of the public
and, throughout its existence, al
ways bore an excellent reputation
It's generosity in frequently playing
for charitable purposes and worthy
causes made for it many lasting
friends. An instance which netted
fund of $636.25 was the concert
given at Willard Hall for the aid
of the widow of Fireman Newman
In It's early days 1t also volun-
teered it's services and played at en-
tertainments given by the Shake
speare Club, Theatrical Mechanics