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AMUSEMENTS OF THE PEOPLE. 13
gr-t waa the fear of collecting the residuum them. But, EO
far as I have observed, or heard, or read, absolutely no harm
arises from the Thames Embankment Gardens, or from the
admirable oasis in Leicester Square. The deserted churchyards
now being ntilised as recreation-grounds ; and in the long
course of time perhaps Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and other available
Spaces, will be put to their proper use. The introduction of
the band on summer week-day evenings seems to me the
natural corollary. The question, I may here remark, whether
music is proper on Sunday afternoons is a, totally different one,
with which the matter ought not to be complicated.
What I have advocated for London should also be carried
out proportionally in every town and village. Eventually each
considerable town should have, as I have said, it; park and
music pavilion where the open-air concerts would take place.
But for the present, it would be sufficient if a rifle corps band,
or some amateur band, obtained permission to utilise any
available open space, collecting the small sum necessary for
expenses either by a trifling charge for reserved chairs, or by
a subscription list among the shopkeepers and residents. This
is already done at Hampstend, where the Hampstead Rosslyn
Hill brass band, assisted by a local subscription list, plays every
Saturday evening, during the summer months, on the Upper
Terrace, Hampstead Heath.* Their successful performances
have stirred up the zeal of the local Volunteer Corps band,
which has recently added a performance on Thursday evenings.
It cannot be said that the attendance at these out-of-door
concerts is very extensive or very select, but no harm or
nuisance whatever arises. As the value of such. a harmless
entertainment becomes understood, I should hope that the
This band has nom for fourteen or fifteen years furnished
gratuitous entertainment for the people of Hsmpstead and north-western
London. The services of the performers are honorary, as are also the
zdous exertions of the Honorary.Secretary, Mr. Alexander H. B.
Ellis. The necessary expenses oE bandmaster and instructor, of the
printed mueic, attendants, stationery, postage, rent of practice room,
etc., amount to about S75 or B O B year, mostly defrayed by the
oontribution of ebout one hundred subscribera