Thomas Popular Garden Concert

“After dinner, Ellie, Miss Maggy Taylor, Talmage Van Rensselser and I took a starlight drive in the park--and spent some time at Theodore Thomas’ concert hall or Musical Lagerbier Garden.  Crowded.  Orchestra good.  Programme generally rather mediocre--much of it flashy, but better than any more popular concert-music we have.  Of course it will not do to be wholly ‘classical’ till people are educated up to that standard.  This seems a civilizing institution.  It is in operation every night and is cheap and innocent.  There are no signs of rowdyism--people seemed mostly drinking nothing heavier than lager, and I dare say Theodore Thomas has kept a good many young clerks &c out of mischief.  I was bored by Prof. Doremus with a long, muddled ‘explanation’ of certain misconduct of his in reference to the College last spring!  He left the matter just about where it was before, and I think he is probably rather a cad.  His clack prevented me from hearing a movement by Bach, and another by Gluck, the only things on the performance I cared for.”