Central Park Band Concert

      Program.

     “[T]hrongs of all classes of people.”

    The First Concert of the Season—A Large Attendance.

     “Yesterday being the first Saturday in June, and as that day has for some years past been signalized in Central Park annals as the opening of the promenade concert season, a large number of persons visited the Park during the afternoon, and it may now be considered to have entered upon the Summer season proper. Owing to the recent warm weather and fastidious care bestowed upon our Metropolitan pleasure-ground, the appearance of the park was very fine indeed. The trees are in their full wealth of foliage, and the smooth shaven lawns, and the blooming and budding vegetation delight the eye of the visitor.

     At an early hour in the afternoon the crowds began passing into the Park, and by the time for the concert to commence—4 P. M.—the Mall was crowded, the fast accumulating visitors surging around the pagoda or music pavilion. Those who would avoid the crowd strolled off toward the Casino, or strayed away toward the Ramble and the Lake. The ‘Central Park Band’—an old friend under a new title, for we saw a number of the members of Dodworth’s famous band on the stand—were very punctual, and did not keep their audience in suspense, but at once commenced with their al freso [sic] concert.

     The ladies came out in full force, and, as usual with the fair sex, strolled about gazing at each other and criticising the costumes that excelled the kaleidoscope in their variety, although not always so harmonious in their design.

     A very large number of the visitors came in carriages, and a few on horseback. It is estimated that nearly 20,000 persons visited the Park during the day.”

     The Park is again in full blossom, and the reign of the Muses is resumed. That brilliant temple which is designed to gain the special favor of their Parnassian majesties, and induce their benisons upon the expectant multitudes who thirst for inspiration, shone with unwonted splendor in the clear sun of Saturday afternoon; and as was vouchsafed, the Quakers to the contrary notwithstanding, that ‘the weather should be finer,’ the musicians, under Mr. Dodworth’s control, had no lack of auditors. Every available space on grass and ground was filled by eager listeners, or relentless talkers, observers of other people’s business—all gathered for at least the ostensible reason of hearing the music. Every one remarked the great preponderence [sic] of  the Israelitish [sic] features among the visitors, and we looked in vain for many distinguished individuals who might have reasonably been supposed to be present.”
[The article continues on the beauty and delights of Central Park.]

      “The attendance at the Park on the first Music day this year, was not so large as might have been anticipated, owing mainly to its early occurrence in the Season. . . . Total number of visitors Saturday, 38,343.”