At  the  close  of  the  exercises  more  than  eight  hundred  people,  includ-
ing the  bands,  partook  of  a  most  bountiful  banquet,  which  had  been  pro-
vided for  the  occasion  by  the  citizens  of  Brookline..
At  the  close  of  the  banquet,  the  consolidated  bands,  consisting  of  one
hundred  and  fifty  pieces,  played  patriotic  airs.  The  procession  was  then
re-formed  and  marched  back  to  the  square  in  front  of  Tucker  and  Stiles
store,  where  the  consolidated  bands,  under  the  leadership  of  Professor


324  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE

Bond,  by  way  of  a  finale,  played  several  popular  airs.    The  several  bands
then  adjourned  to  and  met  in  convention  in  the  hall  of  Tucker  and  Stiles.
Musical  Association.
During  the  post  prandial  exercises  at  the  grove,  Professor  Bond,  in  an
eloquent  speech,  had  suggested  the  idea  of  forming  a  musical  association,
to  consist  of  the  bands  then  present  and  of  such  other  bands  in  the  vicinity
as  could  be  induced  to  join  with  them  in  the  enterprise.
The  idea  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  members  of  the  bands;
and  at  a  meeting  in  the  hall  a  motion  to  form  such  an  association  was
carried  unanimously.  A  committee  of  one  from  each  band  was  appointed
to  nominate  a  board  of  officers.  And  upon  the  reception  and  adoption  of
the  committee's  report,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  as  the  asso-
ciation's first  board  of  officers:

Wilkes  \Y.  Corey,  Brookline,  President;  E.  T.  Baldwin,  Nashua,  \Y.
C.  Kidder,  Milford,  vice-presidents;  E.  A.  Blood,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  sec-
retary. The  band  leaders  and  the  said  board  of  officers  were  appointed  as
an  executive  committee.
