Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-24

ON Change.
Apropos OF Sunday-we recall a reminiscent
of our Mississippi river experience, which Will,
it affords some food for amusement, indies1e
a certain vein of free thinking. which is per
baps but only too fashionable.
Most of US meet occasionally on steamboat
with what is called, q character We wer,
inhunahly entertained by a member of thb
fraternity, a short time ago. He had collected
a few stragglers In front of our state room. and
was h~arranguing them on religious themes
His iayorite topic was the Bible, which he nd
sled in such an nnrestrained, and playful sori
of manner, that 1t quite took away ones breath.
He made such a thorough s~ieveFof it, in about
1--WE minutes, that it became a question With
the crowd, whether it could hold salvation
enough 10 save another soul.
The fellow had an ingenious process, by which
he could prove that the body called the Council
Of Trent, which adopted the books OF the Bible,
hadn't a 1.-THE of the Information on biblical
Affairs, which he threw OF at random every
day. He could make the fact so plain, as to
seem positively ridiculous, that many Of the
books accepted as Holy Writ, were not Holy
Writ at all, but the work Of obscure fellows,
who had never read'tle Declaration Of Inde-
pendenee, and in all probability, didn't know
that Gen. Jackson fought the battle of New
Orleans. Tit crowd were greatly shocked, at
the accumulation of ignorance on the part OF
men, who professed TO be Divine Interpreters.
The speaker however went on to remark, in
extenuation, that much must be excused in a
set o fpeople, who suffered the misfortune OF
living at so early a date. Webster, he said, had
not published his Dictionary at that time, and
he had his doubts, whether the telegraph was
in operation. On. this latter point, he reserved
his opinion.
II had always been to him, one OF the most
curious questions OF antiquity, how the respec-
table characters Of that time, managed to go
through the mockery of living, without their
morning paper. The discussion OF this ques-
ton, he thought, would evolve physiological
phenomena of great moment. It was a gloomy
condition Of things, but he supposed was the
just penalty of being born too soon.
Some one in his audience suggested, that his
objections TO the Bible ought TO be generally
known. The fact was, he said, with an airy,
and graceful movement Of the hand, he had
once commenced an exposure of the book, and
with the view Of publishing, had run about half
through it.
He seemed to regard the overthrow Of Chris
tlanity as a sort of before breakfast diversion,
that would probably whet his appetite or a
KIND Of after dinner amusement, just exciting
to stimulate digestion.
The question was put, why he had not COM
pletei a work, so sure Of making him famous.
he replied that the reason was, his wife OBJ
.ected. His wife, although a very
woman, had some severe Christian nonsense,
TO crafty her, he had restrained himself
from Immortality. The look of intense mar
-yrdom which here settled on his face, was cal
sulated to touch even a radical member of Con-
gress, It did not become him, he said, to COM
nent upon himself, yet he would venture TO
'emark, thatsuch an instance Of self-immola-
ion had no parallel in history.
Washington refusing a crown, andCiDcinnatus
10 the pillow, might ba regarded as
eebly embOdying a similar spirit. But he beg
ed to point out, that these two gentlemen for
.hom he really entertained the kindest feel
ng) surrendered what was material. and tran
ltory, whereas he, had sacrificed the imperish-
bile. However, it did not appear seemIy, he
aid, TO set his real value upon himself; and he
slightly, as If reproving himself for be-
ng so highly sagaclOus. f
A small man with a red blanket coat. and a ,
ungry look, here interposed, by remarking. 9
hat he felt an interest in the woman who had Z
ONE between destruction, and our prevailing n
1un OF religion, and begged the speaker 10 IA
or the crowd with his wffe's maiden name. N
he speaker surrendered himself to a moments .
rave consideration, and replied. that he could &
OF prevail upon himself to abuse the conf \
enee Of his wife, put into his keeping with ali \
virgins devotion. at the altar which made
lem one. Detecting at this point, an intention Il
D the part Of red blanket TO expostulate, he =
ided sharply, that he soould not The audi
ice at once became exasperated, against him -
the gQnunfnarr L1anlaf ,r.1 al. ---- u
ane OF them considered, that throwing him :,
7erboard, would be a mild expiation OF his
lrbarism. The husband of his wife however. =,
terceded, and red blanket made a dry escape. u
after all gentlemen, resumed the speaker, !,
nm not sure, but the best plan for US TO pur- \,
e. is 10 muzzle the intellect, and yield our
10 the guidance Of an unreasoning faith. p
E leaned back as he announced this final pre- o.
ripton, and patrOnized his nose with tender ~
ID melancholy fingers. The impression per- y.
itted to The b~ystanders was, that they could n,
ke consolation in their own abject mental NJ
ndition, siucein the picture before them, they ~
see that the possession OF a great mind .,
tailed its own punishment N
Exchange. b.
New York Sight has met with a sudden -
ange, and we note considerable activity. -
offering, though not sufficient to -
ange the rates Of yesterday. We therefore y,
ote 4 discount buying, = premium selling. ,9r
noticed no transactions in New Orleans -
hit We quote 4 per cent. uuyins, and sell nm
at par. a.
City Scrip. co
We hear OF no transactions in City Scrip 10
ne considerable inquiry, bat no sales. Pre- ~
us quotations-S buying, IND 80 selling. Go
stocks.
he only transaction coming to our notice, I
s the sales OF two thousand S~even-Thirties, we
Sc. Little demand or inquiry. We quote nei
previously-96 buying, and IS selling, with val
interest. of
Gold and Silver. the
We noticed little activity in Specie. Gener- Tn
= speaking, 1t is dun. Large amounts on wo
and small demand. We note one trans gu,
lon of thirteen thousand sold at 49,. There du,
'eaTs to be little desire to invest; hence we C
'te Gold weak at 45 buying, and 49, to # col
ing, is
Uncurrent Funds. Eal
general activity characterized the market 200
5 morning. Holders inclined to hold, and o
'kers more willing to invest. We note no Of
in quotations. +