Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-29


fellows, and the distresses caused by the
late war have certainly thrown many
Southern men into positions and asso.
Citations extremely alien to their former
pursuits and habits.
Lord Stafford mines for coal and salt,
The Duke of Norfolk deals in malt.
The Douglas in red herrings."
Gen. Lee teaching school, Joe John
ston and Beauregard railroading, other
generals running express wagons and
taking photographs, are specimens of
some Of the changes which the results of
the war have wrought in the change of
vocations and habits. But these are
nothing in comparison with the meta
morphoss in the lives Of civilians, of
men and women once in afIuent circum-
stances, and which are now betaking
themselves by force of necessity, to
every occupation which can be named.
Gentlemen, once the proprietors Of large
estates, may now be found equipped
with yard sticks holding plough handles,
or weighing out sugar and coffee by the
pound in grocery shops; ladies, high
bred danes, who were once the leaders
of society, are now taking in sewing for
the bare means of subsistence. And
happy are they who are able to find even
such a refuge from the wild beasts of
poverty and want. Others there are,
and the number is large, who, with fami--
lies Of little children dependant upon
them, have absolutely no resources, no
means of life, no earthly hope Of ultl-
mately escaping the horrors OF starva-
ton.
But we know Of no change Of fortune,
either in civil or military life, more re-
markable than that of the naval officers
of the United States, who left that SER
vice to join their native States in the
late war. The proverbial unselfshness
and disinterestednes of poor Jack was
never more signally exhibited than in
the conduct Of the Southern naval Off
GERS. The Southern military men made
no sacrifices to be spoken Of in compari-
son. We do not impeach their motives,
bat they exchanged subordinate for high
positions. Captains and lieutenants in
the United States army became gener-
ais of divisions, and occupied corspic-
nous position in the eyes Of the world.
The naval officers, on the contrary, gave
up their fine ships TO work on land bat
teries, or take charge of pigmy gunboats
The close of the war left them high and
dry ashore, totally untitled by their pre-
vious training for almost all the ordi-
nary occupations of civil life. What
most of them have done with themselves
we are unable to say. Semmes, the most
illustrious of their number, was up to a
recent period editing a newspaper, and
a more curious transmigration than that
Ct an old salt into newspaper editor il
would be difficult to imagine. To any
one familiar with the autocratie rule aud
dignity Of the naval service, the specta'
Gle Of tie most famous sea king of this
generation, perched upon an editorial
tripod, and keeping himself ahoat in thai
way upon the troubled sea Of life, is more
suggestive than any other of the strange
events of the time, of the powers Of thu
tempest which has strewed sea and shore
with wrecks numberless and helpless al
autumn leaves.
In spite of the most intense eagernesI
10 look at the brightest side Of the darl
thunder.clouds still impending in tn,
armament, we cannot shake off the sad
ness which these sombre shadows cause
and are unable to see how the brigh
side is to be looked upon, except b,
those who have departed this life, an'
are taking bird s-eye view of it from thu
heavens. -BdttimOr Transcript