Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-06

How A was Celebrated fn Memphis
Saturday.
Picnieing, Angling, Horse-Rses"a
and Aquntics. H.
spsrss Of the Turf. the Grove and
the Flood.

| The ninety.secohd anniversary Oh
American Independence was celebrated
with no public demonstration in Mem
phis. All disposed 10 observe the dny
we're left free to choose their own
method of doing So, The result there
fore was the participancy and indnl-
gences Of the public were divided ont
among the numerous private picnics and
excursions as individual taste and incli.
nation elected. The day was ushered IN
with the usual fuslade Of fire-crackers
on the part Of Young America. with
Young Africa aiding and abetting TO the
full extent of his pecuniary resources
The cracker trade. however, was not
brisk. Tho day began as it ended, one
Of the quietest and most orderly within
our recollection. The amount Of pow
der consumed was comparatively triiling,
and very few of the Juveniles were so
flush as to touch Off their crackers by the
bunch. The indescribable swapping, rat
Ting aud phizzing produced by. the
double aid of crackers and empty -four
barrels was nearly if not quite dispensed
wiih--a matter of decided congratulation
among the more nervous and sensitive.
The best of spirits and universal good
feeling seemed TO peryade all classes
throughout the day, superinduced with
many, perhaps rather by The Presidents
proclamation of amnesty, read at the
breakfast table, than BY peculiar emo
tons of patriotism aroused by the recur-
renee of the day when our ancestors de-
clared themselves Independent of King
George and the mother country. The
declaration of nc dwindled into insig-
nficance for the time being, compared
with the proclamation Of '68, and was
seemingly crowded ont Of memory. Al
though it had.been previously announced
that amnesty might be expected as the
method the President would employ Of
celebrating the fourth, it was neverthe-
less not the less welcome, and put every
one in the very best humer for paying
their respects to the day thus rendered
to the South double anniversary. Spec
ulations regarding the nominations Of the
New York Convention only shared with
the Presidents proclamation the public
mind and mouth, and it was difficult TO
find knot of two or three individuals
upon any of the street corners who had
not the one or the other theme under
discussion.
But little, however, was to be seen or
heard upon the streets, beyond the oeca-
sional explosion of pistol or Chinese
cracker, after the early morning had
passed. Thousands repaired to the su-
burbs, majority of the business houses
closed DOORS and the city became com
paratively quiet and deserted. 1t was
really out of town, therefore, that the
Fourth was celebrated.
PlCNIcs
we're the special order of the day, and the
several in progress at different suburban
localities we're all largely attended, and
we believe in every instance passed OH
in the very pleasantest manner. That at
James Park, at the head Of Vance street,
for the benefit of the Orphans Asylum of
st. Peters Church, drew perhaps the
largest crowd; at least as many as fifteen
hundred persons being on the grounds at
one time, while a constant coming and
going was kept up during the day. A
full string band was in attendance, and
one of the pleasantest features of the oc-
casion was q bran dance under the broad
branches of the forest trees, which was
kept M with unabated zest until ten
o'clock at night. The proceeds of the
entertainment were probably larger than
those of any picnic Of the season, and
will 90 far in enhancing the comfort OF
the orphans of the Church.
The St. Marys picnic, at the Ford
Place, In Chelsea, given with view to
raising funds for the completion of
Father Snyder's Church edifce, was rath-
err slimly attended during the forenoon.
As evening approached, however, the
party was greatly Impressed in numbers
by additional arrivals from the city, until
finally the grounds we're crowded. Here
too, the day was happily spent, the most
palatable refreshments literally served,
a spirited dance indulged in, and, in
brief, every pastime instituted to tiedge
the moments with golden wings.
The picnic and other exercises at the
Leath Orphan Asylum, by the Social
Union, was perhaps the most formal GEL
ebration of the day at any point in and
around the city. Beside the amuse
m0nts, music and dancing and feasting,
the Declaration of Independence was
read by Capt Harry Lee, prayer was
offered up by Rev. Mr.. Mason, an
Grafton was delivered by Rev. W. A.
Pearne, and numerous appropriate toasts
were drunk and responded TO, These
concluded, sets were formed under the
shady branches OF the trees, and to the
spirited strains Of a full string band the
dance was kept mp until ? late hour Of
the night.
Nor yet was the galorious day to be
} monopolized by the white trash.
lfe;oa likewise came in for his share