Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-23
OLD FOLKS AT HOME.
The Annual Reunion and barbecue
at BartIets-A Gala Day.
the Address : Fessting. Rroiicking
and n General Good Time.


membered when the "0ld Folks" OF
Shelby shall have passed from the stage
forever, aud the youngest now shall have
become the old. The annual reunion and
barbecue, a Ia old time, inaugurated at
Bartlett this morning, and still 10 pro-
gress when, with reluctance, we forsook
the scene, proved itself an occasion,
uniting by the golden bond Of olden
friendships and a common sympa-
thy, all the exuberant joyousness OF
youth with the serener though
none the less heartfelt emotions Of ma
turer years. Tbs dignity and gravity OF
age commin.led with the grace and ami
nation Of youth and beauty, and though
the perpetuation Of custom established
twenty years aback in its celebration,
Joined with equal avidity those over
whose heads have not elapsed their sunny
teens. With such as have watched the
early village upon the bluff develop
into the proportions and importance
Of the present city, united those
whose birthdays scarce date be-
yond yesterday compared Herewith.
As between the old folks and the young
albeit it is the old folks day-the lat
ter predomiuated. SO indeed it would
ever seem to be. The aged are always
few. By long exposure on the battle
field Of life their ranks are thinned and
decimated. They see those who were
young when they were young, who stood
shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand
with them, drop by the roadside, and
even the faster disappear as they become
fewer and dearer. They look around
them for the boys and girls, the bellies
and beaux, Of other days; but
',The NOISY marbles rest
On the lips that they have pressed
In their bloom
And tho names they loved TO hear
Have been carved for many ayear
On the tomb"
The young and the joyous are always
numerous, however, and though few
themselves in numbers, the "Old Folk"
this morning found themselves sur
rounded by an array of youth aud
beauty and joyousness which could but
for the time being at least, render them
oblivious to the idea of loneliness and
cause them in contemplating the youth
full picture to forget their own years.
The first train out on the Ohio road
began to convey to the spot the happy
concourse, which each succeeding train
swelled in numbers, until the delightful
grounds selected for the pastime became
crowded with the aged, and the young
children, parents and grandparents from
among the old folks of the county.
Upon the stand were seated the Presi'
dent and a dozen more gray heads, the
personiication of the generation passed
and passing away. About ten o'clock,
Hon. E. M. Yerger was introduced as the
orator of the day, and received with
great enthusiasm, which subsiding, he
proceeded to deliver chaste, eloquent
and appropriate address. His reading
of the annual list of those who during
the twelve months have passed away
was done with such feeling as almost de-
MED him utterance, and found response
and vibration in many stricken heart
among his hearers. But tears were soon
dried in their briney beds" as from
the stand, at the close Of the exercises
there, the crowd betook themselves to
the festivities of the day Joined round
the Widespread board, and mingled in
the Macy dance. With only the temporary
suspension of the sports occasioned BY
the threatening clouds and not ungrate-
full shower about one o'clock, thus the
day was merrily passing when, reluc'
family, we left the scene.