Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-09


following order:
Grand Marshal and Aids.
Knoxville Police Force in Uniform.
The German Youth Carrying Flags.
Knoxville Brass Band.
The Flag Bearers-Flags of the United States
and Turn Vereins.
Mayor and City Council in, Carriages.
The Visiting Turner'S on Foot.
Knoxville Turn Verein.
The Committee of Arrangements.
Citizens in Carriages.
Throughout the entire line of march
the procession was greeted with loud
cheers from the throngs which lined the
sidewalks, and the waving of flags and
handkerchief from the ladies which lined
the windows of the houses.
ADDRESS OF MAJOR L. A. GRAFT.
Ladies and Gentlemen and Brother Turner's:
1t is with feelings of profound graft
tude that | accept the honor conferred
upon me to welcome to our city the diff
ferent delegates representing the Turner
societies composing the Lookout Noun
tain District, and it gives me great plea
sure that am able to thank our Ameri
can citizens for the many tokens of good
will they have shown our Turner society,
to-day, by decorating and beautiiying in
our honor Che most prominent points
along the principal streets of the city.
Strangers who have never before seen
each other meet to-day as brothers, con-
trolled and influenced by one object,
bound together by the cord of brotherly
love and friendship. 1t is. but mete that
/ should, in concise and general way,
give to you the history of the Turner's. In
1910, while Germany was oppressed by
the tyrannical rule of Napoleon, when
manhood was crushed under the heel of
despotism the young men Of Germany
formed into societies for the purpose Of
practicing military drill, and by athletic
sports to harden their bodies so that
when the hour for action came they
should be ready to take their place as
soldiers in the ranks, and form the army
to deliver Germany from foreign thral-
dom. We, in this country, thank God,
are not called upon to pratice athletic
sports for the same purpose, because we
are free the moment we touch American
soil, but it is in commemoration of the
in order to pass our leisure hours with
profit that we form into Turner associa-
tons. The German colors are black, red
and gold-emblematical of darkness,
blood and light. Through darkness and
blood it leads to light and freedom The
banner Of the Turner's is an owl perched
upon drawn sword and a lighted
torch The owl represents watchfnl-
ness; the sword, courage and bravery
the flaming torch, enlightenment free
dom and liberty. This banner
is closely allied to the German
colors in this that the owl is bird Of
the night representing black, the sword
an instrument of war, representing
blood or red, and the flaming torch, rep
resenting the golden light of liberty.
The banner is surrounded by wreath
Of oak leaves, which represents strength,
as the oak tree has always been regarded
as the emblem of strength. But my
friends, as American citizens, we have
added another emblem, that of the eagle,
the monarch of the birds, and | am
proud to see it to-day perched upon the
German oak, thus blending the elements
of strength and forming peaceful and
happy union. Our brethren in the old
country have, for ages past been en-
gagged in the task of uniting the different
Municipalities and to make them, in fact,
German Brothers. In trying to execute
this grand object, they have shed rivers
of blood; but we, the Germans in this
country, have succeeded, this day, in
peace and by means of love, and we
stand here linked together, by the bonds
of brotherhood, representatives of every
principality and nationality in Germany
as one man, distinguished by the proud
title of German-AmeFican citizens.
THANKS AND COLLATION..
After the conclusion of Major Graft $
speech, Fred. Myers, Esq, President of
the Chattanooga Turn Verein, in behalf
of the visiting Turner's, thanked the men,
bers of the Knoxville society for the hos
FATALITIES which had been bestowed upon
them, and expressed his surprise and
qualification at the evident prosperity !
and increase Of the beautiful city TO which |
they had been made so welcome. The
Turner's and invited guests then partook |
of collation. at the Franklin House, /
by Major Janney, proprietor,
and which was enlivened by impromptu /
speeches and witty repartee.
OPEN AIR CONCERT.
In the evening the grand concert on
the grounds of the Female Institute
the days festivities. The
grounds we're handsomely illuminated.
Chinese lanterns hung in continuous
line, stretching over a large area. Two
headlights she'd brilliance on
the scene. A temporary stand, decor
ated with evergreens and lanterns, served
Tor the singers. Seats, arranged on the
lloping ground, seated the ihopsands Of
pee tators, composed of the ladies and
gentlemen of Knoxville, irrespective Of
The concert was complete
uccess. The novelty of the outdoor
altering. combined with the excellent
music and the balmy evening, filed the
losts Of listeners with pleasure, and the
ierman concert in the open an will long
,e remembered in Knoxville.
&c.. III -. .,,-..,,f, doIla-s IN cold