Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-13
N. Hill; Fifth Vice President, John
Brown; Treasurer, John 7, Strattoni
Secretasy, Leon Trousdale.

Secretayy, Leon Trousdale +
The circulation question has become
so necessary to the public on account of
its importance and general interest, that
petition is said to be in circulation
among our citizens for the purpose of
praying Our morning contemporaries to
continue the discussion daily during the
year 1871, because, as Greeley would
say, :" It's mighty interesting reading"
Captain Bernard Grey, of the police
force, was presented last Saturday eve
ming with a splendid riding mare by his
numerous friends and members Of the
force. The present was rendered by
Chief O'Donnell, after which the health
of the popular Captain was duly drank
in champagne. Captain Grey is an
efficient officer, and deserved the eompli-
ment rendered by his fellow-ohicials.
The churches were largely attended
yesterday, the principal sensation being
the lecture on Popular Objections to
the Catholic Church" by-Dr. Rogers, at
the Greenlaw Opera House. In view of
the factthat the learned doctor had often
criticised and denounced the Roman
Church in days gone by in this city, the
lecture was looked for with interest," and
was generally enjoyed by the large, au-
dience. M "a
Sabine and 1.-THE Little Church
Around the Corner" have been the fruit
full source of poetical illusions as well as
prose diatribes. After reading about
twenty poetical efforts we are forced to
pray that no such cause may again arise
if the result is to be poetical infection.
There should be law to prevent people
from feloniously stealing ideas and
words or imposing upon the public a
mass of rhyming nonsense. iqHTe
The number of human beings lost on
the steamer Arthur was about sixty-six,
and up to this time but four bodies
have been recovered. The rapid rise of
the river has prevented any recovery of
the lost. 1t is a melancholy reflection to
think that the friends and relatives Of
the deceased will be forever deprived of
the sad duty of paying the last tribute to
humanity--the rites of sculpture. 1t
should be made the duty Of some official
to cause immediate search for the re-
mains of those destroyed by steamboat
explosions. Our laws are silent on this
important subject.
A few days since our Union street CO.
temporary was hoaxed by jail guard,
who made our intelligent and quick
witted neighbor believe that Wisener had
made no confession previous to his death.
In yesterdays issue, however, our CO.
temporary gives the particulars Of the
confession The Jail guards letter bore
the ear-marks of legal mind, and was
no doubt written by an attorney. The
county pays Jail guards for the purpose
of lockingup and watching prisoners,
and when they assume to be moral phil
osophers we are bound to recollect the
proverb: Ne sutor ultra crepidem."
Before the late European war broke
out, wine drinking was becoming quite
fashionable in our city, but the continued
success of the German arms turned the
popular taste in favor of the fluid in
vented by King Gambrinus-the ever
present lager. The long line Of Kings
and the poet Anacreon, who made wine
drinking famous, have given place to
William Rex who is said to be the lineal
descendant of old Gambrinus, the titular
divinity Of lager. Who would have be-
lieved that the cracking Of crowns on
the banks Of the Seine could change the
popular taste on the banks Of the Mis-
sissippi2
The growing disposition Of negroes
especially negroes from the country--to
insult white men may yet result seri-
ously. This morning negro passenger
on the Brownsville accommodation train
/ grossly insulted baggage-master Thomas
Cogan, because the latter requested the
insolent negro to move aside while he
passed through the train. Mr.. Cogan
promptly and very properly slapped the
face of the negro, but the latter attempted
to draw a pistol. Mr.. Cogan was too
quick for the colored individual, and the
sight of his six-shooter had a quoting
effect upon the fighting contraband.
Drunken negroes cannot be permitted to
insult white employees with IMMUNITY.
Negroes from the country have not as
| VET got over the idea that they are as