Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-29
NASHVILLE LADIES.
Major DOdd and Balsam.
What an Englisman Thinks Of Both.

8 port folio, that, among other manuscripts,
contained some letters, ETC., thinking they
might Interest your readers, enclose them
to you:
= Dear Guy: You viii doubtless be much
surprised at receiving another letter from
me from this place. as in my last Idesignat-
ed It as barbarous American village, and
rebelled bitterly against the fate that de-
tanned me in it. Finding il, however, i'm
possible TO close up Immediately the bust
ness that called me here, l concluded to
try to make the best of things, and like
the busy bee (yOu have heard
of him before) improve each
shining hour. Enjoyment if not happiness,
is always within our reach, independent of
time, place, or circumstances, and the trav-
eler who fails to extract entertainment
from place, when the women are pretty
and the men sensible, had better throw
away his pilgrims staff. Nashville, the
Capital of the State of Tennessee, is a
small city, with few signs Of business or
enterprise, and you will not find it on any
Of the maps you and /, Guy, used to doze
over, though its name is not unfamiliar to
you. You remember how we laughed at
the description the Bremen Consul used to
give Of his first glimpse of royalty, bis Off
cial presentation to Louis Philippe? Awed
by the solemnity of the occasion,
and impressed by the Difference done
to sceptered worth, he had been all
day practieing the court bow, and repeat
ing, s'Oui votre msjesti, non Votre msjesti,
words that his chaperon, HRS. R., had
told him, were all he would be expected to
say: Imagine how the bland old monarch
took him by surprise. "Mr. Champion
from Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Consul to Bremen" said the minister with
low bow. "Brom Nashville, did you say,
sir" said the King, stopping suddenly and
extending his hand, "glad to see you, was
once there myself, taught French for liv-
ing, nice town, good people. Tell me, do
they still sleep there three a-bed, and do
they still have cock fights on the square in
front ofthe Inn?D Mr.. c. found his morn
! ing's rehearsal of little use and bis ideas Of
majesty underwent sudden change. Ut.
| terly devoid Of interest to stranger, there
being no public places of amusement, no
| opera, theatre, or concert hall, no museums,
| Libraries, or galleries of art, no gardens or
parks, where idlers may criticise their
neighbOrs and hope in turn to be criticised
or noticed, still Nashville has more and a
greater variety of human nature than any
| place of its size in the world. Far removed
| from the great thoroughfares of trade and
travel and hence little subject to foreign In
fuence 1t is perfect type of the American
town and the best imaginable spot to
study American characteristics and pre-
| elections. Shortly after my arrival here /
fortunately made the acquaintance Of Maj.
| Dodd, a well known bachelor and rather
| original character, who has kindly intro
duced me to several very interesting circles
and treated me to number of charming
tit-bits Of personal history. The Major,
| (Old Joe Dodd as the boys aud girls irreV.
erently call him. tall, slender, weaZen-
| faced, and shrill-Voiced, has had his OWL
history too, and as it is one not uncom-
mon in the Southern States will relate it.
The son of wealthy planter, his snte-bei
lum career was gay and brilliant, his ad
ventures with fast women being not few
and his knowledge of fast horses and fine
wines both deep and lasting. lie had :
LAYERS diploma and sported a leg j sign OIL
poverty row. but briefs and argu
ments were not his style and BIT
tdecidedly preferred ladies' jokes to being
bored by statements Of clients woes anC
wants. When the South was invaded hi
joined the Confederate army, received q
majors commission and played very gal
liant part in that unfortunate drama, tn,
closing scene Of which was Lees suIren
der. Since the war, beTefL o. fortune anC
influence, how he lives is mystery to BIZ
best friends. With no prospect of eve
amassing fortune, no hope of marrying, N
ambition to crafty, not even poor Micaw
| bar3o fr1Tsf of SopoafbinU fr1rnir1O nm n
logs along and seems to live merely to kee]
from dying. Nashville and, l suppose
every other Southern town has many sucl
citizens.
| wrote you in a former letter f;
description of that most odious and barba
rous American practice-tobacco chewing
Now let me tell you of habit Pc
culiar to the fair charmer5 of this city
Beautiful, graceful and psssionately fon'
of dress, they are noted all over the Uniol
for rare personal loneliness and great tast
and costlipess of attire. In fact, "beautifu
as Nashville belle," is common saying
and with regard to fashion they are NOR
Partisan than Parisians themselves. If yo
wish to see some incomprehensible couture
and remarkable panniers, some stunnin
toilets, piles of ruffles, laces and ribbon:
mountains Of curls, puffs and braids, jus
, come to Nashville and promenade o.
J Church street, and you will be satisfied
: You know our ladies never wear full dres
on the street, but here they wear diamond
and trains out walking, go to church wit
their heads powdered with gold dust, an
you would suppose nearly every other We
! man you meet to be en- route TO an opera @
ball. You remember, Guy, how we Ell
loved seeing the Spanish donnas in Mad
rid, with their cigaritas, putting clouds c
smoke from their full red lips, aud watch
ing so dreamily the vapor disappear in th
distance; how in Berlin we sat and locke
0 at those fair young Germans over thei
d lager, smacking their lips at its foam an
. laughing so merrly as they drained the las
drop. Happy days! How pleasant to re
;. call them nowl You remember that ever
: ing at Kroll's, we had made soms not yer
: flattering remarks about our neighbors
{ when fun-loving Fraulein interrupted u.
slave care, MILFORD. We speak Englisl
u and may not relish your joke.
: We chatted together awhile; by and by the
rose to leave; to our ''Good night, ladie!
u rosy dreams and sweet slum6ers," sh
smiled, curtsied, and with show do yo
y dop" tripped away. Here they neitht
smoke cigars, nor drink lager beer, bI
they do chew balsam. At first l notice
n ladies' elegantly and sumptuously attiret
le with every appearance of wealth and n
" finement, walking the streets chewing VII
lently, and, though it was not very suiti
r. BILE place to sppease ones hunger, l SUI
d posed them eating, especially as most
them were fat and rosy, and made the in
/ preston of being well fed. Probabl
r thought |, it is owing to the air of the loc
ton, to the influence Of the limestone roc
Ne TO the hydrant water, all these causes a
IS sppetizing and may produce great hunge
ID but then / noticed that they never s1s
lowed, but kept chewing, chewing, cham
ing, champing, smAcking, smacking, un
y I wondered their jaws did not break. o.
is morning | strolled into bookstore al
was busy looking over soma new public
tons, when a little Miss, bright and prett
g entered. The merry black eyes and sml
lg ing lips, challenged acquaintanc
y and emboldened me to ask, "Wh
are you chewinga' Eyeing u
suspiciously and springiDg back unco
De aciouSlx, eIo rapliad IA "a Won a YankoA