Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-08-23

He is very independent, and so far from
toadying to the upper classes, has alien
ated the good will Of the Lower Church
members by charging them with incon-
sistency in clinging to an organization
which he believes to be a halfway house,
and more, to that Of the Scarlet Lady.
A LOafer's Paradise.
The Providence Journal has a pleas
ant letter from Nantucket, in which oc-
cur the following passages:
There was time, not many years ago,
when eighty-nine whale ships sailed out
Of this port. Then it was doubtless the
most active and wealthy community of
its size on our coast. The great fire
which laid waste much of the central
portion of the town a quarter of CEN
tury since, induced partial prostration
of its business. The rapid filling up Of
the entrance to its harbor completed that
prostration. Now only two whale ships
are owned here, and we arc told that
they would be both sold on their return
from sea- The curator of the Atheneum
set forth to us the present business Of the
town by saying: "We live here by shaw
ing each other, till a stranger comes, and
then we all combine to shave him." He,
however, hardly did himself and his fe'-
low. citizens justice, They doubtless
CLEAN an amount from summer travellers,
but they charge but little for what they
give in return, as compared with the
extortionate prices that prevail in other
localities whittier pleasure-seekers resort.
They arc full Of real, unaffected cour-
tesy, generosity and hospitality. a
dozen years ago the population was 5000,
now it is one half that number,
The principal thoroughfares are
paved, and grass grows between the
paving-stones even on the main street.
Most Of the streets are very crooked,
and very narrow, and the houses are
generally huddled close together as
though at the time of their erection it
were feared that the island might prove
too small for the rapidly expanding
community. In some localities the
houses stand back of each other in tiers
two or three deep, and those in the
rear are reached by labarinthine wind.
ings not infrequently bordered by pea
vines or Towering shrubs, though some-
times the intricate passage is barren OF
all ornament and attractiveness. AL
most every house has lookout on top.
In some instances it is mere cupola,
but often it is quite promenade, fire.
quently extending from end to end OF
the house, above the ridge-pole, and
fenced in with balustrade. Time was
when these lookonts we're daily visited
and eager eyes scanned the horizon to
catch. if possible, a glimpse of some re-
turning whale ship; but those have gone
by. They now scarcely serve any other
purpose than to add to the antique and
quaint appearance of the town. Most
of the people here are in independent
circumstances. Many are wealthy. The
poor classes have gone to the mainland,
or {" the continent" as it is the rule to
say here, where there is something to
do by which living can be earned.
Really healthful and enjoyable summer
homes can be obtained at moderate ex-
pense.
Loafng is fine art in Nantucket.
Look into any Office on Main street, and
you will see dozen comfortable arm
chairs. Men who had business once,
but have none now, keep their old Office
hours, and around them gather their old
eronies as regularly as the days come.
Old yarns are spun again for the thou
sandth time, long voyages are sailed
over once more, the career of notably
successful or unfortunate ships are re-
hearsed, politics and blueishing are dis
eussed at length. All sorts of devices
are resorted to for rufiing the stagnation
of the town with little excitement.
To vary the monotony of very dull
trade, auctions of kinds unheard of
elsewhere are very ingeniously devised
such as meat auction, for instance.
When an OK is killed it is cut up into
pieces suitable for family use, into each
piece skewer is stuck, all the pieces
are displayed on a large wooden bench
placed on the sidewalk, and then the
crier is dispatched through the town to
announce with bell and voice that
meat auction will take place at certain |
hour. The crowd gathers, and great en-
thusiasm is displayed till the sale
is over. The steamboat is the grand |
theme Of the thoughts of the people. |
Each evening the crier parades through |
town proclaiming in stentorian voice,
" Steamer Island Home leaves at eight |
o clock tomorrow morning. an an
which awakens as much in
terest as though everybody was desirous
of getting away in this boat, and had hith-
erto not the faintest hint of the time of
her departure. In the morning half the
town goes down to see her off. Call any
where during the day, enter an office,
buy any ice cream do what you will, if
you hold any communication with any
one, you are sure to be asked when you
think the boat will be in. tits said that
q watchman is stationed in one of the
church towers to look out for her COM
ing, and when he gets sight of her he
blows horn. Certainly her coming is
in some way known long time before
she whistles, and the news seems to flash
in an instant through the town. Then
hundreds rush to the pier as though Old
Nick we're at their heels. Horses are
lashed into fury, dogs bark, children
scream, old gents drop their dignity and
race like school boys; pretty maidens
trip along like FAIRIES, and ia irice the
wharf is Alled. A thousand ears are
strained TO hear the steamer whistle, u
thousand eyes turn to catch the first
glimpse Of her smoke stack and colors.
fI
Father Ryan, Of Mobile, the favorite
= poet priest of the South, is a unique
character. In his priestly garments he
ooks almost like woman, and a New
Orleans critic says Of him; The sun
shine Of all the good and noble qualities
hat are so often unequally divided out