The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-11-21
POOR PAUL CICALLA !

during the prevalence OF the late yellow
fever epidemic in Memphis tho mayor OF
the city was attacked by the disease.
Without authority of law he appointed a
friend of his to act in his place, until he
should die or DO enabled to resume the per-
Torrance of his official duties. His legal
substitute was Mr.. Paul A. Cicalla, an
alderman who was chairman of what Ci.
Gala called "the gas-se comete." Ability
to perform the duties Of tho mayors of
flee, Mr.. Cicalla did not possess, but h,
believed no did ; no had no doubt no
could discount any living man at tho busi-
ness Of the Mcmphian mayoralty, and he
concluded he would not endure the insult
OF Mayor Johnson. lie accordingly in
voked tho aid of the law, and superseded
Mayor Johnson's man as acting mayor.
Somebody swore at MIR. Cicalla when
he had taken this step; and in short
time the habit Of cursing him became
general in thoBluif City. Every body cursed
him. lie became famous. lilo was and
il the most hated man in the city of the
yellow affection. But Mr.. Cicalla didn't
care. lie is one of those men who don't
care nickle for public opinion, and he
was deaf to all the abuse that assaulted
his cars.
After awhile he became infccted-not
with the fever, but with noble desire to
dispense to an old lady and family apor-
tiop of tha oh y a A al a oUar;,os ,,b; a. .,o.o
showered down into Memphis out of the
broad sky of humanity. He made n re-
QUESTION upon the proper committee, OBJ
tanned months supplies, took them to
his own house, and distributed them
among the members OF theold ladys fam
lily and the family ofhis own poor mother
in-lsw.
This fact was seized upon by his one-
mics, and he was denounced as a thief
He was not even allowed trial. I'm
tremendously poor Paul was kicked out
of the board of aldermen
But the unfortunate and oppressed, the
wronged and sbused have buckler in
the law. Mr.. Cicala has put on that
buckler, and proposes to fight his battle
bravely until he comes OFF victorious or
goes down in the last ditch.
That Mr.. Cicalla has been wronged. We
have no doubt whatever. In our opinion,
his disposition of the supplies proves him
to be man Of the most tender heart,
man who can rise above tho most power
full temptation. Ii he had divided the
supplies between the old lady for whom
they were obtained and other old ladies
not Of bis own family, the excavations
that have been heaped upon him would
have been just; but it is on record, that
the supplies he did not give to the old lady
he gave to his starving mother
in-law. How many men with starving
mothers-in-lsw, would have acted as Paul
A. Cicalla acted In the language Of
Logan, the mournful Indian chief: "Not
one'" Cicalla is ono among ten thousand
sons-in-law. Instead Of abuse he deserves
applause. Mics Stephenson died that
strangers might live; but what was such
q sacrifice 10 that of Cicalls, who gave
away what did not belong TO himself
: who ran the risk Of ruined reputation
that his mother-in-aw might OF starve
The tuneful local bards Of Memphis
should pour forth songs in his praise, and
drown the abusive voices of men like AL.
dermsn White who cannot forgive him
because he rose superior TO the weakness
oi ordinary humanity and did no. allow a
mo,her-in-law to join tho shining band Of
martyrs who twsng their harps, instead Of
'hsir tongues, upon "the other shore, away
over thars"