Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-22

-.
oonniy " Shelby and State Of Tonnes
see. Tlds cornerstone was laid by Mis-
Emma ". Coleman. on this, the twenty
first day Of Aptil, A, d. ls7s, Tor III
Raleigh Mineral Springs Hotel Com
pany. President Colonel John DOno
van; Directcrs--,J. N, Coleman, /. T
Judd, Enoch Taylor, Il. Jones, BronsoI
Bayliss; Secretary ard Trcasurer-A
j. White; Architect-JAmes B. Cook
Contractor Wylie."
After this the Memphis daily papers
nickels, street car tickets, check foi
$1,000 on the Union aud Planters Bank
drawn by Tax Collector and endorsed
officially by the County Trustee, and
various other articles. 1t happened that
the check in question had been through
the bank and struck with the caneeling
mallet, thereforeit viii be valueless ex-
cept as a souvenirwhen removed by some
curious historian who win be digging up
the treasures Of antiquity on the banks
of the Western nile some time between
now and the year A. d. 1878. Miss Cole
man made very pretty speech, after
placing the morter over the cap-stone, to
the following effect: 1y'
Having examined your work, am
pleased 70 say il is well formed, true and
rusty. The foundation-stone of the
Grand Hotel having been laid and prop
erly adjusted, permit me 10 return TO you
these implements of your profession,
with instructions 10 snperintend and
direct the work, having full confidence
in your skill and capacity to conduct the
same. ~
The ceremony was watcsed WITH silent
and intent interest by the crowd OF
ladies and gentlemen who stood in a
compact circle around the cornerstone.
A little back aud apart stood venera-
bic but erect and commanding old gen
tlsman, full seventy years old his head
aud flowing beard white as the frosts OF
winter, and eyes only dimmed by the
tears that he kept back with visible Ell
fort as he looked across the way at the
dismantled old courthouse in sight, and
doubtless thought Of the many changes
he had witnessed. He was one OF the
very few on the ground who was present
when the cornerstone of that old court
house, marvel Of expense and archi-
tectural beauty in its day, was laid IN
the year 1888. What reflections and
"reminiscences of the long past may have
fitted through his mind like piano.
rama or half-waking dream, we may
not conjecture, but Nr. John Only, to
whom this alludes, was one of the most
notable as we'll as worthy gentlemen
who Joined in the celebration of the day |
Colonel John Donovan presided over
everything in his usual happy manner
making all feel welcome and ditfusing
his good spirits like sunshine to all. DE
invited them to two long and swaying |
tables under canopy near by; they
went, and the good things that were pre-
pared by CASTOR in such tempting form
and profusion were partaken of with
relish which convinced very,intelligent
waiter on the ground that no dyspeptics
or invalids had been able to attend.
But there was abundance for all, and
sparkling wine foamed over the brim of
many deep-bottomed glass that had to
be filed and filed again. There was no
helping it; Colonel Donovan was in COM
mand, and his corps of assistants obeyed
his voice to the letter and to the spirit
especially the spirit, and they were refill
ing glasses at late hour in the after
noon, WHENEVER the reporters called
for rations of bread to keep up appear
ances, and then like the Arabs--only
more so-silently stole away with few
bottles of champagne in their stovepipe
hats. The flow of wine was much
greater than of speeches, as will be OBJ
served by the reports produced this
morning. These reports are first rate,
and we only regret that we have not
space to give them verbatim, but being
rather full to.day-the LEDGER-the ex-
cellent little addresses made in re-
Spouse to toasts and otherwise by Messrs.
Donovan, Wallace, Logwood, DuPre,
Kellar, Judge R. j. Morgan, Captain
Mellersh and others are crowded
ont. The assurance was given that
the hotel will be finished by the
middle Of July, and the cars run
ming to Raleigh several weeks sooner.
This was glory enough for Raleigh to
have in one day, and all who went from
the city seemed to have enough.
n