Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-05
Presentation.

The following account of a pleasan
affair is from this mornings Appeal:
A very pleasant ceremony took plac,
on board the steamer George W. Cheel
yesterday afternoon, shortly before tina
noble vessel turned her grow down thu
river, on her semi-weekly trip. A little
after four clock number of the lead
ing physicians of Memphis, among
whom were to be observed Drs. A. X
Taylor, W. E. Rogers, Paul 81. Otey, j.
M. Rogers, j. Armstrong, A. Szerenyi
aud f. l.. Sim and Mr.. l.. S. Morris OF
the Peabody, marched into the ladies
cabin, where they met DR.. Luke P.
Blackburn, surrounded by his amiable
and accomplished wife and several la
dies well known in the best circles OF
Memphis society. DR.. Blackburn, after
devoting his life to the care of the sick
and the dying, and who, through his skill
as a physician, was enabled, under Di-
vine Providence, to save many valuable
lives, was, after sojourn in our sorrow
stricken city for over six weeks, about to
take his departure to his plantation in
Arkansas. The principal physicians
who had witnessed with pride and ad-
miration the arduous duties performed
| by DIR. Blackburn, were determined that
he should not leave the city without re-
ceiving a substantial mark of their es-
TEEN and regard for him as a physician
and gentleman, and hence the reunion.
DR.. A. X. Taylor advancing to the
front, addressed the worthy doctor in the
following appropriate and well chosen
remarks;
DR.. Blackburn have been chosen
by your friends, the physicians of Mem
phis, to present this cane to you, as a
token of their high regard for you as a
physician and gentleman. We thank
yeu for the services you have rendered
our citizens in the late dreadful scourge.
When time, sir, shall bend that noble
form, lean upon this staff with that con-
fidence you may ever rely on from the
people of Memphis. May God bless and
prosper you in your future course through
life [ Applause.
DR.. Taylor then presented DR.. Black
burn with handsome and massive gold
headed cane, beautifully chased, which
bore the following inscription: present
ed to DIR. Blackburn by his friends, the
physicians of Memphis, November,
1873.
DR.. Blackburn, who seemed a little
impressed at this manifestation on the
part Of his brother physicians, acknowl-
edged the compliment paid him in the
most betting terms. He said that he
had often heard that feelings of Jealousy
existed among the members Of the med
ical profession, but the valuable token
Of esteem with which be had just been
presented was ample testimony that no
such feeling existed. He had come TO
Memphis when the city was suffering
from a dreadful scoHrge, but he had not
come as a stranger. He had come where
he was well known, aud had come among
friends. de was, indeed, thankful if |
under the Providence Of Almighty God. |
be had been enabled TO relieve auv who |
we're in distress, or that it had been in
his power to save any valuable lives.
The token Of regard with which be had
just been presented, coming, as It
did, from his brother practitioners
of the science Of medicine in Memphis.
would ever be dearly priced by him, a.
be assured them be highly priced the
source from which it emanated. All Of
them had placed their lives in their
hands during the epidemic, which be was
happy TO say had nov passed from their
midst. De then, in feeling terms. al
luded 70 the lsmsnted death Of Miss
Matte Stephenson, andito " that h-izht
jewel Of Memphis Mas Lulu Wiiker-
SOB, a1d e0ncluded by again ths-,siipq
ne aoners ior their Fe-sy handsome and
gih amid applause. /
The occasion vas q happy one, and
al present enioyei themselves highly.