Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-23
ORGANIZED BENEy0LENCE.
Help for sne suasrlnx.
The Entertainments at the Exposition
RuiIdfug q Grand Success.

The promenade concert ana mop gtvel by
the, citiSans Of Nashyiils at the Exposition
building last night, in aid Of the stricken
people Of our sister city, Memphis, was q
grand success in every particular, but tie
exact amount realized therefrom, cannot
be ascertained at the time this is written,
but it will be q very handsome Gum, and
viii doubtless do an immense amount of
good. The buiIding had been thoroughly
cleaned, and put in excellent ORDER. An
additional stand for musicians had been
erected, the scenery in various parts of the
building touched up by the skillful and cum
ming hand Of Mr.. West, the scene painter,
and everything put in the best possible con-
dition.
The large building was handsomely lit
up by hundreds Of gas Jets, and as it was
nearly full of people, the effect was very
fine. There vera prob ably 1000 people in
the building at one time, but the number
present during the evening must have been
largely in excess of this.
The balconies were supplied with long
tables at which refreshments of all kinds
were served by the best ladies of Nashville,
and these tables were lined with patrons.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
All day long contributions came pouring
into the building from every quarter. Mrs.
Saml Lyman sent in beautiful suit of
boys clothing, which had been made at the
Tom Thumb clothing store. The gift was
accompanied by note in which Mrs. Hy-
man requested the suit be ratified off last
night, or otherwise disposed of, for the ben
eft Of the Memphis people. 1t was rsfiied
off during the evening, and became the pro.
perty of Mr.. Joe Weakley.
A cape oVercoat worth $50, add gentle
mans fur cape worth $25, were presented
to Mrs. M. Powers by the proprietors CT the
Star clothing house, which articles Mrs.
Powers sent in yesterday, with request
that they be rallied of, and the proceeds
sent to Memphis. Mr.. Currey secured the
coat, and Chas. Thompson, ir., the cape.
Delhi 81 Lord sent in number of boxes
of soda water, ale, porter and other liquids
for which their establishment is famous.
Dennis Mccarthy, Sam Black and Mr..
Combs provided a number of hacks for the
use of the ladies, who thoroughly canvassed
the city yesterday, collecting the articles
already donated and securing additional
contributions.
Mccormick 81 Co. sent several boxes of
assorted mineral water and ale.
G. CASTILLO, who has a fruit stand on
Cherry street, opposite the Maxwell, gener-
ously furnished large box of superb
fruits and candies.
Linck's AMI Eves' Hotels and the Frank
lin House, each sent up splendid lot OF
provisions of all kinds.
The ladies of Nashville, one and all, con-
tributed articles for the table, with the lib
erality for which they are famous, so that
there was no lack of eaSables for the hungry
multitude.
Among the ladies bus:ly engaged in ar.
ranging the tables yesterday, we noticed
the following:
Mrs. Henry Clark, Mrs. ScoveI, Mrs
Williams, Mrs. Mag Brown, Mrs. A. V.
Lindsey, Mrs. James Bell, Mrs. George
Fall, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Yeatman, Mrs.
Sam Powers, Mrs. L. j. Loventhall, Mis-!
Julia Putnam, Miss Lulu McCrory, Misses
Alice aud Lulu Horton, Miss Hattie GleaVes
Miss Bette ScoVell.
The table at the eastern end of the build
ing was managed by our citizens of The
Jewish faith, and was bountifully supplied
The young men present seemed to be ire
sistably drawn to this table, which may bt
accounted for perhaps by the bright face.
and sparkling eyes Of the young ladies at
tending it.
Immediately in the centre of the eastern
balcony was placed a beautiful monumen
contributed by Swan & Brown, in memory
of Miss Matte Stevenson, with whose his
tory, in connection with the sad scene!
daily witnessed in Memphis for the past feW
weeks, our readers are familiar. The mon
ument was twined with evergreens enbls-
matte of the freshness with which the mem
DRY of the sacrificing deeds Of this noble
girl will be preserved in the hearts of the
survivors of those whom she gave her life
to serve. Back of the monument the wal
was draped in solemn black, and on this
drspery was inscribed: ain memoriam Of
Matte Stevenson, of Illinois," During the
evening the band played an impressive
dirge, which had been composed for the oc-
casion by Capt. Gibson, the leader, in mem
DRY of Miss Stevenson.
The following beautiful tribute to Miss
Stevenson, appeared in the Memphis DIP
peal of last Sunday:
One of the most beautiful Illustrations
given by Christ of the unselfish devotion
thai should be the chief characteristic of
christians, is that of the Good Samaritan.
Others passed the sick man by the wayside
and refused him the succor and help be
needed; but be, differing in faith aud for.
mula, aud separated ny a gulf that had been
widening for centuries, jumped the chasm
of prejudice and bound up the sick mans
sores, poured into his ears the needed words
of comfort, and, placing him upon his
breast, carried him to place of safety. For
many years, more than we care to dwell
upon, there has grown up between the
| North and South wall of prejIdices, SO
many as to seem to those of us since 1865
engaged in tearing them down, beyond any
human possibility. We talked sectionalism,
| Democracy, Coaservati SIN and liberalism by
turns, and slowly they came down one
after the other, encouraging us to continue
in the brOtherly, and to US, task of love-
Slowly and gradually We undermined one
after another, and yet so many remained,
thai we despaired of our task. So many
hearts and brains differing with ours were
involved, that it was impossible to reconcile
them all at once. Not all the skill of all
the really patriotic men on both sides, not
all the really patriotic presses on both sides
could &C somplish the great work as soon OF
as completely, as we wished and desired.
But the failure of press, public and of pol
iticiaDs has become the browning glory oil
q little girl, weak in body but strong IN
heart, in mind and in those gifts of devotion
that are the chief excellencies of her sex.
She comes down to US in times that try the
soul and that wiring our hearts; she comes
to once rebel Memphis, famous above all
the cities of the val ey for its devotion to
the rebel cause, and she says:
"Such as am from the North, from the
West, whence came the stalwart men and
great armies of the war; such as l am, lit
tie girl in years, woman in all that
women may do, come to devote myself to
your sick, to your poor, TO your dying"
And we received her as only men and
women and children may who lie at the
foot of the cross and cry aloud, asking il
there be any Savior. We take her by the
hand as whitewinged messenger of love
from brothers from whom We had been sc
long entrapged, and task is assigned her
to be laid down only with the sweet, angelic
and beautiful life. She came like the vision
of the morning, bright and lovely dream
lighting the whole he vens with the radiance
of good heart, noble soul that, like thai
of the good Samaritan, leaped the oounda.
ries of passion and prejudice, and taught u!
that we are indeed of one hope and one God
one family, tongue and nationality.
Matte Stevenson, of Illinois, came To III
the best, the brightest, the noblest offeTiDs
of the muniicent and great-hearted West
She came to fulfil, let US say, her appointed
mission, to die that others might live, anC