Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-18


knights to protect 1t from the touch OF the
many admiring subjects.
Next In the procession was burlesque
wagon upon the wOman's whisky movement
of Ohio, filed with quaint-loOkins females
aud old fogies, all engaged in reading ad-
charItv brszsn nhilanthropv ana hypocriti-
cal beneYolemce. Immediately in rear
OF the copper-distilled vehicle ot Ohio,
zation of this city, whose members wore the
customary uniform of the order, the officers
carrying pikes, while the Others bore tnuskets
After this was q historical wagon, tlia plat
form being covered with painted cloth 70 rep
resent the water. In the middle OF the plat
form was boat filled with ten Revolu ionary
soldiers, conspicuous among whom was Gene
raj Washington. The picture represented
Washington crossing the Delaware, ana the
design was well oarrEed ont.
Prot. Chris Haupt's Orchestra and Star
Band, # Louisville, Kentucky, composed
order and discoursed most delightful mu-
sic. They were in uniform and presented
the Chariot 81 I3accb1s followed next, but
what was the surprise OF his deYotees 10 ind
that the Gothic grandson, Gambrinus, king
and on 1t had large cask OF the malt
liquor. Not satisfied with this, the
beer-king wa1 seated upon the cask
and made merry witu half a dozen OF his COM
panious who were grouped around him.
The next muSic1ans were the original
clowns, whose instruments consisted OF TN
hsrns and boiler-iron drums Despite the
laughter and the jeers of the more enthusiss-
tic spectators, the clowns continued their
clatter and persisted in their endeavors to
evoke sweet music from their instruments.
They had a regular band and wagon, and
seemed utterly regardless OF the rain
aoo Anlddy streets through Wnlch nun
drsds of the vast crowd were moving.
'Pocahontas Saving Captain Smith" was
among the historical pictures represented.
Several beautiful ladies in elegant cos
tunes had hold of a man who looked
like foreigner, all the worse because
Of sea sickness and ms ms adventures
can continent. Captain Smith looked like he
was saved, and seemed quite happy.
Another wagon represented "Peace in the
City Council, y and, though its occupants had
several angry discussions, no blows ensued.
Following It were numerous carriages,a a circus
to the inclemency OF the weather the display
was nothing to what had been anticipated.
Had the day proven propitious the procession
OF the Crewe would have been the grandest
pageant ever witnessed ia the displays OF
heraldry, or seen upon state occasions among
the crowned heads of Europe. Many clubs,
believing that there would be no pro-
cession, did not participate. But, however,
deficient 1t was, there was cause for congratu-
lotion when We consider how disagreeabie
was the day. The procession paraded Main,
Second, Beaie, Aoams and Exchange streets,
and finally disappeared, no one knowing
where Momus had gone to.
About six o'clock, when the procession had
passed on its reckless and eXtravagaDt career
down Main street, the view was uninterrupted
by even q YenturesOme pedestrian from the
Worsham House to Waldron block. The GU
riosity and amusement-seekers hugged the
cold shelter of the sidewalks and congregated
under awnings and filed -doorways, but be-
yond the boundaries OF the curb-Sfones the
'coast was clear" IL was then that scene
occurred in the vicinity of Madison street
that took the spectators by surprise. AS If by
magic the middle of the street became filed
with truly elegantly dressed maskers, and
graceful as elegant, accompanied by an ae-
complfshed accordeon- player, and violtnist of
considerable skill. The party at once assumed
picturesque attitudes, and proceeded to go
through the fascinating maneuvers of the
"Lancers," accompanied by frst-class music
from the aforesaid instruments. The crowd
became charmed. Those who were walking
stood still, and those who had been stiffened
standing still moved to the tune OF the music.
The party, when the elegant dance had been
finished, disappeared quickly and mystic
riously as IL had gathered, and left hundreds of
people riyeted 10 the spot, not able to free
themselves from the charm OF the scene that
had been enacted. II was the most graceful
event Of the day, and gave one an idea Of
what the festival might have been had the
weather proved as was hoped.
THE MEMPHI.
AS EVENING approaches, the drolleries
and wonders that have made the day so de-
llghtful were mparativey forgotten, and
fever of expectation seized upon the thou
sands who were sharers Of th5 delights of
Mardi Gras. The time was approaching when
the Memphi, that mysterious order tnat ex-
cites so much curiosity, was to appear. It
was Interesting to listen to remarks that were
made among the-multitude as 10 who and
what the Memphi are. The current opinion
of men who, by deep study, by research
among the ruins, SdTcophdgl.S ind pdpJTtts OF
Egypt, and by some insight into the
chartuniHl, or sscerdotal repositories Of
lore older than the pyramids-if not coeval
SANDS Sd one OF the '' tefNSsVe 'pe Possession seG
OF mysterious secrets. These secrets are sup
posed TO refer TO the stars, and to compre-
q FarnFN rrfr
glimpse ana Newton a wonderful vision, as to
merely physical aspects-but the Memphi
have a deeper and wider knowledge of occult
phenomena, of which outward notions and
CONGREGATIONS are but the shell. So in other
departments Of science, of history, of the
origin of man on the globe, and OF many
erudite and abstract problems, the Memphi
are held 10 be the repositories OF lore that
goes beyond the mere scientists, and TO in
Yoive the substance OF many facts OF which
the modern naturalist knows only the NOR
biological or the relative sides. The most
striking TACT regarding the Memphi, however,
In the opinion OF the crowd, appeared to be
the'r-to use an opposite French phrase-in-
SGtSstSdbie character. That the Memphi
exist is well known, and they will soon
appear in procession on the streets-but who
are they? We know Odd-Fellows, Free Ma
sons and others, but who knows single one
OF the Memphi? We receive their invita-
tionS witness the glorious spectaeles they
prepare-we shall soon see them passing be-
fore our very eyes, Tut who will recognize one
of them? Who ever was, knowingly, in COM
pany with one Of them9 They have Sub
lime GIand Ouro; his dignity we know,
but VINO can point out the person that
sustains this mysterious elevation among
the most mysterious of ali assOcia-
tions? They have a Typhoou a
dreadful and severe character, merciiess in
chasttsement, malignant in feeling, vim
dictiYe to fendishneSs = before whom
only the pure and unblemished Mem:
us, mingling in our business, present in our
home parties and our public amusements-
specimens in brief OF wonderful things
that were heard at every street-corner,
| but darkness was settling down over the city,
shroudtng the glimmering of the twt-
| the forests that stretch toward the west
over the Arkansian swa1nps. With
| darkness it was understood the Mem phi would
| appear but where? On this point there was
| no agreement OF opinion among the teeming
| crowds. Many wended their way to the bluffs
some even We ent down 10 the mounds-hop-
| ing to catch the mysterious Memphi in the
very ect OF emerging from some hssure
| opening from the deep caverns in which they
| are reported to assemble. Others, however, said
] that the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians
\ when they had a settlement here, had con-
cealed sally-Dorts or passages winding In sub
/ terraneouS labarynthS beneath the soil, by
means of which they could retreat from OF
| unexpectedly approach assailing enemies
that the Memphi are acquainted with these
| tai secrets sssimilating them strangely with
the so-called medicine men of the Indian
/
/ was derived. Those who gave this infOrma-
| tion were confident that the expected process
sion would not be seen first near the bluffs
| within which it would be organized
but in the neighborhoOd OF some part
of the bayou, for there, as some
of the earliest Settlers of the Chickasaw Blum
used to declare, are openings to some Of the
sally-ports or winding recesses mentioned
above. -
Suddenly a glare of light shot up tc
the very sky, and strainsof music burst out in
| grandeur of harmony rarely equalled. Al
! this occurrence speculatfons and tactS-ii
| facts they were-respecttng the mysterious
| people who no one knows, was interrupted by
crowds rushed toward Fourth and Adams
| streets, in which direction the lights ana
sounds appeared to be. The impression wa,
correct. The Mempht were really out, and
with splendor OF display, gorgeous magnt
| ficence of array, a brilIiancy Of illumination
that no expectation had approached. There
was something of awe pervaded the specta
tors as they first caught sight of this imposing
array, suddenly marching through the streets
with grandeur that looked ike the royalties
of Orient, and picturesqueness thst haC
seized upon poetry and Weaved IL into living
moving beauty The silence OF astoniShmen
that first seized upon the gazing multitud'
soon gave way TO expressions of trrepressibl
delight. Shouts that waked the echoes--Plau
dts as unbounded as the waves of ocean burs
forth and pealed on, and on, and on as tn
grand and mysterious spectacle moved on ~
appointed march. Who OF the vast thousand
that gazed on that enchanting sight VIII eve
forget it2 That effulgenee OF lighti That wav
ing of hundreds of gorgeous and many.hueS
banners, with their strange symbols OF glitter
ing goldi Those costumes of magnidcen
splenSior, the flash of jewels, the soft sheen o
satins, the gorgeous tncrustatoDS Of gold, th
velvet mantles, the pompous crowns, the bril-
liant trains the gush OF piercing llgnt ina
rolled alOng The streets as the co ruscatiOns o
thes sunset deck the stream and flash with sap
phire splendor upon eachwave,an bubble an