Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-10
so) than humorous and funny. But let


and pick cut some of the more
prominent ieatures of the hetero-
geneous mass Of humanity surg
ing and swaying to and fro like
great ocean hllows, the plumes and the
glittering apparel of the inaskers, re-
minding the ipectator Of the foam Of the
wave when made bright by the besming
sun. Whist can be said where there is
so much and where there are so many.
One might as well attempt to paint the
myriad staS In their untold numbers,
or 10 speak describingiy OF the
falling snow drops, as give correct
representation of even the prominent
features Of the day. The grand stand
over the iron railing along Court square
was occupied by at least twenty-five
hundred spectators. The business
houses generally were closed apd from
within peered eyes of wonder. In most
Of the stores stands had been erected
and thereby many persons were denied
the necessity of facing the disagreeable
cold wind which blew from the east all
day long. But thousands OF Others were
jammed together Ia the streets like so
many cattle in a contracted space,
Every balcony, every window, housetop
and steps afforded place of observation,
and il yet Is surprising fact that so
many persons could be congregated in
! the city OF Memphis. To one occupying
position on tall building could be
! given somewhat adequate idea Of the
| great crowd, which formed a solid wall
OF interested men, women and children
of all nations, colors, races and condi-
| tions, and stretched from Adams to
| Beale streets, the distance between these
| thoroughfares being three-quarters of
mile. The number of people could not
have been less than fifty thousand,
probabl y-sixty thousand. At least one
hundred thousand persons witnessed the
procession of the Ulks, for, as already
stated, not only along Main but else
where in the city were seen great
crowds, all full of good cheer, merri-
ment and mirth, such as no other occa-
sion could impart. Along Main street
Chief Athy, accompanied by
Captains Weatherford and Braun,
Sergeants Arrsta, M Elroy, Hagerty and
---, all mounted and at the head
Of detail Of forty policemen on foot,
marched down the thoroughfare, in or
der to clear the streets of all vehicles
and street-cars. Following the pslice
came a squad of burlesque infantry,
uniformed in blue cambria and armed
with wooden guns and bayOnets. The
appearance OF the officers, police and
burlesquers, OF course caused much fun
and not little laughter. The police
were stationed at different points along
the route of the procession, and Chief
Athy with mis- officers rode back and
acted as an escort to the UIkg. But the
infantrymen marched around generally,
having fun wherever they went and pre-
vOking mirth among all who saw them.
Like the king who with something less
than twenty thousand men marched up
che hill and then marched down again,
they marched and counter-marched all
over the city. Apes, real live apes to all
appearance, were seen riding horses, and
their antics were no less amusing than
the absurd grace of the clowns who cir
culated in great numbers and were at
tired in the most ridiculous costumes.
Conspicuous in the procession was a
coach, somewhat dllapidated and drawn
by two horses. In it weIe delegates to
the chamber of commerce for the
next municipal offices. In an
other coach were lot of mu-
nicipal office-holders, who looked
like they had worn themselves out max
ing lamp-post orations and promising
their constituency new sidewalks and
improved Nicolson streets. Next to this
coach came an open carriage in which
were several ladies. A burlesque wagon
by Farrell, the great oyster man on the
corner Of Main and Jefferson streets, had
life size pictures OF Andrew johnson,
President Grant and Phil. Sheridan.
Mr.. Johnson was represented as saying
" Here's the constitution; General
Grant, pointing to Phil. Sheridan, says,
There's your spotted Inule;" Phil,
however, remarks, "I am not afraid.n
The Olympic Theater was advertised
also by wagon, which presented no
especial features. Another carriage filled
with old people was labeled candy on
his way to Washington" A good bur-
lesque was large wagon with an i'm
mense wooden cage containing several
living curiOsities. This was labeled
"HeOper's Town Menagelie," and in the
cage was goat to represent a Sandwich
elk imported expressly for the occasion
by King Kalakaua, strange specimens
Of the monkey and ape, small dog, a
great snake, a1d other animals, both
quadruped and biped. On top were two
fantastic drummers, who made music
enough for sll creation, where discord
will suffice. A good burlesque wagon was
labeled "Parker & Blakely, stock bro
kers' Office, No. IS Madison street.
Express messengers are invited to
call on u.s." This was a burlesque
upon the robbers who recently robbed
the Southern express company in this
city OF eight thousand dollars. Apes,
clowns, Indians, monks, friars, knights,
old negroes, some representing the civil
rights bill and its party; eourtiers, her.
aids, pages, msidens, spinsters, musi-
clans, hackneyed politicians, signing for
the good old days of stupidity and jour-
nalistic 1ioerality, red and black devils,
princes, kings, soldiers, policemen, min
listers of state, countrymen, shoemakers,
actors, professors, insurance agents, gen.
tlemen, John Bulls, Uncle Sans, French
Charles, Irish Paddles, American shod-
dies, German philosophers, Italian ar
lists, Spanish grandees, Arabs, Turks,
Moslenas, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks,
nymphs, sprltes, gnomes, fays, syl-
phtdes, imps, bacchanates, Ganymedes,
Apollos, dandies, sisters of charity,
priests and preachers, farmers, mechan-
les of different kinds, bfigsnds, Indians,
Esquimaux, girls with dresses made Of
and in fact every conceiva-
BILE character of history, science, art and
fiction. Every mythology, religion,
order of chivalry, supersti-
JiOn and history were personated, and
it is estimated that at least seven or
eight thousand masqueraders were scat
tered along the streets. The noise from
daylight till late in the night was enough
to craze the brain and shatter the con-
of the imps of pandemonium.
Heavens! what a racket was made by
means of bells, gongs, blowers, pipes, |
tiddles, banjos, horns, etc. Among the |
NoIsIEsT OF NOISY THINGS
was a large wagon covered with white
canvass and labelled, "Tracy & Co.,
Printers, No. 295 Second street" With |
in the canvas box was q six-hundred |
pound bell, which tolled all day long,
and persons who heard it thought 1t
some funeral being announced. 1t was
deemed good representation of Peter
Tracey on wheels, and made as much |
noise to the public ear as Peters lingual
ciapper does upon the tympanum of his
DltLcineG del MenlohOsi. 1t was novel
idea and certainly gave evidence OF
noisy genius and musical invention on
the part Of Tracey & Co. 1t attracted
attention everywhere, and was enough
10 uldh6 TIE ueNn auu LIS luiS 4ulN6E
with nervousness. Among the
DISTINGUISHED SPECTATORS
of the day was Honorable Andrew
Johnson, who occupied posi-
ton on the Peabody balcony, and was
surrounded by a bevy of beautiful ladies.
Ia front of the Peabody the crowd was
denser, more noisy, and thicker than at
any other place on Main street. Persons
were tramped down, little girls became
alarmed, and the ubiquitous small-boy
was unable to help himself. The crowd
yelled for Mr.. Johnson and wanted him
to make speech, but the "Great Com
moneI" probably gave no encourage
ment to the wishes Of the populace.
Among the wandering troubadores was
KILL-GORE's BOSTON JUBILEE BAND,
which was one of the prominent features
of the day, and being a sort of side-show
to the regular proceedings, was of suffi
cient attractiveness to carry with it q
very large part Of the throng. 1t was
under skilliul direction, fact which
was clearly apparent through the cloak
OF burlesque. The band was composed
of base viOl, violincello, base drum and
cymbals, side-drum, couple of violins,
guitar, banjo, cOrnet, alto-horn, inn
mense triangle, three or four tin squeal-
ers and squeakeTs, and several other
"machines,n evidently invented for the
occasion. The musical conductor welded
a feather-brush in manner that showed