Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-07
MEMPHIS TENN: FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1876

alton Of spirit in very truth. you do
not want paper land in selling be will
run over the names OF all he has at the
top of his voice) he will black your
boots II that fails, he sends after your
retresting form the dreaded words
Lights, SURF"
The crossing sweepers are another
nuisance. They constitute numerous
and well organized body, with rules reg
ulating their conduct among themselves,
and with tie right of ejectment if any
fellow sweep trespasses upon their " free
hold, as they call their particular cross.
ing.
The genuine beggars are, as have
said, few. The policemen keep a sharp
eye upon them, and they have to move
on" If they fail to do so they are at
tended to, or, in other words, transferred
to the poor-house Speaking of these
things reminds me that there is no city
so overrun With cheap music as London.
The Italian seems to flourish here, and
his organ is heard in every street
sometimes wonder how they all live, but
am told that the lower classes rejoice in
such harmonies as La file dc Madame
Angot," and literally reward the wan.
dering minstrel These street musicians
cannot be numbered, end they perform
on every variety of instrument. The
German brass band is about the best of
the lot, while the Pandean performer,
with his pipes and his unstrdng drum, is
decidedly the worst. Those that murder
"Auld Lang Syne, my dear, on the
flute, interspersing-darzwischen as the
Germans say-a vocal rendition of the
same, are the ones who make life a
, burden
If we omit 10 count the old women in
the lights'trade, we find that in only the
newspaper department the female has
taken anything like an active hand.
These young girls possess as general
rule shriller voices and more insinuating
manners than the boys, l should not be
surprised if they gathered the better
harvest.
Speaking Of this recalls me to some
thing that greatly surprised me when
first learnt it. had always been under
the impression that my own country was
the favorite abode of projects for female
emancipation, bpt England can easily
defeat the claim. 1t is an active and
aggressive warfare here, and the stan
dard is carried by those of the highest
ranks in society. All maiden ladies
seem to have their shoulders to the
wheel and push vigorously, at the same
time exacting oaths and promises from
their fathers and brothers to help on the
cause. Every day we read in the papers
OF monster meetings held in favor Of the
movement all over the kingdom, and pc
titions are daily being presented to Par
lament on the subject. They want to
be admitted to everything, aud are long
ingly desirous Of being allowed to plead
at the bar, to saw off legs, to make laws
and to sail ships. There are eight of
them at this moment standing as candi-
dates for the guardianship of St. Pan
creas parish. Now, a guardian is a sort
of coDglomeration of sheriff and beadle,
so think these gentle females will make
but sorry work OF their duties if elected.
There are now, according to the latest
report 56S petitions on this subject
lying before the Parliamentary Commit
tee, bearing total Of 1919, ,623 names,
foresee that they will get all they ask for
before long. Patience, concentration
and determination never yet failed to
work way through the British Parlia.
ment. L c.