Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-28
THE FOUNTAIN.
Its Completion and Dedicaticn-G Grand
Ceremony Of Presentation to and
Acceptance by the City, and
"Turning on the Water"
Eloquent Presentation Speech by Miss
En-. Etheridge-The Mayors Reply
on Behalf Of the City-A Vast
ThrOng in the Square.
Names OF Subscribers and Contrlbu
tors Description Of the Beautiful
Fountain and SnrrOandings-A
Magnificent Gift.

Magnificent Gift.
The great event ef the esntenni,
yesr 10 Memphis traUspired yesterda
! 1 aftern0on. 1t was the inauguration I
The beautiful, graceful and handsonl
fountain erected in Court sluare, whic
took place in presence of over five thou
sand persons, many Of whom were Is
dies. The fountain Is the gift Of numel
Qua generous citizens, whose efforts I
bring the undertaking to 3 sueeessfli
termination were ably seconded by thos
whose names appear below.
THE FOUNTAIN
is without exception the most beautiful
and symmetrical in the country. l
eCrpssses in beauty anything Of tn
kind to be seen in New York, even il
the far-famed Central park. 1t is no
so large, 80 elaborate, nor yet SO costly
ss the Davidson fountain In Cincinnati
but it il, in its handsome proportions
far more Fitted for the position it occu
pies in the center Of our beautiful gen
OF park. Every portion of it is in har
mOny; there is not a discordant part, L
presents rare example Of perfect reposC
in each and every portion. The basir
is ten sided, and Thirty four, feet in dia
meter, each bide handsomely moulded
and enriched. The rim is eighteen
inches thick, surmounted by a stone
coping five inches in thickness. At each
angle of the rim stands very beautiful
vase for the reception of living plants
! The depth Of the bssin is nearly nine
ieet, and is designed for the purpose q
having sufficient capacity to rear fish, OF
which sufficient stock to start with
will shortly be placed in 1t. From the
center of the basin rises a massive ped.
estsl OF brick masonry to the intended
water-line Of the Basin, which pedestal
is surmOunted by Etone one foot in
thickness. None but the very best uu Al
ity OF brick has been used in the con-
structiOn of the work. Lime and ce-
ment have been freely used, and, where
necessary, pure cement only; especially
in that portion of the rim above the
ground line. Every precsution has been
taken TO render the work permanent
The whole of the interior is
coated ever with English porcelain ce-
ment, mixed with sand. From the top
Of the stone pedestal rises the fountain
to a hight of nearly twenty feet, the
base OF which is seven feet in diameter,
and octsgonsl in form.
THE FOUR ALTERNATE SIDES
are psneled aud enriched, and the other
panels have heavy scrolled buttresses. at
the foot OF each is large acanthus leaf
cUrving on its face, with q handsome
fnrt ,f,,o fss,-,
fms head. This base, taken altogether.
is exceedingly handsome. From the top
and in the center rises the shaft of the
fountain. Around this shaft and beneath
the first basin, and on the outer edge of
the basin, are four boys, one with his
hands together, ready to make q dive
into the water; the other has already
bathed, and is dressing, while another
has returned from bathing, and is wipinp
the water from his feet; and the last,
having already had his bath. Is dressed.
AT the feet OF these figures are turtles,
snails, shells, and large water plants.
Above the boys, and around the shaft.
sre swans, the whole forming
A VERY PRETTY GROUP.
Above this group and at hight of
eight feet from the base, is the fret
basin, ten feet in diameter, the curves
OF which portion are exceedingly grace.
ful. The whole surface, and wherever
the eye rests, is highly ornamented, and
so artistically arranged that too much
prOfuseness does not appear, exactly
enough and not too much; it is not
overloaded. These enrichments are ex-
ceedingly bold. From the upper surface
of this basin rise
FOUR NAIADEs,
the presiding deities of the fountain,
blowing water out of shells. From the
center OF this basin the shaft again rises,
and is terminated by another basin,
smaller than the last, being only five
feet in diameter. This basin, together
with the shaft that supports, is highly
enriched, and in conjunction with the
lower portion already described, is very
beautiful. From the upper edge of this
Top basin are four lilies, sending out
streams of water. The gem Of the whole
work is the top figure, which rises from
The center OF the upper basin, and stands
poised on rock-a copy, full size, Of
Conova's celebrated
STATUE OF HEBE,
The original Of which is in the art gallery
1t st. Petersburg, Russia. This statue
RSs one Of ConOva's chef d'ouUres.
8ebe is represented in Grecian mytholo-
yy as the daughter Of Hera, and goddess
)f youth. To Oiympos she discharged
he duties of cub-beArer to the gods. she
8 represented on the fountain as love.
y young maiden in the act Of approach
Dg with her pitcher, holding it aloft |
md pouring out nectar into cup. Ac.
,ording to history, ber office of cup |
)esrer was transferred to GaDymedes |
sfter her marriage with Hercules. This |
igure crowns the whole; and, from the |
)ase to the top, the fountain presents |
Inc artistic Tepose, and as a work OF art, |
aOnOt be surpassed. 1t is one of the |
inest gifts the citizens OF Memphis have |
.ver received; and we, in common with |
DtheTs, will ever cherish the names OF |
he generous donors. The arrangement |
THE WATER JETS
las been well carried out; for, besides |
be nine jets OF the upper basin, there
re four large ones which rise out OF the |
main basin and send streams up into
he top basin. The combination Of all /
he jets, when in full play, is exceeding
= magnificent, for not only do these
cts Of water rise up, but they fall back
ntO the bssins-frsi, into the upper one,
nd then on till the overflow reaches
be main basin. This overflow of the
asins is continuous, and forms q sort Of
urlain Of water around the fountain,
which, together with the tets and sprays,
reduces an exceedingly happy effect.
u the lower or main basin are lilies in
I'll bloom, throwing oug sprays Of water,
nd also several beautiful white swans
ailjng about.
he sUBsCRIBERs-THE RIM OF THE
BASIN
as all around, chisseled in neat letters.
be following legend, with the names Of
nose gentlemen who contributed by
heir means, material and labor to the
lccezs Of the undertaking: "This feUn-
ain, erected A. D., 1875, and donated to
be city OF Memphis, May 2, A. d, 1875,
Y Jane Elder, with the aid and assist.
uce Of 5. T.. TOof, John E. RandIe, John
aston, Elias L0Wenstein, J. G. Neely,
. r Clarke, Seboolfisld, Hsnauer &
o.; Randle, Heath & Iivermore; VIM.
. Williamson, Mitchell, Hoffman &
O.; B. LOwensteiu d Brothers; Jones,
rOwn & Co., holland Fontaine, Bron-
N Bsyliss, John T. Fsrgsson, Madam
ineent, Meredith Yates, A. Vaccaro &
o. Nathan Adams, J. +. Frank & Co. I
.umes & POston; George II. d Theo.
-olst, Thomas Il. Allen, Estes, Fizer &
O., John Overton, f. Fl. Cossitt, New !
ork; q. w. Cheek, r. L. Cochran,
m. H.WoOd, A. d. Gwynne, o. II. p.
iper, s. II. Brooks, P. q. Bethel, r. G.
.aliel, G. B. Church, ThRd s. Ely, II.
. Falls, Thomas Boyle, John NJ. Lea,
ashviile, Tennessee; John B. Leech, !
liverpool, England.
GENERAL CONTRIBUTORS. !
Contributors Of transportation, mate. r