Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-29
COURT SQUARE FOUNTAIN.
1t Becomes the Property of the City
as the Gift Of EnterpriSing and
Public Spirited Citizens.
The Dedication and Presentation
Ceremonies on Saturday.

Last Saturday Court Square was again
thrown open to the public, and the pub-
lie presentation to the city Of the elegant
fountain took place. The park was
densely crowded, four or five thousand
people being in attendance. The cere'
monies opened with a prayer by Rev.
Mr.. Hurd, and a presentation address
by Miss Emma Etheridge. The address
delivered by this young lady was a
charming bit of composition, chaste in
style and most appropriate in substance.
Miss Etheridge was dressed neatly and
most beeomingly, wore no jewelry, and
beneath a straw hat trimmed with flow
ers and vines she looked like one of the
divinities or woodland nymphs of the
charmed spot.
The address was we'll delivered, with
musical voice, expressive and appropri-
ate gestures. Her voice is too low in
tone for public speaking in open air and
but few outside of a short distance from
the stand could distinguish the words Of
the address At the close of the address
she used the following words;
Amid these tranquil shades, where
Nature holds her sweet, serious converge
with the world; on a spot where wood
nymphs and water sprites might hold
their festive courts, and the spirit Of the
quiet grove breathes its dlvinest inspira-
ton even into the paths Of traffic and
trade; in view OF that great river whose
broad bosom throbs in t%ireless n -rmur,
, eternally onward, these gentlemen have
chosen to erect this sunbright fountain;
and, in their name, / bid its imprisoned
waters break their letters, and mingle in
, freedom with the fragrance OF the sum
mer air."
Immediately the jets of water sprsDg
:. up from the fountain far into the sun
light and a beautiful rainbow formed
amid the spray that fell back in a %silvery
shower that sparkled like diamonds.
Mayor Flippin responded to the ad
dress in an appropriate and eloquen
manner, and ia conclusion rendered t,
Miss Etheridge, a bouquet of flowers 70
the manner in which she had aequitte,
, herself in the presentation. Mr.. Elder
. to whose energy and public spirit "
owe the existence Of the fountain, o
~ being called upon, delivered a shoi
u speech, thanking all those citizens, wb
L by their means or labor, assisted him i
:. finishing the work.
40 The music was furnished by the ST.
AZ dents band Of the Christian Brother
CT College, under the leadership Of BROTH
IS Maurelian, President of the colleg
re The boys played we'll and displayt
marked proficiency and musical talen
ch The Cuckoo Polka, Mazurka and Il
yer Medley played by them we're high
appreciated and heartily applaude
Arnold's band was also on the grount
lly and played several operatic airs in
'u- charming manner.
me During the afternoon the founta
OF was surrounded by hundreds of citizen
OF all crowding in to admire its beautie
he 1t was with great difficulty that the CHI
ee, dren were kept from. climbing over t
Ice parapet and padding in the water Of t
basin. Yesterday the square was al
cts crowded from morning until night wi
log ladies and children, who enjoyed t.
aid charms Of the delightful spot with .
alleged and uuconcealed pleasure,
The drinking fountain, surmount
y with q statuette of Venus, or Dial
" leaving the bath, was also an object
great attraction, and hundreds of ct
drsn Quenched their thirst at its rushi
streams that pitch from the mouths
iroa lions.
The whole enterprise is a credit TO
: projectors and donors, and consider
II the cost, which will not exceed $4,000
2 one of the most attractive ornsme
that could have been devised. Nun
= GUS water fountains adorn public squa
in the Northern cities, but the Memp
at fountain excels all, except that magr
cent one, the finest in the country, 8
8 ia fact ~unequaled as a work of art,
Davidson Probasco fountain at Cine
en- natl, which cost $4,000 gold, and
by made in Munich, Bavaria.
- Memphis may well be proud Of
great an attraction in her midst, as
re- an evidence of the public spirit Of
hoe citizens and of the cultivated taste
art SO generally recognized among
people of our beautiful city.
A beautiful line of Diagol