Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-28

sides OF the basin we're large vases file
vita rare ex0tics. Behs on the summ
Of the fountain 5ei crowned with
wreath OF beautiful flowers,
THE EXERCISES YESTERDAY.
A large and com mmOdious stand ws
erected short distance fcom the hssir
i- This was for tire scpon mediation Of fhos
parties who were to participate in th
ceremonies, and Slso for Prof, arnold
superb brass baS1 and the Chrigtia
| Bro--..ls7rB' capital college band, wit
| Master W. II. Williams, q very taleats
iyoung musician, ss leader. Both orgsr
izatiOns kindly volunteered to f1rnisl
the music for tue occasion, and the spiI
tied manner in which they rendere
J, many popular airs throughout the exs1
J cises called forth repeated aud deserves
plSudiis. The Christian Rrothers' ban
4 opened the proceedings By playing ia .ai
: style the Cuckoo Polka MAJ 5urka.n
i REV. MR.. HEARD
D. then arose sDd offered up an impress iv
prayer, ia which he besOugbt the divine
3 blessing on the work CT their hands ant
now completed. He asked God to bles
the fountain to the present as well as t,
future generations, and trusted that i
would ever prove a pleasing remem
bTancer Of that great fountain to which
all are invited to come and partske 0
the water Of life freely.
ArnOld's band then gave the "FiftE
United S Sstes Regiment Quickstep" IL
thoroughly martial and stirring man
ner.
MIR JAMES ELDER,
the grand mover and protector Of the
magnificent undertaking. rose, and
with ali the gallantTy and bsaring of an
old cavalier, led forth very gracefully
and introduced in neat terms to the vasi
assemblsge,
MISS EMMA ETHERIDGE,
who had been selected to present the
fountain on behalf of the subscribers to
the mayor and corporation. Miss Ethe-
ridge was most cordially received 5Ee
is possessed of voice most beautifully
mOdulated In its tones. "Her voice is
low and sweet" but capable of fine ex.
preston when REQUIRED. Her gestures
were chsste and graceful, the action be-
| ing suited to the word, the word to the
action: Turning her brilliant black eyes
and bright auDshiny fsce tow Td Mayor
Fiippln, who sat on the right, and then
on the audience, she spoke IS follows:
MAYOR FLIPPIN, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMBN-This Centennial year has
besn, so far, prolific in incidents which
attest the existence of large beneficence;
general utility, and marked apprecia.
tion of the beautiful. We therefore
should not underrate the significance Of
an event which gives cOmmendsble
prominence to private taste and gener-
Osity, while it adds immeasuIaOly and
permanently to the enjoyment OF all.
Neither are we insensible to the interest
or importance OF an occasion which al
lows one Of as, in behalf Of the putlic-
spirited donors, to present so beautiful
an addition to our city as this fountain
which is soon to sparkle in your pres
ence, and to be c0usecTated to your last
ing enjoyment. l am sure that no words
of mine can exalt that refined generosity
which merits and receives your grati-
tude, or add charm or interest to a gift
so chaste and beautiful in itself as to
furnish the best inspiration to your
praise. Then, too, L am conf
dent that, surrounded as you
are by objects suggestive Of
purest emotions aid most elevated SEN
timent, you cannot suppress your graft
tude and admiration for this marked
addition to the happiness Of all. [ say
all, because, thank God, the man OF toll,
the VICTIM Of misfortuli5, the cniid ci
poverty, may still breathe the pure air
Of heaven; still read IN the glorious sun
light; still catch inspiration from "the
music of the spheres;n and, while gaz.
ing on this fountain, whose waters are
about to commence their perennial
AOr hi hn ~
proudest who here seek contemplation
or repose. Even the vOtary Of pleasure,
or the br0ken-hesrted child of sorrow,
in such scene, may, perhaps discover
symbols of instruction su ggssting sOlace
for the soul. Who can silently gaze on
the flow Of the fountain, ref 9cting on
the great source of its exhaustless sup
ply, without reverence for that Bsing
who has SO loved and preserved us to
this auspicious day? 1t was in the will
derness that the holy prophet smOte the
rock and "the waters gushed forth"
Long ages intervened ere the
apostle to the Gentiles recorded the
sweet assurance, that rock was Christ;
and hereafter, when summers heat or
twilight deWs shall invite the weary
frame or pertulbsd spirit to the music Of
this grove, the lullaby Of these gushing
waters, let US hope that this sparkling
fountain may invite, nay, lead Its vOta.
ries 20 that purer stream, the light of
whose waters alone can illumine tue
darkness of this shadowy vale. And
while contemplating the blending of
utility and art, which tempts the
parched lips aud weary limbs of all,
may We not forget the divine invitation:
'Let him that is athirst come, aud who.
soever will, let him take the water oil
life freely.n A word more, aud the
pleasant duty assigned me will have
been performed. To you, Mr.. Mayor,
and TO your associates and successors il
the city government, Is now and forever
assigned the care and preseI walton OF
this memorial Of generosity and grati-
tude. IT'S the spontaneous Offering OF s
few hearts who love no less their
adopted home than the place Of their
birth. They would not have me
repeat their names, but those names are
engraven on the shrine which |
Is here crested, and in subsequent times, |
when their descendants shall wander
here, and read them on the tablets of
this fountain, they will be ENROLLED |
thereby, and rejoice in contemplating |
this h8liowed spot, where future genera.
tions shall linger in cOntentment ana |
repose. Amid thess tranquil shades |
where Nature holds her sweet, sgrious |
converse with the world, on 2 spot where |
and water-sprites might |
ho,d their festive courts, and the spIrit |
OF the quiet grove breathes its divfnest
even into the paths OF traffic |
and trade; in view Of that great river
whose broad bosom throbs in rireIess
eternsily onward, these gentle
men have chosen to erect this sun-bripht
fountain.
Miss EtheTidge paused for an instant,
and stretching forth her beautiful right
hand, neatly glOved, she gszed on the
iountain like one inspired, and raising
her silveTy voice exclaimed, ss if ad-
dressing the genii OF the fOuntsin: 'Iu
their name bid the imprisoned waters
break their fetters and mingle in frse.
DOM with the fragrance Of the summer
air."
THE EFFECT
was most electrical and truly dramatic.
as the words fell from the young Iadv,s
Ups, an unseen hand turned on the wa
.er, and from every JET and Hebe,s
Oltcher HoWed upward streams of living
water, which, mingling high in air.
ormed beautiful cascade. The crowd |
,heered and chesred again, and their 1
was increased when 8 train
lows lovely form" was seen in the air.
;aused by the reflection OF the rsvs OF
citing sun on the descending waters.
When silence was at length restored,
Miss Etheridge closed her elegant re.
marks by saying: "And now, While our
yreat river moves on to the sea. while
;entennials come and go, naay the cur
ents Of your fountain unfetfered still
low, and your hearts, ike its waters, be