Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-18
come you back with whole hearts aad

come you back with whole hearts add
open arms.
Twice you contested for superiority il
set drill with your gallant foe. First,
you were beaten. Before the second
contest your patience, industry aud dill
gence greatly increased your proficiency,
Your antagonist was not idle in the
meantime. he, too, had greatly i'm
proved. He came confident. He left
vanquished. Not for want of any merit
in him, but for that greater merit he
found in you. He was ambitious and
proud. he challenged you to repeat the
contest. You understood him to mean
the same contest; not another. The
same drill; not another. The same,
without other features added. Il was, as
you believed, to do over again, what had
been twice contested before, with success
first for him, then for you. You accept
ed that challenge. In preparing for this
third test, you added by pains aud Toll to
your old proficiency. You did not under
rate your adversary. You were promptly
on the chosen ground. So was he.
You were ready to repeat tho drill--to
respond to the challenge. Your oppo.
nents declined the contest unless fea-
lures were added which were absent in
both the other drills. This was substi-
tuting a new test, and not the old me.
Why did be not meet you on the old one
the old one |identically2 1t was for no
want Of merit in him. 1t was the superior
merit in you. By strong Implication it
admits that the challenger was unwilling
TO risk the consequences Of repeating
the old drill. This, IRON your adversary,
is the highest praise that could be paid
your skill and efficiency. He praises
you 10 declining to 60 through the old
drill, point for point, with nothing added,
nothing taken away, at the beautiful city
of Huntsville, in the presence Of .hous
ands Of fair women and brave men.
In complimenting you 10 dispraise is
offered him. He is skilled, accomplished
and ambitious. Success over such a foe,
is real success. There is not a word of
censure implied in what is said to your
admirable and highly trained opponent.
Rather praise Of his good sense and keen
perception ia seeing that, 10 repeat the
old drill without new features was to be
again beaten. You did right, as we think,
in standing on the old ground.
"Self poised, and without feather quiz.
ering in your plumes," you stood ready
to meet the challenger ip the decisive
test. There was no contest; the fault
was not yours. Once more, welcome
back.
Captain Duncan replied in behalf Of
his company and gave a brief account Of
the troubles which arose between the
C~hiekasaw Guards and the Porter Rifles.
In his speech he set himself aud bis
company right, aud he expressed bis
pleasure and thanks at being Endorsed ia
every particular by the people of Mem
phis. Captain Cameron made a short
speech in behalf of the Blua City Grays,
and his witty and humorous ssllies crea,
ted a most pleasing impression.
The Chicks and the Grays then
formed in marching order, and were es.
corted by an immense crowd Of citizens
to the Peabody Hotel, where a breakfast
fit for an army of epicures awaited them
the complimentary gift of the public.
spirited proprietor, Captain C. B. Gala.
way. This feast being enjoyed and dis.
posed Of, the Chicks" and the Grays
reformed and marched to their respec.
tive armories, but not before each com.
pany saluted the other in true military
style.
Our commissioner has but another
word to add, and that is that the people
of Memphis have a right to be proud oil
the C~hickasaw Guards and the Bluff
City Grays. Their soldierly bearing aud
gentlemauly conduct at Huntsville won
for them in that city a host Of friends,
aud through them Memphis was placed
still higher in the good opinion and affec.
ton Of the people of Huntsville. Three
cheers for the Chicks and the Grays
the gallant soldier boys OF the Bluff City.