Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-02
FLAG PRESENTATION.
Bluff City GPays' Picnic az James
Park Yesterday.

EhFk yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon the military Do.
raded on Main street, it being the occA.
sion Of the presentation of a flag to the
Bluff City Grays. The Grsys, thirty.
four strong, commanded by Captain John
F. Cameron, escorted by the Chickasaw
Guards, Captain R. P. Duncan com.
handing, and the Steinkuhl CUR squad,
with a ten-pound parrot gun, marched
out to James' Park, where a stand draped
in United States flags HAD been erected.
On arriving at the park the military
companies formed in line in front of the
stand, which was surrounded by a large
number Of citizens. Hon. Casey Young,
in an appropriate speech, presented Mise
Carrie Heating, who appeared in front of
the stand near the new flag, which was
held by Major Hunt Of the First United
States Cavalry, and made the following
presentation speech:
Captain Cameron and Gentlemen Of the Bluff
City Trays:
The soldier stands out in bold relief
upon the Gnvas Of the world. Ambi-
ton, valor, and seltsacriiice are the
eolors that present him most brilliantly
there, dazzling all eyes by his radiant
glory. To create a perfect picture his
deeds must be golden, every act must be
brave aud noble, every impulse must be
humane and merciful; for there are
wounds to heal As well as TO inhict along
his pathway to fame. The bravest must
be the tenderest, the daring must be the
loving, else what would remain TO the
cheated warrior but a hollow mockery of
a frightful delusion? Nature, skillful
mistress, in arranging with a graceful
hand, confines the two most opposing
elements within the soul Of man, and
makes of him a demi-god. While ambi.
ton guides him, sympathy, as a compan
ion, nestles nearest to his heart, ready
to awake at the slightest sight or sound
Of suffering. But there is a virtue more
exalted and necessary still than mere
fearlessness or even sympathy, per.
haps. 1t is hat high, ~undinching, in
flexible sense Of duty and utter
oblivion Of self that always characterizes
the true soldier and has the ring of the
true metal. Valorous achievements in
presence Of an audience may arouse the
enthusiasm Of the young and ardent, but
the weary, unceasing tread OF the faith
tul sentry at hislonely post in the silent
hour OF night, ~companioned only by the
plying stars-God's biveusc above
strike the keynote of = lofty heroism
and challenges the homage of the uni
verse. Believing you, the Bluff City
Grays, to be the embodiment OF all those
magnificent elements which conspire to
create so grand a character, a few Of
your most devoted friends beg you &C
cept this flag as a sincere though humble
tribute Of their high esteem and warm
admiration To the officers whose jus.
tice is tempered by mercy, as to the
boys in their command, whose ODE
dience forms the essence by which ships
are sailed and armies are governed, this
testimonial is accorded with a fearless
trust in the patriotism, honor and irwin.
chile courage Of the gallant Bluff City
Grays.
The speech was delivered without
notes, except those which fell so must.
cally from the lips Of the young lady. 1t
was delivered in a. neat and graceful
style, and was received with a round
OF applause by both citizens and soldiers.
At the conclusion of the address the flag
was unrolled, and Captain Cameron Of
the Grays responded to the presentation
speech in an eloquent and martial man
ner. Captain Cameron then gave the
flag to Ensign Williams, who bore it to
the line Of the company.
Lieut.. F. 7. Edmundson of the Grays
presented Miss Heating with a magnif.
cient floral tribute composed OF a basket
of flowers surrounded with pendant bou-
quets. A dress parade followed, during
which the new flag of the Grays was
saluted by the Chickasaw Guards and By
the Steinkuhl artillery squad, who fred
q salute from the parrot gun.
The parade being over, the military
broke ranks, when Allen Cameron, a
nine-year old soldier who is marker for
the Grays, appeared and presented
Captain Duncan, of the Chickasaw
Guards, with an elegant guidon of blue
and red silk, on one side of which was
the monogram of the Chickasaw Guards
and on the other side a shattered egg.
shell with a young chick 10 the act Of
breaking out. Captain Duncan accepted
the guidon and thanked Master Cameron
in words suited to the occasion.
The presentation being over dancing
commenced and continued up to a late
hour last night. 1t vas a pleasant social
affair, and was participated in and en-
joyed by a large number Of citizens.
Smoke ChickasaW Guards cigars.