Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-12

lR-laW with great hdelity. AS there IS
no appeal from a moot court, however
regular or irregular its proceedings, the
trial came to an abrupt termination, but
it is still the talk of the town. The press
Of the country will take notice that it
has been imposed upon and sold.
There is a wonderful cav in this
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cave, six miles
southeast Of town. The entrance as
usual into great caves is small and unin-
viting. 1t has been partially explored
several times, but the end has never been
reached. There are many ups and downs
in it as well as narrow places, like
Fat Mans Misery in Mammoth Cave.
A lively party Of young gentlemen and
ladies went out there the other day.
They were thoroughly drenched by a
shower on the way, but on entering the
cave built a fire and dried their clothes.
1t is said that beauty unadorned under
such circumstances and unsupplemented
by modern art is enough to raSish the
heart and raise the hair on the head Of
the most incorrigible bald-headed back
elor. THIS party went about four miles
without coming to the end. The narrow
places we're compensated by many large
passages and rooms, one Of the latter
being over ten acres in extent, with q
roof hidden ia darkness, which the light
Of no torch and no human eye has yet
penetrated. One young man net with
an accident. He was wounded in his
wardrobe and was the last Que OF the
crowd to make the discovery. After
that he was sure to be- the last Of a
single file procession aud to stand with
his back to the wall whenever it was
in order to stand. Bat it was q de-
lightlul excursion and explorative party
to all concerned with one exception.
This cav may yet become a place of re-
sort for curiosity. seekers and lovers Of
the wonderful. Summer tourists may
test both their muscle aud nerve by ex.
ploring this great dried up artery Of ma
ture's internal anatomy. The first man
who went into it any distance was az
early pioneer who lived nearly a hundred
years ago. He got lost. Men counted
for something them times, ard he was
missed. His friends thought he was
worth %rescuing, and they found him after
two days search. He was crazed With
hunger and fear, but was soon tanned,
and after that kept out of caves.
In Van Buren, county, fourteen miles
east of here, there is a still more remark
able cave. 1t was used in 1872 by man
ufacturers Of gunpowder. They found
within it the remains o! a monster animal
Of the mastadon period. The ribs were
ten feet long, and other parts in proper.
ton. 4 Philadelphia institution sent
out an agent who offered the mountain
GERS fifty dollars for the skeleton, and
they gladly accepted the price. The
bones we're reconstructed, labeled and
rivited, and may yet be seen in Phila-
delphia. Our rural friends have ex
plored many other caves, but have never
found any similar remains.
A general letter from McMinnv,lle for
the press would be incomplete without
abiding to the gifted Southern poetess,
authoress and literary contributor, Mrs.
L. Virginia French, who lives here in
comparative seelusion from the busy,
bustling marts and ho~roughiares Of the
world; her literary reputation we'll as
sured, her ambition-if she had any
long since RrstiGed. She seems to find
the greatest pleasure in the domestic
affairs Of her delightful Forest Home"
and in the society Of her devoted hus-
band and accomplished young daughters.
Colonel French is a thorough gentleman
of the Southern school and type. He is
a farmer and stock raiser whom we
would have called in old times a country
gentleman, aud is devoted to his home
and family. Mrs. French is not 10 good
health and seldom writes for the press.
The two young ladies yield a fscile and
graceful pen when they choose, and con
tribute occasionally, | have been told,
for leading papers and magazines, and
are no less accomplished in other re
spects. One of them, known as "Blon.
dine in the literary world, wrote a car
riers' address for the Austin (rexas.
Statesman last Christmas, which was Sc
highly appreciated that the attaches o
the Office sent her 40 elegant testimonial.
10 the shape OF a toilet act. From For
est Home there is a magnificent view
Of river, valley and mountain, orchard
Geld and forest. 1t is the full realization
Of an ideal home, where one meets evi
dences Of refined taste, broad culture
and genuine hospitality, aud where thl
aesthetic in art and literature ar'
in accord with the most genia
moods and generous gifts Of nature