Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-20

odoriferous Bohemians
-''Somo in rags and some in tags,
Aud some in yesget gown
who enlivened the occasion by their 70
bust merry-msking, giving to its oceul
sense the picturesque variety of til,
shauty and the shop, whilst vltalizing III
inner faculties By the wholesome pres
ence of schnitlow, Limberger, fried 20
tatoes and lager beer. The solid OLE
gentleman, with his fair haired girls, il
sleeping soundly as be is borne back Il
Toledo; the Indiana bucks in plug hatl
and the Illinois damsels in calico arr
singing in the smoking car, where beard
ed musicians, halfa-dream, puff theil
cigars gently and muse over the notes
which yet linger in their ears. The tree
artists, pleased though weary, and hun.
cry withal, their work ended, and their
money in hand, are supping as only ar
lists can sup at midnight, criticising the
critics aud laughing at the world. The.
odore Thomas, no longer a despot or a
dandy, swings a chicken-leg instead Of a
baton, and Remmertz sticks a fosming
mug under Psppenheim's nose and bids
her forget the Toutings of q vicious, il
not a venal, press. And many and many
pens, Drawing the hazards of this latter,
are going, going, catching the fairy
sounds and fancies by the forelock as
they fly, that those who stayed away
may get some notion Of the famous fes-
tivsl.
And why not l? In my minds eye |
am seated upon the terrace of the High
land House. From the world below
there floats upward, making a sort OF
mirage, all that has passed these four or
Eve days and nights. Nay, looking
deeper, | a penetrate the shows that
blind the dreamers' eyes, and looking
further still, recall the past aud gaze
into the future. Like one who knows
when be can pay his debts, | am a
prophet; aud, if pushed to it, might re-
late things that never happened at all.
Improper, you say. Mores the pity; for
that which is not is 80 much p!easanter
that that which is. Except, indeed, tais
trimming goblet of rich amber, which
drink to theel thou admirable deacon,
truly good Confusion to all thy wicked
partners, and may thou Invest foreverl
Sheath a murrais ont; there's o voice
calling quosque tandem abutere nostra
pstientia? The very orickets in the val
ley, and the ~lowlying frogs along the
margin of the river, exclaim, ITO the
festival tell US Of the festivall'
A philosopher has said that every
couotry produces the Jew it deserves.
Il is known that in Cincinnati the He.
brews are numerous. They are as strong
as they are numerous; and, having by
their enterprise and culture long com
mended themselves TO the respect OF
their %neighbors, they are influential aud
happy. They have done a deal toward
the realization OF Cincinnati's art life.
One sees them everywhere. Everywhere
their handwriting may be traced 10
brick and mortar, architecturallg dis.
played in tasteful equipage; in tie re.
hnement OF luxury and money. II is
pleasant to see 1t so, pleasant as the yari.
ance Of q melancholy rule, pleasant as a
sign Of tolerance. No class in Cinciu.
natl has more influence; yet, contradict.
log a vulgar assumption, there has been,
throughout this musical festival, little
extortlon or sharp practice.
The charges everywhere have been
moderate. Even the hackmen have had
mercy; whilst the hotels and boarding.
houses have g disposition to spare the
unwary, OF the most honorable and COM
~nendsble description. One Of two
things is clesr-either that the people.
With an eye to future national conTen.
lions, are exceedingly well-drilled. or
else the true spirit Of Israel, risen uader
prosperity to q sublime hight, has
stretched itself over the native rank and
Ele, converting the whole into a system
at once honest aud attractive. Certain
it is that most who came spent less than
they brought, 50 that, thus far, | have
heard Of 20 one reduced to the need OF
walking home.
The close of this festival settles the
destiny Of music in the West. Il .ives
a home TO the diviuest of arts which il
can claim nowhere else in America. |
will not say that, under the like condi.
tons, Chicago, st. Louis or Louisville
might not have entered into the spirit OF
the occasion with the same abandon; but,
in the absence Of the conditions In the
cities named, and therefore the opportu.
nifty, | will say that Cincinnati has shown
in this matter 40 enthusiasm and culture
Of which Boston, Philadelphia aud New
York are incapable. There is a ~fsvorite
notion on the Eastern sea.board that the
inter. Alleghauic region is-well, what
the Cincinnati editors sometimes say oil
the trans-Ohio region half horse, half
alligator affair, rude bat unique.
The Broadway swell, who knows moth
ing about his own country, but who hal
been to London and Paris, and can draw.
like a cockney and drink absinthe, con
siders himself the only cosmopolitan
Now, cosmopolitanism is the adaptable
ity which from travel, the knowl
edge which comes from travel; aud nc
people have travelled more and seer
more than the Cincinnatians. They are
wondrous worldly-wise, and q double
discount the New Workers any time
They love art more and are better edu
Gated in art; they are rarely gifted il
the selfish faculty. product Of travel
Of making themselves comfortable. TheI
have q club which will rival any Of thost
10 Pail Mall.
The terrace Of the Highland House
where | am supposed to be writing, il
greatly superior to that Of Saint Ger
main. The closed Music Hall yondeI
has not itg peer anywhere; whilst tn
dwellings-notably those Of the Sheen
bergers, the Prohsscos and the ShillitoI
will rank With any palaces in thr
world. During this festival the people
have turned out as if they we're inhabit
ants Of a German province town; indeed
many Of them are Germans. But, &C
eording 70 the %eonceit Of the East, the,
are rough Western people" who have
genios chiefly for whisky, pork anC
horse racing. Alack, how this world il
gwen to wilful self-deceptioni