The Red Cloud chief., 1878-11-28
MEDlTATIONs At MEMPHIS.
gloomy Reflections for Returning Rela.
gees.


A few days and the 80, 900 ref
ugce Memphians. who are scattered
over the union. from the Atlantic To the
Pacific. and the lakes to the Ohio river.
will return to their homes. They will
be- welcomed by a few. very few. the
survivors Of what must pass into his.
tory ~ the great plague Of 1873. They
VIII have many questions to ask, and
will look In vain for friends who have
long since been mustered with the dead.
Nearl" four thousand Of their fellow
citizens, counting those who died far
from home and friends. have fallen
victims Ia the scourge. among them
hundreds Ut men and women who were
ot the most valued of our population.
Men and women who by industry. tai.
ent and energy. and force Of those yir.
tues the good prize most, had won for
themselves n recognized place in every
avenue OF industry and society. Preach
crs and priests who ministered ut affairs
now desolate, who were the exemplars
Of an earnest piety and the leaders of
Christian hosts. are %''silent now for.
evermore." Many Of the councillors.
guides, and advisors of the coming gen
GRAFTON who in all the occupations of
life were looked up tn with pride, have
joined the '.innumerable throng."
Hundreds. too. Of the honest poor, the
patient multitude who bear the heat and
burden of the day. will be missed, and
none will be- able tn tell more Of them
than that they have passed away. have
laid down the weary load Of life. have
ceased to struggle, and are nj rest.
Children will return tn their schools and
call for loved companions who can no
longer hear the summons. and the SER
want will ask for the master. and the
master for the servant. now dumb In
death. Day after day will reveal to
the returned absentee the dreadful
widespread destruction Of life. and
perhaps after months 81 inquiry. the
full effects of the visitation will dawn
upon him as we know IL who have with.
stood II face To face. Then the torture
Of suspense he himself endured will
dwindle down In nothing. and the
plauge will reveal itself in all It's force
as n warning against the indifference
and reckless disregard OF health and
life that have hitherto charact lrized us
The many hundred orphans. the help
less widows and the men who walk our
streets in mute despair. all tina, il left
Of once happy households will neighten
the sad picture. intensity its gloom.
and perhaps quicken the impulse for
prompt reform which should he y re-
suit, which must be = result II we would
avoid n repetition Of the sad experience
Of the last six months. We must have
sanitary reform; We must have the
Nicolson pavement taken up this win
ter. whether we can replace II or not;
we must sewer the bayou. and We must
establish a health board on a basis so
strong that il q enforce It's own de-
crees through the courts and compel
obed ,ence by poor and rich alike to the
laws, the disregard OF which has cost
us so much sorrow. II this Is not done
y recurrence Of the plague IL only .
question Of time, and another such
visitation means the death not only Of
good citizens. but the destruction OF
Memphis. Life Is too short. al the best.
10 be jeopardised sven every i've or
twenty-five years by the yellow fever. |
and no prospects,, however Gathering.
will repay the losses In trade which our
merchants and business men have this
fall been forced to bear. -MsapAis APP
peal.