Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-05

Rome without mashing a priest.
and | am inclined to think simi.
lar accident in Nice might result
in crushing one Of those utterly
useless members of society, who
edo nothing because there is no
time to do anything, you know"
However, such ornamental people
are always the appendages Of a
fashionable resort, and Nice must
expect indolent men, clad in suits
of gigantic plaids, with the ineyi-
tsNle glass tucked in one eye. Here
at this uppish Grand Hotel we have
a number Of beautiful specimens,
rivalling any Of the pretty creatures
that hail from the Scotch Island of
Skye.
Nice is eminently place for
driving. Every street in the New
Town is as smooth as our park
drives, and the roads in the suburbs
are equally fine, although in some
instances exposed to the objection of
hills. 1t is scarcely possible to pic
ture more beautiful highway than
the Promenade des Anglais. Start
ing westward from the Jardin Pub
lique, near the Place MasSena, it
follows the beach for mile and is
bordered on the inland side by
splendid hotels and grand villas.
The walk for pedestrians is orna-
mented with rows of palms and
supplied at intervals with benches,
from which the panorama of car
riages can be seen with comfort.
All day long the Promenade is a
scene Of life which has its phases
of interest to attract all who are
not crushed by sickness or become
cynical from the fckleness of for
tune and friends. A few bath
houses skirt the beach in odd
groups, but they appear to be
poorly patronized.
Another favorite drive is up the
hills 10 Gimies. When some ele-
yation is attained the views are
superb. The inland mountains,
the city and the CLASSY Mediterra-
mean are spread out in impressive
grandeur. Near the ruins of the
old Roman Amphitheater, on the
summit, is the charming Villa
Mariana, the winter residence oil
Mr. Butter6eld, late of New York,
and well known in our city as the
friend of a distinguished lady now
in Europe, The interior Of Mr.
Butterfeld's villa is as pretty as are
the exterior views. 1t seems the
ideal place for luxurious ease. The
owner is also no mean connoisseur
IF the old masters of the pictorial
alt, as his walls and conversation
prove. His gardens are also gems,
The fact is the place is complete,
excepting the fair sex is wanting.
November goth dawned a beauti-
full day. At least | supposed il
from the fact that it was prOfusely
fair rather later. The visitors at
Nice do not make their appearance
at sunrise, and it is not difficult to
accommodate ones self to the ways
of the place. The Presidents proc
lamation called upon Americans to
observe the 29th as Thanksgiving.
What could te done to celebrate
the day thousands of miles from
home, among strangers, in foreign
land ? The problem was easily
solved. Go to Villelranche, a short
drive, and there among Americans
on an American man-of-war, be-
meath the stars and stripes, to be
for few hours with only our own
people. Driving eastward and pass
ing the grand Cafe Reserve, we
soon turned the corner of the bluff
which brought Villefranche in view
below us. The sight was fairly a
surprise. 1t looked as if the place
had been captured by the United
States. On shore, from two men
of-war and from several small boats,
the American flag was flying. The
display Of bunting was of course
in honor of the day, and to lend
excitement picked crews from the
two war vessels were contending for
supremacy at the oar. We boarded
the nearest vessel and found her to
be Admiral Leroy's flag ship Tren-
ton, with Captain Davis in COM
mand. Both officers were on board,
together with 450 men. Soon after
the sailors were allowed to go
ashore for holiday, and that night
We saw squad on the Quai
Sc, Jean Baptiste ina condition of
rather uncertain equilibrium. The
companion to the Trenton in the
harbor was the Vandalia.
The Trenton is one of the new
est, and its officers say the finest,
ship in the navy. Her armament
consists of eleven eight-inch riled
guns, eight being on the gun-deck
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