Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-28
rHE NAsHv1LLE cENTENNIAL,

hagsl Flags to the right, flags to the
left, flags everywhere. Flags on the
capitol, by the hundred, great and
small; flags on the Fisk and Van
derbilt universities; flags on hotels, on
princely residences, and on cottages,
and flags on evergreen arches span
ming like rainbows the principal
streets. Flags on carriages, wagons
and horses; in the hands Of happy |
children and floating over immense
professions sand crowds. Flagson fences |
and shops, on bridges, in out-of-the
way places, on trees and shrubbery, |
in back yards, in front yards, on five
story houses and one-story shanties--
the old flag futters ioyously in the
centennial breeze. All classes, white
and colored, native and foreign born,
rally around and beneath the stars
and stripes. Nashville isa unit for the
national flag. 1t greets the eye at every
turn. 1t sweeps grandly from the
tops of great business blocks, and
duivers in countless myriadslike aspen
leaves from every window in the city.
The decorations on the principal
squares and streets are brilliant beyond
description. The people wed with
each other in preparing for the great
historic occasion, and in all this pa
geantry devoted to the memory
of the pioneers who laid
the foundations Of a splendid
commonwealth proved themselves
worthy of noble ancestry and glo-
Brious history. No Tennesseean could
witness the display of Saturday and
listen to the patriotic speeches Of
Governor Marks, Hon. John M.
Bright, and others, without feeling a
glow of pride and pleasure. AS the
struggles of the early settlers in the
wilderness were described, one
would realize in some de-
gree the wonderful progress that
has been made and the great blessings
which we enjoy. In recalling the
past, so pregnant with instructive les
sons. the present seems the ful6llment
of some glorious prophecy. The
preparations for the centennial and
perfection of arrangements surprised
and delighted every visitor. The city
was overcrowded from abroad and al
Nashville was on the streets. Th,
day was lovely, the air was sweet Will
the breath Of spring flowers, anC
great white clouds, like islands from
far eff fairy land, foated through
fathomless blue sky. Earth, and sky
man and allnature seemed to be attune
in harmony. Light hearted youth
vigorous manhood and placid old ag
we're united in the picture. His
toric figures on one hand, and woma
in all her diversified beauty c
pose, and manner and form
every hand. The intellect, the chiva
ry and the beauty, the best an
bravest, the truest of the old Volun
teer state were represented an
gathered together. 1t was a brilliar
assemblage, bespeaking the intell
gence, culture and prosperity of OIL
people. Gathered in the rotundas
the hotels could be seen such men
Hon. Henry NJ. Watterson, Ex-GOy
John G. Brown and Jas. D. Porte
Col. Robert I. Chester, of Jackso
Col. Chas. D. Mclean, of Memphi
Gen. w. B. Bate, Hon. Geo, '
Jones, of Pulaski, Dr. T. A. Atchiso
Hon, Ed. H. Ewing, of Murfreesbor
Gen. Frank Cheatham, Ex-Gov. Ne
S. Brown, Judge 10 Q. Guild, al
many others, whose names are link
with the history and fame of the stat
The leading members of the bar, t
bench, the pulpit, the medical pr
fession, the press, and Representative
of all professions and avocations we
here. 1t was day Of which Mas
Vile and all Tennessee may W
be proud. The influence of su
On event will go out and be felt 10
aA,ar its evergreons have wither'
and its actors too have passed aw
The history Of century of strugg
and ADVANCEMENT seemed to be cC
\ densed into beautiful poem, viii
future generations may read W
delight and profit The past '
mounted. as IL were, and present
before us like panorama. We 5
the FIRST stout hearted settlers com
across the mountains with their riff
their bib es; saw the lurking lndi
tbe wild beast In the thicket, and v
nossed the fierce conflicts between