Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1880-06-05
That Church..HOtel Affair.

friends, tO-wit, Huse Brooks and DIR.
Ritchey, became somewhat complica-
ted by rumor and otherwise, with GER
tain hotel enterprises in Nashville, and
as we were somewhat mixed up with
the affair, they have awaited our return
to set the whole matter properly before
the public, except that DIR. Ritchey
was SO strongly suspected with compiled
ty in the matter that he found it neces-
sary to rise and explain in the last
weeks STANDARD. Having profound
regard for these two gentlemen as well
as the truth, we take pleasure in sta
ting all we know from rumor and hear
say, about it, which is simply and brief |
ly this;
For ten days before we left home it
was generally understood that Mr.
Brooks was making up club to 60
down to the centennial at low railroad
rates and Aattering hotel accommoda-
lions, which were assured from the fact
he is a paragon hotel man himself.
But to the CONSERVATION of both Huse
and his party wHeqthey arrived in the
city there was not even standing room
about the hotels. Huse acting upon
Gen. Shernian's idea that quick and
radical work in war is best, concluded
at once to buy out the Maxwell House,
drive out enough guests to seat bis
party and retain the balance to meet
incidental expenses. This was a grand
conception and only lacked one thing
of success, and that has not yet been
given to the public. Unable to over
come this little obstacle, Huse at once
adopted a maxim of Gen. Joseph Z.
Johnston's, that successful retreat is
better than q disastrous defeat, and fell
back with his command to a lamp post
on Cherry street, where they spent the
night tossing up nickel for heads and
tails to gain the privilege Of alternately
leaning one hour against that post.
t How long this process continued we
+ have not been informed but feel conf
: dent that should he live to see the next
t centennial he will have the Maxwell
House or some other mansion to ac-
g comodato his friends who may chance
i to accompany him on that occasion.
} As for DR.. Ritchey We fully endorse
e all he has said and will add only this.
Il 1t is known to us personally that he
9 was for some time before leaving home
/ in daily correspondence with a lady
Y and a gentleman with reference to ho-
y tel Accommodations in Nashville, and
r that he called to his aid certain resident
=. friends on Broad street as attorneys in
e his behalf and thus succeeded in gain.
d ing some promises from the lady with
- but little assurance from the gentle.
d man. On arriving in the city we were
e, overwhelmed for a time with a fate
:, " very similar to that which befel oul
'. friend Brooks. Finally we gained ad
g mission to the rooms we had engaged,
:, 20 but only to give them up again for a
it cot in the hall. At this critical mo.
lie ment Ritchey was informed that there
:, &c was a church on Summer street il
IS which we could find shelter. One Of
g his party protested against this, as he
e had not gone down there to attend
church, but the Exposition. But wher
lie informed that it was not to hear preach
a ing but to sleep in the church, he yield
e, ed and went willingly. The party con
n, sisting of minister, an elder, a dea
re con, and a layman, repaired to the
,e church to test the matter as to whethe
u, it is possible to sleep in the pulpit O.
not, it being generally understood tina
there is no difiulty about sleeping il
the pens. The experiment was success
fully made, and the fact established
tie that not only layman but even
in minister may sleep in the pulpit. w
left next day, and it has not been mad
public how long Ritehey occupied tn,
is pulpit, but it was commonly reporte,
In over the city that the Summer stree
is church had been converted into a hote
Il. on the European style under the fame,
49, name of Hotel de Baird. All we cal
90 say is that we left Ritohey in undispr
ad ted possession of the building and tina
is he remained several days longer in tn
st, city. As to the abstract question {
h. sleeping in a church, we do not prt
- sumo that he denies the charge, or pr
'o' tends to claim that he is the first PEI
'er son who ever did SO, in fact we kno'
Oh he does not claim to be pioneer in tn
or- business. And in as much as it hs
nj now been practically demonstrated tbs
w I, it is possible to sleep in the pulpit, W
10 would suggest that it is perhaps a war
nd Of wakefulness in the pulpit that cause
he so much sleeping in the pe'cS. But {
a course no local allusion to any particl
;ot lar pulpit is intended; we are onl
~ speaking abstractly of the pulpit.
P. S. The more we explain tt
more explanation is needed. A frien
d,. from Manchester says it is understood
= there that we engaged room at I'll
nat Nicholson House a month in advanC
nd and when we arrived it was occupic
ed by IS young ladies. There was sue
~. | -. Il 49,. =. IL. III q