Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-05
CHICAGO LETTER.
Decoration Day Calls Forth an
Abundance of Tears and
Flowers.
Complimentary Notice of One
of the Artistic Young Men
of memphis.
From cur Regular Correspondent.

Yesterday was decoration day In
| this region. The occasion would have
been one Of mere than the usual in
terest If the weather had been favor
able, and not of the very opposite
character. 1t rained very hard nearly
the whole day. This put quietus on
the military and civic parade that
promised to be unsurpassed. How>
ever, the other ceremonies were faith
fully carried out, the mourners and
friends Of the deaf dead heroes strew-
ing the graves of their loved and lost
ones with beautiful flowers, and
mingling their tears with the dew
falling from above, as if high heaven
was weeping in unison with those who
suffered SO sorely from the poisoned
shaft of cruel and hideous war. But,
amid all this gloom and sorrow,
beautiful, bright light beamed forth.
1t was the beacon light of intelligence
proclaiming that this glorious land
of ours is once more united In a firm
bond of brotherly love, with no IN.
holy remembrance of the past rising
to disturb the tranquility of peace
reigning throughout the land with
that virtuous security that is akin to
the sacred, solemn, holy sleep OF those
martyr heroes Of a terrible war who
fell gloriously battling for their coun
try. This was apparent everywhere
as the floral tokens fell alike upon the
grassy mounds that contained here
one who wore the blue and there one
who wore The gray. II was a glorious
sight to witness the widowed wife,
mother or sister rise from her prayers
at the tomb OF her msrtyred husband,
father, brother or lover, and after
spreading her tear moistened garlands
upon it, to tuPn to the little mound Of
one who had breasted the storm Of
cruel war under the gray, and ten
derly and TREMENDOUSLY place upon
the grassy heap joyous tokens OF peace
and love. Could anything be more
noble or grand-aye GOd-like? MOI
mol mol And, when such heavenly
scenes were being enacted all over
this boundless and bountiful land OF
ours, could anyone doubt that the
enmities of the past have been buried
deep down in the vaults OF oblivion,
and that we are now as firmly united
family as if drawn upin battle array
to strike q common enemy. Con
template this glorious, this heavenly
picture We politicians, and let not your
villdiuous, selfish wiles disturb its
angelic beauty; always remembering
that baleful politics in the past caused |
all the war and sorrow that spread |
their hideous pail over this then |
happy land. The soldiers who fought |
and survived the bloody carnival Of
death on both sides are brothers once
more, and those who once nearly hated |
now love each other. They have had |
enough Of terrible strites and now
desire to see the nation enjoy happy
repose. For the sake Of party prefer
ment, or self ACKNOWLEDGMENT, do not |
disturb this blessed situation by again |
sowing seed that may destroy the |
happiness of this land of freedom that |
was bought by the best blood of nOblest |
patriots, 1t is only necessary to say, |
in concluding this DEPRESSION, that the |
mournful occasion Of decoration"
passed off as appropriately as could be |
expected on account of the inclement |
weather.
Mr.. Fred Anderson ofthe Anderson |
Bat Co., Memphis, Tenn, surprised |
me with a flying call last Tuesday. |
His visit was a genuine surprise. II
scarcely thought it likely that my
former Pine Bluff, Ark, friend would
venture this far northward from his |
land OF flowers and genial cline.
However, strange things happen every
day. / ives rejoiced to meet my friend
Of days gone by; years of vexatious
troubles Immediately after the war"
when the carpetbag governments and
officials in the South made it ahell for
those foolish enough to express their
hatred and contempt for those who
basely usurped power and trampled
upon those who had surrendered in
good faith, and we're trying to live in
peace and earn an honest living. My
God, those we're terrible times-inf
nitely worse than those of savage war;
and especially for an editor in Arkan
saw, when he had to carry six
shooter to emphasize his pennings,
and defend his anatomy from the
attacks of those miscreants whom be
was bold enough to arraign before the
bar of public opinion through the
columns of his paper, In those days |
knew Fred Anderson, and admired
him as a promising boy" The other
day ! was very happy to grasp his
manly" hand, and know that my
representations of fifteen years ago
we're realized; that my young friend OF
those days had developed into
a commanding figure, AMI was
la substantial and prominent
citizen Of enterprisinR Memphis.
Fred's visit was such a surprise that /
failed TO inquire as to future inten>
tions in the line Of art. This I regret.
! 1.-The returns from the East via Chi.
cago. may have an opportunity to
canvass the subject with him. But if
this pleasure is denied me l hope the
LEDGER will not permit such artistic
ability as Mr.. Anderson possesses to
lie dormant in such very attractive
| field as Memphis. In whatever he
engages, or wherever he may roam,
Fred will always carry with him my
best wishes for his welfare.
Canadian enterprise. Something
} the United States should do. The
other day l received from the Cana
dian Department Of Agriculture a
pamphlet Of 122 pages, entitled "a
Guide Book of Information for In.
tandin1 Qettlera II 20 an 10