Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-14
TUESDAY EyESINq 4vsrsz 4, 1888


S0~A6O AAaAAAAe4AAA = AAeNDe (eAA We
A good general always provides a
line of retreat, and reserves some Of
his best troops in case of great to use
emergency. Napoleon put in the Old
Guard at Waterloo, but it was too
late. This sort Of policy takes shape
in many Of the smaller affairs Of life.
At fine dinner the sweetmeats are
brought on last, and the best part of a
woman's letter is often contained in
the postscript. Judge Latham seemed
to have been resting lately, but it was
only make-believe. He never sleeps
when there is anything to be gained by
wakefulness. The result OF all his
retiracy was a column in the Sunday
Avalanche, which answers the charge
made by that paper that the Appeal
was the organ of the Water Works
Company. We always suspected that
the Judge had heavy ammunition in
reserve or a big card of some
kind to play, and sure enough it
was fred Sunday morning. After
going over much Of the old ground
and making various propositions SINH
lar or akin to the old ones, and fitting
a lance atJudge Brown for diversion
he returns to the quality of Wolf
river water, and to prove that it is all
right introduces the testimony, or
what appears to be such, Of two news
paper men and a minister who for.
merly lived here. 1t appears that
these three innocents, not having tLen
been compelled to drink or use much
Wolf river water. were appointed a
committee to report on the third best.
A report made by Mr.. Hermany in
1868, and now very hard to find, was
placed in their hands, and they made
q report on the report. 1t does not
appear that they went to the river
and sampled it or had it analysed,
but they accepted as gospel the
report Of Mr.. Hermany and an analy.
sis which 1t contained. They may
be experts now, but they we're not
then. One Of these editors has since
had to take down the hot water ap,
paratus in his kitchen, to keep it from
blowing up. The Wolf river mud was
constantly settling in the bottom and
choking up the pipes. The confined
steam would then fairly shake the
house, and Bridget would cross the
nearest fence first, and then stop to
cross herself. Consequently the costly
apparatus was taken down. As to
bathing in the stuff, that was utterly
cut Of the question all last GUNNER,
and las only been risked a few times
this summer. Then again, it is found
that this water is death to all flowers
and delicate plants, though it does not
kill Bermuda grass So much for
experience since bsing forced
by law 10 connect the
water pipes with the sewers. Before
that, in this particular case, the Wolf
river Alid had only been taken to use
in kitchen sink. We can
still certify to what Mr.. Her.
many said in 1868 per pam
phIet, but we must beg to be excused
when II comes to indorsing his views.
The wise man profits by experience.
Some of US can remember when it was
a grand thing to travel across a State
in stage coach, but would not like
to try it now. 1t may be possible to
take Wolf river water up near Raleigh
ana silt it and filter and clarity it and
make il 6t for common use. But that
is not the kind Of article delivered to
the people Of Memphis. We have
much respect for tue witnesses intro
duced by Judge Lathsm, but as
the world do move" we would much
rather have their testimony now under
cross examination than to accept as
fnality their report made on Mr..
Herlhanys report four or FIVE years
ago.