Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-14
MOBILE, ALA.
A City of Delightful Homes and of Many
Distinguished Women-Mrs. Will
SON, the Novelist.

From an Occasional Correspondent ofthe Appeal.l
MOBILE, March 9.-Mobile is a city of
homes. Not mere residences, nor dirty,
God-forsaken novels like those of more
northern cities, but vertable homes, sur
rounded by grass-plat and lightly swaying
mock-orange or lordly magnolia. On The
poorer streets the fig and pomegranate
furnish both shade and fruit to the toiling
classes. Among the houses ointed out
to strangers is a pleasant old-time brick
house, on the broad and beautiful Govern
ment street, once the home OF the brilliant
and ill-fated Nine. Octavia lie Vert In
spite of the calumny that darkened her
last days, her name is spoken with rever-
ence, nay, with affection, by those who
knew her when her learning, her beauty,
her wit and popr larity were the theme of
the country. On State street is an unpre
tentious but comfortable residence, once
owned and occupied by Mrs. Commodore
Vanderbilt, and, by the way, Mobilians
speak most kindly of this lady.
Yes, Mobile has more and better con-
Quoted charitable institutions than any
town of its size in America. However, there
is but one small public library, of 5000
volumes; and we spent a pleasant hour
conversing with the librarian, Miss Moses,
and looking over the books. We were
surprised 10 learn that this public library
is private property, the entire effects be-
longing to Miss Moses, who charges a
small membership fee. But she protested
that the people take little interest in read
ing, and she barely receives enough sup.
port to keep her doors open. Miss Moses
is a cultivated and hard.working lady, and
since she has struggled with so many diff
ficulties to establish the library, it seems
queer that the generous, easy-going folk
nf In
bright reading rooms was group of ladies
and gentlemen discussing, apparently, a
question of lively importance. "But we
love her for her social and don. .estic vir-
tues, and because she is the greatest of
Southern authors" said young lady with
enthusiasm. Mrs. Augusta Evans Wilson
was the topic of conversation. A soft,
sunshiny afternoon found us entering
Mrs. Wilson's gate. Probably the most
delightful home in all Mobile is this
sweet place of Mrs. Wilson. We saun-
of picturesque oaks several Jerseys grazed
on the we'll kept lawn, birds fitted about
singing gay snatches of half-forgotten
songs, and when the notes of a distant
barnyard chimed in with the rhythm
of our fancy we felt like we had lounged
under those trees for the past fifty years.
The dreamiest air hung over things, and
we were so contented and happy we could
have sat down on the steps and gone fast
to sleep. But at this juncture the fierce
barking OF a dog sounded dangerously
near, and we concluded not to sit on the
steps. A child of some ten years, a lovely,
dignifed little girl, showed us into the
parlors, where we're profusion of freshly
cut camelias, and exotics. Mrs. Wilson
is rarely at home to strangers, and we
would have come away believing her un-
gracious but for the hospitality and grace
ful courtesy extended us by Mr.. Wilson.
He is true type OF the old time Southern
gentleman, and think we will ever re-
member the half hour frightened by his
genial "reminiscences. He pointed to the
oaks we had so admired, and said
with laudable pride, II planted them
with my own hands," He showed
us over the grounds, and his blue
eyes lighted up when we rhapso-
died over the flowers that adorned the
dining table. ,'It's the bouquet that is
fresh three hundred and sixty-flve times
in year" he said. And we left in the
cleaning, feeling sure that if he didn't
love Mrs Wilson, because of the many
tender and noble things in her writings,
we would love her after seeing that dainty
home and happy husband. The lady's
health is very poor; the reading world as
well as large circle OF devoted friends
will be sorry to know that her physicians
have forbidden all literary work for the
present. THOMAS.
BUSINESS has been so dull in st. Louis
since the ganblinghouses were closed that
a movement is on foot to permit them to
be opened again under license, the idea
prevailing that gambling is necessary to
prosperity. 1t Is held that faro banks inn
part ''lifes to the town by attracting rural
lists who either leave their money with the
gamblers orspend their winnings with the
hotels, hackmen, saloon-keepers and pros
titutes. And this is the st. Louis notion
of civilization.
The reported discovery of gold in the
Henry Mountains, in the southern part of
Utah, has created great excitement. 1t is
said that seven olu shafts that were worked
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