Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-10-16
A Great EVENT
In the Life of the City-FOrmal Dedi-
cation OF the Cotton Exchange Un-
der Circumstances Of
Exceptional EcIat-A Brilliant Throng
OF People Gathered from the Sur
rounding Country and from
The Great Cities of the West-The
Beauty and GalIa1try of Memphis
Present in Full Force.
Speeches by Presidents Crawford OF the
Cotton Exchange and A. b. Tread
well Of the Merchants by
President Hadden of Taxing District,
Gen. r. F. Patterson and Judge
J. w. Clapp.
Brilliant Company CrOwding the
Beautifully Decorated Chambers and
Halls Of the Exchange.
A Rare and Lovely Pageant Of Life and
Light Made Joyous by Interchang-
Ing and Blending COlOrs.
Realization OF Dream When Memphis
President Hadden Ofthe Taxing District,
Gen. r. F. Patterson and Judge
]. w. CIapp.
A Brilliant Company CrOwding the
Beautifully Decorated Chambers and
Halls Of the Exchange.
A Rare and Lovely Pageant Of Life and
Light Made Joyous by Interchang-
Ing and Blending COlOrs.
Realization OF a Dream Wnen Memphis
was Still Young, and TO Wish was
to Accomplish Her Desires.

Not muscle quivered in the stolid WIS.,
age of the stone-csrved image of Mercury
over the door of the Cotton Exchange yes
terdsy, and his placid eountenancs did not
display the faintest suspicion of the mean
ang of the blythe melody, the silvered elo-
Quence and the delicious perfume OF
flowers which was waited through the
open windows upon the suulit air. But
he must have been dead indeed had he
need to STOP and parley with Mercury,
anent ths Significance of the gay throng
which in two streams flowed in and out
E1nder the noble arch. II Mercury was in
different others were not. To all who felt
an Interest IN the rise and progress of the
Bluff City, the day WAS momentous one.
A beautiful and costly monument to the
wealth and intelligence and to the enter
prising spirit of her business men, it was
expected that the ceremonies of the dedi-
cation would eqIsl in importance and dig
nifty the structure itself. Aided to the
beauty bestowed by the architect and his
aids, the hand of nature set forth
her choicest gifts for the occasion. The
thick hedge of border plant was arranged
on either side OF the main entrance. Two
superb sago palms stood upon the landing,
one to the right, the other TO the left
Above the door the legeni "Welcome, :"
wrought in tuberoses against & back
ground OF pink rosebuds wss airily sus-
pended. Upon the wall directly across
the hall from the main entrance was
design OF eSquisits beauty, yoke of
cotton hrng in the center, one of
the loops lettered Cotton Exchange" and
the other Merchants Exchange" This
was surrounded by a mass of smilax and
evergreen. From the trailing vines on
either side carrier pigeon, en- volante,
peeped forth. The elevator aud the chan
deliers in the hall were tasteiully hung in
smilax, hanging baskets appearing at in
tervals.
Numerous tropical plants, barslnas,
ferns, palms, orchids aud cameIlias, were
placed about the walls, The musicians
stand was decorated with a rare display of
pot plants. The pillars between the m ain
chamber and the office and reading-room
were twined and fest )oned with ever
greens, and mass of c. flowers in appro-
pirate designs adorned he office Of Secre-
tary Hotter. The chan leliers and por-
traits in the main hail of the Merchants
Exchange were festooned with smilax
Pot plants were arranged about the walls
The office OF Secretary Keeling of the
Merchants Exchange was bower of
beauty. Lilies, palms, acoliviar and ca
mellias IN iull bloom were to be seen on all
sides, Upon the counter were severa!
baskets of cut flowers, heliotrope, bori-
vardia, tube roses, migone'ts aud many
rare blooms blending. their fragrance TO-
gether.
The most striking design was shiE
loaded with jesssmines and camellias
rugged with similar mounting5 upon sea o
roses and dahlias fringed with green. Tn,
artist, Mr.. +. w. Dale, of the Memphis
Floral Company, has reason to congratu
late himself upon the success Of very
difficult pndattakinU