The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-06-10

preacher, so coal black that you dreamIy
wonder if you could not put your pen In
his mouth and write with the saliva, de
scends from his pulpit and takes his
place within the altar rails. He is fol-
lowed by the leading brethren in various
stages of perspiration and dignified hu-
Inility. There is strange tremor of ex-
citement in the church. Then a strong,
lusty voice takes up a strange wailing
hymn. Voice after voice joins in. Up
to the roof that music scars in wild, in
coherent cadences. Through it and over
| it comes the stentorian voice of the pastor
calling for mourners. The audience rise
to their feet, and all is excitement. Then
a handsome wench, wild-eyed and tear
full, takes her place within the circle of
the brethren. Others follow her. Hymn
after hymn rings out with strange, wild
sweetness.
A wild, piercing shrek, and one of the
mourners drops on the door as though
shot through the heart. The crowd
press nearer. The air is filed with pious
shouts and calculations. Others are un-
der conviction, and wall and plead for
mercy. A convert leaps to her feet, and,
half crazed with excitement, runs
through the church, pleading with
others in hysterical, incoherent language.
She tries to drag her friends up to the
mercy seat. Wilder and wilder becomes
the scene, until it ends in complete ex-
haustion.
The second commingling of souls is the
baptismal ceremony. This always brings
a swarm of the negro race to the scene.
A small stream is selected, or the shall
low portion of river. Amid triumph
ant singing the preacher walks solemnly
into the water until it covers his stom-
ach. Clothed in long gowns, the con-
verts enter, are seized by the preacher,
and plunged beneath the waves.
The greatest diversion of the entire
season is the camp meeting. 1 shall
never forget one that attended some
months ago. The camp ground was
about six miles from the city, and in the
shape of a quadrilateral. The four sides
were formed by little shanties Of
shakes, /" facetiously called tents. Some
of these would not allow person over
five feet in hight to enter save in q
STOPPING position. These were for the
devotees. The preachers, six in number,
lodged in 6 more pretentious donicile.
In the center of this square was a large
rooted structure, open at the sides. At
each corner huge stands were erected,
made of hewn timber. Upon these
stands were hung deposits of sand, upon
which great fires of pine blazed, lighting
up the entire place and casting lurid
shadows over the surrounding darkness.
ground when we arrived. Fires were
blazing In the rear of nearly every
shanty, and supper was being prepared
for the hungry ones. The pungent smell
of fried bacon vexed the air. From the
fire where the preachers meat was being
prepared came the appetizing oder of
fried chicken. After supper Gabrielle
horn was blown, and the waiting throng
gathered at the tabernacle. The usual
singing, preaching ana praying followed,
some of it intelligent and thoughtful, but
too much of it mass of incomprehensi-
bility.-Hamilton Jay in New York Sun.
The Royal Blue Button In Australia
This is what they call in England and
the English colonies, the royal blue but
ton. You get one when you are received
by the queen, or if il is in Australia,
where got mine, by the governor gem
eral, who represents her. 1t is an ordi-
nary looking button, having on its ex-
posed surface a groundwork or drab
upon which yellowish rosette with a
blue center is worked. A metal shank
with small metal disk painted black
completes the article. In the manufac-
turing they must cost about 40 cents a
gross. One of these is given to each per-
son who has audience with the governor,
and it is worn in the lapel of the coat as
a badge of the royal favor.
The governor general is a great gun in
the colonies, and there is more red tape
about him than can be found at Windsor
castle. When he condescends to go to
the theatre, his visit costs the local man.
ager about 5000 for carpets and decora-
tions, and then he takes such a retinue
with him, all of whom get in for nothing,
that there is little room for the rest of
the public. A funny thing concerning
his visit is that as soon as he enters the
door the performance must stop, the
band or orchestra strikes up @God Save
the Queen" and everybody in the house
rises to his or her feet and turns to the
royal box, remaining standing until the
governor sits down. / saw a perform
ance of "Uncle Toms Cabin" once, in
Adelaide; the governor came in just as
Eliza was crossing the ice, and there she
had to stand in midstream on the tossing
foes until "God Save the Queen" came
to an end and the governor took his seat,
when Eliza resumed her journey over
the dancing ice-cakes.-Charles Hicks in
Globe-Democrat.