The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-25
ABOUT COURT SQUARE.
THAT THE PARK WAS AND WHAT
1T Is-Two PICTURES.
bird Picture-How to Make This Oasis
In the Desert Of Trade a Thing OF
Beauty and a Joy Forever-An Old
Citizens Views.

Quafe Oh ldte, btiu u couu oiu Citincu W
m APPEAL reporter, land II makes one feel
nd to remember what Court square was
years gone by, and see what it is now
II was before your time that Col. Finnie
devoted years OF his life to adorning and
identifying the little park, and he sue
seeded in making 1t an oasis in the desert
II trade. This sounds like treason in these
lays wherein 1t is trade or nothing; where
noney-making is everything, and where
he love for the beautiful in nature and
rt goes for naught. Why, it is not so
rery long ago, saw it published in your
paper, that some people wanted to build
courthouse in the square, and destroy the
charming spot When people get into the
inromantic business drift, there is no
moving what they will want to do next.
Il would not surprise me II some one
would ask permission OF the city council 10
out up soap factory or slaughter-house
N Court square, or that the city would
urn ii into chain gang stone breaking
work-house. / tell you we are living in
atilitarian and iconoclsstic days The
lines have changed and we change with
lhem-tempora mutantur etnos mutameer
IN ills In the old days OF Grecian my
biology, you remember, the woods, groves
md grottoes were peopled with deities,
.divinities, nymphs, naiads and spirits Of
all kinds. IL was a beautiful idea-one
that almost makes one wish that he was
pagan living in the pagan days Of yore.
well, let us return TO the square. A
fine fence was put around il, and at heavy
expense. The place was laid off into
lawns and walks. The old forest trees
were left standing, and they sprea abroad
their great branches like the beech trees
beneath which Tyterus reclined in the
shade in the old Roman days recubans
sub tegmine fagi.' The square was i'm
proved by cultivated people; magnolias
and other southern trees, shrubs and
flowers were planted, and In the spring
time IL was rs beautiful as the grotto on
the tabled island Of Calypso, which 80
charmed Telemachus, who, with Minerva
disguised as Mentor, was shipwrecked on
Its shores lie was welcomed by Calypso,
who exclaimed:
"'Nenez dams ma demuere oil 10 vous
recevrai CONNIE mon fills; venez, vous
Berez ma consolation dams cette solitude;
ct je ferai votre bonheur pourvu que vous
Bachiez en- JOUR.
THAT fountain in the square was the
gift OF a number Of public spirited citizens
whose names are engraved upon the coping
stones OF the basin. Another generous cit
izen gave the drinking fountain, now in
side the square, but which when given
was placed at the curbing opposite the
Main street entrance. The drinking fount-
ain was provided with silver-plated mugs,
but soon these were stolen and tin cups
had TO be substituted and attached 10 the
fountain by small chains. A stone drink
ing trough for horses and mules was the
gift Of another citizen. This was placed
on North Court street near the north gate,
and there Il remained for year or so; thus
YOU see both man and beast were pro.
vided for and served with the third best
Wolf river golden fluid or conglomerate.
"What became OF the horse trough, you
ask7 Why, the people doing business
across the street complained OF the street
blockade, denounced the thing M n nui
sance and the city fathers. not belonging
20 tile Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Animals, removed It to please the utili
tarians."
"Mhat is the matter with Court square
now7" mildly asked the reporter.
"The matter with III Why, the Goth'
and Nandals took possession Of II, the wa
ter pipes which supply the fountain were
permitted TO freeze and burst, and they re
main in that condition 10 the present day
Poor little Ilebc, the cup bearer OF III,
gods, il now unable b pour the wine int,
the cup, which the precious fluid misses
by many inches, 10 that the citizens from
Brotia regard llebe as a modern bee
jcrker Of the variety theater stripe, ant
who Is on one Of her accustomed DRINKS
The fountain II badly out OF repair-it tip,
over to the south, the cap-slones ON which
Il stands are split and broken; indeed, thu
beautiful gift, which was once the pride o.
the city and the admiration OF strangers
now presents rusty, dingy and dilapi
dated appearance. The fountain basin ]
leaking badly. You remember Mr.. Keat
ing, the Court square keeper Of years ago
How delightfully."- he kept IT, and what
beautiful place 10 visit II was then
Strangers never failed 10 enter it gates
and never grew weary Of admiring II
beauties They fingered around the charm
Ing spot, watched the children chase lh
tquirrcls, and pronounced the place thin
nj beauty, which should be q Joy forever
The prctticst park in the United States, OF
~ 4 hiAtcu Ottotti hh oanin III tic utrti
Of trade
'But more vandalism followed; the shad
trees were trimmed up almost 20 thei
tops, and many Of them were killed; III
place was turned into filthy menagcri
Tor owls, wild geese. pelicans, alligalou
deer, eagles and prairie dogs. But thes
have disappeared, except the prairie dog
which has undermined one section Of ia
square, dug unsightly holes all ovcrit, an
now lives upon the roots Of the trees, an
Il will not be long before you will see tn
latter decay and die. Why even the ston
face Of Andrew Jackson wears an c,
pfcssiye look Of thorough disgust"
Capt simonds has charge Of thcsquar
nov" remarked the reporter.
Eyes, and very good man he Is Tor tll
plaoc," replied the old citizen. "but whi
can he or any other man do without none
or means7 The city government will ne
appropriate a cent 10 save the square lroi
ruin. know what you would say. We
they sold the fence twice, but some sylvia
divinity must have intcrposcd with Jup
Ter and get their schemes awry. The sal'
have not been perfected and the fence n
mains, and hope will remain 20 foreve
We are graycly told that there are .
fences around the parks in Chicago, 10
ton and New York, and that fence
old-iashioncd and should give way 10
low stone curling such a. you see In grav
yards; but when all this shall have bee
done Court square will become
thorou0hfare ia rustic beauty vi