The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
THE OLD HOMES OF MEMPHIs.


THE OLD HOMES OF MEMPHIs.
The Taste and Regard for Beauty Shown
by the Early Settlers in the Selection
OF Location for Homes, as Well as an
Eye Toward an Increase in Value.
The old time homes Of Memphis,
How lovingly they stand
Amidst the tall oncIellns 'rees
That grace this Southern land.
In the early days Of Memphis, when
land was plenty and cheap, the leading
business and professional men selected
beautiful locations for charming homes
amidst the grand old forest trees which
grew 80 tall and broadly spreading in the
forests OF the bluffs. Most OF them had
two or three acres OF lovely turf and tree
surrounding their homes. As the hamlet
became village, and the village city
many OF these were absorbed in the BUSH
ness centers, but scattered all through the
suburbs were still many oil these loving
Southern homes telling Of hospitality and
good cheer. The march OF improvement
and the demand for other homes is gradu-
ally cutting up and wearing away the few
remaining ones, and ere long these will be
but remembrance; these proud old
homes, where have been reared some OF
the brayest, trucst and tenderest OF the
noble men and women OF the Southland.
These places are not merely the property
OF the record owner he lives there and
pays the taxes, but they belong, like the
light and air, TO all, and the pleasure oil
looking at them, drinking in their beau
tics and filling the heart with sweet
thoughts OF love and home free TO all.
on the southern boundary Of the corpor-
alton, half way between the end OF the
fernando street green line, and the Mis-
sissippi avenue red line, is a fine neigh
borhood, with gently sloping lawn and
tempting building places for cultured
homes, where from all appearances prop
erty must be rapidly increasing in value.
| could easily be tree worshipcr, and |
dearly love to wander through the woods
and amid the dim aislcs OF the forest.
Recently, driven by reckless Impulse or
an uneasy conscience, strolling through
the outskirts OF the city came upon one
OF these old honneH, walked around II aud
opening the hospitabe gate passed within.
Seeing an old "aunly" with her ample
proportions aud her head adorned with a
gaiIy colored kerchici / asked what place
Il was. She said. at is. the old Judge
Archibald Wright place" j lifted my
hat in reyercnce 10 the name OF Que OF
Memphis best and truest men. IL WIS
nearly sunset, and the cool fresh breeze
gently lifted the leaves, and bore tho fra
GRANGE OF the blossoms IL was beautiful
in It's quiet loyellntss, there was naught
TO disturb the calm, save the song OF the
hooking bird, and the beauty OF the well
kept turf was unl v marrcd here and there
by the litter ol tile fallen rose leaves, or
those dropped frnm the magnolia. or the
pine. The soft tiri with It's thick coat
| Ing OF blue grass was 30 refreshing
10 the feet and the stately trees with their
broadly spreading branches were bright
and fresh In their new suits Of living green.
The beautiful trees, cmblems Of the pro-
fusion Of Gods gifts, who gives 10 them
not one suit only OF leaves TO be carefully
kept, hut an abundance, 30 that they can
throw them away to the winds all summer
long. There were the oaks. always typi-
cal and suggestive; the magnolia, with It's
glossy leaves and white cups OF purity aud
perfume; the tall pines with It's tossing
needles aud tawny scaiy bark; the gum.
with It's promise Of radiant colon In the
early fall time; but why particularike7
| There were scattered over the plot 100 or
moro magnificent old trees such ~ only
| America can produce, and ~ one looked
/ ANt NaNlllk NNhNUH iuHHlfk
| branches 10 the blue arch ABOVE, Il was 40
easy TO realize that 'thc groves were Gods
| firsl temples" ! thought, heru il n place
that will be kept as a homestead, aud al.
though there Is a dummy line within one
block aud two street car lines within two,
still this will not be cut up aud sold, but
turning ~ look ut some blossoming shrub,
| saw staring nj me In bold lettering
These Lots for sale. by Allen 4 Finley,
No. 10 Madison Street. aud sighed "lie
trail Of tho serpent Is over them all. {"
Well, 10 Il Is ever | could only hope
that this lovely spot would fall into
apprcciatiyo hands, aud that the old
residence, that beautiful Southern
homc, with is solid brick walls
and all It's convcnicnccs Of out.buildings,
enormous cistcrn with is cool, liic-givipg
water, and all that wealth and culture
could give 10 home, would be bought by
some ono who could love aud carr for i
~ Il deserved. | brcalhed wish
that II these delightful grounds were di-
yidcd aud sold rs lots that they might be
purchased 10y party Of friends who would
leave them still ono plat with no un iyid-
ing fences To be sure, modern ciyiliza-
ton has not yet arrived at a stage where
outside fences can be safely removed, but
~ this lovclino-s should be- kept M one,
although there werc different owners. The
outside fence ~ still q necessity against
prowling beast and bpcd. aud II. as We are
told, meek Moses broke all the command.
mcnts ut once. u surely must have been
when some mild.cycd but. yagrant COW,
with crumpled horn, deity opening the
gate, had With ono fell stroke destroyed
both his religion and the flowers aud roses
which Mrs. MosA had with loving labor
scattered through the yard. ! trust that
none but true hearts and loving hands
will come iniodpoAscssion Of these lots, aud
who will lcavclbqm with their beauty aud
charming homdlincss unmarried.
kALAEAuA.
pfrKfN @. WRIGHT