The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-01
TRACY

After waiting until hundreds of his companions, intimates
and friends had preceded him into the shadows and silences.
Peter Tracy yielded up his life at the ripe age of 76-yielded
IT gracefully and with a smile, as though he were handing a
flower to a little girl. Thus closes one OF the most interesting
human chapters in the history OF Memphis. His was a rare,
a unique character, and he filled an unwonted space in the
panorama OF the city. Coming to this city during the latter
years OF the Civil war, his sensitive nature received its first
shock, one morning after a rad, on seeing dead horses and dead
men lying on the street in the vicinity OF the old postottice
building, which was on the way to his boarding house, and this
tragic picture was never cffactd from his memory. Young,
ardent, cbulient and genial. he soon made the leading men and
women OF, the city his fast friends, After the war. Memphis
society, asIwel as commerce, was disorganized, and in the work
of reconstruction his talents found ample room for exercise.
lntuivey grasping the prophecies and elegancies, he gave
them force and being by his originality and artistic genius, and
at one time, by common consent, he was acclaimed the Pretonius
and arbiter eegantarum OF the city, Unless directed by nm,
no social function was considered quite as good as it might be,
Because of his activities his friends gave him the military title
which remained with him through life.
In civic affairs he was equally active, Physically above
the average size, he was a plexus OF nervous energy that never
knew fatigue, and it was often said OF him that he put Mem
phiS on the map by doing, as an individual, what the CONNER.
cal bodies are doing now,
His public services we're handsomely recognized by the
Chamber OF Commerce by electing him an honorary member for
life, an honor bestowed upon but two other distinguished cti-
zens OF Memphis.
OF late years, when the infirmities Of age began to weigh on
him, he took a less active. part in public affairs, but he was
always ready to assist with a bright and valuable suggestion.
Tracy always enjoyed a modest income, but never amassed
wealth as he might have done. lie never had a dollar that he
felt should remain in his pocket; lit must go forth to pleasure or
assist someone else, He respected wealth and pitied poverty,
and he. taught the one how to properly demean itself, and the
other how to mitigate its mseries and improve its condition.
He enjoyed no immunity from errors or imprudences, but
he was eonstitudonally incapable Of anything questionable,
vicious or mean,
To catalog his virtues and good deeds would require a
large volume. The sick were always visited and Cheered by
him and made the recipients of some gracious kindness.
Personally he was companionable and a constant fountain
of effervescing wit and humor; and in a clash OF wits he seldom
came out second best, He was always optimistic and hopeful,
and radiated cheer on all those around him. He was for long
one of the characters of Memphis, and these are becoming very
Jew and scarce, because in the crowding and contact the
anguarties are being worn off and smoothed, making one man
very much like another.
Alter a long and an active life, filled with good deeds and
good cheer, he has been called hence, and many will miss and
mourn him Had he been given more time he would have done
more good. His spirit was right.