New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-24
KENTUCKY CORRESPONDENCE


agricultural society 1t was held in beautiful
grove of fifty acres, carpeted with blue grass,
mile from town on the Perryye turnpike The
substantial amphiheater is two hundred yards in
diameter, with sheltered seats for more han hye
thousand spectators, with broad arena IN the
center for the exhibition Of stock, and VIDE
covered promenade. The stand of the judges was
at the center of the arena, surmounted ny the
gallery for the good band Of music in ATTENDANCE
the pridjron banner waving high above me
ground was black with the carriages OF VISITORS
from thts and adjoining counties, numbering
bottreon five and six thousand, Of whom
majority were ladies' do not remember more
pleasing or impressive spectacle than these
eyarninq thousands Of tile Imprinted beauties Of
Kentucky filing all the grand circle Of the audi
torinm. tier above tier, crater Of glowing and
, healthy loneliness. Add the hundreds Of gay |
Dromenaders on the circumference of this magic |
circle, and the splendid animals capering, pranc-
ing and shining on the arena and the whole makes
a tabeau that will never fade from my memory. |
Ihave seen three generations of Kentucky ladies'
in the prime of youth, andit appears to my old
ewes that the present SURPRISES its predecessors
for brllliance Of complexion and symmetry of
form. The stock Go borrow an epthet from the
arepal has improved unless am deceived by the
caiety and richness of their attire which is very
different from that worn by their grandmothers
whom knew as young ladies'.
It has been about twenty years since have had
an opportunity to observe carefully the farms Of
Kentucky and their products, and although my
4 present observations have eXtendedEonly to por-
tions of Fayette Mercer, Jessamne and Boyle
counties, can testify knowingly to very mafFed
Improvement in most respects. Kentucky has as
enredIy been growing wealthy and | am glad to
e. zee that large share of this increase in wealth is
in the form of substantial Improvements to build
ings walls, roads, fences and stock, The gains o
the farmer have not been carried away but have
been left on the land in permanent form for the
benefit of of the children who are to become It's
owners and cultipators. There is less disposition
shown to becoming suddenly wealthy and in its
place is manifested a commendable pride
in neat and thorough farming. The lands are
not worn out with avaricious croppin-;,
but are suffered TO rest under their coun-
terpanes of pasture until thoroughly reinvgorated.
Instead of feeding inferior cattle, horses, hogs and
sheep, it is found more profitable to raise blooded
stock: hence every farm has its thoroughbred
animals and "scrubs" rarely met with in
roads or fields. But while greatly increased pro-
portion of land is devoted to grazing, cereal crops
have not been neglected. The most notable i'm
provement is in wheat, which has increased ten
fold since 1910, and is now celebrated for its
excellence in Eastern and European markets
The culture of hemp, so common, has beeh
almost abandoned, but is beginning to be resumed
on smaller scale. The growth of this year is
thought to be Of superior quality, and at the
= present high price it will no doubt prove to be q
remunerative crop.
inject everywhere the signs and proofs of com
fort, abundance, wealth and prosperity. New
houses new carriages, fine Clothes handsome
10 walls silver Mate colo
watches new churches neat sehool-houses fash
ionable apparel libraries, newspapers, contentet
faces and early marriages. are among the unms
taxable indtcin of the comfortable and prosperous
condition of kentuCkans How different from OH
own desolated war-blasted, impoverished land!
Most favorable accounts continue to be given o
the immense and unprecedented corn crop, unde
which the vast fields seem to groan. This is o
course the leading crop, as it has long been fur
nisfing the food both of men and animals. Thi
year sgrowth would supply bread for the Who'll
continent.
But all of these crops of corn as raised fro1
year to year are not consumed by man and beast
nor yet are they sold into far country. Apol
tion, perhaps a 1.-THE, of each years prolifi
growth is embalmed The living essence an
spirit of the corn is taken from the beady kernel
by magical process, and is then inurned in We!
sells of wood, stone or glass pous mementc
which grows more precious from year to year.
grateful memory of the crops of past years, tn
natives, from time to time, open these sacred II
ceptacles to inhale the fragrance of the fluid re
mains, and some even moisten their lips with tll
fluid itself.
This preservation of the memory of past year
crops by embaming is in accordance with a
aboriginal tradition which has been transmitte
from sire to son through many generations
white and of red men. The legend is that whe
Minnehaha had completed hernocturnal perambt
2ation around the cornfelds clad in her ow
tresses and the shades of midnight, she called
{ her side her tawuy grapdmother-in-la tn
wrinkled, moon-born Nokomis and said
Fen as Hiawatha told me,
have marched around the cornfelds,
have blessed the waving cornields
But my blessing good NOkOmis,
Shall not be for these fields only,
Not alone for maize of red men.
But through all the generations,
Through the misty seeming ages,
Through the shadOwv hereafter,
And through all the nappy countries
Where Mondamn shall be buried:
Where the maize beads shall be planted,
Where the stately stalks shall rustic
And the plumes shall wave among them,
Silver plumes among the cornstalks,
For all times and in all countries
Shall endure this midnight blessing
But mark you this my good Nakomis-
While made this midnight journey,
While I drew this magic circle,
While I walked around The cOrnfelds,
While trode among the brambles,
While the saucy thorn-bush scratched me,
While the rude blackberry scratched me,
While frightened bird and June bug,
The bird p-chip and hum the June-bug,
Game to me voice most tuneful,
Voice of music, voice of counsel
Voice melodious, sweet voice saying:
Blessings the Minnehaha,
Blessed be thy magic labors,
Blessed be these circled corntields.
But hear me, pious Minnehaha,
Hear me- wife of Hiawatha,
Hear me, lovely laughing water,
Hear thy Mother hear Wenonahl
In the coming generations,
In the long of shadowy future,