The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-03-14
Letter from kentucky.
PADUCAH. KY, March /, 1873.

knightly spurs or sparsely sheltered by
beggar's frock-whether Cresus, with
a tavoring smile has superciliously /
flung to us pittance from out his .
boarded store, or Poverty, with his /
grimy, tattered garments, has seated !:
himself at our board,-still we delight .
i'll retrospeCtiOn, IL living again the
Past, in associating once more with I
those we veneTate, and holding sweet
commune with Natures God. surround
cd by the scenes which in early youth
we loved So well and now cherish SO
much. Even So is it with me; and to-
day, as | sit in my Office, many tamii-
lar forms have risen up before me, and
again have | clasped, in imagination,
the friendly hand of some generous
mountaineer and heard the kindly well
come Il wish YOU well" breathed from
an honest heart Such emOtiOns-the
grateful remem brance Of friends and
sweet recollection of the scenes of child
ish, innocent pleasures,-are alike in
born with us all. | do not claim them
as special property, but only trust,
as precious gems, they may be shared
and enjoyed, by all mankind. But,
soft ! 1t is not my intention in this,
with words Of length" to render a
learned dissertation on the various
workings of the heart-its relation and
sympathy with God. eternity and man;
but, reviewing memory, as Of late L
have been, to bring more fOrcibly to
mind those little kindnesscs and civil
tiles which make life endurablc-may,
even enjoyable-I find that nowhere,
were they more freely, more warmly
given, than in YOUR little city and, it
occurring tome that many Of yOurread-
ers are ignorant or entertain a false
idea, of our portion of that country,
the grandest the sun e'er shOne up
on, >" (D and, especially, with regard to
the manners, custom and everyday life
of the Southern people, and knowing
their gen, rositv and love of truth, 1
believe | could serve them no better
than to disabuse their minds of mis-
conceived notions IS to 'pussOns and
things down III Dixie" Therefore
have l concluded, presumptiousiy per-
haps, to write or the subject.
1t Is an old dictum that charity be-
gins at homc''-may ! add, sometimes
ends there-and wishing to pay due
respect to my elders, who originated
the saying, l shall cndeayCr TO give a
description of my native placc-Padu-
cab. Peculiar name, isn't it? Said to
be called after old "Pad-u-cah," ," whose
grave is near by, on the banks of the
winding Tennessee, and who long years
agone gloried in the title of chief
over all the Indian tribes of Faducan
"whO, erst have roamed DER the hunt
ing-grounds of Minki-ii." But no mat
ter from what source orr little city
| derives its name. it bears to-day, wheth-
er, as those more EumoTously inclined,
/ contend, it be meant to honor the Irish
| man, Pat Hugan," or commemorate
! the virtues and bravery Of the old 'sach-
| EN-, she presents tair sample Of the
| average Southern city. And, although
this is hard, money-grabbing age.
and that town which is most dimly
| seen through its black shroud Of coal
| smoke and, by its swaIms of s0Oty
/ employees. most din.cIlt 10 distinguish
| from many scenes in "Dante's Inferno, "
/ is reclloned the most progressive, the
most enlightened, the nearest up with
| the times, still none such have we here,
and yet-wE LIVE. But, bark You.
reader! Don't understand that our
citizens are devoid Of ALL animation or
enterprise. We number twelve thOuS-
and inhabitants many manufactures
| are operated in our midst; We have
| communication with ali the principal
! places in our great commonwealth, -
afforded by the Mississippi, Ohio, Ten
nessee and Cumberland rivers. and the
PaducGh and Memphis and Elizabe
| town and paducah railroads; and we
| all look forward with pleasing antici-
patton to the time when we shall proud
! lY stand forth as one of the largest en-
pOrlumS or our nome SCUM.
y stranger, however. would be struck
/ by the studied eyenness OF our streets,
the careful uniformity OF our "blocks;''
/ and passing to that portion of the city
| devoted to the residences of the more
/ Opulent, he would sce-not, indeed, as
! twas years ago, for war has left the
marks of his dreadful scourge upon us,
! and I0rClly mansions, perforated by
! cannOn-ball-the wound healed but
! the soar still visible-tell too plainly
/ where strife has been and where Mars
has reigned supreme. Notwithstand-
ing all this. he would see beauty, ele-
/ gance, and the many adornments OF
art, all combining to conduce to that
ease, pleasure and comfort than which
there is nothing SO dear to the South
/, orn's heart.
Our climate may well and truly be
compared to that young lady who most
OF all Is feared yet even courted by the
rougher sex. | speak of the coquette.
To-day she meets YOU with a smile of
gracious meaning, her manner so warm
and genial that you imagine that cold
ness could never abide in a nature so
sunny; tO-morrOw-ahl what a change
has come DER the spirit of your dream