The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-24
CoHMUNICATrONs.
Letter from Kentucky.

! EExTN6ToSs KY, Dec- IL, 1879
EDITOR PREss
DEAR SIR: To-day finds rs seated IN
our quiet rooms, in a strange city. many
miles from our humble home with none
near US with whom we can have a
pleasant hours chat, and mid the lone
illness OF the day we will spend mo-
ment in writing line TO your valuable
paper We have been in this city about
three months, and expect to remain in
the State at least three months TO come.
This is naturally. one of the finest conn
tries on the Western continent, and If
settled by set of lice northern people.
could not he surpassed anywhere. This
Blne grass region is adapted to raising
all kinds of grain, and vegetables, and
produces hemp in large quantities,
which Is very profitable to the farmer.
Blne grass grows here spontaneously,
and the finest pasture imaginable is to
be found in the woods throughout this
region.
Frank fort, the capital of the State, is
situated twenty-six miles from thia city,
and is a place of hat little note. Paris
:he shire town of Bourbon county, the
place so noted for Bourbon whiskey, is
situated eighteen miles north of here.
We have been over all the surrounding
country, and il is truly delightful. Ash
land, the farm of Henry Clay, lies one
mile east of this city. and is now owned
by the State and is the seat of the Ken
lucky University. The school is large
ly attended by young men from all parts
of the State. The monument of Henry
Clay is IN the cemetery Immediately
west of the city. and its top can be seen
from all directions, at a distance of sew
eral miles. The structure is one hundred
feet from the ground to the foot of the
statue. The statue itself is exactly the
proportions of the noble statesman dress
ed in his old style suit, and standing in
the attitude of making speech. The
coffin is deposited in the hollow square
beneath, sight of which is easily OBJ
tained. by looking through the grated
door. Across the breast of the coffin is
the modest inscription, Henry Clay.
lying transversely at the foot of this
coffin, is that of Mrs. Clay. This state,
and especially this city and vicinity ia
rather noted for fine cattle, fast horses,
free negroes. free fights, and, I came very
nearly saying, fast women. The poll
ties of this country are Bourbon Demo
cratic. The average height lin estima-
rion) of the Kentuckians is from ten to
fifteen feet, and weight. lin estimation)
especially of the young bloods, is about
fifteen hundred lbs. gross. A man here
who shoots. and kills one, or more men
is qualified to fill county Office, bat IL
he has killed from four to six, he is
eligible to the first honors of the State
II is no unfrequent occurrence here. to
zee people who have killed from one "a
four or FIVE men, and ! have heard them
hoast Of their brave acts in that respect
saw a man shot dead day or two ago
in Georgetown, County Seat twelve
miles north west of this city. A young
man by the name of Thomasson, seemed
to owe Mr. Barbee the sum of twenty
five cents. Barbee asked T. for the
money, and T. told him that he did moi
have il just then. but would pay it in a
day or two, wherenpon Mr.. B. felt hi
dignity insulted, and drew his revolver
and asked I. if he was armed. T saic
no. only the arms tina, God has giver
the, and B. fred. the ball passing direct
ly through the heart, and in thirty sec
onds' young Thomasson was {
corpse. We were standing some thirty
feet distant at the time. The event e
me seemed terrible, but TO those used t.
such trifiing events. it seemed to create
but little excitement. If young Barbe'
has plenty of money they won't hurt :
hair on his head, but if he is poor he will
probably get fee ride to Frankfort
and have job for about one year. Their,
was shooting affray last week imme
diately across the street from where
now sit. One of the parties fred on'
shot, and the other three, one man re
ceivlng a slight burn across the forehead
with ball, and the other not touched
but in an much as neither was killed, tn,
matter was thought rather disgracefn
and the authorities paid no attention tc
the trifing event. To sum the whole
matter up in few words. I don't lik,
this country, neither do particular,
fancy the shooting. Wishing the Edito
and his boys happy Christmas, re
main yours truly, s. NJ.