The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-10-03
CLUB LIS r.
c7 BROWNS "REMINISCENCES


think / shall never forget our
first speeches in our eventful canvass.
AS stated in my last they were
made al Fcrgnson's. 1t was IN June
the weather was ms warm as that ia
bled lake where is said the Lord
even forgeiieth to be mercitul"-the
farmers were extremely busy har-
vesllng, onsevery side, wide waved
the ripening grain and bright
CLEANED the sickle. In that portion
ri the county machinery is used but
very little. and men have to still
eliugto the ol,i-fashioned scythe and
cradle. There were very few present,
. probably not more than score. Bin
ner this day consisted of a tea Kettle
full OF boiled eggs. Right here
To- digrcss far enough TO say
that Dick Mcdaniel can crowd more
boiled eggs intoa smaller space than
any other man that lives. His stor-
ing capacity is certainly very great
ts as bounflcss as the winds. as
broad IA space and as endless as "a
womail's tongue. People were anx-
Sous 10 hear speaking and oil OF us
were anxious to speak, yet each rath.
er dreaded to begin, for he did not
know what his opponent would say
IN reply. Speech making is a good
thing If man knows what to say, or
yather what not to say, that is the
idea, the main point, the milk in the
cocoanut OF the whole matter, tc
lcnrn what not to shy. When man
has learned this he can make a good
speech. lost some votes by my
speeches, know il now;I knew II
then, and yet could not well keen
making them as did; Tor to tell the
truth was very badly embarrassed
and ] would say something about M
old Hue in spite Of me, that some per.
sons would consider indiscreet 10 say
the least. am of the opinion now
that one good pointed joke, well told,
VIII do more good with the masses
than an hours logic, and would
rather have ono man who is good
yellcr for INC than ak bank presi-
dents, with all the pomposity and
splendid dignity that seems to gnlher
ana cling round them like the ivy
around the oak. People 20 in gangs
like birds, go together. There is a
tender cord that seems 10 bind the
great masses together: they are easily
enihused and excited and the idea is
TO carry them BY storm throw across
their paths ray ortwo of sunshine,
however cloudy may be your own
And, too, a man should speak earn.
estly, speak like he feels every word
he said and was in dead earnest. |
shall not attempt to give any of the
speeches made, and yet heard them
50 much, SO many, many times, that
could almost, even now, give them
word for word. | will say. however,
that parson Barrow and Maj Breath
ut were the orators of the whole
flock that when they spoke they al
ways had attention. The former for
years haying been accustomed TO
speaking, was always calm. cool,
logical aud deliberate, never suffered
himself TO become excited, never suf-
sttSh hto VPPOuOhb W Uliu VII
his guard. Tho latter was iinpul-
sive, excitable, earnest and quick to
catch and turn each and every thing
upon his opponent that a shrewd de-
batant could. Take them as a pair
have no hesiiancy in saying, that in
my opinion, they made the best
speeches ever made by any two men
who were candidates Tor SO small an
Office as county clerk. The speeches
at this point were rather short, sharp
and decisive. We had not learned
then TO branch out into the realms of
fancy and poosy. ,s......,s
After the speaking was over Judge
j.. and ] went over TO Mr.. William
Robinson's and spent very pleasant
night with him and his esiimable
wife. The next day we spent in cam
wasting Pond River-took dinner
with that prince of good fellows Eco.
GeorgesN. johnson, and landed al
nighiat the hospitable home OF our
old friend John Grace. Man and
boy have known him for about two
hundred years aud l know more
hospitable honest man never made a
track on Pond River May he live
thousand years aud may the shadows
never cross his path. The next np.
pointment was at Prouses Store.
This is on the extreme edge of the
county, just on the dividing line be
tween Christian, Muhlenburg and
Todd counties. l saw some of the
grandestscenery on this ride my eyes
ever beheld. Mountains old as time
reared their heads upward and up
ward until their peaks seemed lost
amid the blue ether above. Valley
brood as praries-green as the bay
tree and fertile. as fertility Itself
stretched out before inc. In the
crevices aud OH the barren crags OF
these mountains for centuries undis
turbed and unframed the Eagles and
Vnltures nave made their nests and
reared their young. So high up and
80 securely hid that the. ball of the
best aimed rifle can never reach them.
Over these fertile valley roam some
~ fine stock Us is 10 be- seen any.
where in Kentucky. In fact every.
where down there Poland China hogs
grunt, South down sheep bleat aud
Durham cattle bawl their own allot-
ted part in natures wild anthem.
Grand old Pond River-home OF my
boyhood-home of my childhood
home OF eveythingn near and dear to
my heart, though far away tonight
nhd surrounded sby the hollow tin
selry Of this gaudy city, in my heart
love the still. More from the same