Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-12
GLIMPSES OF KENTUCKY.
A Once Famous HOstelry-A Haunt
OfMOrgan's Men-The Rurth-places
of Lincoln and DavIs-The Colonel
A Specimen on she Stump.

Oral tradition tells us that long ago a eros
roads tavern stood here, a haven Of rest to the
traveller by the old stage route. who halted
here for bountiful meal and 'hot Scotch
while the horses were changed. In those times
three days were allowed to voters in elections
| and this hostelry was famous rendezvous fol
the enthusiastic and thirsty souls who were
given to looking upon the wine when it was
red--also the apple when it was jack. The host
was hospitable fellow who invited his guests
to ''fll away" as they tossed Off bumpers
| at his bar and waxed warm and excl
| ted in debate before his blszing fires.
he was great local politician, landed pro-
| prietoF, and person of considerable import
ance In his "deeStrict," and so in his honor the
/ place changed its name and came to be known
| through all the country side as Fillaway.' -
| But by-and-by the line of a railroad stretched
/ its glittering track through the wild retreat.
and the shrek OF locomotive tore The quiet
| neighborhood slumbers Co an almost affrighted
| awakening. The stages dashed up no more in
| lordly magDificence to the tavern door and
| scattered the echoes with the sweet shrill peal
/ of the horn; there were no more trampfng
steeds In the stables and no longer the pleasant
| din Of the old crowd in the well-warmed and
| lighted barroom Of "Fillaway." The new rail-
| way station was located a mile away and drew
/ to itself the little world around it. It bore a
| new name, and thus as time went on the tavern
| keeper at the old place was gathered to his
fathers and the tavern was torn down and the
pleasantly suggestive designation or Fila
way I'll into desuetudo or was remembered
| as backwoods retreat which had once seen
brighter and more prosperous days.
Down in this hill country the scenery is ro-
mantle and wildly beautiful. Fruit farms,
whose products are shipped directly to the
Eastern markets, fill up the interstices between
the hills, and the trees are loaded now with
such picturesque stores as are only meant to
be rather far away when the producer gets his
| fancy prices, and the home people are to be
content with the refuse. This is barely the
| threshold of the great tobacco belt of Ken
tucky, the least beautiful section of the State
Muldraughs Hill is not so much hill as an am
| bilious young mountain. at whose feet the fair
lands roll away ripe for the harvester. Deep in
these quiet valleys the white cottages nestle
among the peach orchards and Vineyards, while
far above them the wooded heights are inter-
laced with cleaning spider-webs of trestle
work si'houetted against the summer sky,
along which the Louisvills and Nashville train,
with rush and scream and tremble, flies
southward and leaves a long blue smoke-Ser-
pent wriihing in the air behind
hollow and on one of the eminences
overlooking it are still seen the imprints
grass grown but perfectly distinct. made by
the tents OF John Morgan's men encamped on
these hills eighteen years ago. Iu the brick
wall OF one of the houses in the town lust on
posite the court house is imbedded cannon
ball, sent there by the men In blue who followed
close upon the heels of Morgan's men in the
shifting scenes Of war In painting the wall
broad white ring has been cOnspicuously drawn
around the ball, and it is proudly cherished as
one of the by-goneS Of the place. About five
miles from town, sitting alone in bare, sunny
upland meadow at whose left the road winds
through thick plantations OF black jack toward
Hodgenville, Is a low, unSheltered log cabin
black with age 1t is the birthplace Of Abra.
ham Lincoln. Separated by many miles but
In the same State, is the birthplace Of Jeffer-
son Davis-two great Kentuckians Who stimuli
taneously in the field of action, played such
diverse parts in the tragedy OF war and gov
ernment.
The region is not behindhand in pretpnsious
to fashion. Red houses prevail in all the gloss
that fresh paint can give them. That hand
some structure of bay windows and cupoIas
crowning the nearest height that overlooks the
village is inhabited by a Colonel, who is a
neIghborhood nabob. Doesn't it seem that in
the matter of ColOnels, this world is Just full
and running over? Much has been said and
sung of the Kentucky specimen-hOw distin-
guished he is when away from home how forci-
Bile and startling his manner and dialect how
fearful and wonderful the glowing accounts of
his own exploits. But it is only upon his ma
tive heath that the kentucky Colonel is seen in
the full perfection of his charms. His loving
comradeship with toe winner of the last cub
cup. the ease with which his re golver can split
a bullet on the wing or divide a nan from
crown to sole, his inspirations in regard to
draw poker and his intimate knowledge of
mixed drinks, are attainments that mark him
for exaltation above his fellows. 1t has been
said or him that he does not come by his dis
tinction on the bloody field of war or by the
slow degrees of promotion, but that his proud
title is born with him ard he transmits it as a
glorious heritage to his sons. However that
may be, no other honors become him half so
well or can be more gracefully worn.
This particular Colonel of whom the story
runs, who dwells in the red house set on a hill
was brave and gallant sutler during the late
war, and in that capacity won distinction as
well as lucre Indeed, his qualifications in the
last mentioned regard were conspicuously bril-
liant, as the soldiers conld have testified pain
fully Being wise man, and far seeing, he
always endeavored to come in with the side
likely to whip, and therefore it was clear as
MONDAY to him that the wake of the Federal
army wss the best place for him. By and by
he managed to creep into the commisSary de-
partment, and covered himself with glory
when the battle was afar IF. After the war
was over he settled down to the enjoyment OF
his gains, always with an eye open to any little
job the government might throw out to him
OF late years he has been busiIy engaged
in bringing up son in the way he should 90
This hopeful scion is candidate for Congress
on the Democratic ticket, and is making the
district howl with his eloquence. Inasmuch as
his platform and his fsther's differ so exten-
sively. the cannot help wondering, in q mild
way, il all is harmony between Them But
herein is the Colonels wisdom apparent
There is no telling what may turn up, and If
there are to be emoluments from either party,
why, it Is just as well as not to have them ali
In the family. For instance, the young aspi.
rant is low tariff man, and the father is all
for protection; SO that it is rather bewildering
when the son is letting himself loose in public
speech, to hear the Colonel. in his more effu.
sive moments, shout encouragement from the
crowd: That's it! Go IT, Dick; whoop 'em up,
my b0y!"
But little while since the thrilling ruuOr
permeated the neighborhood that there was to
be real old fashioned barbecue. such as had
not occurred in such ancient splendOr since
ante belum days, at which all the candidates
were to be allowed to meet in a grand Pan
Jamboree. Foremost amongst the speakers
was to be our young friend Of Democratic pro-
0aV9
not allow the grass to grow under his feet as
he secured the country inviting his friends to
the love feast. On the morning of the eventful
day the Colonel Jaunty and deb0RGfT, in a suit
of light gray with boyish cut. drove through
the village in high spirits a subject of anxious
foreboding to his friencs. who were mindful of
a tented booth where the glasses clinked and
the flowing liquids jiDgled in manner difficult
for the convivial old chap to resist.
1t is the hour for the speeches to begin The
tables have been cleared, and the crowd has
drawn about the speakers stand, which looms
up painfully like gsllows, each candidate, as
he mounts 1t, appearing as though making his
last remarks. and the master of ceremonies,
apparently in the character of Sheriff. ready
to adjust the black cap and spring The drop
Presently there is a stir In the crowd below:
a heavy figure clad in boyish gray mounts the
stand unsteadily, and turns about a rubicund
face framed in bristling white hair and whisk-
ers. Can it be the Colonel himself? 1t is even
so. He is evidently very full of emotions that |
make his eyes moist and red. He is a trife |
rent in his lower notes. Nothing daunted by |
the futile efforts made to disOdge him, he |
launches forth in a stream of fiery eloQuence |
which will Persist in running down at the |
heels. so to speak, and leaving the Colonel /
surprised in the midst OF sentence. The |
audience, however, is very apprecistive, and |
spurs him on with cries Of go on, old cur
mudgeon," and Louder, my buffer" the |
Colonel screams himself hoarse, and Joins |
heartily in the vociferous applause with VIII -ch |
his rounded periods are greeted. Finally a new |
conner on the scene makes his wav to the old |
gentleman, and taking bin by the arm at |
tempts to lead him from the stand. He recoQ- |
nizes his son, and gracefully Telinquishes his |
position, not before giving him his parental |
blessing, accompanied with a pat on the |
head in full view Of the spectators. |
The uuquenchable old gentleman lingers
in the crowd while his son is warming things
up. and refuses to be led from the grounds.
be proposes to hear the last of that speech If |
IL taxes all summer. And he does. The level
rays OF the setting sun strike across the heads
OF the crowd as 1t slowly disperses, and on the
stands the Colonel at his horses head. emo.
tional and effusive. shaking hands with every-
body. congratulating everybody. oh
iivious to the derisive laughter around
him, with only one query on his tongue. now
fast losing control over its utterances:
Wasn't that speech?' CoYLE DOUGLAS.
An interesting list of British snnuIties
and pensions has just been issued. Over
and above payments of the civil list mem
bers OF the royal family receive e161, coo.
For pensions for naval and military services