The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13

Special to the Chicago Times:
MILLERsBURG, KY, Aug. S.-These old
Kentucky towns afford types of character
seldom seen in real life in the Northern and
Western States. Many of the Colonies and
the Majors are still on earth. Some of the
fraternity are dilapidated as we'll as antigua
ted, but they inger around the hotels, in
the CouIt-houses, and can be found at the
cattle and horse sales, which occur daily,
expressing their views of the merits and de-
merits of the animals exposed to public auc-
ton. The towns, however, bear evidences
of thrift, and despite the fact that the distil-
leries are closed, the business of the country
stores is said to be good, and the villages are
certainly quite pretty. Still they are not so
lively as they were before the war, when
liquor was cheap and reasonably pure,
negroes were articles Of property, and the
true Kentuckian was a gentleman of leisure
in every sense of the word. Still the Mil
lersburg OF to-day is not the town OF thirty
five years ago. 1t was very fourishing
village then, surrounded by a most beauti-
fnl country, and inhabited by
wealthy people. The "Cane ridge"
boys came to town nightly, and
INDUCED in the typical Southern
game of ''crack-loo," using $50 gold pieces
for each bet. These youngm rode blooded
horses, and made Millersburg howl when
they came to town. The stakes have been
reduced to paltry nickel in these degen-
crate times, and the average youth of the
day busies himself with trading in horses
and cattle or agricultural pursuits. The
days of the rapid youth have passed in the
Blue Grass region.
Millersburg had famous female school in
1S50-51. At the same time a companion in
stitution for the education Of boys hourished
at Blue Licks. about twelve miles distant.
Both were managed by Colonel Thornton F.
Johnson, who has long since left the land OF
the living and the existence of this college
brings the Times commissioner to the words
of the text, viz: "a Scandal of Over Thirty
Years Ago"
In order to retail the story in its true
bearings. it will be necessary to digress q
little. The schools, male and female, in
question were originally instituted at
GEORGETOWN, and about the year 1913. On
Boulton, of Maysville, Colonel Johnson en-
ployed as a Professor in the male depart
ment OF the institution James G.. Blaine,
who was at that time nineteen or twenty
years of age. Mr.. Blai ne is we'll remembered
by the old settlers as Major Blaine. He was
a spare-built man, of medium height, and as
straight as an arrow. His hair grew quite
long and
REACHED TO HIS SHOULDERS.
h,,r flo; -,
the male department, the sons of the blue
blooded aristocracy of the land. The lads
wore striking uniform, and Maj or Blaine,
being an officer, was attired in suit which
would eclipse that usually worn by the
drum.major of a crack band. The Times
commissioner saw one of the identical suits
the other day, its old-time wearer proudly
exhibiting it to the boys ia the tavern"
1t consisted of liGht-blue pantaloons with
red stripe at least an inch and a hall in
width, and a coat also of blue, which was
cut in full swallow-tail style faced with red.
AS for buttons, there were just forty eight
large brass ones on the breast or the coat and
twenty. four on the tails. And hat. Such
hatl A huge shake surmounted by waving
ostrich plumes. Major Blaine's uniform
was said to be even more stunning, if
such thing were possible. Being an officer,
his coat was orDamented with more but
tons than those worn by the pupils. He
the nodding feathers in his hat we're at least
six inches longer than those in the chapeaux
of the pupils. 1t may be the origin OF the
"plumed knight" business.
On swell occasions the Major wore q sword
real" sword, and he was renowned for the
tiGhtness and slinlness of his boots, which
were then one OF the distinctive features of
the dress of the Kentuckians. These boots
were called "copper.toes" and made by a
shoemaker in Lexington. They were made
skin-tight, and there were at least five inches
OF peaked toe to them, which turned up in
front after the fashion of a sleigh-runner or
Dutch skate. The Major was heart-smasher
in every sense OF the word. He was remark
ably eat in his personal appearance, usually
walking with a light cane in his right hand,
while his LETT carried a glove and news
paper.
THE oLD.TIME SCANDAL,
the investigation of which devolved upon
the Times Commissioner, had for its princi-
pals Mr.. Blaine and young lady belonging
to the female department of Colonel John
sons school. The lady, who shall be name
less, was young, bright, and vivacious, dark
hair and eyer, her features plain, but such
forml She was plump without being gross,
and her shapely figure was the envy of all
the slim wasted blue grass bells. She had
remarkably small feet and well turned
ankles. The lady is we'll remembered all
through this part OF the State. Blaine soon
became eDamored with the lady's charms,
and spent all his leisure hours while the
schools were located at Georgetown in her
society. Colonel Johnson in 1S49 moved
the male school to the Blue Licks, and
the citizens of this town being desir-
GUS of having the female depart
ment located here offered Colonel Johnson
extraordinary inducements if he would &C
cede to their wishes. The Colonel, with an
eye to business, said he needed some money,
and if the citizens of Nillersb9rg would in
dorse his paper for 5000 the town should
have the prize. The trade was closed out
instanter, the money being borrowed of an
old farmer up the Lexington pike on a note
signed by Colonel Johnson and indcrsed by
ten good men and true of Millersburg. 1t
might be as well to add that the citizens
paid the note, as the Colonel failed to make
good his part. The male school was moved
from Georgetown to the Blue Licks and
Major Blaine went with it. The institution
was called the Western Military Institute,
and was located in buildings owned by one
Colonel Tom Holiday, who has long since
departed this life. After a year or two
Colonel Johnson got in arrears for quite
sum of money as
RENT FOR THE PREMISES,
and there arose a GOODNESS between johnson
and Holiday. One day the thing came to a
forua Halliday dau,andad sattlamaut