The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1886-10-16


IL only played at Centennias. but friend
told me that some foreign traveller who
had gone through the wi!ds OF America in
1882 told in this book that there was in
front of the Capitol of Kentucky foun-
tain which played on State occasions.
Another old citizen told me that It sent
its spray into the air on the occasion of
Lafayette's visit, and the polite French
man said it equaled the fountains at YER
sailles. / was inclined to believe these
stories somewhat apOcryphal, however.
Up in the Capitol building the hall of
the House of Representatives had been
transferred into something lovely for the
first time in its eventful career of stupid
hideousness. The desks and chairs had
been removed and the ladies had filed
the room with wealth of artistic treas.
ures of antiquities. There we're ancient
furniture and specimens of fancy work as
beautiful as they we're ancient. An old
piano and spinning wheel stood side by
side, and I noticed fair young girl run
her fingers idly over the keys of the
instrument as her great grandmother
might have done at the same sunny age.
The keys we're yellow and somewhat bat
tered, but the old music box gave, in its
cracked and tremulous voice, some such
the old dame who first owned it trying to
MARBLE love song of that forgotten time.
didn't see any of the girls experiment
with the spinning wheel, however. Maybe
they thought it was buzz saw, aad
feared to take hold of it.
But PERHAPS the most desirable part Of
this display was the array of pictures Of
the old Governors and other celebrities
connected with the history of Frankfort.
There was a long line of pictures by Jouett
some fifteen or twenty of them judged,
though did not count them. Some one
said in my hearing that it was the largest
and best collection of his pictures which
had ever been placed on exhibition.
There were also two portraits by Sir
Joshua Reynolds-an old gentleman and
his wife in the starchy costume of more
than hundred years ago. l could not
tell much about the merits of the paint
ings, because the light in this abominuble
room. whether it comes from the outer
world or the chandeliers, seems put in for
the express purpose of preventing per-
son from seeing anything. When I was
present both daylight and gaslight were
having their innings. and they seemed to
knock each other out very scientifically,
so that the most of the pictures looked
frames. Some of them could not see at
all. and in many Others could hardly dis
tinguish feature or two. But. being by
Jouett and Sir Joshua. was willing to
walk by faith and admit them to be works
of high art without even a sight of them.
l did not undertake to make an inven-
tory of the articles in this collection. but
like everything else connected with this
celebration it was exceedingly creditable
to every one assisting in it. Tha: old room
never saw itself decked out so grandly be-
fore, and will not likely ever wear such
gala dress again. 1t was perfect expo
sition of the best relics of antiquity, and
the groups of lovely women who stood
about or walked around the room admir-
ing the various articles and chatting to
each other gave to the scene all the fresh
interest of bright and happy present.
They say there we're very fine women in
the olden days, and don't doubt it, but I
think they get fairer as the world grows
older; and for genuine, fresh beauty
would put the present crop of Kentucky
women against all the treasures of the
unsearchable Past and the unending Fu-
ture. And if the scene that Hooked at in
that dingy old hall could be transmitted
just as it was to future generations, mill
lions vet unborn would say that I was
bully boy with glass eye and knew good
thing when saw it. Bad as the light was
on the pictures, it could not hide the
beauty of the women. could see them
in the dimmest part of the hall and enjoy
their loveliness with my eyes, even though
knew them not. In Cimmerian dark
ness believe instinct would lead me to
the Il lie of pretty v o nan, if one was
there, and would stand by her side AS
close to her as could get until day broke
and the COWS came home, just to get one
furtive glance at her. All! woe is me be-
cause it is so, and yet would not help it
if I could.
But woman, lovely as she is, is not the
only seductive influence in the world. To
me there is something in the smell of
barbecue which seems to crafty while it
allures, and to give an appetite while it
satisfies the senses. l had no sooner
stepped of the train at Frankfort than
the faint odor of hickory smoke spiritual
and dreamy with the feshly suggestion of
barbecuing meat about it greeted my
senses. Every where I went it followed
me as il it had become one with the town,
and its full sentiment participated in the
coming day of grace. I knew my friend
Gus Jaubert was in charge, for he is the
only man left in this part of the country
since Jake Hostetter died. who can make
perfect burgoo and barbecue without
spot or blemish. had nothing to do but
follow the smell and find him, which did.
Back of the State House saw him in
his glory like General surrounded by
his staff. A large square was inclOsed by
long tables and inside the barriar wara