Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-12-18
CURIOUS KENTUcklANs.
Congressman Taulbee, OF Kentucky. Tells
How His Constituents Live.


Representative Taulbee, OF Kentucky
come from the mountain district OF that
State, and he lives in the region de-
scribed in Charles Egbert Craddock's
novels. There are 10000 square miles
of territory in his district. 1t comprises
twenty counties and has one OF the
most curious populations in the world.
| talked with Mr.. Taulbee about 1t.
Said he 4: "The district is very we'll de-
scribed by Charles Egbert Craddock
and the dialect is very much like that
she puts in her stories, though | have
never seen the language in print before.
The population ia the product Of 'front.'
iersmen Of several States. The first set
Elements in Kentucky we're along the
Ohio river and in the valleys OF the
Kentucky rivers. As the country be-
came more settled civilization drove
such Of those of the early settlers who
liked hunting and frontier life upward
into the mountains. It was the same
with Virginia and Tennessee. These
huntsmen and frontiersmen married
and intermarried and now they have
become separate people like unto no
other in the world. They have been
away from civilization of the railroad,
the telegraph and the daily newspaper,
and they have grown into a language
and customs of their own. They are
very patriotic people and during the
late war, il you will look at the records
in the war Department. you will find
that my Congressional district furnished
five Union regiments. They are very
simple in their tates and it does not
take much in my country to make
man wealthy. If he has $500 he is
considered well to do. II he has $1O.-
600 he is rich"
"Tell me how the people live."
"There are very few towns, about
two only to the country, and these will
average about three hundred inhabit-
ants each.
"The ordinary house is log one,
consisting OF two rooms, with boards
shaved smooth with draw knife, or
splits nailed over the cracks between the
logs. One of the rooms is used for
sleeping room and the other is the liv-
ing room, dining room, kitchen and
parlor, all in one, in which the family
stay during the daytime. There is but
one sleeping room for whole family,
and when they have guests visiting them
these turn in and sleep in the same
room. There number Of beds used,
and stranger gets the best bed. They
are very modest with it all. They turn
their backs If they are up, while the
others of the family are undressing, or
if they are in bed they will cover up
their heads until you have completed
your nightly toilet. 1t is the custom
you know, and think our people are
noted for their large proportion Of vir-
tuous women. Virtue il as much re-
spected in the mountains as anywhere
else in the world. These mountaineers
are very hospitable. They entertain
you and give you the best they have,
and il you offer to pay they will refuse
and say they do not make their money
that way. The little money they do
make comes from farming. You have
heard Of the feuds OF these mountaineers.
have nearly half score of murder
cases to defend in one county on ac-
count OF them. i know a place where
two families have been fighting each
other for generation, and where the
different families Of the two tribes never
go out to work except in squads,
and they carry Winchester rifles with
them"
Is the country improving
"Well, yes, somewhat; but civiliza-
tion comes slowly in the mountains.
We have not the best facilities for edu-
cation, and, though the people want
their children educated, they use native
teachers and they do not push matters
like you do in the North. - Washing
ton Cor. Cleveland Leader.