Telegram-herald., 1889-07-18

cerned. There is no other place in the
State where young eolorsd people Of both
sexes can get any thing higher than the
education of the common school. and they
form half of the whole number OF stu
dents Yet II Is so good a school. and &C
cheap, that young white men aud women
are attracted 10 10 from all over the State,
and the dreadful things which were prom.
ised WHOM this co education of the races
began have never materialized. SO much
10 give hint OF the character OF the little
eoiiegs whose unique commencement day
Happened on June Is.
The people began 10 come before ! got
up in the morning. and by s O'Clock wers
streaming along all the converging roads
and concentrating upon the groye-shaded
campus.
THESE early arrivals were mostly OF
horseback-compauies OF young chaps
swearing and whooping whenever they
felt like II; young men moro sober in ap
pearance land In fact) because their sweet
hearts sat behind them. perched on a
folded blanket and holding ON to the
waist OF the gallant cavaliers; scores OF
women and girls OF every age, riding
singly, their light colored muslin
mud by long riding skirts of rusty water
proof stuff. and their faces hidden in ca.
pacious sun bonnets, or elGe capped By
astonishing head-gear.
Interspersod among the equestrians
were wheeled vehicles of every sort-old
town omribuses; stylish rigs of visitors
from the blue grass towns; antique bug
gies and carryalls. farm carts and
wagons, home patched, II not homemade.
These wagons had no cross-seats. but In.
stead would be set full OF splint bottom
chairs. l saw one steer harnessed, horse
fashion, into a rude cart; but IL did not
need such extravagances TO make any OF
the fixtures irresistibly comic. Yet one
could plainly see that these folk were doins
their best to be gentesl and 80 worship al
the shrines of etiquette and fashion &C
cording TO the light they had.
By the time the College Commencement
was 10 begin there were probably foni
thousand people on the grounds, and
don't know how many horses and mules
There were also a good many whiskey
bottles which were drawn upon with
increasing rapidity rs the more seriously
minded made their way toward the taber
nacle and left large average OF "toughs'
in the remainder OF the merry concourse.
The exercises in the tabernacle were OF
the familiar stamp, and would furnish.
by their pecukarities, material for long
letter; but 20 me the most interesting part
was the array OF native people who filled
the seats to oyeriowing and paid earnest
attention.
These were TO all intents and purposes
the same Us those that came over these
hills and settled (only n few miles away
with Daniel Boone, and they ask only the
schoolingin which they seem now so much
interested 70 develop such strength ne the
Clays, the Blsckburns and other Ken
tuckisns, after they bad such advantages
IN the lower country. yt
firing OF Il after two or three hours,
stole ont into the sunshine 70 find ainuch
moro lively scene under the great oaks
Three or four booths for the use of eatsbles
mild drinkables aud sweetmsats, had beer
erected and were now surrounded by
scores OF customers OF all colOrs. sexes and
sizes, laughing. singing and how'd ying
muuching ginger bread and candy, and
treating one another TO lemonade and
peanuts. in true holiday style. Here and
there family groups had spread on the
ground the luncheon they had brought
from home, aiding to the homely fare
some luxury bought st the booth. Ths
splint-bottored chairs were brought from
the wagons and given TO old ladies who
sat contentedly and smoked their pipes
while the zingham- gowned daughters did
the work