The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-26
KENTUCKY COLONIES.
how 1t Happens THAT They Are so
numerous IN the Blue Grass State.
hrnnl the T.o1tis,,iIIn Pat

numerous IN the Blue Grass State.
From the Louisville Post.
1t Is somewhat hard for an outside bar
barian to understand why "c5lonels" are
so plentiful in Kentucky. In the first
place, Kentucky furnished a good MANY
soldiers, both to the northern and to the
southern armies, during the war, an
naturally some of these soldiers are sure
| enough colonies by rank and service.
| perhaps high privates, are now
| dubbed colonies by way of courtesy.
Then we have very few colonies
who hold over from the Mexican war. and
| there are other colonies of militia. like the
LOUISVILLE Legion, who come by their titles
| honestly. Tue governor of Kentucky has
| The privilege of appointing persons on his
staff with the rank of colonel. These colo
neis are expected to look pretty and marti FL
at the governors ball and to ride horseback
| when the governor heads the procession
The last duty frequently gives them great
pain aud anxiety. There are scores and
| scores OF these governor-staff colonies in the
proud old commonwealth.
Some execu ives have been more lavish
than others in the distribution of these
gilded honors. That kindly old geatleman.
Gov. Luke Blackburn, NJ. D.. was tond OF
creating colonies. During bis term he
made some sixty color els in the city of
Louisville alone, if | remember the figures
correctly. There are various reasons which
e2tltle man to this gubernatorial compi-
ment. Col. VIII HAYS is a colonel b scanse
he s such gifted poet, while Col. Albert
Doitznan was given his title by Gov. Knott
because he was the greatest business man
ager on earth.
L trust these facts will make it somewhat
clearer to the wondering northerner WHY
colonies are SO plentiful in Kentucky. But
there are other reasons. Many prominent
citizens are honored with this complainant
airy title simply as a recognition of their
merit by the community. Thus every man
who conducts large distilIery is ipSe facto
colonel; for instance Col John ID Ather-
ton, or Col. Tom Sherley. Every promi-
nent railroad official is also q colonel: for
instance, Col. NJ lton H. Smith. Every
Congressman is colonel, as Col. Asher G.
Carutn. Every man with q government
Office is colonel; as Col. George Du Relic.
Every great editor is q colonel. like Col
Henry Watters5n. The chief of the poIiee
department is a de .fdcto colonel, as Col.
Wood Then there are other gentlemen
who are colonies because no other title fits
them. But the law on the subject i, a little
vague and has never been formulated by
the legislature.
II a man has been a captain in TIE war.
never call him captain; call him colonel.
He is entitled to this promotion twenty
four years after the war closed. The only
men proud TO be called captain are the
commanders Of steamboats,, the captains
Of fire companies, the conductors of rail-
road traias and the officers in a Salvation
Army. The title of major is comparatively
rare, and. therefore, is really more of a dis
tiLction than colonel. Only prominent
people who have seen actual service ear
the title; for Instance, Mai. Ed hughes
and Maj. j. Washington Wanu. But still
If you call major a colonel be is not likely
TO get mad at you. By the observance of
these few rules / have jotted do IN. the
stranger can get along in Kentucky with
out committing any serious s-Seacd of ETH
quetse. Ae