Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-11-15
KENTUCKY CoLoNELs.


Ho,c 1t Happens That They are So Nw.
s,scroMs i,s the Blue-Grass State.
1t is somewhat hard for an outside
barbarian to understand why "Colonelsn
are so plentiful in Kentucky. In the
first place Kentucky furnished great
many soldiers, both to the Northern and
to the Southern armies, during the war,
and naturally some of these soldiers
are sure-enough colonies by rank and
service. Others who We're minor
officers, or perhaps high privates, are
now dubbed colonies by way of cour-
tesy. 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. The Governor
OF Kentucky has the privilege of ap-
pointing persons on his staff with the
rank of colonel. These colonies are ex-
pected to look pretty and martial at the
Governors ball and to ride horseback
when the Governor heads procession.
The last duty frequently gives them
great pain and anxiety. There are
scores and scores of these Governor.
staff colonels in this proud old Com.
| monwealth.
Some executives have been more
lavish than others in the distribution of
these gilded honors. That kindly old
gentleman, Gov. Luke Blackburn, NJ.
d., was fond of creating colonels. Dur
ing his term he made some sixty colo
nels in the city of Louisville alone, if I
remember the figures correctly. There
are various reasons which entitle a man
to this gubernatorial compliment. Col.
Will Hays is a colonel because he is
such gifted poet, while Col. Albert
Deitzman was given his title by Gov.
Knott because he was the greatest
business manager on earth.
l trust these facts will make it some
whatclearertothe eringNortherner,
why colonels are so plentiful in Ken
lucky, But there are other reasons
Many prominent citizens are honored
with this complimentary title simply as
as recognition of their merit by the
community Thus every man who con-
ducts large distillery is ipso facto
colonel; for instance, Col. John N.
Atherton, or Col. Tom Sherley. Every
prominent railroad official is also col
onel; for instance, Col. Milton II.
Smith. Every Congressman is col
onel, as Col. Asher G.. Caruth. Every
man with Government Office is col
onel, as Col George DuRelle. Every
great editor is a colonel, like Col. Henry
Watterson. Chief of the police depart
ment is q defacto colonel, as Col. Wood.
Then there are other gentlemen who
are colcnels because no other title fits
them. But the law on the subject is a
little vague and has never been forn1u-
lated by the Legislature.
If man has been captain in the 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 cap
tains of fire companies, the conductors
on railroad trains, and the officers in a
Salvation Army. The title of major is
comparatively rare, and, therefore, is
really more Of distinction than col
onel. Only prominent people who have
seen actual service wear the title; for
instance, Major Ed Hughes and Major
j. Washington Wann. But still if you
call a major colonel he is not likely to
get mad at you. By the observance of
these few rules I have jotted down, the
stranger can get along in Kentucky
without committing any serious breach
of etiquette Post.
ONE MORE OF TEE JOHNSTOrYN
FLOOD.
Two Jn,,c of4ou +I,o -r,,o+ aooI ia