Fergus County argus., 1889-11-07
KENTUCKY cOLONELs.
Why They are 80 Numerous in the Blue
Grass State.
From the Louisville Post I

From the Louisville Post.
1t is somewhat hard tor an outside
barbarian to understand why "col-
Onels" are so plentiful in Kentucky
In the first place, Kentucky furnished
a great many soldiers, both to the
mort hern and to the southern armies.
during the war, and naturally some OF
these soldiers are sure enough colonies
by rank and service. Others, who
were minor officers, or perhaps high
privatcs, are now dubbed colonies by
way OF courtesy. Then we have ~
very few cOlOnels who hold over from
the Mexican war, and there are enough
colonies of militia, like the Louisville
Legion, who come by their titles hon
estly. The governor OF Kentucky has
the privilege of appointing persons on
his staff with the rank of colonel.
These colonies are expected to look
pretty ami martial ut the governors
ball, and to ride horseback when the
governor heads n procession. The last
duty frequently gives them great pain
and anxiety. There are scores and
scores OF these egOvernOr-sta aff colonies
in this proud old commonwealth.
Some executives have been more law
ish than others in the distribution of
these gil,led honOrs. That kindly old
gentleman, Gov. Luke Blackburn, NJ.
d., was fond of Ting colonies. Dur
in2 his term he made some sixty col
Onels in the city Of Louisville alone, if
J remember he figures correctly. There
are various reasons which entItle "a
man to this gubernat Orial compliment
Col. Will Hays is u colonel because he
Is such "a gifted poet, while Col. Alfred
Dietzman was given his title because
he was the greatest business manager
on earth.
trust these factswill make it some
what clearer to the wondering North
erner why colonies are so plent iful IN
Kent ucky. But there are other rea-
sons. Many prominent citizens are
honored with thiscOmplimentary title
simply as "a recognition of their merit
by the community. Thus every man
who conducts u large distillery is ipso
iactO u colonel; for instance, Colonel
John NJ. Atherton or Colonel Tom
Sherley. Every prominent railroad
official Is also "a colonel for instance,
Colonel Milton u. Smith. Every con
gressman i, n colonel. as Colonel 4. q.
Carufh. Every han with IA govern
ment office is "a colonel. as Colonel
George Dul,clle. Every great editor is
u colonel, like Colonel Henry Waiter
son. The chief of the police depart
ment l. "a ,lc iactO colonel. Then here
are other gentlemen who are colonies
because no OF her IL fits them. But
the law on the subject is II little vague
and has never been formulated 10y the
legislature.
II n man has been a captain in the
war, never call him capt tain--call him
colonel. lie is entitled to- the promo
tion twentyfour years after the war
closed. The only men proud to be
called captain are the commanders OF
steamboats,, the captains oi Ero com
panies, the conductors of railroad
trains and officers OF the Salvation
Army. The title of ma ajor is compara-
tive.y rare, and therefore is really
more of distinction than colonel.
only prominent people, who have
seen actual service, wear the !e, for
instance, Major Ed Hughes AMI Major
j. Washinst on Wann. But still, il
you call n ma jor n colonel he is not
likely to get mad at you. BY the OBJ
servance of these lew rules ] have lot
ted down the stranger can get along in
entucky without committing any
serious breach of etiquette.