New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-05
LIFE IN THE BLUEGRASS COUNTRY.
A PICTURE OF KENTUCKY HosPrTALITY-ELoH
ING AS AN INSTITUTION.

PICTURE OF KENTUCKY HOSPITALITr-ELoR
ING AS AN INSTITUTION.
"The people Of the Bluegrass region Of Kentucky
are an interesting ot,' said who recently re-
turned from stay in that section of the country ana
any one who has lived there for any time will sgrce
with me on the point of their hospitality and good
fellowship They carry these far that some Oh them
live together in kind of communism. IL one OF the
farmers has more hogs than he needs for his supply
OF lard bacon and ham for the winter he SENDS one
or two Of them TO neighbor who may not be 50
fortunate. The second may in turn have been
exceptionally lucky with his crop OF vegetables on
berries and he supplies his neighbours table with these
In the long perhaps each man receives as much
he gives, but there is never any Thought OF keepne
count OF these presents and returning an equivalent
with mathematical exactness.
The farmer whom I was once visiting had an
orchard OF pear and when the pears were about
ripe asked him to what market he was going TO SEND
them lie looked at me in establishment. 'Why,'
no said, I'm not going TO sell any OF Them In
few days he word around to his nelghbors that he
had fine pears and would like 10 have them share
the fruit with him. So they came with their carts
and each took back with him several bushels OF the
pears. My host, however, also received limitations
to help different neghbOrs 10 get rid OF their big crops
Of various fruits.
This free masonry does not exist indiscrfminately
among all the inhabitants of a neghborhood There
is very pronounced feeling Of aristocracy, and some
OF the people set much store by their family trees
English nobemen do. Those who do not belong
to the best families treated kindly enough, but
in an entirely different way from those who have an
ancestry to boast OF. one OF this class feeling
and hospitality undoubtedly the general prosperity
Of the people The soil IS rich and crops. are gen.
orally good OF course the most money Is "a
be from raising fine horses, but much attention is
also paid to raising blooded cattle, sheep and hogs
Tobacco is also an exceedingly profitable thing TO
ala AtGfflI
interested in dsieres. Under these circumstances 1T
is much easier to be hospabc and free hearted than
when farmer has to work early and late to make q
bare livelihood.
The general level of education in the Bluegrass
country Is exceptionally high. The widespread pros
perity enables 10 give their sons and daughters
good opportunities for study. Not only has the stata
several fair colleges and a number Of excellent semi
nares and academies. but it sends large numbers OF
students to institutions I'm other States l was sur
prised several years ago to learn that in Wellesley
College there were more students from Kentucky than
from any other State except Massachusetts and New
York Kentucky has also big delegation at the
University OF Virginia and is well represented at Har
ward. Yale Princeton and other Northern Institutions
popularity of the young people OF the Bluegrass
country is their habit OF clipping, instead OF being mar
ried at home like good Christian folk. know OF one
place OF a thousand inhabitants in which there have
good social standing in the last two three years:
Sometimes parental objection is the cause at others II
is merely desire for romance and Discrimination to
20 to the trouble of preparing for formal ceremony
and entertainment The couple generally speed
across the Ohio River to Indiana Ohio. where few
Obstacles are placed in the way of lovers bent
marimony. Sometimes the girls father gets wind OF
the affair and starts in pursuit OF the couple II he
has the better horse and they have not too good
start he may catch them and bring his daughter back
home In such he seems 10 have no particular
anger toward the young man, whom he considers to
have made square, open fight for his hearts choice.
like as not the young folk try again, and having
learned something from their first failure success.
full If they do get across the river in safety and
married. they are generally forgiven when they return
home Fathers have seen so much Of the clipping that
| they take IL much as q matter OF cOurse.'