New-York tribune., 1891-03-06

Of the West" and think the authors Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, History, drew largely on the Colo
nels stores
Where can I find some books about Ken
tucky ?" asks the casual visitor
AT Colonel Durrett's" is the invariable reply
"He has everything that has ever been published
and much that hasn't"
This statement is literally true. The dis
tinctive feature of these wonderful collections IS
their unity and completeness. Every important
object has been selected to illustrate American his
tory with especial reference TO Kentucky ana
Virginia. Thus the paintings include orc OF the
original Washingtons by Gilbert Stuart; Boone,
which Harding was commissioned 10 go from
Massachusetts TO Missouri 10 execute; heads OF
Kenton, George Rogers Clark; Filsan. the first
historian of Kentucky. who is largely indebted to
Colonel Durrett for his fame; William Hickman,
the first preacher and others. There are crayons
by Audubon. the naturalist who was once poor
portrait-panter at Louisville and unique Ike
nesses of John Floyd and many early pioneers.
Among the relics are aerolltc that dropped
on O Kentucky farm, pipestOne anc JADE images
carved by Kentucky mOund-bullders, handker-
chiefs woven by kentucky Shakers from SIX
grown and spun in the State, and the tooth OF
mastodon that laid himself down to die before
Kentucky was buried beneath the prehistoric
waters. In the library there is every magazine
that ever issued from Kentucky press, every
novel or poem written By a native or about the
State. every historical pamphlet Narrative of
Adventures or Voyage an Kentoucky,' files Of
all the early newspapers. an unbroken set of the
acts Of the Legislature and albums of priceless
autograph letters and unpublished manuscripts.
The Virginia shelves are almost equally complete.
The Colonels copy of the original Captain John
Smith is one of the most perfect in existence, and
&he Kentucky and Virginia collections alone are
Q monument of scholarly ana discriminating taste
To the question Who was the greatest
Kentucdan?" p" any schoolboy would probably re
ply: Daniel Boone" He certainly is honored by
antiq uarans and Colonel Durrett naturally has
any number Of interesting relics. Among them is
one Of Boone's rifles. made at Louisville III l18?.
O formidable weapon very long and tremendously
heavy, with flint lock, barrel Of untempcred
English steel, stock inlaid with brass and
hickory ramrod his powder-hOrn and the Identical
scalping knife with which he ate his dinner and
cut his tobacco and tickled the ribs Of the rash
grizzlies that read of in the story-books. There
il his arthmetic-book. by Thomas Dilworth, with
a preface dcdicatOp" TO the reverend and
worthy schoolmasters in Great Britain and Ire
land, and two little fat duOGecim0s, bound IN
leather, that his friend Reilly read aloud during
the expedition up Lulbegrud Creek. The
frontispicce TO the first volume Is the portrait Of
Captain Lemuel Gulliver; and maps of North
America and Dimen's Land" with diagrams Of
Lilliput and Blefuscu. show what went on about
the evening campfire 4 cast Of BoOnes skull,
taken when his body was removed from Missouri TO
Frankfort for reinterment-an incident that in
spired Theodore O'llaras best p2em-rcveals a
Noping forehead, with the perceptions strongly
marked, Ike those of fox, and large develop
mont behind the ear.
Some historians say that Boone couldn't write.
and nearly ALL from Filson TO Roosevelt. persist
In spelling his name without the final "c." The
annexed letter. which has never been published.
should settle both these points:
May the 7th, 1889.
Dear Sir This InstaatI Start Down the River My
cwe Sunes Returned amcaaetly from philadelpha and