The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-11-30
INTERESTING SKETCH.
|OF SENATOR JOHN 4. .KENSa Of
WEST VIRGINIA.
THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR is
STILL VERY Ill AT MS HOME
IN WASHINGTON.

ma, OF West Virginia, has caused re-
greet and anxiety among the people Of
the State. There is not West Vir-
ginian who does not hope that Senator
Kenna will recover from his illness
and resume his place in the Senate.
For some time he has been ailing and
gradually breaking down, but hecould
not understand such a thing as i'll
health or take any warning for better
care Of himself. A year ago IL You
had looked out over the floor Of the
Senate from the gallery you would
have fixed upon Kenns as the embodi-
ment Of health and yigor. Senator
kenna is a tall, broad.shonldered,
sniooth-faced man. In head and neck
he is built after the Bob Ingersoll
fashion. He is thoroughly representa-.
tive of his State and his people. He
is truthful and honest To the last de-
gree, big-fsted, big-hearted, square
dealing man.
No shadow Of reproach or suspicion
has ever fallen upon him, either
through his relationship with his con-
stituents or the country at large in his
capacity as Senator Of the United
States. He is q politician, but he is
such inits best sense, and he has been
a tower Of strength to the Democracy
Of West Virginia. Without the refine
ments Of high cultivation and educa-
ton, he modestly won his way to n
front rank in the Senate. His speech
against John Sherman, whom he per-
sonally admired. won him fist-class
consideration and the warmer admira-
ton and friendship Of Mr.. Sherman
himself, who found in Mr.. Kenna a
foeman worthy Of his steel, and should
Mr.. Kenna be taken away there will be
/ no more sincere mourner than Mr..
Sherman. Mr.. Kenna has alwaysbeen
a lover Of the gun and rod, and the
sports Of the mountains Of his native
State. You may 60 away up in Web
ster Court House, which is the jump
ing off place Of the universe, or up in
to Logan county, to the home Of the
Hatfelds and McCoys, and there you
will find that the greatest man Of all
the world they know offs John Kenna.
It has been Mr.. Kenna's custom for
years to organize "a hunting party
every fall TO 90, up the headwaters Of
the Elk river and hunt and fish for
weeks down through the wild noun
tain recesses and primeval forests lof
West Virginia, to where the Elk flows
into the Kanawha, at Charleston.
He was devoted to the Kodak and
became an expert in photography, and
his collection Of photographs Of noun
tain, river and bunting scenes is a
i marvel in itself
Confined as he has been in Washing
ton, the old line of the life Of q sports
man asserted itself, and be built a
houseboat for use on the Potomac. He
not only planned, but he had the great
est share in actually building the boat,
which is veritable home on the wat
ers, with its dining, sleeping and sit
| ting rooms, and its arrangements fol
good living.
4 Many persons will never forget the
pleasant experiences they have had
on board this houseboat under the
cheering entertainment Of its big.
handsome proprietor.
4 Senator Kenna has never been q
man Of moods. He was always the
same the same. to high and low, and
his warm hand-clasp was given to al
alike.
Senator KeDna was born at Valcon.
lion, Virginia, tnow West Virginia,
April 10, 1S4S; he lived and worked
on farm and entered the Confeder.
ate army as private soldier he was
wounded in that service in 1864, and
was surrendered at Shreveport, La,
in 1865. Afterward. he attended St
vincent's College, Wheeling, and
studied law with Miller q Quarter al
Charleston. He was admitted to the
bar June 20, 1870, and continued to
practice from that time. He was elect
ted Prosecuting Attorney for Kanawha
lcounty on the Democratic ticket il