The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-03
ADLAI AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
Mr.. Stevenson Visits Kentucky and
Talks to lis Kith'and Kin at Herndon.
Monster Barbecue in His Henor. at Which the
General Ate 'Muten and Sh0at' with
Lis Fingers Like the Other Barbnriafs
Special to the Indianapoll. Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
HERNDoN, KY. Sept. 2-This little Ken
lucky community has to-day been a center
of remarkable interest and attraction for
all the people for miles around. On the top
of q little hill less than mile from the rail-
road station stands an ancient frame house
in which General Stevenson. the Demo-
cratic nominee for the vice. presidency of
the United States, first saw the light of
day, and General" Stevenson is here
of his oyhood days, shaking hands
with old friends and acquaintsnces and
making many new ones. Herndon to-day
has therefore been the Mecca of the Demo-
orats of this section. Herndon is o place of
no Importance. 1t is hardly more than q
country cross-road place with it's two or
three stores. 1t Is not even down on the
map. Its location is in Christian county,
In the western end of Kentucky, twelve
miles from Hopkinsville. and about an
equal distance from Clarksvilie. Ten1.
Nearly every resident of the district is re-
lated to General Stevenson either by
blood or marriage and they are related in
every degree, near or remote, and many of
them bear the name of Stevenson.
In order that the Democratic hosts mig {
was prepared. There were roasted for the
feast 100 sheep and one hundred hogs. They
were cooked over immense trenches. each
treuch being attended by four or five col
ored men. This Wholesale cooking was in
charge of Capt Sam White, who is known
ail through these parts as an original char
acter. and no has conducted every bar
becue that has been held in Kentucky for
the last fifty years The StevensoEian
barbecue was prepared in beautiful
piece OF woods. within three hundred Yards
of Adlais birthplace. The meats were
cut up in large chunks and placed on long
and high board tables. and all comers,
white and black. went mp and helped them
selves to the mutton and shoat," as they
called 1t. Knives and forks were rega led
as hindrances to the full enjoyment of the
feast, andiconsequently no instruments of
the kind were To be seen on. the tables.
scattered through the crowd. They would
grab up g joint of mutton and run Oft in to
the shade with it and eat it with the in
ovltable watermelon.
There were several hundred brawny Ken
tuckians engaged at the mutton aud shoat
when General Stevenson arrived on tho
grounds He came on the special tram
from Hopkinsville and was accompanied
by several leading citizens of that place.
and by his brother William. General
Stevenson, in company with ex-Congress-
man James A. Mckenzie and other friends.
stood up at n table provided for them. I'm
mense throngs had gathered in front
of the speakers stand, which
was rustic affair covered with
tree branches. and stood so far from
the ground that the speaker could not max Q
himself heard from it. After speaking
about fifteen minutes he gave it up as bad
job, and was escorted to a farm wagon,
which he thereafter used for his rostrum.
This was very much better, and General
Stevenson finished his speech without in
terruption. In beginning his speech he
said:
Whatever may be the result of the con-
test In which We are engaged; whatever
the future may have in store of
disappointed or success for me the
memory of this meeting will be
one of the most pleasant moments of all my
future life. Forty years have come and
gone since 1 stood upon this spot but let
that ave come and gone have never for
gotten that was kentuckian. l have
never forgotten that was from the good
old county of Christian" He then spoke
OF the wonderful changes and improve
ments that had come over Kentucky In the
last forty years. and congratulated the
people of the State upon the fact that Ken.
tucky had kept fully abreast with all the
best there is in the progress
and civilization OF the ago. The
State of Illinois. he added. was
citizens, who had gone there from Ken
tncky 10 build up and develop that great
common wealth.. They were To be found
there ali the way from Cairo 10 Chicago.
The speaker then told two or three good
stories illustrating kentuckian character
istics. and spoke of the great men who had
gone forth into the world from the State Of