Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-01-04
THE VOICE FROM kENTUCK.

A Familiar Strain Heard Abroad Made
an American Homesick.
$50 you came back, after all, Colonel
When saw you in Paris two years ago
you told me that Paris was your home.
You said that it fit you like an old glove;
that the boulevards were made for you,
and that you never expected to come
over TO this side of the pond again.
How came you to change your mind ?"
81 got homesick."
"Homesick? Homesick? Well, that's
good. Like a schoolgirl, Ell? What
do YOU think of that, gentlemen? The
Colonel got homesick. He, who hasn't
had a home for thirty years-who has
been roaming the earth ever since Lee
surrendered. Touch the button, Col
onel, the drinks are on you"
"With pleasure, Judge, but pardon
me if | fail to understand the cause of
your merriment. AS the doctor says, it
has been many years since | have
known a home; but-don't keep the
boy waiting. A little bourbon for me.
Yes, many years, gentlemen, many,
many years. But [ was homesick, just
the same. And | confess that the in
cident that sent me back Will probably
appear trivial and absurd to you. [
had made up my mind to make Paris
my home. For a wanderer like me 1t
seemed about the proper haven. |
like it's ways. | like its play houses.
In fact. like everything about Paris
except its taste in the matter of drinks
But you don't have to drink absinthe
unless you care to, and | thought | was
at last satisfied to settle down. | felt
SO thoroughly established that [ began
to think of doing some work, and actu-
ill "a
for year or more, and | was fully de-
termined to stay right there like an old
hull on the beach, until the timbers fell
apart.
''At last, some way or other, how
ever, l began to feel a strong feeling of
unrest. got nervous. began to wor-
ry about my liver. | consulted doc
tor He, the idiot, advised me to quit
smoking, and | advised him to go to
that place where people are supposed to
smoke forever. l decided that | would
run down to Rome and see that gay old
town of dirty beggars and bid farewell to
meat. 1t was just the time for the car
nival, SO to Rome | went. didn't en-
JOY myself. [ met many people knew,
but none for whom l cared. It's hard
on man to make merry all alone. /
wondered who | had ever seen in the
carnival before. | bad a personal
grievance against every body who was
enjoying himself. When some one
threw handful Of confetti over me 1
swore. | made up my mind to stay it
out, however. | had good window on
the Corso near the Piazza del PopoIo
and there was no use running away
The blue devils would have followed
me. You can imagine me sitting there
all alone, biting a cigar and frowning
down upon the gay crowd in the Corso.
Little girls pointed me out, and threw
confetti at me, and then, when | did
not smile. said something about the evil
eve and got away. The noise made my
head ache. Some friends called to me
from passing carriages, and [ almost
forgot to return their salutation. But
all OF sudden my ears caught Whit
of an old melody. At first, gentlemen,
| was not sure. [ thought the tune was
just rUn'ag through my mind. But
someone was surely singing. Above
all the noise | could catch the song and
the tinkllng of banjos away down the
street. Very faint, but coming nearer:
Weep no mo-, my lady. weep no mo- to-day.
For I'll sing one song OBJ de old Kaintucky
home,
oh de ole kaintucky home so far away
doctor, don't know just what you
would nave made out of study OF my
brain when l caught those words, but [
know that it darted electrically through
every nerve in my body. The singers
were coming my way-four good, strong
American boys, Woodford County boys,
I'll bet. They were in an open carriage
and were blackened up to look like
darkeys. When they got under my
window | jumped up and gave rebel
yell that shook the Vatican. They
looked up, laughed and kept on sing
ing. [ strained my ears as they went
down the Corso, and when l caught the
last echo, hang it, gentlemen, there was
a lump in my throat as big as your fist.
/ sailed for New York the very next
week, and three weeks later L took
drink in Louisville.
"WeIl, here's the boy. Everybody
standing, please. Here's to The Old
Kentucky Home. ''-hansas Citg Star.