The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28

Episodes OF Country Travel on Horseback
and by stage.
Prom the Boston Ecenin0 Transcript.

Prom the Boston EceniH0 Transcript.
There Is nothing pleasanter in fall or spring
than riding through Kentucky on the fine stone
pixies. at the sides of which negroes are seen
lazily grinding up rocks to repair the ravages
made by the swift footed steeds. This occupa-
ton. by the way, is not held in much esteem by
the more aristOcratic negroes, and there is. | be-
lieve. but one means OF livelihood which Is con-
sidered more degrading. As the traveller rides
on he sees much to interest him, The scenery is
the other hand. cheerful, sunny, and peaceful,
and has a certain capability OF inspiring like
the road one meets other riders, who
always bow courteously. Oftentimes one sees
with one OF, his numerous progeny on his steed
In front Of him and one behind, and. on another
horse beside MIN M, young VIE, with a sweet
Then. there Is the small boy going to mill witha
bag OF corn to SIT on, or returning with his
saddle, softened by conversion into meal.
Al frequent intervals along the pike are the
toll gates, with little houses close 10 the road.
ceiye the toll, suggesting material for a romance
as she takes the money from a gallant Kentucky
glance ssfr; ~ or s sisS PAM aS o nep Tnini for tarryins y
minute by quibbling about the price,
Occasionally one may meet families passing
through Kentucky while moving from state TO
state. One evening. attracted by the CLEAN OF
a fire among the trees, | stopped to see what was
there. Seated at n camp fre was an old woman.
toasting bread with one hand and holding a
child with the other. Grouped about her were
ttNeFhl men. n young woman, ana llItlt fHll-
dren. while near at hand Was a capacious kind
OF gypsy wagon, in which they travelled. They
explained To me that they, were moving from
Tennessee 10 Indiana, that they had been ON the
road IA number OF days, and thought it would be
some time before they reached Indiana. What
the way Ia rest at will, and when a storm arises
t~arrying at a hOspitable Kentucky farmhousel
Another feature OF Kentucky travel is the
stage which carries the mail from one town to
another. as the railway connections are often de-
in hIa nnR mixes and HluH-NFAE4 EIRnla
TO feel dependent on steam or electricity. re-
call, q journey taken one December, day from
Shclbyville, the COunty seat OF Shelby aud the
scene uf Uncle Toms Cabin.' to Frank fort,
Twenty-Five miles distant.
Our comfort and pleasure were greatly en-
HANGED by the stage driver. who Was the typical
representative Of his class a jovial. frank,
stock. lie had n word aud a Joke for all he met
along the road, and PASSED the compliments Of
the day as, he stopped Ia receive commissions for
sp0nls Of thread or mOlasses or took ia eggs and
butter, and alas, most frequently OF all. empty
whiskry bottles To be- filled al Frank fort. OcCA-
stonally his baggage was more, exciting. as when
he received a live turkey. which, in spite OF being
fastened on behind, kept our interest in him
constantly active 10y his occasional savage
pecks. This somewhat distracted our attention
from the dlsky young couple oa the front
scat, who had lust been on 20 be married. and
consciousness was expressed hy tie young black
Elrl whenever the gronnl la a somewhat sheep
ISL way performed any little attentive Office. by
her frequently iterAted COY remark hat she
wished she was 10 home
Occasionally, too, a drummer. stranded In a
little hamlet. sEiZed this mode Of conveyance to
the next town. Then there was the frank. en-
pertaining young man from Denver, on the way
q pass hs Christmas vacation IN X fort.
with whom wediscussed 4" Darwin and +" Trays
Elegy, Pixies Peak, and original sin.
Whenever We came 10 a hamlet consisting OF
two or three houses. one OF which generally
served as a Post Office. the driver would take
out the well-worn mail bag, and after the rural
Government Official had selected the few letters
that belonged there and put In a possible paper
and pOstaI card, he would bring hack the bag,
not much lugFeagRn or diminished IN weight. IN
remain with ms till We arrived at the next
United states station. our Stage driver entered
fully into the spirit Of bis position, and had
somsthing Of interest 10 tel ~ About yearly
SVSgy house ~ pASss4