Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
A KENTUCKY ESTIMATE.
1t Was BASED Oh the Size of a Drink
of whisky.

| 1t Was BASED the Size of a Drink
of Whisky.
| about year ago." said Representative
Marsh Arnold of Missouri to Star writer.
II had some business at little town In
| Kentucky; really a little city. I arrived
| on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morn
| ing, as started into the office of the very
| quiet hotel at which I was putting up, I
was accoSted by a dignified, gray-haired
gentleman; one of the sue-enough old
Kentucky school. As came into the room
| he lifted his hat in formal but pleasant
way.
g This is Col Arnold, believe he said;
| Col. Arnold, my name is Dexter sir; Col.
Dexter 1 nave no purpose particularly in
calling on you, sir: except that I saw your
name on the hotel book. and knowing you
to be stranger, was afraid you might
find the town little dull. So determined
sir. to put myself at your command and
see If | couldn't do something to emf ertain
you. I've lived here all my life; W born
here. sir; everybody knows Col. DeX er; and
| II you would like TO Galk about and look
at our old town. sir, perhaps l might be
able to point out something which would
interest YOU
This all seemed highly novel;" con-
tinued Mr.. Arnold, ito be thus waited on
by leading citizen who was willing to
charge himself with the task of entertain
ing me during my stay. But one look in
the innocent and high-bred eountenance of
COL Dexter showed me that ne was en-
tirely sincere. 1 told him, therefore, that
I would like to walk about a bit. and see
something of the place.
1T was too early for church and the
streets We're all but deserted as Col Dex-
Ter ana l left the hotel AS we walked
along he pointed out the court house and
told me stories of the lawyers and the
horses and the feuds, political and personal
ana was very agreeable. We had not pro-
In an experimental tone:
or course, Col Arnold, not knowing Just
your habits in that regard, it is irnpos-
sible for me to tell whether you ever drink
so, sir, my office Is near at hand and I've
some old whisky there, sir. which 1 keep
Ior myself and my very particular friends.
Shall We go l1to my Office sir?'
Il said yes without a hitch Col Dex-
ter was SO polite as to be almost peculiar
and 1 had heard that these Kentuckians
were great men of the duel. I didn't care
to risk hurting his feelings. He might re-
sent 1t. So we steered without hesitation
for Col. DeXter's law office
he gave me an ordinary water glass and
bottle, and 1 proceeded to pour. The size
of the glass and the deep silence Of the
colonel as 1 tipped the flask led me to he
heve that was in a town of big drinks 1
always act like Roman while in Rome so
spilled out liberal libation. Indeed, the
glass was fairly half full AS the colonel
made neither word nor sign 1 filed the
whisky in the glass away in nv stomach
ana tried to do it without wink or grirna ce
L aimed to make an impression on nv host
ana, again, l didn't know Just what sort Of
motion he'd take as an insult to his hos
pitality.
= VIII you have some water, sir?' asked
Col Dexter, in a tone of polite solicitude
But was out for record, and declined
with the observation that water spoiled Ii
quor as good as that. The colonel was ra-
dtant, and while 1 noticed that he took a.
much more modest drink than l. 1t was
clear / had climbed to the very heights in
MS estimation. This shone forth as we
stepped into the street. A dignffied old
gentleman was walking over the way. NY
rev admirer at once called to him.
Good morning, Col. Spencer he said
And then. without pausing a moment
Couidn you step over just moment, Col
spencer? l want to make you acquainted
with one of my best friends sir Col Ar
mold. allow me to present to you Col. Spen-
Ger. l want you to know each other. gen.
tlemen- You will like Col Spencer, Col
Arnold, and Col. Spencer. Col. Arnold
when you know him, sir, will be one Of
your dearest friends. I just saw Col Ar
mold take the biggest drink of liquor with
out sugar or water. sir, ever saw taken
in my life. SIR and Col. Dexter rang out
the words like a herald proclaiming nv
nobility.
TT seemed sufficient, however" concluded
Mr.. Arnold. Col. Spencer and I shook
hands while Col Dexter beamed 1 never
put in pleasanter two days in my life
than l did in that little Kentucky town.
l often recall Col Dexter as one with the
true flavor OF old Kentucky"