The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-09
OLD TIME ORATORY.
THE POWERFUL BUT oRoTesQUe
GATES OF KENTUCKY.
, The Blue Grass People Went 90 tho Meet
ing to Mock the cold Codger" From Bar
rem County, but His Eioquence Conquered
Them In n Few Moments.


Them In n Few Moments.
"Spsaking Of stump speakers, / wish to
relate an anecdote which has the merit of
truth, IL nothing else 1t was In 1856,
believe--tbe exact date is not important,
for IL was about that era--James p. Bates,
then Of Glasgow and later OF Bowling
Green, made tour of Kentucky, deliver
Ing speeches in advocacy of the Demo
cratic cause. He was no ordinary man.
He possessed marvellous individuality,
great ideality, keen sense of justice and
slperb mental and physical courage. The
lines in bis homely face were strongly
enough marked 10 attract the attention of
the most unobservant, and his tall, slen-
der and not ungraoeful form rendered him
conspicuous in any gathering But his
voice was the crowning endowment OF
Bates as an orator. 1t was commanding,
musical, magnetic and the most inspiring
Imaginable.
ION the tour speak of he had an ap.
pointment to speak at Harrodsburg, Mer-
Ger county, and handbills announcing the
event had been posted in that town weeks
In advance Of the date. There resided at
Harrodsburg an intense Whig, Thomas
Martin, who had formerly lived in Barren
county, and though he hated Bates poll
tics be knew the capabilities OF the man.
He knew that bluo grass reople, as q rule,
had very poor opinion Of the Pennyr'ile
and did not think anything very excellent
could come out OF as pronounced Penny.
r'no county as Barren. So Martin, when
he found Bates was To speak in Mercer
county, began to herald him as one Of the
leading orators Of the state. He would say:
Just wait until Colonel James p. Bates
gets here. He'll show you what eloquence
Is His words were received with in
orodulity and even with derision, but ne
persisted, and finally he succeeded in
arousing the curiosity of the whole com
munity, and n splendid audience was as
sured Bates upon his appearance.
',At last the day arrived, and with it
Bates. Martin and about dozen other
friends were sitting in front OF tho tavern
there was no hotel then-and about II
O'Clock in the forenoon they saw approach
Ing tall and uncouth figure, almost gro
tesque In gerb--a soiled linen duster, a
soiled stovepipe hat soiled trousers that
had climbed nearly 10 the knees, expos
ing pair OF blue mixed, home knit yarn
socks loosely covering spindleshanks,
and just above shoes, Intied, that were
rusty as last years plowshares. All this
bestride an cd flea bitten gray mare, lath-
cred with sweat, for the day Was scorching
hot It was James p. Bates.
He rode up TO the tavern, and before
he dismounted ho hallooed out in that voice
that no man who over heard it ever forgot:
Tom Martin, how arc your am glad
20 see you, for l want q dram, and you
can tell mo where / can get the best
liquor Martin was Mortified, for his com.
pnnions were convulsed with laughter and
enjoyed his evident embarrassment. He
answered Bates by shaking him by the
hand and leading him TO tho hotel bar.
wbero both took hog drivers. Ho then
went out and took Bates saddlobags off
the old gray, carried them inside and had
the best room in the house put in commits.
sion. Bates shirt was not immaoulato
and Martin flshed out from the saddlebars
n clean garment He sent out for the
town barber and had his fricnd decently
shaved, his clothes brushed, shoes polished
and bat smoothed.
Bates complained Of boing very tired
and anxious for an hours rcst and was
fast asleep on the bed before Martin had
finished arranging his wardrobe. Martin
went down stairs and there no was un-
guyed by his friends and ac-
quaintances OF both porties, but his only
answer was: Go and hear him. Go and
hear him, g6ntlomon, and you'll change
your tune They oil said thoy would not
miss 10 for any consideration. Upon the
ringing OF the first tavern boil Martin took
smother hog driver up 20 Bates. who was
already mp and performing lis ablutions.
After ho was dressed and tie liquor drank
they descended To Tho dining room. whore
Bates alto u hearty meal, after which he
'at down for awhile under tho shade trees
n front OF the tavern, gUsslping with
Martin about old times ana old friends
down In Barn
When the speaking was announced ty
bo ringing Oi thO COUFr1Ous6 bon, BaTog I
md Martin proceeded to that building, al |
cody overiiowing with people, many az |
hem drawn from idle curiosity 20 hear
what sort Of talk such an odd looking old |
odger would make
Bates ascended the judges stand and |
opened with the stereotyped Fellow oitl.
ems His former aspect mas ebsrss-