The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-08

kentucky, ana time WIS never 'NAy
important commodity there. The peo.
ple grew TO be very large and lived
10 be very old. The representative oi
their district in congress was the great
est man they knew, though they heard
much Of New York, and their notions of
II were vague. These dim impressions
they derived chiefly from the coun'
try newspaper. that fearless and vig'
orous opponcnt of the trusts and mo-
popolists. of which New York was the
home. tits said. and from their congress-
man, who delivered valiant and terrible
blows at the plutocrats OF the east when
he spoke in the little courthouse square
at Willxesburg.
So. without any direct attempt at
an ANALYSIS of their feelings, they
slought of New York as a great but
distant shadow. place where most OF
the people were entirely given over to
unholy greed and TO all phases OF
wickedness. The idea was firmly i'm
bedded in the minds of every
man and woman in Wilkesburg
that .Will.esburg and the thou
sands Of other little Isaces like IT scat
tered between the Atlantic and the Pa
cific were the true salvation of the coun-
try and its rock of hope in muddy sea.
But the one name that conjured up hor-
rors for them was Wall street. 1t was
the abode of burnt~in sin, q Kind OF
witch's pot In which were brewed all
the evil plans against the peace and
welfare of the honest rural population.
They were convinced that New York
was rich and magnificent at their ex-
pense. and the subject was often dis
cussed. though not in a very bitter way.
but as a thing that it seemed must be,
at the regular Saturday afternoon half
holiday when the mer gathered around
the stove in the general store.
But their indefinable feeling OF hos
tility toward New York did not blunt
their appreciation of Jim Pearson. Jim
was one of themselves, n venturous
Kentuckian who had gone to Now York
twenty years before, and had shown
that he was as good and as smart as the
best Of the Yankees themselves. AZ
Intervals in those long twenty years
reports of Jim's success would come
back. No one else in Wilkesburg or the
gu. rounding country had ever gore AZ
far as New York. and at the caucuses
around the stove expressions OF ad-
miration OF Jim's daring were given
with warmth and without reserve. 1t
was matter of personal pride to every
. lone that KentuclSian and native OF
their own Will1esburg should invade
New York and do so well. They heard
\. ~s.xI Ia, VOrl n
few years after his arrival there, and
they wondered how many children he
had and what he intended to mako OF
them. They did not suppose he would
ever condescend to visit Kentucky
again.
But when Tom Crockett, who was
Jim's first cousin on his mothers SIDE,
received letter from Jim saying that
he and his wife were coming to pay
him visit, the news was known all
over Wilkesburg in less than three
hours. Mr.. Crockett was bachelor.
but be kept house, or rather, an able
colored woman kept IL for him, in
low but roomy old place that his grand
father, who was one of the first settlers,
had built. Mr.. Crockett was somewhat
illustrated" as he described il, at the
unexpected honor. but the ties OF kim
ship and hospitality are very strong in
Kentucky. The Kentuckian of the true
blood would rather be host than
guest. in order that he may do for the
others, and Mr. Crockett was delight
ed There was mighty hustle in his
housS, and it was soon in fit condition
to receive kinsman who, q victor In
a distant cline. was returning after
many years to visit his birthplace and
the friends Of his youth. At least that
was the way IL was put by Jeremiah
Brooks. who taught the public school
and had poetical ideas.
The circle around the stove had
new topic. The silver question, the
chances OF the next presidency, and
the relative bravery of the northern
and southern troops in the civil war
were retired temporarily in the pres
ence of Jim Pearson. There were
many opinions as 10 the effect of New
York upon Jim. Young Sol Haselrigg,
who was clerk in the store and had as
pirations OF his own. "reckoned that
Mr.. Pearson would be stuck up" and
would think himself too good for the
Wilkesburg people. AS for himself,
young Mr.. IIaselrigg declared he would
not take airs from any man. even IL he
did live in New York But Mr.. Crockett,
who was a chivalric man. stood up
stoutly for Cousin Jim. lie remcm-
bered him well He was fright peart"
hoy. but be was genuine Kentucky
stock and he didn't think New York
would corrupt him.
Mr.. Pearson and his wife arrived one
sunshiny Saturday morning and Mr..
Crockett was of the train 60 meet them.
He recognized Cousin Jim nt once. de-
spite his New York clothes md thc
twenty years that bad passed Mr..
ond Mrs. Pearson were in travelling
gsrb. and Wilkesburg dii not have
much chance 20 pass judgment on them
iunt then. for Mr.. Crockett bore them
OFT hastily 90 his house. Tie "reckoned