Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-07-02
ON TO RICHMOND,
Missourians En- Route to the Exon
federate Reunion - Interesting
Letter From W. W. Fry,
of This City.

consisted of six sleepers, two chair
carsanda baggage and commissary car.
There are 225 passengers, 215 of whom
are Missourians, bound for the Con-
federate reunion at Richmond. Our
State will be well represented, for this
party embraces men distinguished in
war and peace, and as beautiful ladies
as the State has. Among the old SOL
diers we have met Gen. Joe Shelby,
Col. Robt. MCCULLOUGH Judge Valiant,
Capt. Maxwell Menter, Henry New
man, Frank Gaienne and many others.
From Mexico we have Jas. H. Minor
and daughter, Mrs. DIR. Winans and
Miss Minnie Fleet. We had the pleas
ure of meeting in the party Miss Anna
Jaudon, Miss Elizabeth Hill and Miss
Leah Asbury, all well known in Mex
leo. There are many beautiful girls
in the party, Miss Laura Shelby, the
accomplished daughter of Gen. Shelby;
Miss Burnett, of Fl. Worth, Tex, who
is with Judge Valiant and daughter,
of st. Louis; but we assure you our
own maid of honor, Miss Fleet, is sec
ond to none. She is bright and spark
ling and a favorite with all.
The first evening was a reception.
The train was thrown open from end
to end and was like a reception parlor
as near as a train could be, and every
body was made acquainted and chat
ted and talked, the old soldiers relat-
ing their war stories and the girls
chatting as only girls can until late in
the night.
We arrived at Louisville, KY, at z
a. M, where a bountiful breakfast
awaited us. At Frankfort we stopped
for about an hour and visited various
points of interest, chief among which
were the substantial stone Capital
Hotel and the State Capital building.
This building is a disgrace to the State
of Kentucky. 1t is an old, small, worn
out building. Our Court House is far
superior to it. 1t reminded US of the
Court House building in Columbia,
Mo. This is the old home of Senator
Vest and we were shown the house
where he was born.
WearriVed at Lexington at 1 o'clock,
where a committee and about 500 peo-
pie greeted us. The chairman, in a
happy speech, extended to us the
freedom OF the city and formed the
entire party of 225 in line and march
ed us to the Phoenix Hotel, where a
fine dinner and cigars were given and
eagerly appreciated by all. Here we
had after dinner speeches and then a
hasty view Of the city. This was the
home of Henry Clay, and a magnifi-
cent monument marks his last resting
place. The Court House is a hand
some three story brick and stone
building and is in the center of a pub
lie square not so large as our square
or court yard. Near the Court House
stands a life size bronze statue of John
Cabel Breckenridge. All of Kentucky
is proud of Lexington and they have a
right to be, for it is a beautiful city.
While at Lexington we received a
telegram requesting the party to stop
at Mt. Sterling, which was accepted
and a stay was made there from 8 to
4 O'Clock. This is an old style Ken
lucky town of 5000 people and at
least two thousand received us at the
station. Here we had another speech
and marched to the Court House,
where we found tables set and lemon
ade, punch, peaches and cigars were
served to all. There were also darkies
passing through the grounds with
walters, on which were served some
kind of red fluid with sugar, ice and
water, in which was a sprig of mint.
We asked an old soldier, who tried 1t,
what it was and he said it was Ken
lucky whiskey. From the Court
House was waving the stars and
stripes and by its side the stars and
bars. What speech makers these peo-
pie are? And we, from Missouri, are
just az proud of it. Among the
speeches was one from the old veteran
General and Senator, John 8. Will
liams. This is his home and his well
come was cordial and true. He is now
an old man and has given up war and
politics and retired to the peaceful
!, pursuit OF farming. Col. Newman, in
a brief speech, declared that the Mis-
sourians were for silver 16 to 1 and for
Bland, which statement was cheered
to the echo. Such cordial greeting as
has been extended to us can be found
only among such people. All day we
have been passing through the pride
of Kentucky-the "blue grass" region.
We have never zen finer corr and it
is clean and in good condition; further
advanced than with MS. We passed
through fields of tobacco and some
hemp. This "blue grass" country is
rich and beautiful but it is no better
than Audrain and its adjoining coun-
ties. These farms are highly i'm
proved with their exact and we'll kept
fences and old Southern farm houses
surrounded with large, sweeping, well
trained woodlawn pastures. Give our
farmers the time and opportunities
that this country has had and Mis-
souri's ''blue grass" country will be
second to none
Our train, as stated, is a special
train run for this party and equipped
for the occasion. Fruits, lemonade
and cigars are served to the entire
train when wanted and in the COM
missary car, we are told are fluids pack
cd in Ice with mint and lemons scat
tered around to keep the flies away.
We took supper at Huntington, w.
Va, and arrived at Richmond Monday
at Q q. m. More anon. w. W. Fry.
d.. Hendrix Remembers His Old Home.
To the Editor Of the Ledger.
NEW LONDON, Mo-, June 2s.-DEAR
SIR: ! Am q stranger to You, though
I was born in Galloway County, IN
the year of 1s43, first day of the
year, first day of the month and first
day of the week. l was the seventh
son. / was raised In Mexico and have
many old acquaintance there. Wish
ing to hear from my old home now
.-l khar onr4ca~ au. l1II~~ g. x~r-