Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-29
|TWO INTERESTING STORIES
TOLD BY CONGRESSMAN DovEyER
OF THE LATE CONVENTION
AT PADUCAH.
The hoy Who Preferred to stay In
Kentucky Rather Than Go to
Heaven-A Minister Who Created
a Brief Sensation Until He Ex-
pIafned.

Yesterday, in recounting his visit to
and incidental prominence in, the late
convention at Paducah, KY, where the
| improvement of the internal water
ways of the country was the chief OBJ
| iect of the deliberations of the gentle
men assembled from many States.
Congressman Dovener related little
incident interesting enough to appear
in print. One of the features of the
convention was a banquet of rather
elaborate nature, and at this function
the POSTMASTER, at the proper time.
called out the names of the speakers
and announced the topics to which
they were expected to respond. with
out any previous notice whatever.
| The festivities and formalities ran
along until il "was up to a native of
Kentucky to respond to the sentiment
implied in the name of his State. He
did it gracefully. He talked of the blue
grass. of the beautiful women for
which the State is celebrated, of the
fine horses, and incidentally men
toned whisky. Growing eloquent, the
speaker dwelt upon these matters of
State pride. and then related a story.
He said there was once a religious re-
vival in his State presided over by
minister of wide repute, and there was
great popular interest. The church
was thronged at every service, and
there were many converts. Towards
the close of the series of meetings
there was. an exceptional attendance
and more than the usual interest. Dur
ms a powerful exhortation the minister
called upon all of those in the congro-
CATION who. desired to go to heaven
when they died to stand up, and the
audience arose with the exception of
one young man, who kept his place.
go to hell arise, but no one stirred.
The minister then turned his attention
to the young man who had voted
neither way, and said
"You are old enough to vote on this
question. Why was it that you, who
have arrived at the years of discretion,
cid not indicate your choice?"
"Well," responded the youth, II have
heard a good deal about heaven, and
read something about hell, but Ken
lucky suits me we'll enough and |
would just as lieve stay here
at reminded me-" said Captain Dow
ener "of the plea 1 want to go to
California when l die
"At the same banquet" said the
Captain, "a minister was called upon
fol toast, and responded with the
somewhat startling words, in view of
you people want to do is to stop your
talking and go to shooting! There
was some CONSERVATION for a moment
or two, until the minister explained
his admonition. During the civil war
celebrated Kentucky colonel was a
little delayed in reaching his regiment
grumbing a good deal about camp
matters when they should have been
fighting: The colonel shouted: Stop
your talking and go to shooting. and
was .cheered. The immediate applica-
ton was that the members of the con-
vention assembled should talk less
and write less and go to work for the
improvement of the internal water
ways of the country, and the clergyman
scored hit"
Captain Dovener is enthusiastic over
the convention, and is decidedly of the
opinion that great good was accom-
plished.