The National tribune., 1901-05-30

operating extensively within Federal lines,
were generally well equipped.
Very often a private soldier was better
dressed than his General, many officers
being notably plain in dress, some of them
wearing no insignia of rank whatever.
The long raid into the enemy's domain
was the cavalryman's delight. On those
long rides he had a high old time, enjoy
ing the constantly-varying scenery. Sum
med up, however, although there was
much that was pleasant and alluring in
his life, the cavalier generally found 'JOr-
dan a hard road to travel"
Maj. John c. Breckenridge was the Ken
tuckians idol-the ideal handsome, cul-
! tured gentleman, orator, soldier and states
man. No other man was ever loved and
honored by Kentuckians as was Breck-
inridge He graduated from college at
the age of IS, and rapidly attained distinc-
ton as a soldier, lawyer and statesman.
Tall and commanding, his was a notable
figure in the Mexican war, where he was
Major of the Sd Ky, he then being 26
years old. When 2S he represented Lex
ington, then the ATHENS of the West," P"
in the State General Assembly.
I At the very threshold of his career he
was a famous orator, his charming elo-
quence and superb personality contribut-
ing emincntly to his fame as a lawyer
and legislator, and TO his marvellous influ-
ence over the people when speaking from
the political hustings. 'Tandy Ellis, a
charming Kentucky singer, in poem,
| 'The Old Elm Tree Where Breckenridge
Spoke" tells delightfully."- the story Of the
orators magic power:
at seemed that every singing bird
In all the State had somehow heard
About the barbecue;
From ev'ry bush and ev'ry tree
There seemed to come sweet melody,
| And it was music, too.
! Well, after we had gotten through
| A mcssin' at the barbecue
We gather'd round that tree;
The men and women left the creek,
For they had come to hear him speak
To hear the great John @.
He open'd in quiet way
And told us what a pleasant day
That it had been for him;
| And then into the dreamy sky
| He slowly turned his eagle eye
Up past the elm limb.
! All DER his face there came a smile,
And with that manner soft and mild,
He spoke the sweetest words
About the ladies and their ways
And such flow of woman praise
Nobody ever heard.
His voice was getting low and sweet,
You felt as when the children greet
You at the window pane;
He looked into the far-off sky,
And softly said: Dear friends, good
by;
l hope wen meet again"
II there be orators in heaven
When ! get there, and | am given
A chance TO hear them speak,
I'm going to say to dear John c.,
Just say again that speech for me
You made on Eagle Creek"
At 80 years of age this "favorite SON
. was elected TO Congress, and two year
| later was again elected, on both occasion
having defeated the strongest opposition
the Wings were able to put up agains
him. His triumph was the greater be
cause of the fact that Ashland" Henr.
, Clay's district, was notably a WIFI
stronghold. 1t was a famous victory TO
. Breckenridge. Nothing like it had eve
before been seen in old Kentucky.
When only 30 years old he was electe
Vice President Of the United States ol
the ticket with Buchanan. Before tn
{ expiration Of his Presidential tern
. the Kentucky Legislature elected him t
the United States Senate, to succeed job
/ ]. Crittenden, March 4, 1861.
) The dark cloud of civil war was i'm
) pending, and while the handsome Breck
inrdge was gracefully presiding in tn
) Senate he sadly saw the Southern Sen
ators, one by one, withdraw. He lahore
earnestly In the Senate and among hi
: own people to avert the disaster of wRl