The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-05-23
CONTEMPORARY ANCESTORS.

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lecture before a Northern audience,
coined the happy phrase tour con-
temporary ancestors" Nothing
could be more descriptive. The
purest strain OF the Anglo Saxon race
to be found In America is there
and living amid the circumstances
and conditions OF a forgotten period.
The spinning wheel and the loom are
to be found there, and the sweep at
the well, the wbipsaw, and the hand
mill, and the domestic still. The
potteries Of this mountain region are
extremely interestlng-the red clay
pipe and jug and mug, the cruet, the
cresset Still largely used) and the
evaporating crock for keeping water
cool.
In the lowland region Of the
Southern states the race has remained
comparatively pure because the negro
has kept out immigration; but then
slavery, commerce, and a thousand
circumstances have conspired to
modify native character. In the
mountains nothing of this kind has
occurred. The Oldest, largest and
most clearly traced families in Amer
lea are to be found 10 this
region, Most of the early settlers Of
the mountain region Of Kentucky
and Tennessee we're poor people, but
by no means all were Of common
stock. The eagle eye and imperial
bearing of a well born race are to be
found there in abundance and among
those who can neither read nor write.
The sense Of personal dignity and
the sense of personal honor among
these people are remarkable but are
not to be judged by the standards OF
other regions. Assassination is re-
garded as a trivial matter. But it is
one of the strictest articles Of theil
code that no man shall be assaSSinated
in the presence of a woman or a child.
except in the doorway Of his owr
home. The vengeance Of a mountain
faction may be wreaked upon ar
individual or upon all the males OF
his immediate family or upon all thu
males of his surname in the county O
section according to the circum
stances Of the case.
The people Of the mountains hav
very little respect for courts. The.
strongly object to testifying
especially in murder cases. Probabl,
fifty men were eye-witnesses to Jh
recent Marcum murder and probabl
hundreds know who fred the shot
but it is doubtful if a single man will
be found who will give informatio
before a jury. Meanwhile the mul
derer is a marked mar and he know
it. He will not leave the county, bu
he knows that sooner or later withou
a moments warning he will be she
down as Marcum was, and by me
who would scorn to testify again'
him.
Hospitality is a matter-ot-cour
virtue 10 the mountains and has |
necessary connection with courtesy
word or manner. The stranger rid
to the mountain barn, ties and fee
his horse, goes to the well aud wash
his hands and face in a crock, ente
the house and takes his seat at Il
table, perhaps without invitatio
But he is welcome, and his he
would resent it as an insult If
should offer to pay. Robberies a
larcenies are almost unhe3rd of in t
mountains. Houses are never locke
The people are religious in a way, b
it is a very peculiar way.
The typical mountaineer regar
his personal pledge as far more sacr
than life. An interesting case
point is that of Craig Toliver, one
the most noted Of the mountain O
laws Of Kentucky twenty years al
His great grandfather was the Fl
"Hardshell" Baptist preacher in X
lucky being the pastor of the "Tra'
ing Church., T" celebrated in pion
Baptist history Craig oliver kille
man at Moorehead 10 Rowan coun
A fractional war ensued in VIII
many we're killed. 1t wa not S
for court to meet 10 the coun
Several companies Of militia W
called out. The trial cost the ST
$500, 600 and came to nothing. .
governor went to Mt. Sterling,
near as he dared to so, succeeded