The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-10
Cor the Roundabout
OLD TIMES IN FRANKFORT.
No. VIII.

The tendereSt memories con-
nected with the long AGO, are those
which bring WILDLY back the faces
of those who have crossed the dark
river TO the spirit land, and above
whose bodies the green sod is rest
ing lightly. The scenes i'm which
they were prominent actors seem II
long way back-so far away, in
fact, that they rartake more of the
imagery of dream, or the fanciful
coniuration of the brain, than the
actual events of time when they
were visibly present.
Then there are memories con-
nected with the living-those whose
hairs once richly black or brown,
have now become sprinkled with
gray threads-whOse eyes, once keen
as the eagles. have now become
dimmed-and whose limbs, once
active and 1.-THE, have now become
unsteady and bent. Then there are
thoughts of others whose heyday
of youth seems 10th to depart
whose green manhood has simply
matured and ripened, and who are
yet equal to the responsibilities
and burdens of business. All these
varied representations of genera
ton pasta time so short in his
tory and yet so long in the pano-
rama of change-form the constitu-
ent figures that fill the picture of
old times in Frankfort.
Not only have the people changed
some died and others grown old
but places have changed-houses
have been torn down and replaced
by others-fences and trees have
been removed and old landmarks
effaced. The citizen of 1895 or 1890
who might return to this city from
the land of the unseen and walk
once more about the streets would
find little to remind him of tire
time when he was in the enjoyment
of life. All around would seem to
be the creations of dream life--un-
real and startling-and his mind
would be dazed and confused. Like
Rip Van Wrinkle. he would be per-
picked with the transformations
and almost ready to wrap the
drapery of mis- couch about him"
and once more "lie down to pleas
rest.
Even the citizen of lS70-only a
generation ago would find many
changes. Very few men of middle
age at that period are yet alive
they can be counted on the fingers
whilst hundreds have answered
the last call and are resting up
yonder on the hill.
Tt would take pages OF almost
endless narration to recall all the
incidents-th@ faces and figures
attaching to those who peopled our
streets and transacted the business
of a generation ago. Col. Rennick,
the veteran of the war of 1872, with
his alert figure and keen eye, was
the county clerk, and Walter Frank
lin was circuit clerk. Innes Morris
was sheriff and George C. Drane
presided on the circuit bench.
Judge II. A. Thomson presided
over the board of magistrates and
dispensed the functions of county
judge. He WAS fond of tokens of
the past, and after his death his
collection of Indian relics, fossils
and curiOs were sold to Bennett II.
Young, of Louisville, whose cab
met of archaeological specimens is
probably the largest in the State.
Ed. =. Bryan was agent Of the L..
& N, at the depot, from which he
first received promotion to take
charge of the st. Louis system of
railway terminals, at salary of
$40, 600 per annum, and then to New
YOrl; City to supervise its local sys-
TEN, at salary of $50, 600 annually.
He aided materially i'm the con-
struction of the new subway.
Bryan was, in his younger days,
telegraph operator at BriartOwn, II
branch of the l.. d ~, four miles
south of Danville. Whilst stationed
there, he was accidentally shot and
seriously wounded in the side dur
ing II difficulty between two other
men, occurring in his Office. He