The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-13

coined the Exiles Back to Kentucky
lay.
destined for great career in Kentucky
politics. Let me frankly confess that,
peacemaker though I am, and at once
the most amiable and placable of men,
there have been times when ], even. 1,
half wanted to go down to the cross
roads and swear at the court That
was when things did not swing to suit
me. That was when the majority ap-
peared to think they knew more than /
did. We grow so used to blessings that
we heed them not and look beyond. Yet,
when trouble or danger, assails us, or
humiliation or sorrow-or when leagues,
oceans, continents lie between ourselves
and the vanished land from whose
sacred lintels ambition has lured US, or
duty tOrn-and the familiar scenes rise
up before us-hoW small these frictions
seem, how small they are, and how they
perish from u.s. / have stood upon the
margin of a. distant sea and watched
the ships go by, envious that their prows
were westward bent have marked the
glad waves dancing to the setting SUM-
heartsick with thoughts of home And
thus Wistful yearning, ready to take my
dearest enemy by the hand and forgive
him, yea, to sop gravy with him out of
the seIf-same dish, those words. of the
vagabond poet, whose sins the Record
ing Angel long ago blotted out of his
book, have come to me and sung to me
ard cheered me even as a mothers
lullaby:
$ In all my wanderings round thisworld
of care,
In all my griefs-and God has given my
I still had hopes my latest hours to
Amid these rural scenes to lay me down.
To husband out life's taper at the close,
And keep TIE fame from wasting by re-
I stili had hopes-for pride attends US
still
Among the SWANS to show my book
learned skill,
Around my fire an evening group to
draw.
And tell of all I felt and all I saw.
And as a hare whom hounds and horns
pursue,
Pants to the place from whence at first
he flew.
I still had hopes my long vexations past.
Here to return and die at home at last
Home There may be words as sweet.
words as tender, words more resonant
and high. but within our language
round, is there one word so all-enbrac-
ing as that simple word Home? Home,
be It ever so humble there's no place
like home'-the Old Kentucky Home;
the home of your fathers and of mine;
of innocent childhood, of happy boy
hood. of budding manhood: when all the
world seemed bright and fair; and
hearts were full and strong; when life
was a fairy-tale, and the wind as it
breathed upon the honeysuckle about
the door. whispered nought but of love
and fame; the glory strobe the sun
beams, and there was no such music as
the low of cattle. the whir of the spin
ming wheel the call of the dinner horn,
and the creaking of the barnyard gate
Home
Take the bright shell
From its home on the lea,
And wherever it goes
It will sing of the sea.
So take the fond heart
From its home by the hearth,
Twill sing of the loved ones
To the ends of the earth
For it's home, home home signs
the exile on the beach, and its home,
homer home cries the hunter from
the hills and the hero from the wars
'Hame to my ain countree,
always home, whether it be tears or
trophies we bring; whether we come
with laurels crowned. or bent with
anguish and sorrow and failure. hav-
ing none other shelter in the wide,
/ wide world beside, the prodigal along
with the victor-often in his dreams,
yet always in his hope-turns him
homel
you. too. friends and brothers
Kentuckians each and everyone-you,
too, home again. This your castle,
Kentucky's flag. not wholly hid be-
meath the folds of the nations, above
it; this your cottage, Kentucky-l1ke.
the latch string upon the outer side;
but whether castle or cottage, an altar
and a shrine for faithful hearts and
haIIowed memories. Be sure from
yonder skies they look down upon US
this day, the immortal ones who built
this commonwealth and left It con-
secrate a rich inheritance and high
responsibility to you and me; who,
like the father Of Daniel Webster,
shrank from no danger, no toll no
sacrifice. to serve their country and
raise their children to a condition bet
ter than their own. In Gods name
and in Kentucky's name, I bid you
something more than welcome bid
YOU know and feel. and carry your
selves as if you knew and felt. that
you are no longer dreaming, that this
is actually Gods country, your native
soil that, standing knee deep in blue
grass. you stand full length in all our
homes and all our hearts.
Governor Francis Replies.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Waiter
son s address. which was received with
much applause, former Governor Da-
vid r. Francis of Missouri spoke in
behalf of the returning Kentuckians-
When Mr.. Francis had finished Miss
Louise Lee Hardin. OF Denver, Colo-
who conceived the idea of the home
coming which has been so brilliantly
carried out. was escorted down the
center aisle by Director General Rob
ert E Hughes. Loud cheers greeted
Miss Hardin and Mr.. Hughes as they
stepped on the rostrum. and these
were redoubled when Governor Beck