The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-14
Kentucky Enttrtains Her Man.
 dcring Children
JEFFERSON MAKES ADDRESS
In Steady Rain Ten Thousand Peo. pie Gather to Witness the Open- ing Ceremonies In Louis
 vlIIe-Parade Postponed.


 caused a postponement of the outdoor features of the home coming week, it was unable to affect the fervor of the greeting extended by Kentucky to her long absent sons and daughters, and the exercises of welcome day, which were conducted in the armory on Walnut street were carried through In a manner both brilliant and gratifying.
 Despite the fact that the rain fell heavily just prior to the hour at which the days programme was to commence, the hall was nearly full when Chairman Ford of the reception committee called the gathering to order, fully 10000 people being present. Visitors could not but be charmed by the warmness of the well come that was extended to them. Mayor Earth greeted them in behalf of the peo- pie of Louisville, and Governor Beckham expressed in an eloquent manner the pleasure felt by the people of the state at large in having them back once more. The address of Henry Watterson was, however, the formal note of welcome, and t struck a responsive chord. No au- dienco could ask for a more graceful welcome, no speaker could desire a warm CT appreciation than was rendered by the listeners to MT. Watterson. Both Cover nor Beckham and Bx-Gov. David R. Fran cis of Missouri, made brief addresses, and both were received in manner that could leave nothing to be wished by them.
 Parade Is Postponed.
 During the afternoon the great floral parade was to have been held. and all though the rain of the morning was no longer falling. it had degenerated into a cold drizzle, and it was decided to post pone the parade until some time later in the week when #. will not. 4atsrfssa.with the other features of the programme.
 Tomorrow will be given over to the memory of the man who. although not native Kentuckian. has perhaps by his gift of song done as much to make the state known among men, as any who ever lived within It's borders, Stephen c. Foster. the author of My Old Kentucky Home." The model of the statue which Is later to stand in the capitol now be- ing erected at Frankfort, will be unveiled and the songs of the composer will be sung by a chorus of 1000 school children. The formal opening exercises in the armory were set for Il o'clock and it was the intention that r-erch of the visitors should precede theIr commence ment, but because of the rain this was abandoned and the people fiocked to the armory in street cars carriages and be- meath dripping umbrellas Long before the hour at which the exercises of ''welcom- ing day. were to commence. the great armory was filled completely and when A. Y. Ford, the chairman of the recep- tion committee mounted the rostrum to call the meeting to order 1t was some time before he could, with the vigorous use of his gavel, call the meeting to order so busiy engaged were thousands of the people in the hall in renewing old friend ships and acquaintances. MT. Ford in- troduced the Rev. T. M. Hawes of Louis- vile, who delivered the invocation, and then in a short speech brought forward Mayor Paul C.. Earth of the city of Louisville, who welcomed the visitors In behalf of the city.
 Governor Beckham Speaks.
 Mir Ford then introduced Gov. J. c. w.. Beckham, who performed similar office in behalf of the state of Kentcuky, and at the conclusion of his address assumed the gavel as the presiding officer of the reunion.
 Governor Beckham introduced Henry Watterson, who delivered the formal ad- dress of welcome, which was as fol- lows:
 "Once Kentuckian, always Kentuck- ian. From the cradle to the grave, the arms of the mother land, stretched forth in mother love-the bosom of the mother land, immortal the ages. yet mortal in maternal affection, warmed by the rich, red blood of Virginia-the voice of the mother land. reaching the farthest corners of the earth in tones of heavenly music summon the errant to the roof trees shade, and bid the wanderer home. What wanderer yet was ever loath to come? Whether upon the heights of for tune and face. down amid the shad- ows of the valley of death and despair, the true Kentuckan, seeing the shining eyes and hearing the mother call. sends back the answering refrain:
 "Wlhere'er I roam, whatever realms
 I see,
 My heart untraveled fondly turns to
 thee"
 Behold in this great. exultant multitude the proof! Kentucky Old Kentuckyl The very name has had a charm, has wrought a spell. has made a music. all it's own; has woven on its sylvan loom a glory quite apart from the glory of Virginia, Kentucky's mother. and the glory of Ten nessee, Kentucky's sister. It has bloomed in all hearts where manhood and woman hood hold the right of way. The dreams or the ages, told In pulse beats, find here an interlude which fiction vainly emulates and history may not oerlead. Not as the Greek, seeking Promethean fire and or acles of Delphos. nor the Roman filled with the joy of living and the lust of conquest: not as the Viking, sprnging to the call of wind and wave nor as the Latin, dazzled by the glitter of gold, mad with the thirst for glory; neither as the Briton and the Teuton. eager for mas tership on land and sea, the Kentuckian, whom we, in flial homage, salute progen- itor He was as none of these Big in bone and strong of voice-the ful-grown man prefigured by the psalmist-never the ocean mirrored his fancies nor snow-clad peaks that reached the skies inspired; but the mystery of strange lands. the sav- agery of nature and the song of the greenwood tree.
 Star That Leads.
 '.The star that shone above him and led