Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-06-21
in old KENTUCKY
1.-THE Very Name Has Had a Charm
Has Wrought a Spell, Has Made
a Music ALI Its Own"
SAID ELOQUENT WA7TERsOA
Thousands Of the Sons and Daugh-
tiers OF the Blue Grass state Re-
turn, to Help Celebrate
HOme- Coming Week.

NgEB Va inc 0A0G NAeho Dt~N~ 49,"
turn. to Help Celebrate
X Home- Coming Week.
Louisville, KY, June 14.-While
rain Wednesday caused postpone
ment Of the floral parade and other
outdoor features of the homecoming
week, 1t was unable to affect the fer
yor Of the greeting extended by Ken
lucky to her long-absent sons and
daughters, and the exercises Of well
come in the armory were earried
through.
Despite the rain the hall was nearly
full when Chairman Ford OF the re-
ception committee called the meeting
to order, fully 10000 persons being
present. Mayor Barth greeted them
in behalf Of Louisville and Governor
Beckham expressed in an eloquent
manner the pleasure felt by the peo-
Die Of the state at large in having them
back once more. The address OF Henry
Watterson was, however, the formal
note Of welcome, and 1t struck a re-
sponsive chord. Governor Peckham
and Ex-Governor David r. Francis OF
Missouri also made brief addresses.
Thursday will be given over to the
memory of Stephen G. Foster, the
author Of my Old Kentucky Home"
The model Of the statute which is
later to stand in the new capitol az
Frankfort will be unveiled and the
songs Of the composer will be sung
by a chorus Of 1000 school children.
Gov. Beckham introduced Henry
Watterson, who delivered the formal
address Of welcome, during which he
paid the following tribute to Ken
lucky:
"Once q Kentuckian, always a Ken
tuckian. From the cradle to the grave.
the arms Of the mother-land, stretched
forth in mother-love-the bosom OF
the mother-land, immortal as the ages
yet mortal in maternal affection
warmed by the rich, red blood Of Viz.
ginia--the voice Of the mother-lands
reaching the farthest corners OF the
earth in tones of Heavenly music
summon the Grant yet ever loath to
come? Whether upon the heights Of
fortune and fame, or down amid INC
shadows of the valley Of death and
despair, the true Kentuckian, seeing
the shining eyes and hearing the
mother call, sends back an answering
refrain.
Kentucky! Old kentucky The very
name has had charm, has wrought
a spell. has made music, all its own;
has woven on It's sylvan loom a glory
quite apart from the glory Of Virginia.
Kentucky's mother, and the glory OF
Tennessee, Kentucky's sister. 1t has
bloomed in all hearts where manhood
and womanhood hold the right OF way.
The drama Of the ages, told in pulse
beats; finds here an interlude which nc
ton vainly emulates, and history may
not DER leap. Not as the Greek. seek.
ing Promethean fire and oracles o.
oelphos. nor as the Roman filed with
the 10Y Of living and the lust OF con
quest; not as the Viking, springing
to the call Of wind and wave, nor As
the Latin, dazzled by the glitter OF
cold. mad with the thirst for glory;
neither as the Briton and the Teuton,
eager for mastership on land and sea.
The Kentuckian, whom, we, in niial
homage, salute progenitor He was
as none Of these. Big in, bone ana
.tnons of .voica-tha full grown man
nfefenj "a by the psalmist-neVer tne
ocoan mirrored his fancies nor snow
clad peaks that reach the skies In
snirad but the mystery Of strange
lands. the savagery of nature ana tns
cong Of the greenwood tree.
.sThs star that shone above him ana
lad him on was love Of liberty, the
Nsacon Of his big dreams, the light OF
M Preside. He cut clearing IN tne
Wildwood and called 1t home. He read
mot romance, he made 1t; nor poetryl
hs lived It; his the forest epic, the
TIliad Of the canebrake, the odyssey OF
ths frontier, the unconscious prose
Dosm Of the rife and the camp. me
hloct house and the pillow, the Holy
BIble and the old held SCHOOL,"
AL the conclusion Of Mr.. water.
sou's address, which was received
Win much applause. former Gov. Da'
IA R. Francis, Of Missouri, spoke y
Sshalf Of the returning KentuchanS
when Mr.. Francis had finished, MIS-
iouise Lee Hardin, Of Denver, coi'
who conceived the idea Of the Home
coming which has been 90 brilliantly
carried out was escorted Gown tns
center aisle By Directories General Robert
= HUGHES. Loud cheers crested MIS-
Hardin and Mr.. Hughes as theS
stepped on the rostrum, and these wef.
redoublsd when Gov. Beckham, after
few appropriate words, presented MIS- )
Hardin With 1 beautiful gold medal n
behalf Of the state Of Kentucky.