The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-07-20

limers institute that was going on
here
Wen, to make long story short
he day before the farmers institute
anne off told the 1anitor he might
open The court house doors in The
but wasn't particular
about it, didn't expect very many
people to be there, because | had
had the experience before. you know,
But that morang when ! came down
and got inside the court house, there
were five hundred boy farmers stand
ing around there with their corn, and
when called the meeting to order
that morning at eleven O'Clock there
were fifteen hundred Representatives
farmers in the hell, applause |
knew had solved the question. and
when the boys were bringing in their
corn | was learning my lesson They
were there, those splendid young
farmer boys, some of them had rid
den ten miles TO get there.
So had learned my lesson and |
spent thirty dollars the next time
travelled through three counties %
find just the right corn. and l got
enc hundred bushels, and cut that
down to forty, and advised every
boy TO send me five cents for a
package of corn. | had to explain
what it was for. told them that
the large MANILA envelopes that |
bought in ST Louis cost me cent
apiece; that had increased the corn
three times, so the postage was three
cents; that had employed an extra
girl In the office to take care OF
these things, and this time fifteen
hundred boys entered from my own
county. You ought to see some of
the letters that received One little
fellow wrote me and said; You
needn't expect me TO the farmers
institute because mothers chickens
got in and scratched all over my
corn" The next mail took him anoth-
er package of corn and he was happy.
All summer long had as my sup
porters fifteen hundred loyal, SPLEEN
did. clean, honest farmer boys talk
ing farmers institute all over that
county, and when the institute came
the next fall there were twenty-six
hundred farmers in constant atten-
dance, and we had splendid exhi-
bition of corn. Mr.. Shamel said il
was the finest display of corn he had
ever seen in the states of Iowa. In
diana, Kansas or Illinois. And the
afternoon that We had boys after
noon ! told those farmers that they
could stay out OF the house until the
boys got seated, and along in front
we put the farmer boys and when
Mr. Shamel was talking to them !
said to him. How many boys do you
think you are talking to-" He said
Il should say there were eight hun
dred boys, and 1t is the greatest in
spiration | ever had in my life. .
And, ladies and gentlemen. | want to
say to you here tonight that II you
never touched elbows with thous-
and honest boys you can scarcely
appreciate what | am telling you
tonight
and the contests came and went
We got all kinds OF premiums for the
boys and had them spread out uDor
the platform, and ! had little OF
everything. A friend over at Mon
mouth rendered me a nice big box
of one hundred bars of washing soap
and, oh. how did hope Mrs. OF
wells boys would win that soap
CLaughter) If you have got any boy!
at home running round your house
you know they need that same ar
sicle.
Well, want TO tell you about those
boys They came in two-horse wag-
ons and all sorts OF conveyances to
take away their premiums, and be-
fore am done want to tell you
about the boy that won the coveted
prize Of all the prizes. a 500 bicycle
rendered by bicycle firm here in
Chicago ! hung It from the large
chandelier just above my desk on the
platform, and | knew some great big
pampered boy from out on the prairie
with rich father would win that
bicycle. Every boy in the contest
knew he would win it. got a letter
from one little fellow who wrote me
please send corn by first express for
yours truly, for the 800 bicycle. "
(Laughter)
Then wagon concern out our
way gave a check for 800 and told
me | could do just as | pleased with
1t. divided It into one hundred nice
new one dollar bills. You know, my
friends, sometimes think that the
boy who comes away off down the
line one hundred next to best is just
as much to be encouraged as the boy
who is lucky enough to stand at the