The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

that particular. ClarKe was HI exCelleHl fiddler, but he was soft-handed and play ed over the bass string. On the stump Clarke was by far the abler man, and yet Ewing got the crowds by sheer hu- nor and pathos, for he could command Laughter or tears at will.
 One day after the speaking in one back district, where the hunting shirt and eoonskin cap were yet in fashion, the crowd, the candidates, a jug of whiskey, and fiddle adjourned to crystal spring in pleasant grove. Ewing would tell anecdote that would set everybody a-laughing and Clarke would play tune that would set everybody a-dancing. Aft CT some hours of fun and revelry, Ew- ing, addressing Clarke, demanded: Lon
 his middle name was Leonidas-"L Lon, why did you play with the bow Tin your left hand here, when you know you play far better with your right hand when playing for the aristocrats of Bowling Green, Russelvile and Elkton?. These folks are just as good as they, and I de- mand of you that you give us a tune with the right hand. Don't be an aris- tocrat up here. Save that until you get down in Warren, Simpson, Logan and Todd, where the acres are broad and rich, the negroes numerous and sleek, and the houses fine and commodious.
 Ewing delivered this appeal with a face as solemn IS the dial of clock, and the crowd believed him. It was useless for Clarks to protest that 1t was impos- sible for him to play with the right hand. They would not. believe him, and the tradition in the bloody old Third" to this day is that Ewing won the cleo tion by that practical joke.
 It is announced that the candidates for President this year will do the most of their speaking from front porches. It reminds me of stump speech I heard delivered from a front porch a long time ago, when I was small boy. It was in 1855, the year Beverly L. Clarke was the democratic candidate for governor pf Kentucky. Charles s. Morehead was the opposing candidate. It was what Is known in Kentucky politics as Know nothing year." There was a great deal of political arrogance and intolerance floating around in Southern Kentucky in those days. The speech I allude to was delivered by Clarke, and the scene was the front porch of the Good Samaritan" a most hospitale tavern, kept by the late Esquire David Philpott and his good wife Jane in village in the north extremity of what is now Metcalfe-then Barren county, near the borders of Green and Hart counties. The village had several names-Frederick. Lafayette, and Center among others.
 Tradition has it that 1855 was a won derously fiat year." Nature played the part of Lady Bountiful. and the fields, orchards meadows, pastures and gardens fructiged and brought forth as never be- fore. The forests were groaning with mast, and the autumn heralded immense focks of wild pigeons, followed in win ter by myriads of robins roasting in the barrens that were abandoned fields cov- cred with scrub cedars. It was Goshen except for political disputation; it was Arcadia except for political rancor
 remember 1t was a fearfully hot day; but there was large crowd in attend ance to hear the former congressman of the bloody old Third" and no man of that day better deserved large audience than Lon" Clarke The Know-nothings had sent over to Green county for the Rev. Moses Akin to answer the demo- cratic champion. Lafayette Is a string" town, and at the southern extremity there stood the largest single room log house l ever saw, and I made no doubt l 1t was the largest in all Kentucky; prob- ably the largest In the world. It served | for church-or, rather, meeting house., f and town hal. It was built by the | founder of the village, Joseph Philpitt, l and presented to the community, free | offering. One o'clock came, and no Clarke: | 7 clock came, and still no Clarke Akin announced he would speak, and speak he 1 did, such speech! It infuriated ev- | cry democrat on the ground, several of whom denounced him in language that | Gentlemen Chucks would have envied. l The Know-nothings were jubilant, and so 1, they remained until near sundown, when
 the crowd adjourned to the north end of
 town, where was to be had plenty of liquid
 efreshments at cents the tumberful.
 Just as the sun hid his face in the l west carriage came tearing up from the south at breakneck speed. It halted I in front of the Good Samaritan. A cheed