The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-12-04
FIRST VISIT IN
TH|RTy-TW0 YEARS
'oI. E. Polk Johnson Comes
Back to CIoverport..Last Time
He Was Here Made a Speech
at LaHeist Woods Reminisc-
ences interestingly Told By
the Colonel.
'LEAsANT THANKSGIVING HERE

Col. E. Polk Johnson and Mrs. John
on spent Thanksgiving the guest OF
fr. and Mrs. James B. Randall, and
eturned to their home in Louisville
saturday morning.
Friday evening the Randalls had
ew of their neighbors and personal
friends of Col. Johnson to meet him
nd Mrs. johnson. Mr.. and Mrs. J. c.
yolte, Mr.. and Mrs. A. B. Skillman,
dr. and Mrs. Ross, Mr.. and Mrs. John
D. Babbage with the host and hostess
we're entertained with the reminisc-
noes of Col. Johnson's visit to Clover
Bort thirty-two years ago and other in
sresting experiences Of his life.
Col. Johnson honored the Brecken-
idge News with a visit to the Office
which was like home to him, for he said
he went into newspaper work yourg
han and came out bald-headed. He
as been an editor and publisher, and
low writes (when he is in the humor)
or magazines and other publications.
fhe Kentucky History recently pub
shed from his pen was written at his
home. He was writing it. two years,
nd one remarkable feature of the his
ory the. manuscript was in his own
handwriting and very few corrections
had to be made on the proof. Col.
ohnson works very methodically. He
declares he can put his finger on any
book or article in his den just the min
tie he wants it. 1.-THE only thing /
an s(keep up with" said the Colonel,
lis my pair of slippers. Some one is
ways tucking those under my chair
r desk or some place out of sight. We
ave furnace and natural gas in our
ouse, and l have an oren CRATE. A
replace is company and | like to look
INTO it and think !"
The personal side of the Colonel's
fe, his present every day living, his
Jews and ideas, are as distinctive as
las been his public career of special
nd successful undertakings. Meeting
i'm and Mrs. Johnson in the home of
fr. and Mrs. Randall was delightful.
In speaking of his visit to Cloverport
II long ago, Col. Johnson said:
"This is the first time have been in
,loverport for thirty-two years. In
$50, when the Democratic Presidential
ticket was Hancock and English, | was
Assistant Elector for the State an
|hrge. A grand rally of the DEMOCRATIC
5osts of this and adjoining counties
HAS held in woodland somewhere near
Down. was one of the speakers, two
|IBlackbu and Col w. c. p. Breckin-
8ldge. with the two foremost orators
{ the Slate on the list of speakers,
vas modest enough to know that there
vas small opportunity for me, so /
sked me Committee on Arrangements
b les<me speak first, promising, in re-
arn for this favor, to make my speech
short one. This was easily arranged
nd spoke my little piece and gave
kay for the heavy artillery. Joe
black burn followed me in one of his
Characteristic speeches that caught the
|rowd which cheered him unanimously.
Then came Col. Breckinridge. have
eard many of the alleged great orators
Il our country, but none equal to
breckinridge. To purity of thought
md diction, he added a voice silvery in
IS sweetness, which appealed to his
|udience as did that of no other man
lave ever heard. He was not only
reat orator but. as the late Judge
William Lindsay said of him, "a great
han.
"Then came the dinner in the open
liz, Just such dinner as the good peo-
le OF Breckenridge county know SO
yell how to prepare and then-well,
hen came the deluge. have in the
rmy and in this and foreign lands
heed the heavens in their weepiest
hood, but never have seen heavier
damper rain than that which fell
pom US that day. Every one. saint
nd sinner alike. received baptism
|hich am sure none of those yet liv
ng and who were there, have forgot
pn.
"Fifally the people departed to their
onej. and the visiting orators came
b the hotel in town and hung them
slves up to dry as best they might.
Notwithstanding this experience
he good people desired to hear Col