The Big Sandy news., 1914-05-29

nary cold cream.
doubtless true a generation ago, but
think 1t is safe to say that 1t is not
generally the case today. In the aver
age crossroads store OF the mountain
country, or in any general store" of
the small mountain towns, you will find
as complete a stock of ready made
clothing and cheap dress goods as you
would see in a country store almost
anywhere else.
Mr.. Barton says the mountaineer's
songs are sad, and he instances the
fact that the pathetic "Barbary Allen
Is sometimes sung in mountain homes.
There is no doubt about "Barbary AL
len" being sad one, especially as re-
CARDS its dirgelike tune; but anyone
who thinks the mountaineer's musical
taste runs to mournful themes ought
to hear some of their fiddlers or ban
jerpickers" break loose with "The Wild
Horse" Turkey in the Straw" wild
Hogs in the Red Brush" The Old Hen
Cackled as She Flew" TUG Fork,
''Brushy Mountain" "Boatin' on San.
dy," or Flat Gap"
explaining to towns like Cutshin and
Hellfursartin that there really is a
world beyond the Gap" / don't know
what sort Of town a town like Cutshin
or Hellfursartin" would be, as there is
no town Of either name in the Ken
lucky mountains-popular tradition to
the contrary notwithstanding. Cutshin
and Hellfursartin are small creeks that
flow into the Middle Fork of Kentucky
river near Hyden. Both these creeks
are in Leslie county, and Hyden is the
only town in that county.
And as for the mountaineer's present
state OF civilization--or lack of it-let
me say that the Kentucky mountain
eer. taken as class, is not nearly so
uncivilized as the outside world seems
to think. 1t is true that he plays "sev-
en-up" instead of poker, dances the
Virginia reel instead of the tango,
drinks white" liquor instead Of red"
and prefers pipe to q cigarette. While
you and know lots of things that he
doesn't know, he will sometimes sur
prise us by knowing some things that
we don't know. For instance, he builds
roads, houses, fences, water mills, sus-
pension bridges, splash DAMS" and
"ripraps;" he is a good blacksmith,
harness maker, target shot and logger,
an excellent politician, usually a fairly
good farmer, and often a quite able
preacher or musician.
And as to the towns, instead OF con-
sidering such wholly imaginary towns
as "Cutshinn and "Hellfursartin," look
at few of those that actually exist,
and compare them with country towns
elsewhere In our land. Jackson, the
county seat of Bloody Breathitt," has
two wholesale houses, each of which
claims to do an annual business in eX-
cess of 100000. Beattyville, in Lee
county, has over $4,000 invested in
iron street bridges over the small
stream that runs through its midst,
and ii also has one Of the largest saw
mills in the State. Estill Springs, in
Estill county, has long been noted as a
health resort. Paintsville, in johnson
county, has brick paved streets, and
one of It's leading citizens, a native
"mountaineer," lives in a residence
built for him at a cost of over $100,0O0
A few miles south of Paintsyille is
Prestonsburg, with a great steel bridge,
built and owned by local capital, and
fine brick college building, now oc-
eapied by a Baptist school. Here you
will see several very creditable resi-
| dences, one of which, built at a cost OF
| $4,000, is owned and occupied by a
| ''mountaineer" whose three grown
children are all graduates Of we'll
known colleges. From Prestonsburg a
horseback ride of thirty five miles tC
the west will take you to Hindman, In
the very heart of the mountains; here
you will find electric lights and an ex-
oelent college for young women, under
the auspices of the w. C. T. U. A days
ride to the south lies Whitesburg
whose court house, brick bank ant
store buildings, and bright little weekly
newspaper are superior to those pos
sessed by many small towns of local.
ties whose people are wont to pictur,
the Kentucky mountaineer as "uncivi
lized." From Whitesburg ride fift!
milse, east and south, over the rugged
Cumberland mountain and down tn,
picturesque Cumberland river to tn
little town of Harlan, still flustere,
over it's recent acquisition of rail
road; take the train here and go dow
the valley to Middlesborough; here
among towering mountains and II
sight Of the famous Cumberland Gal
you will find thriving city Of 100
people, well-paved streets, handsom
buildings, good hotels, a great iro
furnace, and dozen busy coal mines
There are hidden away in the remot
hills and hollows of the Kentuck
mountains many people who still liy
in very primitive fashion, but, with
few exceptions, they are not nearly s
primitive as one would be led to belieN
by the average story, magazine artic