The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-02-21
REV. ELLIS TRIBUTE TO CAPT
HUTCHCRAFT.


Reuben Hutchcraft Is dead, and
the author drops his pencil, the mer-
chant his yardstick, the laborer his
pickaxe, the child its toy and the
State it's eulogium. Taking 1t all in
all, think it is the saddest death of
any public man in the history Of our
great State. So young and gallant
and brilliant and useful, SO full of
service and hope and promise for the
State, and such a tower Of strength
and help and comfort to his family.
Let neither pen nor tongue by use
less review or unbrotherly criticism
add one drop to old Kentucky's cup
Of grief. 1t is brimful already.
can not as a minister of the most
high God and the pastor of this gal
liant young hero allow such a life to
be passed and such a death to be
witnessed without, as far as may.
prolonging the echo. And in paying
this tribute to our friend, let me say,
we have higher motive than simply
the relief and qualification of per-
sonal feelings. We consider his
character as singularly instructive to
young men and it is for these chiefly
that we make this record.
He was born in our little city of
Paris thirty-two years ago and was
the object of singular and never
failing affection and kindness on the
part of q devoted father and mother
and two sisters, whom he requited
with strong filial attachment and de-
votion. His early experiences in
school life soon gave evidence OF a
strong and incisive mind and he en-
deared himself to his instructors by
his industry, modesty, love of truth
and steady improvement, which led
him to attain to the position OF
highest honor in his class record. He
entered Pennsylvania College In
1902, graduating as honor man in a
large class in 1907. He later enter
ed the law school of Harvard College
and after three years of diligent
labor distinguished himself with
honors here also by his unremitting
application. On returning to his
home he began the practice of his
profession in his home town and by
his consistent character and social
virtues and persistent application to
duty won for himself the confidence
and esteem of all who knew him.
The progress of his reputation as
lawyer was soon a matter OF common
remark and those who were most ca
pable of understanding the depths
and extent Of his legal attainments,
were confident that, should his Ire
be spared, he would attain the high
est honors OF his profession.
But he fell on the battlehelds of
France, November 6, 1919, from a
bullet wound from a machine gun at
the hands Of the most barbarous and
dastardly foe that civilized Nation
ever encountered. But he fell at his
post of duty leading the world-fa-
nous Rainbow Division to victory.
The extent of his influence and the
intensity Of feeling of admiration for
him are shown by the hundreds of let
tiers that have come pouring In to
his family from all parts of the State
and many frdn other States express
ing sympathy and affection for our
dead hero.
What is it that has won for him
this place of affection and admira-
ton in so many hearts? 1t is Of that
we would speak this afternoon.
And first of all, we shall speak of
his well-balanced mind which was
the admiration of his friends. He
had strong feeling, but yet calm
judgment. He had unwearied &C
tivity without restlessness or precip-
itancy. He had vigor and freedom
of thought, but not the slightest
propensity to rash and wild
speculation. He had professional
ardor, but did not sacrifice to his
profession the general Improvement
of his intellect and heart. He loved
study and equally loved society. He
had religious sensibilities, but SEN
sibility that never rested until it had
found it's true perfection and mani
festation in practice. His mind was
singularly harmonious, we'll adj
justed whole, and this was the secret
of the signal confidence which he in
spired. Some of his professors at
whose feet he sat have said Of him
that he had the keenest mind they
had ever come into touch with.
In speaking of the more prominent
characteristics in his life and charac-
ter we can not but feel that his re-
ligious life must have a prominent
place. Because he had been a men,
Der of the church from early boy