The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-04
BY FREDERICK ). HAsKIN

LEAlNGION, KY, Oct 4-lnter-
state tourists who visit the Bluegrass
region should avoid making the tour
in late summer or early autumn unless
there has been great abundance OF
rain. Bluegrass thrives on soil which
rests upon limestone. The effects OF
drought and summer heat are devaS'
tating temporarily. An August land
scape sere and yellow from high tenn
eratures and lack of moisture is re
viyed magically by the first heavy rain.
The tourist who chances to drive
through Kentucky during the drought
is likely to wonder why it it far famed
for its grass.
1t is possible to see the Bluegrass
region in a day from an automobile.
or to spend a week or two driving
through it upon new road each day.
This small section of the state has no
definitely settled boundaries, and SO
proud are Central Kentuckians of resi-
dence there that to mention boundaries
in a border country is to injure some
ones feelings. Without declaring that
this county is, and that county is not,
within the charmed circle, it may be
said that without violating the speed
limit a automobilist may drive from
Cincinnati southwark, or from Louis
vile eastward, across the Bluegrass
region and into the blue foothills of the
Cumberland mountains without start
ing before the sun rises in summer
and without driving till sunset. In no
part of American, or England, are the
aspects of rural life more pleasing.
The group of eight or ten counties
of which Lexington, in Fayette county,
is the hub, have had good roads fo-
several generations. Their early use
of limestone broken with hammers by
hand gave them hard white roads long
ago-roads which contrasted striking
ly with the green turf along the right
of way, fed by the lime dust made by
wheeled traffic passing over the brok-
en- stone before scientific agriculture
had introduced Timing in farming
operations. Each of these counties
had 400 or 500 miles of white turn
pixies, main roads and minor ones in
Guided Along nearly all Of these
roads substantial brick residences, OF.
ten handsome manor houses with state
~ porticos resting upon Greek col
umns, reflected the fertility of the soil
and the welfare of the landowners.
Nowadays the oiling of the roads,
and the use of Kentucky rock asphalt
as an Improvement upon crushed stone
for surfacing, has transformed the
main roads from white to black. Many
of the minor ones still are white water.
bound macadam running between
weathered stone fences and inviting
the leisurely tourist to endless ramb
ings. About this section of Kentucky
centers the romance that has made
'Kentucky's name known all over the
world Here the limestone grows tbs
grass which provides the best pasture
Tor thoroughbred horses and Other
livestock. Here are the famous nurs
cries of thoroughbreds. Here are many
landmarks in the history of the Ken
lucky turf, including the massive mon
uments to Ten Brock and LongfelloN
at the once famous Nantura Stool
Farm. At Nantura the late Franl
Harper. owner of the two horses, liver
for many years constantly armed. af
ter the mysterious murder of Adam
and Betsy Harper, and aged brothe:
and sister who were clubbed to dealt
in their quaint old farmhouse by some
one whose identity never was learned
Best Spot
In the Garden.
Nearby, in Woodford county, whic1
the late Senator Joseph Clay Stile
Blackburn dubbed the asparagus be-
of the garden spot of Gods country
is the handsome modern home an,
breeding plant of former Senator John
son n. Camden, West Virginian Goa
mine owner who married Miss Susa,
Hart of Spring Hill. an estate upo,
which the Hart family had lived sine
the Indians were driven from the sol
by Colonel Nathaniel Hart and othe
pioneers +@' |T
In this same neighborhood-in whic
the Harpers developed world renoune
horses while living in a plain old FAST
toned farmhouse-live the Alexander
upon large estates inherited from a
Englishman of that name who forsoo
England to live in Kentucky and abal
1oned a title to become a Kentuck
gentleman, retaining a large incom
rom English mines, and adding to hi
fortune by wise investments in Chic
90 real estate.
To mention Bluegrass estates Of
and new. each of which is worth
days visit, would be to write quic
book of this unique region Among ii
new ones, by the way, Is Xalpa,
thoroughbred farm whose owner,
Kentuckian, went forth to seek his 70
tune and found it in oil in Mexico. H
imported a small army of Mexican !
borers to beautify his estate wit
roads and lakes and to build around
a great stone wall such as a feud