The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-06-04
LEXINGTON PLANS
TWO CELEBRATIONS
Founding of City and Visit
of Lafayette.

city, famous as the home Of Henry
Clay, the great paclhcator; seat Of
Transylvania college, the Oldest insti-
tuition Of higher learning west of the
Allegheny mountains; capital Of the
far-famed blue grass region and hub
Of the horse world, is preparing to
celebrate on an elaborate scale the ses-
Quicentennial Of it's founding and the
hundredth anniversary of the visit
here In 1925 Of the Marquis de Lafay-
cite, French hero OF the American
Revolution.
1t is proposed to stage as one Of the
outstanding features of the program
an elaborate historical pageant de-
picting many scenes Of pioneer life in
connection with the early settlement
of the city and the major events which
have illuminated the interesting his
tory during the century and half Of
its existence.
Another feature will commemorate
the visit of General Lafayette here 100
years ago. on which occasion he was
rendered a public reception at old
Pennsylvania and was wined and dined
by the little blue grass society. Of
ficials of Pennsylvania college are In
teresting themselves IN this feature
of the program and In this connection
it is proposed to invite the French
ambassador at Washington with MEM
bers Of his suite.
1t Is also planned to bring here some
speaker Of national prominence to de-
liver a eulogy on the life, character
and achievements Of Lafayette In con-
nectton with American independence
Mrs. w. +. Lafferty, Kentucky his
toxaan, who supervised last year the
pageant In connection with the one
hundred fftieth anniversary Of the
founding Of Harrodsbur9, the drst set
Element In Kentucky, has offered her
services to assist In preparing the
pageant for the Lexington celebration
and it Is proposed that many Of the
descendants Of the early pioneer fami-
ses, who took part In the stirring In
cidents of the early settlement Of Lex
lngton and the blue grass country
participate In the program.
Reunion Of Boone Family.
Still another feature which is being
considered in connection with the cele-
bration is the proposed reunion of the
Boone family, descendants and kin
dred of Daniel Boone, Kentucky pho
neer and mighty Indian hunter. Mem
bers of the Boone family have offered
to change its proposed reunion in Phil
adelphia to Lexington If invited to do
SO.
A representative Of this family has
written to officials here stating that
5000 invitations would be sent to the
various connections of the Boone fam
lily for the reunion and that large
majority Of them would undoubtedly
come to Lexington for the event.
The plans of the promoters Of the
celebration also contemplate bringing
here for the occasion Frank Warren
Coburn Of Lexington, Mass, and Char
lemagne Tower-of New York to speak
at the celebration. Mr.. Coburn Is an
authority on the history of the battle
Of Lexington; and this city, having
been named for the Massachusetts,
town, In which that first battle of the
revolution was fought. 1t is regarded
as eminently appropriate that Mr.. Co
burn be on the program.
Mr.. Tower is probably the greatest
living authority on the life and
achievements of Lafayette, and an adj
dress from him would be very timely
in the opinion Of Chairman Wilson.
Date Set First Week In June.
The proposed celebration Is to be
staged the first week Ia June, as It was
In that month. 100 years ago, that the
hardy pioneers who settled Lexington
received the first news of the initial
battle In the little Massachusetts VII
lage which opened the struggle Tor
American independence. These piO-
neers we're camped about what has
since been known as Maxwell spring,
in the southern section Of the city,
near where the new 100000 stadium
of the University Of Kentucky now
stands.
The promoters Of the celebration.
due to this fact, are considering hold
ing the pageant, which is TO feature
the celebration, In this new stadium,
which overlooks historic Maxwell
spring. and which has seating ca
pacity of more than 10000
While this suggestion has not yet
been acted on, 1t is quite likely that
the general committee in the next few
days viii visit the stadium and the
nearby spring, from which the pioneer
settlers drank and where they re-
ceived the patriotic inspiration which
prompted them to give their camp the
name Of Lexington, with the view Of
staging the main feature Of the cele-
bration there.