childhood displayed a talent by drawing sketches with a lead pencil. He
became a pupil of Gilbert Stuart, who always called him "Kentucky."
Jouett, on the occasion of La Fayette's visit, painted the noted
general, and from that sketch painted the life-sized one that hangs in
the State House. His pictures were on exhibition at the World's Fair at
Chicago and compared favorably with those of the best foreign painters.
It is said that Thomas S. Noble, another native of Kentucky who has won
fame with his brush, exclaimed after viewing Jouett's portraits,
"Rembrandt is next to God and Jouett is next to Rembrandt." The
Honorable Charles Summers, who had made a study of foreign artists, on
seeing one of Jouett's portraits, examined it closely and exclaimed,
"What a glorious Van Dyck!" Richard Jouett Menefee made a catalogue a
few years ago of three hundred and thirty-four paintings by his
grandfather.
[Illustration: Matthew H. Jouett.]
In Frankfort was born another boy, Joseph H. Bush, whose talents at an
early age caused him to use his mother's hearth and a piece of charcoal
to sketch a profile of his father. Among his noted works are portraits
of General Zachary Taylor, Benjamin W. Dudley, and Governor John Adair.
John Grimes, who lived many years in this state, is noted for a
portrait, "The Country Lad," and "Suicide," a composition. Oliver Frazer
first saw the light in Fayette County. He studied under Jouett and
Thomas Sully, and later at Paris, Florence, Berlin, and Ludlow, where he
and P.R. Healy, fellow students, became fast friends.
Though he was born in Pennsylvania, so much of the work of Louis Morgan
was done in Kentucky that we class him with her artists. His "Simon
Kenton" was the most prominent picture at an exhibition in the Academy
of Fine Arts at Philadelphia.
As a boy, Samuel W. Price also exhibited artistic talent; among his
portraits being "Old King Solomon" and one of Chief Justice George
Robertson. Among his works in composition are "Caught Napping" and "Gone
Up." There are also W.C. Allen, Mrs. Eliza Brown, Aaron H. Corwine, Paul
Sawyier, Nevill Cain, and others who have done creditable work.
The poet-sculptor, Joel T. Hart, when only five years old modeled
figures of animals in clay, molded a button out of pewter, and carved in
wood. His first work of note was a bust from life of General Cassius M.
Clay; among other noted men of whom he made busts were General Andrew
Jackson, the Honorable John H. Crittenden, Robert Wickliffe, and the
Reverend Alexander Campbell. His statue of Henry Clay now stands on the
capitol grounds at Richmond. Louisville and New Orleans each ordered a
statue of Clay. After that came Hart's masterpiece, "Woman Triumphant,"
which stood for years at Lexington, Kentucky.
The Kentucky legislature appropriated twelve hundred dollars for
removing the remains of Joel T. Hart from Florence, Italy, and
reinterring them at Frankfort.
Although born in California, Mrs. Mary Anderson de Navarro, an artist in
another line, spent her girlhood in Louisville, so Kentuckians have ever
claimed her as "Our Mary." Her brilliant stage career is known to all.
KENTUCKY IN THE FIELD OF LETTERS
Kentucky, rich in themes for song and story, has attracted the attention
of some of the master minds of literature. Sir Walter Scott in "Marmion"
sings of
"Kentucky's wood-encumbered brake."
George Gordon (Lord Byron) in "Don Juan" names
"The General Boone, backwoodsman of Kentucky,"
while Alfred Tennyson tells of
"Kentucky's chambers of eternal gloom."
Her own sons and daughters, native and adopted, have also sung her
glories, and in many other themes have made a great contribution to
American Literature. Gilbert Imlay was our first novelist. Since him it
is impossible to name all who have brought honor to their state by their
works, but among the writers of prose are the noted novelists James Lane
Allen and John Fox, Jr. Gertrude Atherton's writings include "The Bell
in the Fog," "Rulers of Kings" and "Rezanov." Alice Hegan Rice has
delighted many with "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" and "Lovey Mary."
Ingram Crockett's "A Year Book of Kentucky Woods and Fields" and "A
Brother of Christ" give him a place in this group. Edwin C. Listey's
"Love Story of Abner Stone" and "The Race of the Swift" are honors to
their creator.
Abbie Carter Goodloe's "At the Foot of the Rockies" has been favorably
compared with some of Kipling's works. Frank Waller Allen in "Back to
Arcady" has given a pastoral romance. Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews has
distinguished herself in "A Kidnapped Colony" and "The Perfect Tribute."
[Illustration: James Lane Allen.]
Young and old delight in the "Little Colonel Stories" by Mrs. Annie
Fellows Johnston, "Emmy Lou" by Mrs. George Madden Martin, and Eva A.
Madden's "Two Royal Foes." John Bacon gave us "The Pursuit of Phyllis";
Nancy Huston Banks, "Oldfield"; Eleanor T. Kinkead, "The Invisible
Bond"; and Mrs. H.D. Pittman, "The Belle of the Blue-grass Country."
Hallie Erminie Rives-Wheeler has given "Hearts Courageous" and "Tales
from Dickens."
John Uri Lloyd has described mountain life in "Redhead" and "Stringtown
on the Pike," while his "Etidorhpa" shows a master mind.
James Tandy Ellis has delighted all with his dialect stories in "Sprigs
o' Mint." Mrs. Fannie Caldwell Macauley (Frances Little) has written
"The Lady of the Decoration," while "Aunt Jane of Kentucky" by Mrs.
Eliza Calvert Obenchain (Eliza Calvert Hall) has attracted universal
attention.
John Wilson Townsend in "Kentuckians in History and Literature" and
"Kentucky in American Letters" has done a great work for an appreciative
public.
William C. Watts' "Chronicles of a Kentucky Settlement" is a great pen
picture of early times; and Irvin S. Cobb's "Back Home" and "Cobb's
Anatomy" have won him undying fame as a story teller and humorist.
In other lines of prose we find John Bradford's "Notes on Kentucky,"
histories of the state by Marshall, Lewis and R.H. Collins, Z.F. Smith,
Elizabeth Kinkead, and Ed Porter Thompson; also the works of Humphrey
Marshall, Mann Butler, Thomas Corwin, Fornatus Cosby, Samuel D. Gross,
Henry Watterson, Bennett H. Young, and others.
Since our first poet, Thomas Johnson, there have been many who have won
credit in verse.
Theodore O'Hara's immortal elegy, "The Bivouac of the Dead" is known to
all. John Wilson Townsend has called Madison Cawein the successor of
Sidney Lanier; Edmund Gosse calls him the "hermit thrush," while others
have named him the "Kentucky Keats." Cale Young Rice has won fame in
dramatic verse. Thomas H. Chivers, a native of Georgia, spent some time
in Kentucky. He accused Poe of stealing some of his words in "The Raven"
from him.
Robert Burns Wilson, the poet-painter, has published several volumes of
the highest merit. Bishop John L. Spalding, William O. Butler, Fornatus
Cosby, Jr., George D. Prentice, Sarah T. Bolton, Mary E. Betts, Henry T.
Stanton, Sarah N. Piatt, and a host of others have written verse that
will compare favorably with that of many writers more renowned.
[Illustration: Madison Cawein.]
KENTUCKIANS IN HISTORY
Whether we write of the hardy pioneer facing danger and privation, of
the volunteer soldier freely offering up his life on the altar of his
country, of the great general leading his men to victory, of the
mature-minded statesman helping to guide the ship of state, or of the
brilliant orator swaying thousands by his eloquence, we find Kentuckians
in every role. Likewise we find the skillful surgeon severing the
diseased part from that aglow with health, the learned lawyer tactfully
pleading his client's cause, the able heads of our government
discharging well their duty, the learned judge of our highest court
presiding with wisdom and justice, and the consul to foreign countries
shedding luster upon the post he holds. Again we note the scholarly
heads of universities training the youth of the land, the sound business
man striving for a better city, the patriot answering in any form his
country's call, the great naturalist finding the many secrets of mother
Nature, the historian cautiously collecting data and describing
important incidents, and the sweet singer bringing cheer into every
place. Further we find the humorist bringing smiles to every face, the
consecrated minister leading thousands to a new life, the inventor
bringing comfort and ease, and the artist skillfully using his brush or
chisel to imitate Nature. Indeed, the roll call of eminent Kentuckians
will show that they have played such important parts in both military
and civil affairs that one or more, and often many, Kentuckians have
filled each of these posts with credit to themselves and glory to their
state.
None have been found braver, none more brilliant, and none more beloved,
whether serving in their native or their adopted state.
More than eighty have represented us in foreign countries; more than
fifty have been governors in other states; more than thirty have been
United States senators from other states; and more than eighty have
been representatives in Congress from other states.
Scanning the pages of our national history, you will find the names of
Henry Clay, Zachary Taylor, Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, John C.
Breckinridge, Linn Boyd, John G. Carlisle, Adlai Stevenson, Thomas
Corwin, Isaac Shelby, John M. Harlan, Ninian Edwards, Roger Q. Mills,
and hundreds of others of the native or adopted sons of our
commonwealth. Without their worth and works many chapters could not have
been written, many policies could not have been perfected, and many
victories could not have been won.
End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of Old Kentucky, by Martha Grassham Purcell