August 31, 1899… The Clipper and other papers are openly hostile to the “bolt” of former Governor John Young Brown, who is leading Democrats in a third ticket effort to defeat William Goebel and elect a Republican to the governorship. The papers hint that Brown’s reward will be the Republican endorsement for the U.S. Senate against Jo Blackburn. Dr. Henry La Motte, writing of the Rough Riders, says the first raising of an American flag over a captured Spanish fortification came on the morning of June 22, 1898, near the village of Daiquiri, Cuba. Two squadrons of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry made the landing, with Col. Leonard Wood, Col. Theodore Roosevelt and Gen. Joe Wheeler among the first 1,000 ashore. Captain Dreyfus, of France, has unusual knowledge in military affairs. He was the first Hebrew ever appointed on the general staff. On Oct. 15, 1894, he was arrested and put in prison, but left in ignorance of the charges against him. Gen. Mercier declared that he had overwhelming evidence that Dreyfus was guilty of high treason, it being claimed that he had told army secrets to the Germans. He was tried, convicted and condemned to solitary imprisonment on Devil’s Island, off the coast of French Guiana. A dossier of charges is now being studied at Rennes and among 900 different papers have been found forgeries, gossip and much chatter of no consequence or bearing on the Dreyfus case. The Revolutionary War cost 30,000 human lives and $135,193,703; the War of 1812 cost 2,000 lives and $107,159,000; the Mexican War cost 2,000 lives and $74,000,000; the Indian Wars and other minor wars cost 46,000 lives and $1,000,000,000; the Civil War cost 544,000 lives and $8,500,000,000; and the Spanish-American War cost 2,910 lives and $150,000,000. Burleigh Hackney has purchased from Mr. Dedman his residence property at Mortonsville and will move there with his family. Miss Mary Henry, Versailles, has been elected to teach the public school at Mortonsville, which opens Sept. 4. The L&N Railroad is re-laying its track with new 80 lb. steel rails, thus making travel over that road smoother and more comfortable. The editor warns that the man in the buggy is now abroad in the countryside among the grangers. He may be the church parson or the parish priest, looking after the spiritual welfare of the deacons and pillars of their respective churches… or he may be a fellow taking orders for short weight and adulterated Chicago groceries, or he may be a chap with some fine cloth, which his uncle has smuggled in from Canada, or he may be a slick schemer with a patent right to sell, or he may be in the lightning rod business, or some fellow begging for an office. When they come to your place, always excepting the parson and the priest, whistle for old Towze and get ready for business. These chaps all have tongues hung on ball bearings, and your best means of protection from them is to administer the grand bounce just as soon as they set foot on your premises. Keep an eye out for the man in the buggy. The term “Dark Ages” is applied to the period of intellectual depression in Europe, beginning with the fall of Rome before its barbarian conquerors, A.D. 476, and extending to the discovery of America in 1492, thus covering about a thousand years. The last of the ancient authors, Boethius, died about 524, and from that time the decline of literature and knowledge was very rapid. The darkest period for Europe generally was about the 7th century, while in the 10th England and Italy were in a deplorable condition of barbarism. All the countries of Europe were involved. Even kings did not know how to write. All the culture there was in the world was among the Arabians.

September 1, 1921… State Senator Charles M. Harriss died at his home on Rose Hill, in Versailles, Wednesday night, Aug. 24, at 9:40. He leaves a wife, two daughters and other relatives. He was born in Anderson County May 23, 1873 and was brought to this county as a babe in arms. He was educated at the Versailles city schools, University of Kentucky, Transylvania and the University of Virginia, graduating in law. He studied law under E.M. Wallace and soon formed a partnership closed only by death. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Jane Nuckols, daughter of Charles Nuckols, who died without issue. In 1912, he was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Phelps, daughter of J.E. Phelps of Lexington. His funeral was conducted Friday at 3 o’clock by Rev. J.W. Fortune of Lexington in the presence of the largest audience ever seen in Woodford County. The courthouse bell was tolled as the procession moved to the cemetery. All the business houses of Versailles were closed while the ceremony was being held. Harriss was a member of the Christian Church, the Shriners, Knights Tem­plar, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Odd Fellows and Masons. He was serving a term as state senator, was speaker protem, and on several occasions, had acted as governor in the absence of Gov. Black, Gov. Morrow and Lt. Gov. Ballard. In all these relations, he measured to the highest standard. His city, his county and his state mourn. The African American population of Kentucky has decreased from 261,656 in 1910 to 235,938 in 1920. At the same time, the white population has increased from 2,027,951 in 1910 to 2,180,560 in 1920. Mrs. Lewis P. (Sallie) Tompson who had lived in Midway for 50 years and moved away 15 years ago, died Aug. 26 at the home of her son in Louisville. Miss Gertrude Donovan has been selected as teacher for Woodburn School and began teaching there Monday. Henry Hendricks, an employee for Versailles Ice Co., suffered a broken arm Tuesday while attempting to put a belt on an electric motor. His right arm was caught, and both bones broken at the wrist. Mrs. Marion C. Howard was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Tuesday, suffering from typhoid fever. The residence of Samuel C. Nuckols Sr. on the Shryock’s Ferry Pike, recently destroyed by fire, is being rebuilt and the family hopes to get in this fall. The body of 1st. Lt. Raymond Schoberth, killed at the head of his company in France, will be brought home this week and given full military burial. He was a son of whom Woodford is proud. Dennie Hartley, 26, farmer, and Miss Anna Carver Gray, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gray, were married at Troy Saturday night. Mrs. Fred Roschi and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Albert Roschi, were painfully bruised Monday when the buggy in which they were riding was struck by an automobile driven by William Gormley, at the corner of Lexington and Locust streets. The buggy was demolished.