Editor’s Note: We are republishing excerpts from the 1917 Woodford Sun. The United States entered the First World War by declaring war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917. The Clippings will tell how Woodford County responded and was impacted by “The Great War.” We will return to 1891, where we have been since November, for a few weeks in July and August for the ratification debate and vote on the 1891 Kentucky Constitution. For historical purposes, we reprint the Clippings “warts and all,” and so the presence of derogatory and racist stereotypical words are reprinted.
The Woodford Sun
:July 5, 1917
[THE SCOURGE OF SUMMERTIME, A country editor’s thoughts] For some time several good ladies of this city, who give an excellent imitation of an Indian war-whoop every time anybody says “chickens,” have been urging me to write an article on the subject of those persons who keep chickens with complete indifference to the rights, and gardens, of their neighbors. For chicken-raisers who respect the rights of others, I have the profound respect which I cherish for anyone who succeeds under the terrible strain of temptation. It is as difficult for one raising chickens to respect his/her neighbor as it would be for a man with an insatiable craving for liquor to spend ten-nights in a barroom and not touch a drop! As to careless chicken-raisers who can sit on their porches and calmly see their chickens ravage their neighbors’ gardens and who put their hands to their faces to conceal a smile, I’ll tell you what I think ought to be done to them. They ought to be thrown into a vat of boiling oil, then put into an oven to bake until they burst open, and then be stood up against a wall and poked with a pitchfork! In severe cases, repeat the treatment and in incorrigible cases drop a red-hot stove on the pit of their stomach! Ladies, is this language strong enough?
[FOURTH OF JULY] Versailles had a very quiet Fourth of July. The banks and post office were closed, and almost all of the businesses took a half-day off.
[NEW COMPANY FORMED] The Berryman-Fisher Company was formed last week to take over the drug business of Berryman, Kelly & Co. and the Lyric Theater, and will operate both businesses. The drug store and theater will very shortly move to adjoining rooms in the Masonic Temple building. It was announced that the “movie” theater will be one of the most attractive in the State’
[SOCIETY WEDDING TO COME?] James Baker of Nonesuch and Miss Ethel Semonis, daughter of George Semonis, were granted a marriage license on Thursday.
[Boy Scouts] A group from the Boy Scout Troop took a hike to Clifton last Friday afternoon, had a swim in the river, cooked and ate supper, and returned home the same night. They walked 15-miles, a pretty good hike for 12-year old boys. There were no casualties, except one boy got sand in his eyes.. All are raring to go again,
[RACE RIOTS IN ST. LOUIS] Race riots in East St. Louis have been ongoing for several days. The trouble began in May, a result of the heavy influx of negro labor. There were clashes between blacks and whites on Saturday night, and on Sunday night a mob of Negroes fired into an automobile loaded with police, killing one of them. On Monday night, at least 15 negroes were shot and killed as they fled from burning homes which had been set on fire by white mobs. 310 negro homes were destroyed. It is not known how many perished in the fires. Many negroes have been forced to flea to Missouri.