The Butler Enterprise

Excerpts from July 13,1889

Issued Every Saturday

Leslie L. Barton Editor

TERMS: Sixty Cents a Year, In Advance; Published at Falmouth

The ENTERPRISE was entered May 11, 1889 at the Post Office at Falmouth, KY., as second class matter.

DECAY OF TRADITION

The Invention of Writing Seems to Have Put An End to Folk Lore.

It is said that the invention of writing injured the power of memory, and years ago, before the schoolmaster was abroad as he is nowadays, it was possible to meet with many instances of strong memorizing capacity among persons who could neither read nor write. Complicated accounts could be kept by the aid of a "tally" only, and the memory of many a small farmer or petty rural shop keeper was his only ledger and order book. It is certain that since the art of writing has become an almost universal accomplishment the faculty of memory, being less needed, is less cultivated. Long after the invention of letters our forefathers rested much upon oral tradition. Antiquarians assert that one of the ancient races of italy possessed no written language, and even where written characters were in use oral tradition formed an important supplement to them. "Folk lore" tales and ballads have been handed down from lip to lip for centuries with curious fidelity.

When oral tradition was recognized as a vehicle for actual information more care was taken regarding its accuracy than would be the case in these days. The old reciters jealously guarded a time honored form or words, even in their prose narratives. Breton peasants, notably those who possess a talent as raconteurs, will repeat a legend or a story with scrupulous fidelity to the established form in which they have always heard the incidents related, and will check a traveler who attempts to deviate from the orthodox version with "nay, monsieur, the story should begin thus," repeating the regular form of the tale. The eastern story teller deviates little in his time honored recitals of tales of love, adventure, and magic; we recognize all our old friends from the "Arabian Nights" if we halt to listen to a professional raconteur in the streets in any Oriental town. In the days of "war against proscribed books" faithful memories were often utilized to preserve prohibited works from oblivion. During the persectuion of teh Waldenses, in the Thirteenth century, when their version of the Scriptures was prohibited and destroyed wherever found, their ministers committed whole books of the sacred volume to memory, and repeated chapters at their religious meetings. It would be tedius to enumerate the many instances in which tradition has preserved what written histories were forbidden to chronicle.

On the whole, oral traditions are strangely accurate; strangely, when we consider how facts are frequently altered and distorted when occurrences are related by different story tellers. The child's game of "Russian scandal" (in chich a secret whisptered to one person and repeated to a circle of others, is usually altered out of recognition when repeated aloud by the last hearer) is played every day in society. And yet, local tradition will faithfully chronicle the site of a battle, the burial place of a hero, the date of a siege, and sometimes, after generations of historians and antiquarians have scoffed at the "unreliable local legend," a later investigation will discover that the despised traditional story was the true one after all. Centuries of repetition may have slightly added to the incidents or distorted some of the facts, but the main tale is strictly exact. The reputed "treasure trove" may prove but a trifling hoard, the battlefield smaller in extent, the graves of the heroes less numerous; but in each case local tradition is true regarding the facts that occurred and the localities where they took place.

Traditions may at least claim to be as accurate as written history; though this, perhaps, is faint praise. Oral tradition is usually free from conscious party bias. The repeaters of traditional lore carry on the tale as they heard it; but how many an cloquent historian appears to assume a brief for one side or another in every party contest, and to write his history with a view, not of elucidatin facts, but of representing certain historical characters as angels or the reverse. Such writers are always the pleasantest to read; an "impartial historian" is sadly dull, as a rule; but when a biased writer plays the part of Clio, tradition may often prove the safer guide of the two. Folk lore, if not an altogether reliable guide, is seldom totally at fault in its statement of facts, and tradition has frequently kept alive memories which might otherwise have perished altogether. Books may be destroyed but it is less easy to extinguish local traditions. -- Manchester Courier.

A Good Description

Here is a good evidence of childish memory:

The other day, at table, the talk turned on dress and appearance of certain tribes and races of men. A little five and a quarter year old girl, who appeared to be listening attentively, and who, two years ago, had seen real specimens in their western homes, was asked how an Indian looked. Without hesitation, she answered: "Like a bundle of blankets with a head on one end." Which was exceedingly good, after two years' interval. -- Boston Transcript.

The State meeting of the Christian Church will be held at Versailles, begining the 20th of August.

A fellow by the name of Barlow was lodge in jail here Saturday evening by a Lexington policeman, charged with horse stealing. He came a short time ago with a horse in his prossession belonging to Esq. Tilton, of near Headquarters, Nicholas county. He traded the horse to George Brannock and sold the one he got of Brannock to some coffee pot agent for the right of Fayette Co., and returned to Lexington. James Shields went with Brannock and had the fellow arrested and brought here. Barlow waived examination Monday and not being able to give the $500 bail was returned to jail to await trial at Criminal Court.

REPUBLICANS RATIFY.

Candidate for Representative and Assor. -- Speeches, etc.

Pursuant to a call made through The Guide, the Republicans of this county met in Convention at the Court house Saturday, July 6th. P. E. Morgan, Chairman of the Ex. Com., called the meeting to order. W. M. Rardin was then elected permanent chairman and W. K. Wilson, Secretary.

Mr. Rardin stated the objects of the meeting, after which nominations were declared in order.

Nominations were made by a call of districts. The name of no one was presented until Butler (No. 8) was reached. Then Mr. Jas. M. Thomasson's name was placed before the meeting, and he was unanimously declared the choice of the Convention for representative. Henry H. Stith, of Grassy Creek (No. 5) was the choice of the meeting for Assessor. The resolutions of the late State meeting at Lexington were ratified. The meeting then stood adjourned sine die.

Soon as the meeting was adjourned Mr. Duncan was introduced and made a very clever speech in behalf of his party, urging closer ties among members of his party and a more thorough organization.

Mr. Dunlap spoke at some length of Mr. Colson who nominated last Thursday by the Republicans as their candidate for State Treasurer.

Speeches were also made gy W. M. Rardin, Dr. Barbour and others.

The Stock Law

Note - That our readers may know what they are doing as we present them as follows a synopsis of the stock law to be voted on at the August election in this district. The act for Pendleton county will be found in vol. 2, page 65I of actsof 1885 - 6. -- Editor

Sec. 1 -- It is unlawful for stock of any kind to run at large after this act takes effect.

Sec. 2 -- Stock running at large, it is the duty of teh Sheriff or his deputies, constable or town marshal, to take it up and impound it, providing for feeding and safe-keeping. To redeem same the owner must pay all fees and costs.

Sec. 3 -- The owner of the stock running at large in district where this act may be adopted is liable for all damages. The party injured holding a lien on the stock for all damages till paid. May be recovered before any competent court.

Sec. 4 -- For taking up stock the officer is entitled to the following fees: For each horse, jack, mule,jennet, colt, bull, cow, steer or calf, 50 cents; for each hog, pig or sheep, 25 cents; and the same compensation when he has to sell the stock.

Sec. 5 -- The officer taking up the stock must notify the owner or custodian immediately. If the stock is not redeemed in 5 days the officer or party damaged must institute proceedings to sell.

Sec. 6 -- Any person finding stock upon his premises has the right to take up and hold the same as estray are now taken up and held.

Sec. 7 -- The owners of lands must maintain their fences along the highways so that stock can be driven along over said highways. If the owner fails to do so and stock driven along the road injures him he is not entitled to damages.

Sec. 8 -- Any officer knowing of stock violating this act shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $25. for each offense of not impounding.

[ Note -- the law, if it carries takes effect 60 days after. It can't be voted on, only every two years.]

Notice

All persons knowing themselves indebted to Geo. W. Ryder, late druggist of this place, will please call at office of the undersigned and settle their claims immediately, without further notice or delay.

Rardin & Rardin, Attys.

NOTICE

All persons knowing themselves indebted to the Huff brothers, late blacksmiths of this place, will please call at office of undersigned and settle their claims immediately, without further notice or delay.

Rardin & Rardin, Attys.

We desire to call the attention of the ladies of Butler and vicinity to the superior strength and flavor of R. and O. extracts, Vanilla and Lemon, recently introduced in this market. They are guaranteed by the manufacturers absolutely pure and reliable. Try them and be convinced. Sold in Butler by R.F. Shaw, C.F. Peoples, H.H. Hall, and John A. Faris.

The New Collector and his Chief Deputy.

Col. Landram has filed his bond for $200,00 and took charge of the Collector's office, July 1. He tendered the position of Chief Deputy to Mr. W.H. Bowen. Mr. Bowen is the best posted revenue man in Kentucky, and held the position now offered to him under Collectors Holden, Finnell and Davison in this District, in the Lexington District, in all cases maintaining the standard of the office as first-class, and receiving the highest commendations of the Chief of the Bureau.

The Chief Deputy's salary, $2,000; Cashier, $1,800; Bonded Clerk, $1,500; District Accountant, $1,400; Division Deputy No. 1, $1,400; Division Deputy at Cynthiana, $1,200; Book keeper, $1,200; Stamp Clerk, $720; Messenger, $450; Deputy at Carrolton, $900; Deputy at Cynthiana, $600; Stamp Deputy at Milton, $450; sixty one storekeepers at $4 a day, and twenty one gaugers at $5 a day.

The Constitutional Convention vote will be taken at the August election. It should be defeated by an overwhelming vote. The question of voting State aid to corporations could easily be inserted in a constitution at the present time. -- Frankfort Argus.

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