On this last visit that I speak of, a young man connected with the Phoenix Hotel, Lexington, where Senator Beck lived much of the time, and where he entertained me, told me that on the morning of the day that Senator Beck went with me to High Bridge he had been standing in that hotel among a group of men who were assailing Christianity, and expressing surprise that Senator Beck was going to High Bridge to hear a sermon.  When we got to the hotel that afternoon the same group of men were standing together, and were waiting to hear the Senator’s report of the service, and hoping to get something to the disadvantage of religion.  My informant heard them say to him, “Well, how was it?” The Senator replied, “Doctor Talmage proved the truth of the Bible as by a mathematical demonstration.  Now talk to me no more on that subject.”

On Sunday morning I returned to High Bridge for another preaching service.  Governor Blackburn again took us in his especial car.  The word “immensity” may give adequate idea of the audience present.  Then the Governor insisted that I go with him to Frankfort and spend a few days.  They were memorable days to me.  At breakfast, lunch and dinner the prominent people of Kentucky were invited to meet me.  Mrs. Blackburn took me to preach to her Bible Class in the State Prison.  I think there were about 800 convicts in that class.  Paul would have called her “The elect lady,” “Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  Heaven only can tell the story of her usefulness.  What days and nights they were at the Governor’s Mansion.  No one will ever understand the heartiness and generosity and warmth of Kentucky hospitality until he experiences it.

President Arthur was coming through Lexington on his way to open an Exposition at Louisville.  Governor Blackburn was to go to Lexington to receive him and make a speech.  The Governor read me the speech in the State House before leaving Frankfort, and asked for my criticism.  It was an excellent speech about which I made only one criticism, and that concerning a sentence in which he praised the beautiful women and the fine horses of Kentucky.  I suggested that he put the human and the equine subjects of his admiration in different sentences, and this suggestion he adopted.

We started for Lexington and arrived at the hotel.  Soon the throngs in the streets showed that the President of the United States was coming.  The President was escorted into the parlour to receive the address of welcome, and seeing me in the throng, he exclaimed, “Dr. Talmage!  Are you here?  It makes me feel at home to see you.”  The Governor put on his spectacles and began to read his speech, but the light was poor, and he halted once or twice for a word, when I was tempted to prompt him, for I remembered his speech better than he did himself.

That day I bade good-bye to Governor Blackburn, and I saw him two or three times after that, once in my church in Brooklyn and once in Louisville lecture hall, where he stood at the door to welcome me as I came in from New Orleans on a belated train at half-past nine o’clock at night when I ought to have begun my lecture at 8 o’clock; and the last time I saw him he was sick and in sad decadence and near the terminus of an eventful life.  One of my brightest anticipations of Heaven is that of seeing my illustrious Kentucky friend.