In Kentucky poem by Jas. H. Mulligan, circa 1915

Subject: Comics & Humor
Card type: Lithograph
Date: c. 1915 (White Border)

Back of In Kentucky poem by Jas. H. Mulligan, circa 1915, c. 1915 lithograph postcard — Back

About this postcard

Jas. H. Mulligan's comic poem "In Kentucky" runs seven stanzas of exaggerated regional boasts. The verses call Kentucky's moonlight the softest, its friendships the strongest, and its thoroughbreds the fleetest, then turn wry with jokes about card players, taxes, moonshine, and politics. Small vignettes around the text show a couple by a fireplace, a moonlit landscape, and a hand holding playing cards. The poem draws on Kentucky's familiar associations with bluegrass, horses, and sharp local politics, using light regional humor to poke at pride and human weakness.

Postcard Details

Message

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PublisherWrenn & King

IN KENTUCKY The moonlight talls the softest In Kentucky; The Summer days come oftest In Kentucky; Friendship is the strongest, Love's light glows the longest, Yet, wrong is always wrongest In Kentucky. Life's burden's bear the lightest In Kentucky; The home fires burn the bright- est in Kentucky; While players are the keenest Cards come out the meanest, The pocket empties cleanest In Kentucky. The sun shines ever brightest In Kentucky; The breezes whisper lightest In Kentucky; Plain girls are the fewest, Their little hearts are truest, Maidens' eyes the bluest. In Kentucky. Orators are the grandest In Kentucky; Officials are the blandest In Kentucky; Boys are all the fliest, Danger ever nighest, Taxes are the highest In Kentucky. The bluegrass waves the bluest In Kentucky; Yet, bluebloods are the fewest ? In Kentucky; Moonshine is the clearest, By no-means the dearest, And, yet, it acts the queerest In Kentucky. The dovenotes are the saddest In Kentucky; The streams dance on the glad- dest in Kentucky; Hip pockets are the thickest, Pistol hands the slickest, The cylinder turns quickest In Kentucky. The song birds are the sweetest In Kentucky; The thoroughbreds are fleetest In Kentucky; Mountains tower proudest, Thunder peals the loudest, The landscape is the grandest— And politics—the damnedest In Kentucky. JAS. H. MULLIGAN.

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Postcard record

Publisher	Wrenn & King
Series	R-70719
Condition	Very good
Place mentioned	Kentucky, KY
Publisher	Wrenn & King, Lexington, KY
Notes	Decorative border; no publisher or series printed on front. No postmark; unused divided-back card with no message or address. Publisher imprint Wrenn & King, Lexington, KY; C.T. American Art (R-70719). Light soiling and a diagonal crease across the message panel.

Cite this card

In Kentucky poem by Jas. H. Mulligan, circa 1915, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/in-kentucky-poem-by-jas-h-mulligan-circa-1915. Accessed November 2, 2026.