The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-07-18
Henry Clay's
GA NJ 81 ING.


more to his success at the card table than
to his practice as lawyer or his profits
as a farmer.
Nobody, in Kentucky, doubts MI
Clay's fondness for Euchre and Brag and
that at the latter his winnings have been
great: but it is not easy, from the nature
OF the transactions, to prove particulars.
Many incidents connected with his games
are circulated in private circles, and gen.
orally believed, which are doubtless
founded in truth, though ombellishcd
with fictitious circumstances, which Mad
anne Rumor, that industrious Wing knows
how to invent.
Who has not heard how Clay beat
the British Ministers at Client in playing
cards, almost as badly as Gen. Jackson
beat the British Army at New Orleans at
more serious gamer While the Gen
eral was compelled to pay thousand
dollars out of his own pocket for serving
his country, the Negotiator was said to
have come home with pockets well filled
with British gold, the spoils of his gamb-
ling victories.
But few years ago the following an
ecdote was circulated and believed: Mr.
Clay was at the Olympian Springs, in
Kentucky, during the watering season,
A Presbyterian Preacher, a great admir-
or of his though he had never seen him,
was passing through the village, and
having a great desire to see the object OF
admiration, inquired where he could be
found, and was directed to one of the
cabins. IL was the Sabbath day, and all
around was quiet. He approached the
cabin, meditating whether he should find
the great Statesman reading the Bible,
or engaged in religious devotion. He
raped at the door, and it was opened by
Il tall man, with broad mouth, wandering
look, and a flushed face, holding the door
in one hand, and few cards in the 9TH
or, while three other gentlemen sat at
the table within. 81 wish to see Mr.
Clay,""I am Mr. Clay, said the tall man
"VVaM in, SIR, wnik m." The Preach
err excused himself, and retired with a
heavy heart.
We do not vouch for the truth of these
details, but we believe something Of the
sort actually occurred.
There is another incident of earlier oc-
currcnce, the truth of which we do not
doubt AT his favorite game ofBrag, Mr.
Clay was confronted by an adversary as
bold as himself The hands had been
dealt, and the spirit of the game ran so
hlgh that Mr. Clay Dragged property in
Lexington worth fifty to IA hundred thou
sand dollars. 1.-THE game was played,
he was sure to lose. One of his family
connexions was present, who, pcrceivlng
how the matter stood, contrived to slip
card out of Mr. Clay's hand, while the
adversary's attention was attrached in
another direction, and our honorable
gamestcr said it was misdeal! BY this
fraud his property was saved, and we
have often heared it mentioned in Ken
lucky as a clever trick.
We believe that Mr. Clay's avidity for
card-playing has not abated. Such is the
impression of those who are around him.
In confirmation of this assertion we give
the following from the Kentucky Gazette
of LIST June, 1874, viz;
LEXINGTON, May "a, 1914.
TO the Editor oft Kentucky Gazettc.
Sir: Some time ago, the 4th number
of the "Junius Tracts" containing the
Life of Henry Clay, was placed in my
hands. Among some of its impudent pre-.
varications | was remarkably struck with
the following;
Sin 1919, when invited to game Of
Drag, he (Mr Clay replied, Excuse
inc, gentlcmcn-l have not played 4
game of hazard for more than twelve
years; and take this opportunity tc
warn you all to avoid alpracticc dcstruc'
tive of a good name and drawing after
1t evil consequences ofincalculablc mag
'nitudc.' "
The evident object of the author is tc
excite the belief that Mr. Clay has not
since that time, played cards for money
or gained. Drag is game of cards, land
therefore the disclaimer and inference
apply to such games. About the same
time, public declarations were made in
one of the leading New York papers,
friendly to Mr. Clay, that he was rcfor.
med man in this particular, and had moi
gained Tor many years.
In speech which | made soon after
reading the tract, stated my convictions
that Mr. Clay's habits were unchanged
and that he still continued that practice
which he is represented by "Junius' tc
have stigmatizcd as obstructive of a
good name referred to case a:
late as the Attn of July last, which occur
red near Lexington, where he played
and won between one and two hundred
dollars, as was informed by gentleman
who was present, and perhaps played a
the same table, but did not bet.
was assailed by Lexington edito1
for having made that assertion, and dar
cd to the proof. | did not wish to 60 in
TO public controversy upon such sub
ject, although well aware that the lac
was notorious in all this country and cs
,peciaily at the public watering places IL
Kentucky, on the steamboats, ofthe Ohi'
and the Mississippi, and in Lexington
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