Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-01
Death Of a Son of Henry clay.

Thtiy.eigM Years 9f Hopeless Iasanity.---
The Cincinnati Eaguirer Of the 18th inst
comments as follows on the announcement Of
the death Of Theodore eldest son Of Henry
Clay, in the Lexington (Ky) Lunatic Asy-
lum, after a long confinement
At thirty years Of age Theodore Clay was
promising lawyer. He was the image and
'ho hope Of the statesman whose fame was
on every tongue 1t is true that there were
whispers Of wild living and Of Indifferent
morals, that somewhat tinged his fair repute,
and even darkcned his future prospects. Still
70 was hoped chat these we're but the result Of
youth, and would be cast aside when circum-
stances called upon the matured man to assert
himself and make his talent felt in the COM
muniiy
Ii was at this turniug-point in his life that
Theodore Clay began to pursue, with an un-
wearioi perseverance, that caused his friends
great unoasiuess, young lady of Lexington,
whom he had long loved hopeessly. The
object Of bis attachment, who is at the present
moment one of the brightest ornaments of
Kentucky society, repulsed, firmly, but kind
y, every attention offered by the infatuated
young man, after his meaning had become
manifest. 10 was useless; he would not be
refused, and followed her in the streets by
day, and wandered in the neighborhood Of her
home by night, in an annoying manner, until
at last 10 became evident that he "was not
Ian there, to use the soft phrase by which a
kindly peaAntry express insanity. Subse-
Qnent violent demonstrations tended TO con-
drm the impression, il being even related that
he went to the house Of Mr.. -- and de-
mandal his daughter at the pistols point,
until at last the wretched truth could no
longer bc ignored, and confinement in the
Asylum became a necessity. This was accord
ugly done Cin 1892, We heieve,) his father
providing for his support at that time, and
leaving $4,000 in his viii, the income from
which was secured to Theodore for life. That
life, afer thirty-eight years Of Imprisonment,
in what in the earlier days of his confinement
he was wont to call good boarding house, but
having some Of the biggest fools he ever saw
as boarders,' has Just closed. For nearly
thirty years he was one Of the most noted Of
the inmates, not only his proud descent, but
his graceful manners and flow Of conversation
rendering him an object of interest to all
visitors lie abored under the halucnation
that he was George Washington, and was
fond Of assuming the traditional attitude of
the Father Of his Country. At the occasional
balls given to the inmates (averaging some
500 in number) he was always exquistely
dressed in the style ofhis day aud was the
beau per erccteRce During all these long
years, despite his general gentleness and cheer
uluess Of manner, ho was restless and dis
contentel, and required close Watching it
never, in fact, having been considered pru-
deutt allow him to 60 out into the grounds
without attendants. About the year 1860,
his condition began to grow worse, and he
soon after became demented, continuing in
hopeless liocy until few days since, when
Death, greater healer than Time, placed him
again upon an equality with the peers of his
early manhood who had gone before him to
the God that created him and did with him
according to His inscrutable will. And so
ends as sad a story as the truth Of history
ever commanded to be written.
Two sons Of Henry Clay yet survive him
II. IL. Clay, ex-Minister to Honduras, now
residing on his place, Mansfield" near
Lexington, aud John NJ Clay, the raiser Of
" Kentucky, and one of the greatest turf
men living.