The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-06-09

A SAD !. STORY.

Yesterday morning our special kilograms an
uounced the end10f weary lfe i'm stating thai
Theodore. eldest son Of Henry Clay, had died
inSthe Lexington Lunatic Asylum after long
confinement The record of his blasted life is
briefly thus: j 49, -.
Atthirty years Of age, Theodore Clay was a
promising lawyer. He was the image and the
hope of the statesman whose fame was on ev
cry tongue. 1t is true that there were whis-
pers of wild living, and of Indifferent morals,
that somewhat tinged the. fair. repute, and ev-
on darkened the future prospects of this scion
Of anoble house. Still. 1t was hoped that these
were but the result Of youth, aud would be cast
aside when circumstances called upon the ma
tured man 10 assert himself and make his tai
emit felt in the community.
It was ut this turning point in his life that
Theodore Clay began tn pursue, with IN un-
wearied perseverance, that caused his friends
great uneasiness, young lady of Lexington,
whom he had long loved hopelessly. The OBJ
lect OF his attachment, who is ut present one
Of the brightest ornaments OF Kentucky soci-
city, repused firmly. but kindly, every attention
offered by the infatuated young man, after his
meaning had become manifest. Ii was Of no
use. he would not be refused. and followed his
fair fate in the streets BY day and wandered IN
the neighborhood Of her home by night. in on
~
dent THAI he "was not all there" 10 use the |
soft phrase by which kindly peasantry ex.
press insanity. Subsequent violent dem0nstra-
tons teRded to confrnl the impression. it be-
ing even related that he went 20 the house ot /
Mr., aud demanded his daughter at the
pistols point until ut last the wretched truth
could NO longer be ignored, aud confinement in
The asylum became stern necessity. This was
accordingly done Gin lS22, We beleve), his
father providing for his support at that taie,
aud leaving $4,000 in his win. the income
from which was secured to Theodore for life.
That lite, after thlrty-eight years Of imprison-
llent an what in the earlier days of his con-
hnensent he was wont to call 81 good beard.
lag house, but having some Of tho biggest
fools he ever saw rs boarders," has Just closed
For nearly thirty years he was one of the most
ruted OF the inmates, not only his proud drs
ceat, but his graceful manners and now Of con.
reFsation rendering him an object of interest
to all visitors. lie labored under the halluc.
nation that he was George Washington. and :
Was fond OF assuming the traditional attitudes Z
VI the "Father OF his Country" At the occas- a
oaal bafis given To the inmates (ayeraging (
SOME i've hundred IN number) lac was always I
sxquislteiy dressed in the style OF his day. aud
was the beau par cxcxlIoRec. During all these a
ong years. despite his general gentieness and s
Of manner. he was restless and a
ilsconteatsd. aud required close watching. il | p
never. IN fact, having been considered prudent. q
% allow hun to so out int the grounds with r
,ut attendants. About the year 1860 his con. n
iirion began TO grow worse. and be soon after Il
became deneated. csstuuiag in hopeless lido. "
y until lew days aimee. when Death. greater i,
lcaler than Tine. placed him again upon IN [,
quality with the peers of bis early manhood, u
a HAD kssf.x l. -
ed hia aad did with him according to HIS in. Il
crutable win. And 90 ends as sad story a. b.
ne truth Of history ever commanded to b. Ii
ritten. r,
Two sons OF Henry Clay yet survive hint ii
Clay. ex-Minister 10 Honduras. now re.id. q
ig on his place. Mansfield" near Lexington.
nd Jehn u. Clay. the raiser OF .Kentacky."
nd one OF the greatest tarfmen living -Cia. of
Iaaf Emqsirsr. m