Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-05-26
HENRY cLAY's INSANE SON.

About ten days ago, the Eastern tel
egrams informed US that Theodore
Clay, the insane son Of the great Amer
ican Statesman, had died In an Insane
Asylum, at Lexington, Kentucky, af-
ter confinement of thirty years. The
Cincinnati Enquirer gives the follow
ing sketch Of the blasted life Of Theo-
dore Ohy:
Al thirty years Of age Theodore Clay was
q prominent lawyer. He was the image and
syery tongue. Il is true that there we're whis-
psrs Of wild living. and Of indifferent morals.
that somewhat tinged the fair reputs and
even darkened the future prospects Of this
scion Of noble house. Still Il was hoped
thss these were but the result Of youth, and
would Be cast aside when circumstances call
Cd upon the matured man to ASSERT himself
and make his talent felt in the community.
Il was At this turning point in his life that
Theodore Clay began TO pursue, with an un-
wsarisd perseverance, that caused his friends
Rrsat unsasiness, young lady Of Lexington.
whom be had long loved hopslsssly. The
object Of his attachment. who 10 Al the pres
snt moment one Of the brightest ornaments
Of Ksntueky society, repulsed, firmly but
kindly, every attention offered BY the infatu-
atsd young man, after his meaning had b,
come manifest. Iswas Of no use, he would
nor 5. refused. and followed his fair fate to
the streets BY day and wandered in the neigh.
borhood Of her home BY night, in an annoy
inR manner, until at last it become evident
that he "was not all there" to use 4 son
phrase By which kindly peasantry express
Insanity. Subsequent violent demonstrations
tended to confirm the impression, Il being
even related that he went TO the house OF
Nr.- and demanded his daughter At the
pistols point, until At last the wretehsd truth
could no longer Be ignored and confinement
in the asylum became . necessity. This vas
therefore done Tin 1882. We belisvs) his father
providing for his support at that time, and
leaving Slo. 900 in his will, the income from
which was secured to Theodore for life.
That life, AFTER thirty-sight years Of impri:-
onmsnt in what in the earlier days Of his
confinement he was wont TO call "a good
boarding house, but having some Of the big.
eest fools he ever saw a. boardsrs," has just
closed. For nearly thirty ysars he was one
of the most noted Of the inmates, not only
his proud descent, but his graceful manners
and dow OF conversation, rendering him an
object Of interest to all visitors. He labered
under the hallucination that he was George
Washington, and was fond Of assuming the
traditional attitudes OF the Father Of his
Country. At the occasional balls given to
the inmates averaging some ave hundred in
number) he was always s1quisitely dressed,
in the style Of his day. and was the beau par
excellence. During all these years. despite
his general gentleness and cheerfulnsss Of
manner, he was restless and disseminated,
and required close watching. il never, in fact,
having been considered prudent to allow him
to 70 out into the grounds without attendants.
About the year 1850 his condition began to
now worse, and be soon aiter became dc.
msnted. continuing in hopslsss idioey 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 in
serutAbls will. And 90 ends ~ sad story a.
the truth Of history ever commanded to b
written.
Two sons Of Henry Clay yet survive him,
T. II. Clay, ex.Minister to Honduras. now
residinE on his place, Mansfield, and
John 81. Clay, the raiser Of "kentusky,
and one Of the greatsst turfnnsn living.