Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-24
Henry Clay and His Native Wine.

In the fall of 1843 Lonworth of Cincin-
natl sent to Mr.. Clay demijohn of native
wine. Mr.. Longworth had imported the
grape seed from wine makers in lilly, and
prided himselfon having splendid thing.
It was five gallon demijohn, the stopper
covered with wax, and stamped with the
letter L. There were six of US boys in the
family, averaging some 16 or II years old.
We used to study in the evening in our
room, and would borrow the cellar key of
Mrs. Clay and bring up a pitcher of cider
and hat full of apples to help us along
in our lessons. .. -
One night it was proposed we should
taste of the Cincinnati wine. We found a
cork screw, and carried UP pitcher full.
1t was capital, and before many days we
found the demijohn empty. We knew
Clay was liable to want it at any time, and
it must be filled. On the following night
we took servant who toted the big bot
tie onshis head to small store room two
or two and half miles away, kept by q
negro, where we had it filled with whis-
key at fifteen cents gallon, which, with
the quarter we gave the boy for helping
us along, cost us q dollar. We had hard
work getting that demijohn back to the
house-it was not shaped right for carry
ing But at length it was safe in the Gel
lar. We had previously made some wax
about the color of that which was on the
stopper, and had carved letter L out of
piece of bark The bottle was duly
sealed, stamped and deposited in its prop
er place.
In 1874 the prospects were that Mr..
Clay might be President, and he thought
SO himself He gave q grand dinner,
among his distinguished guests being
John J. Crittenden and Tom Corwin.
Every one was in the best of spirits, and
after the ladies had retired the merriment
was even higher than before. We boys re-
NAMED. never being excluded from his
great dinners. AS the party were about
| rising, Clay said:
"Gentlemen, have some of the finest
wine in the world, and the first native
| American ever manufactured; and there
can be no more fitting opportunity fol
testing its merits than the present. John,
| do you know whereabouts in the cellar
| that bottle of wine is, which was sent tC
me from Cincinnati 81
eyes, sir,n said John.
"Do you think, John, you can bring
that demijohn here, under your arm, ant
not shake it up"
Eyes, sir"
"Well, go.n
In a few minutes John came back with
that big five gallon demijohn under hi:
arm.
Now, John, set it down and take ou
the cork"
The cork came out pretty easy--it hat
been out before.
"Now, John, take that demijohn un
der your arm again, and tilt out little il
all the glasses % ..a. e..alr
John again took the demiiohn under hi
arm, and went around filling the glasses
while we looked on in Woeful silence.
Now, gentlemen" continued Clay
1--WE will drink this standing, to thu
health of my friend Longworth of Gin
cinnati."
He raised the glass to his lips, stopped
and gave look about the table. We si1
were just going out of the door, just a
fast as our legs could carry US. We hearC
the word Boys in the lion voice o
Clay, but he remainder of the sentence
was drowned in the shouts of laughter
from his guests