Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-04
pailp ARGUS.
Thursday, January 4. 1879.
HBNRY CLAY.
some Unpublished Anecdotes OF ihs
Great kenluekinn.

anecdotes of Henry Clay
The cou-se of Mr.. Clay on the compro-
mise measures was very unsatisfactory to
the South, and his own state denounced
his action as freely as any. 1t was the
usual custom, on his arrival home to
spend the summer months, for large
concourse of people TO be present to wei
come and shake hands with him When he
left the stage. Now, excepting a few
personal friends, there were none and
they had even talked Of electing demo
crat in his place. Clay got into his car
riage, which was as rickety concern as
can well be immagiued, and rode home In
moody silence We knew he was mad,
and said among ourselves: There will
be HI TO paw The following day he
did not 90 out. During the second day
his servant went TO his room and in
formed him that crowd was the front |
door "Begone,n was the only response |
The negro went down and told the crowd |
that "BIr. Clay was quite unwell, and the
fatigue Of travel had greatly Frustrated |
him. The doctor had just left and for
hidden his seeing company, but he would !
be happy TO see them as soon as able.
For several days this went on. People
then began to call meetings and send
COMMITTEES. The state ofiiaers finally
took it up aud invited him to give an
address never shall for get that speech.
His voice was like bugle and swelled
to trumpet calls. His eyes glowed like
FIRE. He frothed at the mouth, and
deted them with the elnquence and
power Of demon. But it took the gall
liant Kentuckians by storm, and lie was
again elected to the United States senate.
Clay owed $4,000, for which there was
mortgage on Ashland. The interest
was always paid punctually, but he could
never reduce the principal, and this at
length became a source q great annoy
ance to him in 1914, when he visited
the bank 20 pay the interest as usual the
old French clerk handed out the note.
what does this mean ?" inquired Clay,
under the impression that they had re.
fused 70 let il run any longer; and, he
knew of no way TO meet il. The note is
cancelled SIR" replied the clerk you owe
this bank nothing" my God = said
Clay, "have friends as good as this
He was affected to tears, which is said to
DO the only time he was eyer known u
weep
John Clay was wild, reckless fellew
and the favorite of his mother. In these
days il was not beneath a woman's dig.
nifty 10 do something, and she would often
take in knitting, pick berries, which she
would send 20 town and John would
soon be on spree with the money she
was one Of that sort who can never do
enough in the world, and use all their
exertions 20 alleviate distress and the sui
eriug around. one night 1t was whisp-
cred around amoung US boys that John
had gone away 10 fight duel. In the
morning. as we went to our meal, we bal
ted before entering the breakfast room,
as was our custom, waiting 70 Mr.. Clay
10 come from his study and lead the way
We saw Mrs Clay standing near by, ana
as he came out, she rushed To him, throw
ing her arms about his neck, and sobbing
out "John has gone to fight duel -
Never shall forget the scene or the ex
preston OF tue OLD mans face. He had a
terrible when aroused, and now it
flashed fire lie seemed 10 rise TO the
height OF two ordinary men. He took u
step backward, and with his hand raised
20 the full length of his long arm, and
with his finger qutvering towards heaven,
said, with a voice which went through me
like an electric shock my dear woman
if John is right, in Gods name let him
fight, by God" The poor woman went
back to her room to weep. We follow.
ed Clay into the breakfast room, where
he ate his toast and drank his tea in 81
lence, and then returned to his study to
read. Whatever his feelings, as a father
might be, they were not shown in his
countenance or appearance. | have seen
Forrest, Macready and Booth, but they
are tame to the voice, gesture, and eye OF
Clay on that occasion.
In the fall of 1913, Nicholas Longworth
of Cincinnati, sent to Mr. Clay demij Ohm
of native wine. Mr.. Longworth had im
ported the grape seed from wine makers
in Italy, and prided himself on having a
splendid thing. II was a five gallon dem
ijohn, tue stopper covered with wax, and
stamped with the letter IL" There were
six OF us boys in the family, averaging
some 10 or II years old We used to study
in the evening in our room and would
borrow the cellar key of NJ :. Clay, and
bring up 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 4
corkscrew, and carried up pitcher full
IL was capital, and before many days W,
found the demuOhn 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 thu
big bottle on his head TO a s nall store
room, two or two and a half miles away
kept by negro, where we had II filled
with whisky at 10 cents gallon which
with quarter We gave the boy for help
ing US along, cost US dollar. We hat
hard work getting this deml ohm back I,
the house-it was not shaped right
for easy oarrying-but ut length
1t was safe in the cellar
We had previously made some wax abou
the color of that which was on the stop
pei, and had carved letter al" out Of
piece of bark. The bottle was duly seal
ed, stamped and deposited in its prope
place. In 1874, the prospects were tina
Mr. Clay might be president, and h
thought 80 himself tie gave gran,
dinner, among his guests being John J
Crittenden and Tom Corwin. Evrryon
was in the best OF spirits, and after tn
ladies retired the merriment was ever
higher than before. We boys remained
never being excluded from his great din
ners. As the party were about rising
said Clay Gentlemen, have some o
the finest wine IN the world, and the frs
native American ever manufactured ant
there can be no more fitting OppOrtunIt,
for testing its merits than the present
John, do you know whereabouts in I'll,
cellar that bottle of wine Is, which wa
sent 20 me from Cincinnati ~ yes, sir,
replied the servant "Do you think, John
you can bring that demJohn here, unde
your arm, and not shake it upS' "Yes
sir" "Well, GO In Few minutes JOIN
came back with that big tive-galion demi
john under hi. arm. "Now, John, set i
down and take out the cork" The cori
came out pretty easy-it had been out be
fore. "Now, John, take that demijohl
under your arm again, and tilt out littl
In all the glasses John again took tn
demUohn under his arm and went arount
again filing all the glasses, while W
looked on in woeful silence. "Now, ger
tlemen," continued Clay I'VE will drin
this standing to the health q