Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-10
"REMINISCENCES
OF Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson,
and other Distingufshed Men.
r. WHITMOkE,
Publisher and Proprietor.

Col. Tom Green in the Maysville Eagle.l
One great secret of the popularity and
political success of the great kentuckian
was his remarkable memory of names and
faces; he never forgot either, although
his only acquaintance was casual intro
duction in throng Of presentations.
After lapse of years, he never failed to
recognize party introduced under such
circumstances, readily calling the indi-
vidual by name.
A citizen of town in Ohio, where the
writer resided, was passenger on the
steamer from New Orleans upon which
Clay took his passage to his home in Ken
ucky when returning from his participa-
ton in the Treaty of Ghent. 1t being
the winter season, the steamer was frozen
up short distance above the mouth of
the Ohio, and remained ice-bound and
isolated for some weeks. During all this
time the Kentucky statesman-always
famous for his exuberanee OF spirits
was the life and soul of the crowd
not only in the cabin, but of the deck
passengers and steamboat hands.
Among the passengers was an anti
quated Frenchman, who opened
a game of keno" in the cabin. There
CHANGED to be bright and sprightly
boy on board the boat, to whom Clay
had taken great fancy, and he would
frequ emily buy a card for his young ia.
vorite. After the game had progressed
for some time, and all were intent upon
their individual interests, Clay would
call out Keno" and claim the pool for
his youthful protege. The aged Gaul,
completely dumbfounded and mystified
by the logic of the great orator, would
generally pay over without any demur-
rage. Some years after, as Clay was
passing through Ohio, on his way to at
tend g sitting of the United States Cir
cult Court at Columbus, the citizens of
Lebanon gave him a public reception.
At the time of his arrival our informant
was standing on the pavement in front
of the hotel where be was to stop, not
entertaining for a moment the idea that
he would be recognized in the crowd.
Stepping from his carriage, Clay sin
gled him out, and, shaking him heartily
BY the hand, laughingly remarked;
&c, do you recollect the old French
man and his keno game"
While the three United States Com
missioners, John Quincy Adams, Henry
Clay and Albert Gallatin, were in Lon
don. on their way TO Ghent the party
were invited to dine with the Viscount
Castlereagh, the British Premier. After
the dinner, the illustrious host, critics.
inc his euests in his curt and concise
manner, repeatedly remarked, u like
the Kentuckian bestl ! like the Ken
tuekian the bestl"
Clay bad standing joke which he
never failed TO perpetrate at Adams ex-
pense, when he caught his Massachusetts,
colleague in a congenial crowd. Adams
was afflicted during his whole life with a
disease of the lachrymal duct, which
caused his optics to be constantly wa
terry. The two occupied the same de-
partment, and a rosy and buxom Swiss
damsel attended the room. Clay's story
was that, upon his attempting to snatch
a kiss from his handsome chambermaid,
he was buffed off with, "0h, Mr.. Clay,
yoa must not, for Mr.. Adams, a few
minutes ago, begged me with tears IN his
eyes for sinilGF favor, and l refused
him"
II is A well.known fact thSt in early
life. as these parties were launching
forth on the sea of politics, there existed
a bitter feud between General JACKSON
and the Bentops. This at last eulmi,
mated in tavern 6ght Sith pistols ana
sword-canes in Nashville, fennessee, IN
which jackson, With his friend, Colonel
Coffee. and the two BentoDs-Ehomas 4
and Jesse-participated. The result
was that Colonel Benton planted a
bullet in the Aeshy part OF General
Jaekson's arm, which the old hero car
ried until his second Presidential term
when it was extracted by DIR. jackson, q
celsbrated Philadelphia surgeon. Da-
ring the closing years Of ~ lest Presi-
dental term, General jackson haa oCce-
siossl and violent attacks of hemorrhage
Of The iusEs, end DR.. Lewis Field Linn,
Of Missouri, the colleague Of Colonel
Benton in the Senate, was his physician
TIE bitter feud having long before oeea
settieg Colonel Benton was frequent
visitsr al tbs White House, and was
speciai.T attentive dsgEE ne Illness o. o.
bis former Zoe. Or. Linn feeiiak eiTiselt
Iasti6ed bv his intimacy with the par
iies veutarsl 70 ssk their version oi the
Nasbville rencosstsF. Benton, you
tell n" was the response Of Old hick
orr. "No, Jackson, I'll leave Il 70 Sos,'
fof vo4r account will be correct ana,
pending the discussion, the Two ancient
iosmen were crying like ohaafaR'