The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-05-04
ANECDOTE OF HENRY CLAY.
now A TOAST MISSED AIM.

There were residing at Ashland, the resi-
dence of Henry Clay, near Lexington, in
1S43 and 1874, three of his grandsons and
myself, attending the classes of Transyl
vania University. During the fall of 1s43
Nicholas Longworth, of Cincinnati, sent to
Mr.. Clay a five-gallon demUohn of wine,
sealed with ordinary wax and stamped with
a letter Il" that had the appearance Of
having been cut from piece of rough wood.
Charles, Mr.. Clay's lavorite and confidential
colored servant, was requested TO place the
demijohn in a secure place in the cellar.
Mr.. Clay gave us the privilege, after finish
ing our class studies each night, of going to
the cellar for what apples and cider we
wished. On one occasion Henry Durable,
one of the mess, proposed to me instead Of
filling the pitcher with cider to tap the
demiiohn of native American wine. We
did so, and continued to do so night after
night, as we preferred the wine, until it was
empty. A consultation was held, and a
unanimous opinion expressed that some
thing had to be done, and that without de-
lay. We brought into our confidence the
old Guinea negro gardener, Mike, at II
o'clock at night, and snow six inches deep
on the ground, which resulted in his assist
ing us, in consideration of a quarter of a
dollar cash in hand, in taking the demijohn
to town, some three miles distant, and for
Is cents gallon got an old Dutchman, who
made precarious living by trading whisky
at night with colored persons, to fill up five
gallons of the same. On our return we
smearcd over some sealing wax, and, hav-
ing cut letter L from the end of broom
stick, branded it and placed it once more in
the cellar where it belonged.
During tho fall of 1874, when there was
every indication that Mr.. Clay would be
elected President, he gave dinner party to
Tom Corwin, Charlie Morehead, and many
of his near friends. AS usual, at this din
ner Mr.. Clay was present. We sat down to
the table at 2 o'clock, as was customary at
that time. After long and sumptuous
dinner, during which many wines were dis
cussed, Mr.. Clay said: Gentlemen, have
an abiding confidence that the day will soon
come when America will prove to be the
great wine-producing country of the world
and, with your permission, l will produce q
sample of the first American wine ever
made, from my old friend, Nicholas Long
worth. Charlie, my boy, can you go down
in the cellar and bring up from the right
hand corner that demUohn of wine that
came from Mr.. Longworth ?" "Yes, sir"
" Hold, Charlie, see here. Now you do 50
with great care. Should you shake it the
very least bit, you will spoil it, Now,
Charlie, just &c it with the greatest ease on
the floor beside me. All that's right.
Now, my good boy, take the corkscrew and
extract the cork don't shake it. There,
there, take it under your arm,-easy, if you
please, and Just tip us little all around.
Now, gentlemen, we will, with your per-
mission, drink standing to the health of our
old friend, Nicholas Longworth, the manu-
facturer of the first native wine ever made
in America" As the wine touched their
lips, Mr.. Clay looked at us boys, seated at
one corner Of the table, and, with that stem
sorian voice that was peculiar to him when
cried, " Boys !" We slipped from
our seats, through the side-door, and, as we
entered the cedar trees out of sight, heard
such shout from his guests as was never
heard in the old mnusiou at ashland