Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-28
GALLANT HARRY OF THE WEST
A Visit TO Ashland, CIay's Old
Place.
The Home Life Of the Cicero of
America and His Thrifty
Wife.
Especial Correspondence of the Chronicle.

Especial Correspondence of the Chronicle.
LEXINGTON, KY, March "A, 1850
A short time since l visited the above
historical place, and being one of the great
throng of students from the states and for,
eign countries attending the commercial
college of Kentucky university, CLEANED
the following facts relating to the same
from our popular President, Wilbur r,
Smith, l wish our Cincinnati Southern
railroad excursionists had stopped off and
visited these historical places of our city
last week on their way to the city 80 miles
north of ua, for surely they would have
been richly paid, especially my native East
Tennesseeans.
1t is too well known to bear repetition
that Ashland" the old Kentucky home
of Clay, is one Of our native shrnes. With
it the hero worshiper is never disappointed,
for its natural charms are fully equal to its
historical associations. Mr.. Clay himsel t
had no small opinion of the place Writ
ing TO a friend on one occasion he said
II am, in ons respect, better off than
Mos 2. He died in sight of and without
reach Of the promised land. occupy as
good ia m MS any that he would have
found if he had reached it, and Ashland
has been acquired not by any hereditary
descent, but by my own labor"
He did not estimate his home, for It
was located in the center of one of the
finest regions upon earth, region famous
for the remarkable richness of its soil;
Canaan flowing with milk and honey and
whisky land whose horses outshine in
blood and speed the classic steeds of Thes
sally ashland" comprises about three
hundred and thirty acres of blue grass land,
and with Woodland" is owned by the |
kentucky university, and ia situated about |
a mile from the limits of this peculiar old |
city OF Lexington, on a finely macada-
m zed road leading to the town of Rich.
mond, where, in 1862 the federals, under
Gen. Nelson, were defeated by the confed-
era es, undsr Gen E Kirby Smith.
When Mr.. Clay bought the land, in 1905,
1t cost him So 600. For half century the
work OF improving this estate went on I'M
der the personal direction of Mr. Clay, or
MS thrifty wife, unit it became as beautiful
pasture, blue grass, woodland and orna-
mental grounds as the eye need wish to
est upon. The short carriage road from
he main entrance to the mansion is through
curying avenue Of tall pines and broad
eaved catalpss. In front of the house is a
rev of Woodland" once the superb
lom estead Of Mr.. Irwin, q son-in law of
Mr.. Clay. Beyond its magnificent forest
rees are seen the church spires of Licking
on, and looming up in the distant
cemetery is the monument erected by Ken
lucky TO the Sage of Ashland"
n the rear of the mansion is lovely
avn carpeted with thst rich. velvety grass l
which Kentucky alone produces. Anoth- !
r refreshing streak of forest land, whose |
oble trees are the pride of Ashland, closes
he view in this direction. On the left are
,e stables OF Mansfield, the home of John !
L., only surviving child of Henry Clay. (
ohn, is getting gr ely now, but his passion (
9r Thoroughbred is just as warm and en- t
hatically expressed as In days OF yore. /