Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-22
HENRY CLAY SEEN BY HIS
VALET.
The Statesman Was Still a Hero.
Anecdotes Told Of His Personal
and Home Habits.
Some Good Stories Told OR.Hand.

Some Good Stories Told OR-Hand.
Courier Journal
Eli Grant is the name of an aged
negro living at No. AT Preston street,
between Breckenridge end Caldwell.
Old Eli is blind and physically worn
out by his long term Of hard knocks
with the world, yet withal he has a
retentive memory, and can relate some
interesting occurrences connected
with the life Of Kentuoky's great
statesman, Henry Clay, at his Ashland
home in Fayette county. This veneer
able black man was visited yesterday
afternoon by a Courier Journal re-
porter, to whom be spun a story that
hes in it points of interest well worth
reading OF himself Eli says but
little. He was born zeal Lynchburg,
Virginia, on the banks Of the James
river, and his father was for twenty
years ierryman at that point. When
Eli was about thirteen years old he
went on a trip to New Orleans with
his master, Edward Carter, a wealthy
planter. There he had occasion to
act for a few days as the valet Of Henry
Clay, who was then visiting in the
Crescent City. He was a bright,
sprightly boy, and the statesman be-
came 50 much attached to him that
he bought HIM from his master. pay
ing the rather stiff price Of $1,000. In
a short time he went to his new
masters home at Ashland, and lived
as the favored servant Of the man
"who would sooner be right than
president, for a number of years.
Mr.. Clay at hat time was in the
prime Of his life, vigorous in mind and
body, and it was during those years
that he gained his browning glory as
an orator and a statesman.
LOVE FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
Il kin remember ole man Clay lest
like it wur yesterday" said Eli. in his
simple language. II alters loved him.
and | alters love to talk about him..
Then the old man went on to talk
about some of Mr.. Clay's character
istics in domestic life. He said that
he was exceedingly fond of his wife.
and il addressing her always called
her my dear" He was kind and in
dulgent to his children, and generou.
IN his treatment toward his servants
His favorite child was Anna, the wife
Of Mr.. James Irvine, whose death wa,
announced to him while he was at a
fashionable dinner party in Washing
ton. The news caused a fearful shock
and old Eli thinks that it was the
prime cause of his masters death
which occurred a short time after
ward.
HIS HOME HOBBY.
His hobby at home was his stock.
he was passionai ely fond of fine
horses and cattle, and would always
see personally that they had the besl
attention. Eli tells Of a fine New
ioundland dog that was presented b
nus master by an admiring friend who
lived in Nova Scotia. The dog wa.
very intelligent, and the Sage of Ash
land" trained him with his own hano
TO- perform a number of wonderful
tricks, one Of which Eli remembers 10 !
pc as follows. In one of the pasture, |
In which Mr.. Clay allowed his fines,
stock to run was a fine well, with LARGE
trough attached, by means of whiel
1ne cattle were supplied with water d
Inc water was drawn from the well b,
the bucket and spindle system. but i
required a great deal of manual labor ;
70 Keep 1t In operation. To avoid mi, Z
IuIi Clay constructed a small tread :
mill attached it to the spindle Of N.
well with an iron crank. and the, a
Trained thedog to walk the tread.miU
In tira manner the trough was ken, /,
constantly filed with water, and n. J
clever dog became so accustomed 10 ]
the performance hat without the ne. !
cesslty OF being bid. he made IL his .
duty to watch the we'll constantly anc q
see that the trough always had in il y
a suHielent supply Of water to keepthe Il
e9ppers Of the blooded stock cool .
mr. Clay loved the dog, and was YER, !
fond OF watching him 20 through with !
the tread-mill performance He.
would always have the performance !
exhibited to his visitors, and when p,
the good old canine finally gave up the ,
ghost, he had him respectfully buried :
and erected at the head of his grave
an elegant marble slab.
THE PRESIDENTIAL BEE.
In speaking Of Mr.. Clay's presidep.
tai contests, Eli said, reeretfrllv
shaking his head. DE old marse alters
Mt elar up to de chin, but somehow or
nuther he couldn't knock de passim.
ons. | thought he war going to git in
shuah in 1913. Zen everybody wer a
singin' a song dat went like dis:
when jackson was the president
AND Adams was lott behind,
Henry. Clay will take the day
elsh'een hundred and forty-nine.'
"Ole marse didn't take de dav
though, but he fit EN- Ike a coon VII
four feet in de water and his back balf
kiYered."
Mr.. cLAY's oRAToRY.
He war a speakin' man. though -
continued Eli, rs his enthusiasm be-
gan TO carry him away. He war de
most best speakinest man ia de whole
country: | remember when dey war
tryl1 Of dat man, Fayette Shelby, for
a KILN Of Marse HORNE, at Licking.
ton. When it come time for de Old
man to speak he iist had all de f,
benches an. de cheers moved out in de !
yard, and, gheel how he aid
hisself loose. He got to talkipi
bout DC scriptur', an de women folks
ey begin to cry. Den, you see. de D
L marse was a maxim his pint, an i
when de proper time come. he n