Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-05-01
The Old Home of Clay.

- SOAANTkfonGGhN "a W. AAatR~~
vile Chroaicie has been visiting
Ashland. the old home OF Gay,
and has with commendable energy
collected many interesting rem
iniscences. The following excerpts
will be found readable:
1.-THE mansion so long occupied
by Mr.. Clay and his family was a
two.story brick with a one-story
wing, roomy and comfortable
enough, but quiet and plain. Its
principal interior adornment was
mementoes and testimonials from
his friends and political admirers.
A large oil painting of Washing
ton and his family, presented by
Mr.. Johnson, of North Carolina,
covered almost one entire side of
the parlor. 1t was was while in
speeding this picture that Count
Bertrand, the devoted attendant
of the prisoner at ST. Helena, drew
a parallel between Washington
and Napoleon so favorable 10 his
Imperial master as to cause Mr..
Clay to exclaim: "Ah, Count,don't
forget the morals OF our man.
Here also was the the bust of Boil.
liver, sent to Mr.. Clay in 1927; the
Freedom of the City of New York;
silver pitcher from the ladies of
Tennessee; a silver vase three feet
high, presented by gold and silver
artisans of New York in admira-
ton of his production efforts, and
two oil paintings drawn by his
colleagues, Messrs. Russell and
Adams, at q rattle in Client DUR
ing the negotiations closing the
war of 1872. Mr.. Clay generously
proposed TO win the paintings
from his brother commissioners
at cards. The picture pastboards
were produced and shuffied and
in a few minutes Mr.. Russell had
lost his prize, and soon after old
John Quincy, who had selected
the game of "seven-up.' had to
part with his.
In addition to the articles al
ready named Mr.. Clay was pre-
sented with a family carriage,
which is still to be seen on the
streets of Lexington; a massive
gold medal, received only few
months before his death; a gold
snuff: box said to have belonged to
Frederick the Great; agricultural
implements, china, ], fine plates,
cutlery and other manufacture.
These souvenirs are all scattered
among relatives and friends.
Mr.. Clay's library at Ashland,
while it was respectable, was not
large, owing mainly to his long
residence in Washington. His
life and habits at home would re-
mind one of a well-to-do English
gentleman, He rose early, bathed,
Shaved and took horse back ride
every morning. He was exceed
ingly neat in his dress, and on all
occasions wore the inevitable swal-
10 VITAL coat, which is produced in
all of Harris statues of him. AL
though he frequently entertained
distinguished persons ofall nations
at Ashland, it was always done
with a. plain and simple elegance.
He never attempted display, His
was "a good old Kentucky table,"
and tina: was all. He thought it
good enough for anyone, and iG
most certainly was. His hospita-
Bile board was mainly supplied
from his own farm which furnish
ed him the richest cream milk
and butter, from cows of prize
pedigree; bacon and Southdown
fruits and vegetables of
all kinds, poultry and substantial
Injuries; the very "pone' of
bread and the smoking pancake
that graced his table came from
his own corn and wheat field: the
wines were Sherry, Madeira and
port-pale sherry being his favor
lite. But the attraction of Mr..
Clay's table was not its juicy vi
ands; the wonderful orator him.
self was the great dish. His guests
feasted upon his eloquent words
while The Southdown grew cold
before them. 1t was thus he en-
tertained Lafayette, the Earl of
Derby, Daniel Webster, Mr..
Lowndes, Lord Monteith. Presi-
dent Monroe, General Bertrand,
Van Buren,, Harriet Martinsau,
M. Politica, the Russian Minister,
and host of others
But Mr.. Clay could not claim all
the credit for being able thus