Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
"reminiscences Of Henry Clay.


Eli Grant is EN- aged negro living In
Louisville, KY. When Eli was about
10 years old he went on a trip to New
Orleans with his master, Edward Carter,
wealthy planter. There he had ocea-
sion to act for a few days as the valet OF
Henry Clay, who was then visiting IN
the Crescent City. He was bright,
| sprightly boy, and the statesman be-
came so much attached to him that he
bought him from his master, paying the
rather-stiff price of 81, 200. In short
| time he went to his new masters home,
at Ashland, and lived as the favored SER
want of the man who would rather be
right than be President for number
OF years.
81 kin remember old Mr.. Clay jest
like it wur yesterday" said Eli.
alters loved him, and alters love to talk
about him" Then the old man went on
to talk about some of Mr.. Clay's char
acteristics in domestic life. He said that
he was exceedingly fond of his wife, and
in addressing her always called her "my
dear" He was kind and indulgent to
his children, and generous in his treat
ment toward his servants. His fayorite
child was Anna, the wife of Mr.. James
Irvine, whose death was announced to
him while he was at n fashionable din
ner party in Washington. The news
caused fearful shock, and Eli thinks
that it was the prime cause Of his mas
ter's death, which occurred short time
afterward.
His hobby at home was his stock.
| He was passionately fond of fine horses
and cattle, and would always see per-
! sonally that they had the best attention.
| Eli tells of a fine Newfoundland dog that
was presented to his master by an adj
1 miring friend who lived in Nova Scotia.
The dog was very intelligent, and the
"Sage of Ashland" trained him with
his own hand to perform number Of
wonderful tricks, one of which Eli re-
members to be as follows: In one of
the pastures in which Mr.. Clay allowed
| his finest stock to run was fine well,
with large trough attached, by means
OF which the cattle We're supplied with
water. The water was drawn from the
well by the bucket and spindle system,
but it required a great deal OF manual
labor to keep it In operation. To avoid
this, Mr.. Clay constructed small tread
mill, attached it To the spindle OF the
well with an iron crank, and then trained
the dog to walk the treadmill. In this
manner the trough was kept constantly
filed with water, and the clever dog be-
came SO accustomed to the performance
that, without the necessity of being bid
den, he made it his duty to watch the
well constantly, and see that the trough
always had in it sufficient supply of
water to keep the coppers Of the blooded
stock cool. Mr.. Clay loved the dog,
and was very fond of watching him 60
through with the treadmill performance
In speaking OF Mr.. Clay's fondness
for horses, Eli tells of fine race mare
the statesman owned called the Golden
Cup. Upon certain occasion the mare
was matched to run four-mile race
against famous horse owned by Col
Sidney Burbridge. The race came off
at Lexington, and everybody in that
part of the country was present. Col
Abe Butord, old man Shy, and other
distinguished turfmen were backing the
mare, while Col. Burbridge, Gen. War
field, and other well-known horsemen
were playing the horse. "The race
w1lr run, SAID Eli, " from eend to eend,
and when dey come out putin aud a
i snortin' at de end OF de four miles de
Golden Cup was just de length of her
name in de lead. De old marse he Jest
fell on de mars neck an he laughed like
he had gone clean mad. He kissed de
Golden Cup an sent her home, an after
dat nebber allowed her to do another
lick of work. An tellyou, said old Eli,
growing confidential, Marse Clay just
won $50, 900 ON dat race, case / seed dc
money all in big bank bills, and de very
next week he went to work hissef and
guy me pair of brown, lined store shoes
dat cost HIM free dollars ia Licking ION. "
i --LoalssUihe Coalrier-JOugsaQk