The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-29
HENRY CLAY AT HOME
esminiscsnces OF the Old Statesman By
sae-ta IL His Valet.

asminiscsnces OF the Old Statesman by
.sFrte 4 His Valet.
FROM the Louisville Courier Journal.
Eli Grant Is the name of an aged no
FRO living at 477 Preston street, between
Breckenridge and Caldwell. Old Eli is
blind and physically worn out by his
long term of hard knocks with the
world, yet withal he has q retentive
memory. and can relate some interest
ing occurrences connected with the life
II K~entucky's great statesman, Henry
Clay, at his Ashland home in Fayettc
,ounty. The venerable black man was
visited recently by a Courier-Journa
reporter, 70 whom he spun q story thai
aas In II points Of interest well worth
reading. OF himself Eli says but little.
Be was born near Lynchburg, Va, on
he banks Of tho James river, and his
iAther was for twenty years ferryman at
hat point. When Eli was about Is
Tears old he went on q trip TO New Or
seans with his master. Edward Carter,
wealthy planter. There he had occa-
sion to act for . few days rs the valet Of
Henry Clay. who was then visiting in
The Crescent city. He was a bright,
sprightly boy. and the statesman be-
came 30 much attached to him that he
bought him from his master, paying the
rather stif price of 81, 200. In q short
lime he went to his new masters homo
at Ashland, and lived as the favoritc
servant Of the man .'who would rather
10 right than be President, for o num-
ber Of years. MIR. Clay ut that time
was In the prime Of life, vigorous In
mind and body. and it was during those
years that he gained his browning glory
as an orator and . statesman.
LOVE FOR ms DAUGHTER
81 kin remember ole man Clay Jest
like 1t wur Yesterday" said Eli, in his
simple language. II alters loved him,
and l alters love to talk about him."
Then the old man went on TO talk about
some of Mr.. aClay'ss characteristics in
domestic life. He said that he was ex-
ceedingly fond Of his wife, and in adj
dressing her always called her my
dear" He was kind and indulgent TO
his children. and generous in his treat
ment toward his servants. His favorite
child was Anna. the wife of James Ir-
vine. whose death was announced to
him while he was Mt n fashionable din
ner party in Washington. The news
caused q fearful shock, and old Eli
thinks hat it was tho prime cause of
his masters death. which occurred 4
short time afterward-
MS HONE HOBBY.
His hobby at home was hisstock. He
WAS ~passionately fond Of fine horses
and cattle. and would always see per-
s~onalls that they had the best attention.
Eli tells Of a finc Newfoundland dog
that was presented 70 his master by an
admiring friend who lived in Nova
Scotia The dog was very Intelligent.
and the Sage Of AshlandH trained him
with his own hand to perform q Num-
Der Of wonderful tricks. one of which
Eli remembers TO be as follows: In one
of the pastures in which Mr.. Clay al
lowed his finest stock to run was a fine
well. with . large trough attached, by
means Of which the cattle were supplied
with wHterEfheswaterw wa d~rawrfrom
the well by the bucket and spindle sys-
tenn; huti Il requirede great deal Of man
sbollSh this Mr. Ciey ~consfructed .
small treadmill. attached 1t to the spin
dls o. thi well with an iron crank, anil
thlm trained tbs dog TO walk the tread
MIN In this manner the trough was
k.pt constantly flled with water, and