Daily Republican., 1882-04-01
RECOLLElTIONS or CLAY.
his Rare Attractiv eDess in the
social Oircls-HiA Frtend as CT n :
erosi,y.andhI MS Constant Apprsei
nliOn Of lt-Pers OnaD Anec(lOts 4,

alton 0f IL -PersOnaD AnecdOtss =.
From Lecture by the Hon. John Wentworth.
| served with Henry Clay but one
Congress, but that was almost n con.
tinuous one, the first session extending
from December, 1S49, to September 80,
1850. Aad he died while was out of
Congress, as also did Webster and Ben.
ton. My opportunities for aD intl1n ate
personal acquaintance with Mr.. Clay
were greater than with those of all thu
others, although they cove ed a shorter
period of time. My room was near his,
and passed his parlor to reach it. l
sat at the same table, and often walked
to and from the Capitol in his company.
Every Que walked in those days. We
had neither horss cars nor omnibuses
| can remember of no one who kept a
private carriage except John Quincy
Adams, and he had but one horse.
Henry Clay was great admirer of
crowds. While either Calhoun, Ben.
ton or Webster would cross the street Ia
avoid one, Clay would Cross the street
to meet one. He resided at the Nation.
al Hotel, while the other three resided
at private houses. In his walks Clay
would quicken or slacken his pace for
company. He seemed personally &C.
quainted with almost every one, and be
took 1t for granted that almost every
one kne him. Seldom did any body
of men come out in the evening With a
musical band that Mr.. Clay WAS not
serenaded, and he was ready ina short
speech to send the men home with a
hurrah. | never knew men with a band
of music to call for either CT the Others.
The laborers of Washington were prin
cipally slaves, hired from Virginia and
Maryland. Mr.. Clay knew the most of
them and would say: Chow is my I'D
friend, your master, and his COOL lady?
Don't forget to give them my best rs
CARDS." &c, oftentimes sending sp ,cial
messages IS if he had visited all the
plantations in the region. He came
over 10 the House Of representatives
much STEINER than all the Others. When
one of the others visited us it was evi
deut that he came for a special purpose.
But Clay seemed to come, on general
account, to have good social chat with
such members as he might meet. The
landlord at the National Hotel took
great pleasure in exhibiting to stran-
gers what he called Mr.. Clay's store.
room in his cellar. Hundreds upon
hundreds of his friends did not seem 10
enjoy any luxury unless they could
make him "a participant. / used to see
beef, mutton, game, fruits, wines and
liquors, and they did not come in small
quantities. The landlord at dinner
would tell Mr.. Clay what was COMM
from his store room aud abC sent it.
Clay would divide it among the guests
aui tell what he knew about the donor,
and then discourse generally upon Ills
oo,ig alton to his FRI uds aud his inabii,
| ity TO compensate them 1t was bis
e. neral custom to enter the ladies par.
lor directly after dinner and pass abour
an hour ia social conversation. These
occas!, us became quite celebrated as
the best means Of met ting Mr.. Clay
socially. In this way did he daily tx
nihit the variety of his knowledge, tht
eXuberance of his ina ,ination, the
elegance of his conversation. aud til,
gracefulness OF his manners. AS stran
gers would be introduced, the name u
| the residence would ravive some assOci
atoms Of interest to Mr.. Clay, upon
which he would discourse. He seem oil
to know something about almost evei J
place in the country and every prom,
nent family. He had remarkable
faculty of withdra wing gracefully IRON
HIS company, and yet not break it up
OfteutiInes he would pa,ronizipgly
bring forward some man and say
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, an
going to leave you in the hands of my
| Id friend, who is better capable Of Ell
tertaining you than | am J" and then
he would t-ll something of interest con
corning him and withdraw. Some
times he would break out in style
like this: "What will the good people
of Kentucky say to my neglecting pub
lie business for such occasions as this
| must 60 to ny work and meet you to.
morrow. The newspapers will abuse
me if they can have an OPT oftunity tic
say that fell short in my public du.
ties" Then, with encomiums upon the
people Of Kentucky for their Long con,
tinued confidence, no would retire.
When he deemed IL necessary to
make an argumentative speech, or wha,
is generally called a set sreech, he had
his books piled iuto carriage, and
with his servant go just over the
Mary land line to the plantation Of the
Hon. Charles II. Calvert, and there re
main in privacy until he was ready
to address the Senate. Mr.. Calvert was
one Of the wealthiest men AMI leading
agriculturists in the State of Maryland.
Mr.. Clay's room was upon the ground
floor, upon the back side of the h. use,
and opened upon large portico from
which there was magnificent scenery,
a. attractive place as retired states.
man could desire, and the freedom of
the plantation was his, with all its
numerous ser> ants, coming and going,
arriving and returning, as h, pleas d.
MIR, Claws room there gives nOtoriety