Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-09
HENRY CLAY.
a Visit to Ashland, Home OF tbs
Celebrated Statesman.
The Residence Of the Granddaughter
Of Clay---The Grave and Mon
ument OF the Great
COmmoner.
IA. K. Mcclure in Philadelphia Times.]

IA. K Mcclure in Philadelphia Times
A drive of a mile southeast from Lexing-
ton along the limestone turnpike that paves
the streets and highways about them, brings
the visitor to Ashland, the home of Henry
Clay. The road is dotted with beautiful
suburban residences most of the way on the
north, and part of the original Ashland farm
is soon presented on the south. 1t is in beau
tiful fields, green with the noted blue grass
that is credited with the creation of the IA
nous stock of Kentucky, but it is now the
property of the Agricultural college. Farther
to the south is the home of John Clay, the
only surviving son of the founder of
Ashland, who lives the quiet life of a
farmer on some two hundred acres Of the
old homestead. Beyond Ashland is the
home of the late Thomas Clay, another son.
and it is still in possession of his family; but
the Ashland whose aged trees were planted
and whose mansion was planned and fash
toned by Clay himself, is now the residence
of his granddaughter Mrs. Mcdowell, and
her accomplished and hospitable husband. 1t
was long the residence of James B. Clay, the
only son that reached national distinction as
a public man, and who was twice elected to
represent the Lexington district in congress
He died in the prime Of life, and the citizens
of Lexington and the state contributed to the
purchase of the property for an Agricultural
college. The college was not successful on
the plan adopted, and Col Mcdowell, Ken
tuckian of culture and fortune, and the hus-
band of the only daughter of Henry Clay, Jr.,
who fell at Buena Vista, purchased Ashland,
and it again became the home Of the Clays
within the last year.
THE NEW ASHLAND MANSION.
The mansion had been rebuilt by James to
arrest, decay, but the old foundations were
untouched and the new Ashland mansion is
the exact counterpart of the original, in both
architecture and material, lacking only the
sanctity of age. Col Mcdowell welcomes
the friends of Clay to the home they regard
as one Of the shrines of patriotism and states
manship, and his wife hears with flial pride
| the homage paid to the grandsire she more
| than idolizes She is a thorough Clay, with
| all the marked features and complexion of
| her grandfather, softened in refined and ele-
| giant womanhood The architecture of the
| house is as original as it is beautiful. A pill
! Jared portico faces Lexington to the north
! west, from which the imposing statue OF
! Clay, two miles distant in the Lexington
! cemetery, is visible between the forests
| which skirt the road and town, and single
| storied wings with gables to the 'front.' flank
| the main structure and add to the palatial
| proportions and internal comfort. The capa-
! cious grounds are a forest of shade, varie-
gated in type and threaded with walks and
drives and beautiful with shrubs and flowers.
1t is home worthy of Henry Clay, and that
| exhaustS the poGTer of eulOgy.
THE STABLES.
Col. Mcdowell inherited Clay's love TO,
horses, and his stable would have delighted
Clay when he was nniscalled the horse-racer.
because he believed that men and women and
all the creatures committed to their guardian
ship, should attain the highest measure Of
perfection. The quality Of his stable may
be understood when speak of Dictator E
20-year-old horse, for whom he paid S25, 0Oi
only few weeks ago, and could sell him al
an advance to-day, and of FLY for whom
he refused $4,000 at 2 years of age, and they
were but two of many kindly exhibited, the
least valuable of which as yearlings, woult
rate in the thousands. Dictator" is, I learn
the most noted horse on the continent, and tn
: royal disdain with which he steps the eartl
leaves no doubt Of his self-appreciated
nobility. All that is about Ashland has tn
appearance of grandeur. Its gently undula
) ting fields, neat as a Lancaster model farm
the clearly exhibited fertility of the soil; thu
high-bred cattle grazing on the bluegrass
> coated lawns, and the primeval forests whicl
freshen the fascinating landscape and stanC
as seutinels over the bountiful fields, all tel
! why the home of Henry Clay was to him tn
I dearest spot of earth
THE GRAVE OF CLAY.
: Turning from the hospitable home OF til
descendants of Clay, it is most natural fc
: the visitor to bend his steps to the grave {
| the great commoner. No direction is needed
y | as it towers above town and forest an
q guides the worshiper to the shrine he seek.
G On the northwestern suburb of the town
f the Lexington cemetery, one of the mo-
: beautiful resting places FOR the dead hay
4 ever visited. 1t is grahdly and bountifull
| shaded by forest trees, variegated with eve
T greens and fragrant with flowers The grour
r is broken into abrupt undulations and IT,
! little hillocks and sudden ravines a.
n all dotted with the records Of ii
q dreamless sleepars of this lovely city
the silent. Near tie centre on a gentle en-
o. nence with q large velvety lawn around
q are the grave and monument of Henry Cha
s A broad base of Kentucky limestone TWEEN
d feet high enclose5 the dust of the beloved al
p lamented statesman, and by his side is t
Is partner of his joys and sorrows, who survive
D. him full decade. Facing the sunny sou
it is an open grating that offers full view of t.
is beautifully chiseled marble tombs viii
a contain the dust of the Clays.
is THE INSCRIPTION.
1T On the top of the marble sarcophagus are
at simple words, "Henry Clay" and on t
lg side, in letters so plain that the passer-by C
Of read, is the following memorable public
be terance by Clay shortly before his death:
iy az can with mistaken confidence appe
nd to the Divine Arbiter for the truth of t
declaration, that have been influenced
no impure purpose, no personal motive, ha
sought no personal aggrandizement; but tt
in all my public acts 1 have had
IF sole and single eye, and warm devot
ag heart, directed and dedicated to what, in L
At best Judgment, I believed to be the tt
he interests OF my country"
tn On the large base is erected rou
TX column of white limestone, nearly c
as hundred feet in height, and on the pima
yer is the life-like statue of Clay, facing
or home his name and love have made
'er mortal With all his grandeur of charac
he and attachments, his destiny was dust
I'D dust, the common destiny of all, and