The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-07-26
Breckinridges and CIays.
Men of Two Observation-Disclosures Of
Famous Kentuckians.

Visitors to the House noticed during
the roll call that Clay and Breckin-
ridge answered to their names. They al
ways want to know how these young
Democrats are related to the men who
made their names famous. Now the
two Clays are not related at all. This
one is of an entirely different family.
He is thoroughly good fellow, man
ofability and attainments, a hard worker
and man of breeding. None of Henry
Clay's descendants have come to any
special distinction. The present Henry
Clay is a clever young lawyer in Louis
vile, a son of that idolized son of
Henry Clay who died in the Mexican
war. But the Breckinridges, Clinton
r r. BBrsckinaridge of DAsE DAAsEtanfauge. You
wouldn't think so. Breckinridge was
tall, handsome, graceful, polished and
extremely attentive to men and women.
His son is short, awkward-looking
man, not particularly good looking, and
witha big pair of goggles which give him
the appearance of a German drug clerk
constantly at the prescription cabinet.
He is a quiet, studious man, with very
little to say and few friends. His father
in his place would have been we'll known
to score of chosen friends, who would
have been the best men in the House.
The young Breckenridge is an industri-
ous man, and is said to accomplish
great deal of hard work in committee.
He has the reputation of being con-
ceited out of all proportion to his
achievements. Clinton is the second
son. His elder brother Cabell-that
was Breckinridge's middle name-is in
Texas on ranch, Pm told; while the
Younger brother, the fathers favorite,
Owen County-born the day after old
Owen had given his father the largest
majority ever given any candidate, and
named accordingiy-is prospecting in
California. Owen County Breckinridge
will be in Congress some day. He IS
now a member of the California Legis-
lature. In the next House we shall
have as the successor of Senator Joe
Blackburn the biggest and best of all
the living Breckinridges, William c. z.
Breckinridge, son of DR.. Robert J.
Breckenridge, great man in the Pres
byterian Church. DIR. Breckinridge
was John Cabell Breckinridge's uncle.
"Willie," as w. c. P. is affectionately
called still, though he has passed SO, is
more like his cousin John c. than any
of the sons of the latter. He has his
virile beauty, his winning ways, his
courtly manners. He is said to be the
| most eloquent man in Kentucky. His
friends say that if he had pushed him
self forward he might have been in the
United States Senate ten years ago.
He is very successful lawyer and a
very popular man. He won the big
hearts of the Blue Grass farmers and
planters when he said years ago: 81
would give my law office and all that
there is in it for a hundred acres OF
of good blue grass" and then went on
with sad words about the disadvantages
of the lawyer who must tell lies for a
| living and the farmers in that glorious
country who could tell the truth and
look you in the eye every time and still
prosper. His friends say that he will
take high rank in Congress. "Willie"
has brother, Robert J., who is the
happy farmer that "Willie" only sighs
to be. They are said to have the fine,
flashing, honest eyes of their father and
his strong, square lower jaw-probably
something gofhis prejudice and stubborn
ness. You remember the story about
the good Doctors desperate illness
They thought he was about to die. A
good Elder sat up with him one night.
"Doctor," he said, "you're that stub
born that 1 suppose now you wouldn't
forgive your enemies. Now there's
John Blank" There was no response
from the bed. 'I suppose you would
not send for him and make it up. ;"
Still no response. "Isuppose," he con.
tinued. "you would scarcely let him
come to your house at your funeral. .
There was no response "And," went
on the Elder, eff he did come don't
suppose you'd let him go as far as the
graveyard gate.' Now, theroad to the
graveyard lies through little crossroad
village. Rousing himself, Breckin-
ridge made his first remark: "He
might go as far as the crossroads, Elder,
and then he relapsed into along silence.
Kentuckians say that the Doctor was
the greatest of all the Breckinridges,
and that had he gone into public life he
would have attained higher position