Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-24
How Took His Defeat.

The following interesting incident was re- lated many years ago by Mrs. Robert Todd, of Kentucky, the stepmother of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, and has never before been print ed:
 The Todds and Clays were al ways on inti- mate terms, and in 1844 were living near each other in Lexington, Ky. Henry Clay and James K. Polk were then rival candidates for the Presidency, the chances, as were gener- ally supposed, being strongly in favor of the great Whig leader. As it turned out, how ever, the contest was much closer than had been anticipated, and finally advices from other States showed that the result hinged upon the vote of New York. There was no telegraphs in those days, and the news had to come by the slow course of the m a1ls. The New York mail was due in Lexington at 10 o'clock in the evening of certain day, and 1t was known would tell the story of victory or defeat As it happened, a young lady relative of Mr. Clay was to be married on the same evening" and insisted upon his pres ence, though under the circumstances he would much rather have remained at home. Mr. and Mrs. Todd attended this memorial wedding party, which was not large, and composed almost exclusively of the family connections and intimate friends-al1 ardent Whigs, and of course deeply interested in the pending political event. As the hour for the arrival of the mail approached, Mrs. Todd saw two or three gentlemen quietly leave the room, and knowing their errand, watched eagerly for their return. When they came in, she knew by the expression of each counte- nance that New York had gone Democratic. The bearers of the bad tidings consulted to- gether in corner, and then one of them ad- vanced to MT. Clay, who was standing in the center of group, and handed him paper .,G-- T ed her eyes upon him. He opened the paper, and as he read the paragraph which sounded the death-kne1 of his political hopes and his lifelong ambition, she saw distinct blue shade begin at the roots of his hair, pass slowly over his face and disappear. Without saying a word upon the subject which must have monopolized all his thoughts, he lay down the paper, and turning to table, filled a glass with wine and raising 1t to his lips with A pleasant smile said: "I drink to the health and happiness of all assembled here. Setting down the glass he resumed the con as usual the light and life of the company. But Mrs Todd said soon the contents of the paper were known, "a wet blanket fell on everybody and in half an hour all the guests had departed with heavy hearts-feel- ing that gallant Harry of the Vest had fought his last Presidential battle, and lost the prize forever.
 The Norwich Knight Templars are to make trip up the Hudson in August.
 Ockford & Jerome, proprietors of Osprey beach, served final notice Tuesday forbid ing the steamers Gypsy and Mantle using their dock as landing, because they will not pay wharfage.
 Mrs J. E. Sikes, living in the north part of Suffield has hydrangea plant that re- veals quite freak of nature. The original plant was a very large one and it's blossoms of pink color Mrs. Sikes divided the plant into three parts, two of which have pink blossoms; the third has eighteen punches of dark blue blossoms.