Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-08-15
Anecdotes c. Aenry Clay.

Detroit Free Press.
Henry Clay was one of the most fas.
cinating men ever met" said Norman
j. Emmons to reporter for the Detroit
Free Press "Your speaking of Niagara
Falls reminds me of the time 1 met him
there, away back in 40. 1 was then
pretty young in the profession, with no
very great income, and Joe Clark's invi-
tation to spend few days at the falls
was hailed by me with all the satisfac-
ton in the world.
"Joe's father was Lot Clark, proprie-
tor of the Cataract house, and the owner
of a big slice of other Niagara Falls prop
erty. When l arrived there 1 found
that among the personal guests, of the
elder Clark were Henry Clay and his
sons wife. You may imagine that to
live in the house with the great Ken
tuckian, to be in his society daily, and
to be talked to by him, was a bonanza
for me.
What was Clay like2"
swell, it is hard matter to describe
him adequately, for words can never
paint the exquisite charm of his man.
l understood his extraordinary power
with the public, but it is impossible for
to analyze it. In stature he was very
tall, over six feet; his bearing was erect.
his face was thin and his nose aauiline,
Every movement was the perfection of
grace, and with that he unconsciouslv
united commanding dignity that
bespoke the innate greatness of the man.
"His voice! All, that was wonderful.
l have never heard another like it
melOdious, sonorous, rich. Every tone
was perfectly modulated, and it fell upon
the ear with a sound sweeter than silver
bells. His: estures-not that studied.
oratorical gestures, but those which he
habitually but involuntarily made in
conversation-were hardly less express
sive than his marvellous voice. You may
think that I am drawing on my imagi-
nation, or that l am overenthusiastic,
but it is fact that in all my career l
never met another man with such win
ming ways. such magnetism and charm
as Clay's. He was impressive, too, even
in his gallantries.
II remember that one of the ladies at
the Cataract house on tina: occasion was
Miss Elliott, daughter of Judge Elliott,
who presided over large judicial dis
trict in Canada. She was beautiful
girl, not more than II or Is years of
child nor woman. Her
hair was raven black, and worn in nat
ural curls longer than any others ever
saw. She was tall, too, and superbly
formed. Her education was remarka-
bic, and she attracted Mr.. Clay's atten.
ton. He said to me one evening: EN-
mons, who is your friend, the young
lady with the beautiful curls?'
THAT, Mr.. Clay, is Miss Elliott, of
Canada, l replied. I'll 90 fetch her.
"By no means, my dear boy, III 60 to |
her, was the gallant response, and tax
ing my arm he crossed over with me to |
where the lady stood, and was
presented to her. Considering the fact |
that he was the lion of the hour, an OLD |
man full of humors and the idol of thous.
ands. this characteristic little bit of good |
breeding has always seemed to me worth
remembering.
"a few days later 1 had an equally
striking illustration of Mr.. Clays ina
pressiveness. had goHe out early one
to the falls, and while contem-
plating them l felt theapproach of some
body. There was no sound, not even q
shadow, to warn me; but I knew that
some one was at hand. / did not change
my position nor look around, but pres
emily felt hand laid on my shoulder.
think no word was spoken for possibly
ten seconds. Then Mr.. Clay (for it was
he) said simply: This scene fills me
With 1nceasing wonder and admiration
His voice, the solemn and majestic
import of his words las he uttered them)
md the sudden rush of feeling which
he scene, the presence and the senti-
nent invoked, made me appreciate the
ittleness ola man and the greatness Of
Tod more than anything else in life
has DONE"