The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-23
STORIES ABOUT CLAY.
The Gallant Harry at the Card-Table-The
Worst Whist-Player in the World
Washington Letter.

boy at a college near Ashland, the residence OF
Henry Clay, and he described the other night
visit which number of the college boys once
made upon the old statesman. Said he As
Mr. Clay rose to meet us, his face shone with
smiles, and every boy in the party was straight
way his friend In the course of the talk he
asked us what we thought of his pictures. There
were a number, some paintings and some en-
cravings, hanging upon the walls in different
parts of the room. We finally decided upon one,
the picture of woman holding bowl OF steam
ing mush in her hand, as the finest one in the
collection. AS we did so Mr.. Clay laughed ana
said Yes, boys think you have picked out my
best picture, and as you have done so must tell
it's history. / got that picture at Ghent and
in curious way. Albert Gallatin, John Quincy
Adams and myself were there making the
treaty, and Mr.. Gallatin and myself took
chances in picture rattle. My prize turned out
to be that picture, pointing to an inferior en-
craving on the other side of the room, and
Gallatin got this Now CALLAHAN knew very
little about art and did not know very much,
but could at glance that his picture was
far better than mine, and that 1 should be
laughed at if we took the pictures home and
comparisons were made. I saw that must get
hold of Gallatin's picture, and 1 said to him
Mr.. Gallatn these two pictures were made 10
match each other, and the man who has one
ought to have both. Now, will tell you what
/ will do / will put my picture against yours
and we will play game of cards for them The
man who wins shall take botn pictures, and you
may name the game
"'Mr. Gallatin thought moment, consented,
and said 'seven-up,' and continued Senator
now, and see his smile of intense merriment as
he concluded, AS soon as Gallatin said seven
up, knew had him. He knew but little abo.t
cards. and was one of the BEST seven-up play
ers in Kentucky. The result was as l had an
ticpated, and got the picture"
The next story was told by Congressman Cal
kins. Said he: II heard curious story Of Clay
while | was campaigning in the southern part of
Ohio. 1t was told me at little Ohio town, the
name of which do not remember now. Clay
was accustomed to stop over at this town on his
way to Washington, and one night while he was
here he became engaged in game of poker with
time. professional gambler got into
the party and cheated for some
time without discovery. At last he laid
down three aces when Clay had two in his hand.
Clay had been accustomed to playing with gen.
tlemen and one of the poker party who told me
the story said that his anger at this moment
was terrible. He slowly drew himself out of his
seat and rose upward until he seemed about
seventeen feet high. He drew mis- pistol. and the
man made for the door. Clay did not follow
him, but he expressed his indignation by walking
around to his chair and shooting hole through
its center. The gambler left the town in
stanter."
II have another card story continued Major
Calkins "and Senator Jones, of Nevada, is my
authority for it. He says the incident actually
happened in of the little mining towns of
his State. One night at the leading saloon of
this little town party of a half fdozen were play
Inn mol AYnnn fhn vn1o xSaync
young fellow, graduate of Yale College, and a
man who had been quite successful at mining, and
had at the same time made himself popular
with his fellows. Another mem ber of the party
was a one-eyed stranger, and the rest was
made up of other honest miners about the camp.
The play went on from early in the evening
until about midnight, and all this time the one
eyed man seemed to get all of the good hands.
Several times the college graduate thought he
saw that the man was cheating but he did not
appear to notice it. AT midnight, the college
graduate rose up and quietly said: Gentlemen,
we are all tired playing, and some of us are
about broke / propose now that we take
recess, and have some oysters and champaign.
After we are through we will throw away these
cards, get new deck, and see if our luck don't
change We will set out to play square game,
and" (here ne looked hard at the one-eyed
stranger as he put his hand OH his revolver at
his belt) and the first man we catch cheating we
will shoot out his other eye Well, the motion
was carried, the oysters were eaten, and the luck
did change The one-eyed man lost every cent
of his winnings, and as daylight broke through
the dirty panes of the saloon windows, he arose
declaring himself dead broke
Speaking of the ne-eyed man and Ghent to-
gether recalls to my mind funny story heard
IN party OF congressman last night. retailing a
repartee which Clay made at a dinner-table
there in response to joke upon him attempted
by John Quincy Adams SIT was" said the con-
gresham, ''at the dinner given to the American
Commissioners after the conclusion of the treaty.
4 L L.
sitting in the seat of honor at the right of the
head of the table, and Immediately opposite him
was sitting John Quincy Adams. Mr.. Adams
seldom made joke and when he arose and
spoke as follows about Mr.. Clay, there was no
man in the party more astounded than Clay
Said Mr.. Adams: We have at last finished the
business which called us to this convention, and
| am glad of it. Not that our relations have not
been pleasant, but | think it is high
time that my friend Mr.. Clay should
himself and family that he should go at once
Because, gentlemen at the hotel at which we
both stop there is a serving maid, young, rosy,
and fair to look upon. This fair girl was met by
Mr.. Clay this morning just in the hall outside
of my room, and distinctly heard him offer her
"a five-franc piece for a single kiss from her
cherry lips. Like good girl, she scorned his
offer, tore herself from his embracing arms, and
ran down the hail.
''The assault was so unexpected that Clay
blushed to his temples and was for moment at
loss for reply. AS John Quincy Adams was
closing, however, he noted the well-known
weakness of Mr.. Adams's eyes, which at all times
were full of water, and kept him constantly
busy hopping Up the tears. While the atten-
ton of the table of dplomates was so directed
at Mr.. Clay. he pulled out his handker- /
chief and wiped his eyes with a signif-
cant imitation of Mr. Adamss gesture. He
then slowly rose and said, as he looked
up and down the table, and finally fixed his
wonderful orbs upon Mr. Adamss face: What
the gentleman opposite me has said is all true.
1t is true that the girl was very beautiful And
it is true that her lips were very tempting to me-
Tie story of my failure to pick the cherries is
also true as far as it goes but the whole of the
story has not been told did offer the maiden
five francs for kiss but as | attempted to take
it she sprang from my embrace and Indignantly
avnain,ad DO vau think T an, cuoh fool ~