Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-26
ANECDOTES OE CLAY.
Told By u Detroitcr who Was with Him
Ia

In 'aO.
"lIcnry Clay was one OF tho most
fascinating men | have met" said
Norman j. Emmons to u reporter Of
the Detroit Free Press. Your speak
ing Of Niagara Falls reminds me OF
the time | met him there, away back
In '49. was then pretty young in
the profession, with no very great in
come, and Joe Clark's invitation to
spend few days at the Falls WA
hailed by mo with all the satisfaction
in the world.
"Joe's father was Lot Clark, pro-
priotor Of the Cataract House, and the
owner OF u big slice of other Niagara
Falls property. When arrived there
found that among the personal guests
OF the elder Clark were Henry Clay
and his sons wife. You may imagine
that to live in tho house with the great
and to bo talked to by him, was q
bonanza for me.
"Whst was Clay likep Well. 1t is a
hard matter to describe him adequate
ly, for words can never paint the OK
| quisite charm Of his manner. Before l
had been with him long understood
his extraordinary power with the pub
| lie, but 1t is impossible for mo to an
alyzo It. In stature he was very tall.
over six feet, his bearing was erect, his
| face was thin and his nose was aqui-
| line. Every movement was tho per-
fection Of grace. and with that he un-
consciously united commanding dig
nifty that bespoke the innate greatness
| Of the man.
Ellis voice! All, that was wonder
full! have never heard another like
it-mclodious, sonorous, rich. Every
tone was perfectly modulatcd. and 1t
fell upon the car with sound sweetcr
than silver bells. His gesturc-not tho
| studied, orstorical gestures. but those
which he habtually or involuntarily
| made in conversation-wcre hardly
less expressive than his marvellous
voice. You may think that | am
drawing on my imagination or that l
am ovcr-enthusiastic; but 1t Is a fact
that in all my career / never met an
other man with such winning ways,
such magnetism and charm IS Clay's.
II remember that one Of tho ladies
at tho Cataract House on that occasion
was Miss Elliott daughter Of Judge
Elliott, who presided over q large ju-
dicial district in Canada. She was
beautiful girl, not more than II or l8
years Of nge-neithor child nor woman.
Her hair was raven black and worn
in natural curls longer than any others
! ever saw. She was tall, too, and su-
perbly formed. Her education was re-
mSrkablo and sho attracted Mr.. Clay's
attention. He said to me one evenings:
| xgh 10 fpt hn
young lady with the beautiful curlsp'
THAT, MIR. Clay, Is Miss Elliott Of
Canada, replied. IN 60 fetch her. '
"By no means. my dear boy, III go
to her, was the gallant response; and
taking my arm he crossed over with
mo to whore the lady stood, and was
presented to her. Considering tho
fact that he was the lion Of the hour.
an old man full Of honors, and the idol
Of Thousands, this characteristic bit OF
good breeding has always seemed to
inc worth remembering.
"A few days later had an equally
striking illustration Of Mr.. Clay's I'M
pressiveness. I had gone out early
ono morning to the Falls, and whilo
contemplating them I felt the approach
Of somebody. There was no sound,
not even a shadow, to warn me; but
knew that somoono vas ct hand.
did not change my position nor look
around, but presently felt a hand
laid on my head. I think no word
was spoken for possibly ten seconds.
Thsn Mr.. Clay Qor 1t was hey said
simply: This sceno fills mo with I'M
ceasing wonder and admiration
"liis voice, the solemn and ma cstic
import Of his words Gas he uttered
them), and the sudden rush Of feeling
which the scene, the presence and the
sentiment evoked, made inc appreciate
the littleness Of man and the greatness
Of God more than anything else in this
life has DONE