Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24
HARRY OF THE WEST.
Some Recollections of the Great 0rator-His
Opinion of Jacksonism-A Clay Song

gentleman to representative of The
New York Tribune. 'that first looked on
the face of Henry Clay. | was school
boy at the time at College Hill, Pough-
keepsie. Mr.. Clay, with party of friends
was making tour through the northern
states, and stopped at Poughkeepisie on
his way up the Hudson. Among the places
which he visited in the village was the
Collegiate institute, then and for many
years thereafter notable boar6ing-school
for boys. The late Clarkson n. Potter
and Sanford R. Griford, the artist, were
among the pupils. After he had been
welcomed by the principal, Charles Bart
lett, Mr.. Clay made a short address to the
scholars, who then were severaIly called
up to the platform and introduced to the
great statesman. 1t so CHANGED that at
the moment | placed my hand in Mr..
Clay's, the principals attention was called
away, and forced to mention my own
name. Being embarrassed I probably
spoke indistinctly, for he bent his head
down and asked me to repeat it. Most
persons would not have taken this trouble,
and would have let me pass without car
ing to ascertain my name; but Mr.. Clay
had most courteous and sympathetic
nature. When [ had replied he asked,
still holding my hand and looking at me
with winning smile: Are you relative
of Capt. Alexander c., of Hudson. who
recently died?' L said [ was his great
grandson.
All, he continued, I knew the old gentle
man well. few years ago he sent me a
cane which highly prize and turning to
Mr.. Bartlett he said: "A venerable man,
sir; 80 years of age
"OnlY once again did [ meet Mr.. Clay,
when, ten years afterward, / called on
him at the Aston house, with friend, and
had a brief interview with him. [ men
toned to him the College hill incident,
which he perfectly recalled, although
had Outgrown recognition.
"a short time ago purchased an auto
graph letter of Henry Clay, addressed to
my great-grandfather, thanking him for
the cane he had sent him and giving his
views freely as to the course of Gen. Jack
son was pursuing. The DR.. Lowell through
whom Mr.. Clay received the cane held at
that time an official position under the
government in the medical department at
Washington, and was the fatner of the
late confederate general, Mansfield Lowell,
who died year or two ago in this city"
The letter referred to ran in part as fol-
lows, being dated at Washington, June IL,
1884:
DR.. Lowell presented me few days ago
your Obliging letter of the 18th ult., with
the cane which you do me the honor to
send me. . AS a token of your
approval of my exertiOns to arrest the
alarming progress of executive encroach-
ment and usurpatiOn, I shall ever regard
it with peculiar satisfaction. [
have sometimes almost despaired of our
country. The delusion has been so long,
so dark, so pervasiye, that I have
occasionally feared that it would survive
me; but l thank god it is passing off rapid
ly, and trust that both you and [ may
yet live to see many brighter and better
days
What is most now to be regretted is the
wound that has been afflicted upon the
mortal sense of the community. What
Iooseness of principle, what scandalous
abuse, what disregard of moral and pOliti-
cal rectitude have been quickened into
life by the predominance of Jacksonism!
1t is worse than the cholera, because it
has been more universal and will be more
horriable. The cholera performs its ter
riable office, and its victims are consigned
to the grave, leaving their survivors I'M
contaminated. But Jacksonism has pois-
Oned the whole community, the living as
well as the dead. Our hopes of recovery
and publication must rest in that prOvi-
dence whose mercies and bOunties have
so often been extended to us.
Il wildly recall" continued the speak
er, Mr.. Clay's appearance on the occas-
sion of my calling on him at the Astor
house, which I think now must have been
in the early spring of 1848. When seated
. he did not look to be the tall man he was
and appeared less dignifed. But when
he rose to his feet his full stature was re-
vealed and the courtliness of his bearing
vas apparent. He carried no superfuOus
esh on his FRAME and his step was firm
fqd elastic. He had an unusually high
tTehead, prominent nose, large and
n6ible mouth, and a mOderate-sized chin.
dewaS clean shaVen, and wore his hair,
WhHh was parted in the middle and al
mos. covered his ears, long. His eyes
wereexpressive of gentleness and kind
ness Ct heart, united with courage and
firmnes. His voice was round and full,
and capable of wonderful moduIation
His dres was plain and simple; black
coat andtrousers, and waistcOat of black
silk or latin. Around his throat was
wound back silk neckerchief, tied in a
large bow-tnot in front, and partly sup
porting the famous shirt collar which
rose nearly 70 the tips of his ears. The
Henry Clay collar had a national reputa-
ton, and all earnest followers of Harry
OF the West adopted it. 1t was part and
parcel of the shirt itself, was of most
liberal dimensions, and like the bosom of
the shirt, which was unplaited, was only
slightly starched, and as a rule generally
dropped over the neckerchief. Boots and
silk hat completed his attire.
Forty years ago l used to attend the
dinners given annually at the 18th of
April to celebrate the anniversary of
Henry Clay's birth, by his admirers in
this city. They usually took place at
Niblo's garden; or rather at the hotel con-
nected with it and were by far the most
memorial entertainments of the year.
Tickets sold at a premium, and many
persons were unable to obtain them either
for love or money. In those days Billy
Niblo was great eater and Mrs. Niblo
was notable as a cook. Many baron of
beef did she attend the cooking of-and
one at least weighing over a hundred
pounds, was served at one of the Henry
Clay anniversary dinners. I do not be-
lley6 that the fpasterS of TO-DAY apior