The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
CASSlUS M. CLAY'S FATHER.
Personal -Iabits of Noted Kentucky
Pioneo-Relief of Fort Meigs.

Pioneor-Re1ief Of Fort MeiSS.
My father was hard worker, yet al
ways would have plenty of sleep. He
would make up in the day what was
necessarily lost in the night. He would
never allow children to be awakened;
but let them, under all circumstances, to
sleep on till they awoke of themselves.
And this is the most important of all the
means of health. He would never sleep
in the house in the daytime, when he
could find suitable place to lie down in
the open air. I attribute much of my
good health to the same cause. The
damp and darkness of rooms, and espe-
cially the imperfect ventilation, are the
causes of untold diseases. He under
stood very well that impure water was
the cause of most summer complaints, as
flux, diarrhea, typhoid and bilious
fevers, etc. Hence he. took all possible
precautions to secure good, pure water.
He bored two artesian wells-a thing al
most unknown in his day; and they pro-
duce pure water to this time.
" He was great lover Of sheep, and had
great faith in mutton, not only for its
agreeable and nutritious qualities, but as
a medicine. When flux prevailed, which
was rarely the case among the blacks, ne
had mutton soup given to all, sick and
well. It is the best possible remedy now
for that disease. But what physician
will open the way for a practice which
sends him to the poor-house? He under
stood how Il mutton sheep should be
butchered, an unknown art to millions
to-day. No man understood better how
to manage his dependents. He. provided
first-class clothing, food and shelter for
his slaves; but was always rigid and ex-
acting in discipline. Of all the men 1
ever knew, he most kept in view the
means which influenced the end.
Now, slavery was a terrible thing. but
he made it as bearable as was consistent
with the facts. When any of the slaves
were found to .4play the old soldier, and
pretended to be sick, he had q fine medi-
cine in the bark of the white walnut.
This he would have mixed with much
water. If the patient was really sick it
was a safe and excellent remedy for
many diseases; but, if he was playing
apossum," he would rather 90 to work
than swallow the bark. There was no
market for sheep in. those days, and my
fathers object in raising large focks was
to clothe his slaves well. He always had
the heaviest cloth made for the men and
women and then "fulled. ">By this opera
ton the web was thickened and made,
like the telling of the.wool hats, water
proof. He used to say: "Better lose ths
value of a coat than that Of the work
man. - He fed and sheltered his slaves
well, allowing them gardens, fowls and
bees. Groups of cabins were far apart
for pure air.
He was much ahead of his times in
agriculture, and greatly in favor of Sc
cure shelter for his stock, grain and hay.
In his intercourse with the world he was
rather pleasant than reserved-never ag-
gressive-but always prepared for de-
fense. 90. =.
When he went 70 the relief of Fort
Meigs in 1918, which was built on the
River Raisin (where now the city OF Mon
roe, Mich, formerly known as French
town, now stands), instead of going di-
rectly to the fort, where he must neces-
sarily have lost much of his force from In
dian sharp shooters, he landed above,
built rapidly flatboats, with high side
planks, which were bullet-proof, and
thus dropping down the river he hardly
losta man. :,
The defeat Of Col. Dudley was the fruit
of.a contrary policy. He was ordered by
nv father to attack battery, spike 1t
and return to the boats. But. Dudley,
elated by success, followed the Indians,
and was cut to pieces, with his whole
force. This caution of my father was re-
garded by the unwise as tinidity; and
no doubt; to avoid suoh imputation the
gallant Dudley was ruined. When toe
late, of course, all agreed that Clay was
the better commander.-Antobio
| of q M CLAW