Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-18
HARRY OF THE WEST.

gentleman to a repreS entatiye of The
New York Tribune. that l first looked on
the face of Henry Clay. l was a school
boy at the time at College Hill, Pough-
keepsle. 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 a notable boarding school
for boys. The late Clarkson n. Potter
and Sandford r. Clifford 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 severally called
up to the platform and introduced to the
great statesman. 1t so CHANGED that at
the moment l placed my hand in Mr..
Clay's, the principals attention was called
away, and | forced to mention my own
name. Being embarrassed l 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 nay name; but Mr.. Clay
had most courteous and sympathetic
nature. When l had replied he asked.
still holding my hand and looking at me
with winning smile: Are you a relative
of Capt. Alexander C. of Hudson. who
recently died." | said | was his great
grandson.
All, he continued, 1 knew the old gentle
man well. A few years ago he sent me a
cane which l highly prize and turning to
Mr.. Bartlett he said: a venerable man.
sir: 80 years of age
"Only once again did l meet Mr.. CLAY.
when, ten years afterward, | called on
him at the Aston house, with a friend and
had 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 fatHer 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
1854
DIR. Lowell presented me a 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. | shall ever regard
it with peculiar satisfaction.
have sometimes almost des paired of our
',A, 4 al, H.,
so dark so pervasive, that l have
occasionally feared that it would survive
me; but I 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 10 be regretted is the
wound that has been afflicted upon the
mortal sense of the community. What
looseness 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
hOrrlable. The cholera performs its ter
rlable 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, think now must have been
in the early spring of 1913. When seated
he did not look to be the tall man he was.
and appeared less dignified. But when
he rose to his feet his full stature was re-
vealed. and the courtliness of his bearing
was apparent. He carried no superfiuous
flesh on his frame, and his step was firm
and elastic. He had an unusually high
forehead, a prominent nose, large and
flexible mouth. and a moderate-sized chin.
He was clean shaven. and wore his hair,
which was parted in the middle and al
most covered his ears, long. His eyes
were expressive of gentleness and kind
ness of heart, united with courage and
tirmness. His voice was round and full.
and capable of wonderful meditation.
His dress was plain and simple; a black
coat and trousers, and a waistcoat of black
silk or satin. Around his throat was
wound black silk neckerchief, tied in a
large bow-knOt in front, and partly sup
porting the famous SHlEL COlldT WHICH
rose nearly to the tips of his ears. The
Henry Clay collar had 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 rule generally
dropped over the neckerchief. Boots and
n sill a+ con, his
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 OF money. In those days Billy
Niblo was great eater and Mrs. Niblo
was notable as a cook. Many a 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. | do not be
lieve that the feasters of to-day enjoy
themselves any more than did those of
forty years ago: no better speeches can
be made, no jollier songs sung, and no
wittief stories told. The banquet hall
was gay with flags and flowers and ever
greens. Portraits of distinguished men
adorned the walls, several of Henry Clay
being prominent among them Harry of
the West and The Mill Boy of the
SIashes. appeared In illuminated letters
on the walls together with quotations
from his speeches. The festivities always
wound up by everyone around the table
joining In singing a favorite rallying
song, the refrain of which was:
Here's to you Harry Clay!
Here's 70 you my noble soul.
Ia a full and flowing bowl,
Here's to you. Harry Cav.
Here's TO yCu, Harry Cay
Here's 70 You with all my heart
And that before part
Here's 70 you Harry Clay.
These words are not very imposing to
read. but when four or five hundred voices
united in singing them the effect vas
electrical Men grew enthusiastic, rising
from their chairs and wildly waving hats
and handkerchiefs, grasping hands. and
embracing each othe-. Then slowly they
dispersed and the festivities of the day
were ended"
1t Is said that thousands of tons of
leather scraps are ground mp and sold
for fertilizers Gentlemen who have been