The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-03

ingtoD society, /E ~E-WT<TJ
after an absence %Sgssg#5SV"
Of over a quarter
az n century and Il ola CLAPTON.
she was paid many distinguished socia'
attentions. Mrs. Cleveland was greatly
charmed by the brilliancy of the remark.
able lady and gave a reception in heI
honor.
When the wal began in 1861 Clement
c. Clay withdrew from the United States
senate, and, accompanied by his wife, re
turned to their home in the south. They
were active in the affairs Of the south
arn Coufederacy, and were intimately
Identified with the leaders in the ''lost
cause" Mrs. Clay proved 10 be one OF
the best friends the southern soldiers ever
had, and many a poor fellow has cause to
praise her name every time he hears 1t
mentioned. She vas with her husband
when he was arrested by the government
in 1860, and was of the party composed Of
Jefferson Davis and Clement {. Clay, who.
with their families, were taken north 10
prison. The ladies were not imprisoned,
but Mrs. Clay's husband was jeff. Davis
fellow prisoner at Fortress Monroe during
the period that the eX-Confederate chief
tain was confined there. Mrs. Clay sought
President johnson and petitioned him for
the release Of her husband. She made
such a gallant and brilliant appeal that
her efforts were at last crowned with sue
cess. After the release Senator Clay and
his wife returned TO their old nome in the
south. Their large fortune had vanished,
their city and country homes were
wrecked and they had to begin life anew,
starting almost at the very foot OF the
ladder. Senator Clay died in 1882, and
his death was incurred throughout the
south as the loss Of one Of its best friends
and most brilliant leaders.
Mrs. Clay is a most brilliant converse
tionalist, and 10y all odds one OF the most
remarkable woInen of the times. She must
be upward of 60 years OF age, and yet she
is as spry and gay socially - a belle Of ~
She Is an apt story teller, writes a beauti-
full letter and enjoys life and its pleasures
as much as any one h possesses a re
markable memory and never forgets Il
face or name. Her stories OF the gay times
in Virginia (Which, by the way, is her
Christian name Of almost half d century
ago, Of the brilliant social events OF the
national capital and the good old ante
bellum days are the most captivating re
citals / ever heard.
In personal appearance Mrs. Clay 10 g
strikingly handsome She is tau,
finely formed, with snow white hair and Il
complexion as clear and beautiful as a
girls. She dresses very handsomely, pos
sesses n fine carriage and q commanding
presence. Opie Read, who met Mrs. Clay
during her visit north last summer. truly
said Of her;
She is the widow OF Clement c. Clay, whose
memory stands like q live oak and whose political
accomplishments are in the bands OF the histo-
rian. is a perfect type of the high bred and brill
liant southern woman OF a day whose sun is set
We see q few only q very few-of these women
now lingering in the twilight. The dusk Is settling
down and the old gate post which we could see
lust now has faded from sight, and the chickens,
with solemn Autter. are going TO roost in the pear
trees. The katydid is hushed. and no more do we
hear the weird music of the old negroes quilts. a
rail per surrounds the old negro's grave. Mrs
Clay is one Of the most interesting women whom
| have ever met. aud l do not wonder that she
was such q favorite in Washington society years
ago.
Mr.. Reads beautiful pen picture IS q
true one.
Mr.. Clay's story of her experience dur
ing ,he war sounds like a tale of Old.
Northern soldiers lived for three years in
her beautiful country home in Alabama
When they left they sacked the premises,
tore the wires out Of her piano, smashed
silverware and bric-a-brac that had been
collected in all parts Of the world and tore
the house down. Her sufierings during
this awful period were very great. She
was SO closely connected with the leaders
of the rebellion hat many state secrets
are known 10 her which are possessed by
few other living people. The past few
years she has retrieved her lost fortunes
and is now the owner of q fine cotton
plantation and n private fortune. Many
negroes who were her husbands slaves
before the war are still employed on her
plantation, and are true and loyal TO this
distant day to "Missus Virginia" She
her w plantation and makes 1t
pay. While sitting at n brilliant banquet
given by the people Of st. Paul TO the
southern bellies at Minnetonha last sum
mer Mrs. Clay turned 10 me and said
s'You can imagine how hard it is to leave
this delightful place, with its beautiful
scenery and its never ending banquets,
and return TO my hot southern home &c
renew my business associations VIII
negroes and shave tailed mules"