The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-07

VI v.
she was paid many distinguished social
attentions. Mrs. Cleveland was greatly
charmed by the brlliancy of the remark
able lady and gave reception in her
! honor.
When the war began in 1861 Clement
! G. 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
ern Confedcracy, and were intimately
| identified with the leaders In the lost
cause Mrs. Clay proved to be one Of
the best friends the southern soldiers ever
had, and many poor fellow has cause to
praise her name every time he hears it
mentioned She was with her husband
when he was arrested by the government
in 1865, and was of the party composed OF
jefferson Davis and Clement G. Clay, who,
with their families, were taken north to
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 home 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 mollrncd throughout the
south as the loss of one of its best friends
and most brilliant leaders.
Mrs. Clay is most brilliant converse
tionalist, and by all odds one of the most
remarkable women of the times. She must
be upward of GO years Of age, and yet she
is as spry and gay socially as belle of III.
She is an apt story teller, writes beauti-
full letter and enjoys life and its pleasures
as much as any one. She possesses u re-
markable memory and never forgcts n
face or name. Her stories Of the gay times
in Virginia (Which, by the way, is her
Christian nance Of almost half II 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 is
Istrillingly handsome woman. She is tall,
finely formed, with snow white hair and n
lcompleyion ms clear and beautiful MS a
GIRLS. She dresses very handsomely, pos
scsses n fine carriage and a commanding
presence. Opic Read, who met Mrs. Clay
during her visit north last summer. truly
snid of her:
e,o l., ,,o ,y,,ow % Cpc,,ort q Clay whose
memory stands like n live oak and whose political
ACCOMPLISHMENTS are in the hands of the histo
rim, is perfect type of the high bred and brill.
liant southern woman of day whose sun is set
We see iew--only very few-of these women
now lingering IA the tw'llght Inc DUSK Is setting
now anu .no oiu sr'u poS. 'd va ohion
stS no o, ,' a,to ,n - roost IN tbe neor
trees The Lotydd is hushed. and no more do we
hear the weird music of the old negro's quilts A
rail pen surrounds the old negroes grave. Mrs.
Clay is one OF the most interesting women whom
have ever met and do not wonder that sue
was such iaVorte In washington society 80
ago
MI he'tu peau'iiui pen pic'"ie 10
true one,
Mrs. Gay $ story Oh ner experience uI
| ing the war SOUNDS IKE lale vi oiu'