The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-11-06
PICK-UPS.-


to Cincinnati. In the seat behind her
sat distinguished looking old gentle.
man with snowy beard and the benig-,
nant smile of old age, who became in
terested in the little traveller and en-.
gagged her in conversation. During
ride of several hours she found him
very entertaining talker and as she is
quite an intelligent reader of history, it
may be imagined that her black eyes
grew big with astonishment when her
strange acquaintance related how he
had been personal friend of Abraham
Lincoln and had spent several years of
his life in st. Petersburg at the Court OF
the Gar OF Russia. AS he spoke of Clay
and Webster and other historic names
as though he had known them on terms
of closest intimacy, it seemed to our
young friend that one OF the pictures of
great men in the histories had taken on
life and was talking to her. "Who
could this strange old gentleman be ?"
she wondered, but the mystery remain
ed unsolved until her papa came on
board the train to meet her, when her
venerable friend introduced himself. 1t
was Cassius M. Clay.
The acquaintance so casually formed
seems to have been mutually attractive
correspondence was invited by the
great Kentuckian, and as copy of his
letter to the little girls father has fallen
into hand, it is considered no breach of
propriety, in view of the national char
acter of the writer, to give it to our
readers.
Cassius M. Clay was nephew of
Henry Clay, and partook of the great
American Commoner's eloquence and
craftsmanship with an added dash of
southern chivalry which his distinguish
ed kinsman lacked. He did more than
any other man to keep Kentucky in the
Union and was one of the most brilliant
figures in the thrilling scenes of the
years Immediately preceding the REBEL
ion. He was sent by President Lincoln
as minister TO Russia and had much to
do with bringing about the friendly atti-
tude which that government preserved
toward the North during the struggle.
He has been living for some years in re-
tirement on his Blue Grass farm, having
passed the age OF four score. The at
tention which has been attracted to
Russia by the exposures of Kennan has
brought the retired diplomatic recently
into notice as one of the few Americans
who could express an intelligent opinion
as to the truth of Kennan's statements.
Some of the old time Kentucky fire is
rekindled as he repels the charges of
the modern prison explorer and some of
his writings on the subject have re-
ceived wide attention from those who
are inclined to read Kennan cum grano
sails.
In answer to letter he writes:
WHITE HALL, KY, Sept. IL, 1890.
DEAR SIR:-Yours of the 10th inst. re-
ceived. have very poor opinion of
Remnants account of Siberian Russia.
He was traitor to those who trusted
him and whose magnanimity he abused.
His lecture tour was disgrace to litera-
ture and decency when he dressed as
convict and made spectacle OF himself
for money.
There is more safety in Russia for life
and property than here under Railroad
tyranny, who are exercising the highest
functions of ofgovernment and sovereignty
| by owning the highways and laying toll
upon person and property, using armed
men at will.
See the infames of the Colorado Peni-
tentiary = cruelties which all the
enemies of Russia have failed to match.
See the reports to the Kentucky Legis-
lature-where the warden, an honest
man, carried carrion to the Governor and
Supervising Board of the Penitentiary-
where men and women were beaten to
death-where the pitying warden, rel
alive of the gallant Taylor, was dismiss
ed and the assassins whitewashed and
retained in Office and power to continue
murder. y
And we'll do remember little Nellie,
with her courage and ladylike bearing
which excited my admiration in her
travelling alone. wish she would write
me something about herself, as I have
many correspondents with little girls
who always interest me. Give her my
pleasant memories. Yours truly,
@. M. CLAY.
N. B.-You see my nephew, G. M.
Clay, was elected President of the Con-
stitutional Convention, beating the
Railroad Party with triumph. CLAY.
TIT
After q youth of the most intense and