The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-07-05
CLAY's VACATION IN 1870.
An Episode in the Life Of the Grea
Am e-icsn.


From The Chicago TI.nes-Herald
The story is told 10y the grandson OF the
former owner Of OlyInp-an springs IN Ken
lucky:
IN the summer OF 1870 Henry C.ay carna
to kentucky on his vacation. He said he
felt the need of the O,ympian water Ru.
beyond bathing IN II moody ever saw bt-7
fool with It, Three nights after his arrival
a sociobe game began. Even then there
was Il LITTLE hotel ~ the place, and tha
players occupied a room in the top story.
where the clicking of the chips would not
make envious the guests who were barred
out In the game were Mr. Clay, ms grand
father. Josiah Blackburn. John Hard,1 and
Sam Clay. cousin of the statesman. II
was a 'no-limit' game. Those We're dyys
when gentlemen played with gcntlemAn
and the vulgarism of table stakes WIS
unknown. \ mans word was a. good a.
his bond. and whatever he bet he t-ag
able to pay. The game began on Friday
night and ran along with varying luck
They were all old hands. and had The
nerve to back their cards. At L o'clock
Saturday night Blackburn quit, q lit1l.
ahead. He had been married only TWO
months. and was afraid his young vie
would think he was dead Sunday morning,
at o'clock some one raped on the door
II was opened. and "a M gro girl stood in
the hall. Sine had clean shirt in her
hand. and on the bosom was note from
wherever H.. can be found The doo~ .-..s
closed and play resumed. Hardin changed
his linen III The table.
but nobody thought Of quitting the cards
We're dealt by Mr.. clay. Nj s-tndfo-a-r
came in for so. Hardin stayed. sam CLAW
d-o0Ded out. Henry Clay stayed. AIv
grandfather took one card. Hardin drew
two. AIR. Clay stood pat NV grandfather
bet So Hardin saw IL Clay raised il SO.
Ny grandfather raised it 500 Hardin
dropped out Mr. Clay raised back for
$1,000. Ny grandfather said he was sorry
for MIN. and came back WIN an eleVation
of S25A9. Mr.. Clay remarked that il paiued
him Ia rob an old and tried friend ptrticu-
larry one upon whose ASSISTANCE he counted
In the fan election. buf Dee was ccmDeIle,i
to put Up 5000 more that he knew moro
about poker than any man in the world.
My grandfather bet him another $500 in
stated that he might have made some n
rors i'm politics. although he could nos re-
cali them just then. but he had never yet
overiudged a hand. That meant another
boost of $500. Ny grandfather sighed pity
Gle laid down his hand. took a small pen
knife from his pocket. and carefully trim
med his nails Tie shut mp the knife and
slowly replaced r.. He picked I'D the hand
and glanced across the table at his cifted
opponent, upon whose high for head Two
drops Of Precipitation were Slittcring- I
raise YOU $1,000 he said gravely- Mr. clay
thought long and hard I haven that
much money here Of course; ~ sad n
length. and ] don't think my bank account
would stand check for the amount. But
the springs property here is valued ~
thirtv-live Thousand. | win DIT ID up. You
are the first man that ever made me CALI
What have you got2' NV grandfather ask
81 hurricdly. his iron nerve at las giving
way IT is your place first 10 state Eour
hand said 8lr. Clay lightly. 'hut no matter.
Woman. woman. lovely woman. The fuH
measure allowed to q good MuSSuiman
and he placed four queens face upward on
the table. Tn those DAYS the SeqUent lush
was not played. AIy grandfather. with a
sigh Of relief for himself and Of regret for
n gallant adversary. showed what was
called am 'iuviucibi e'-four kings and an
family TO this day"