The Washington times., 1904-11-13
Stories Showing Remark
able Gifts of These
Statesmen.
CLAY AND "A PUGH NOSE
Recognized Proboscis Even
If He Had Never Seen
Owner Before.
F Henry clay's abnormal menu

+ Henry Clay's abnormal mem
ory Mrs. Rebecca Harding
Davis. mother Of Richard Hard
ing Davis. tells this story IN
bits OF Gossip" a publication giving
her recollections OF the prominent men
she has met since she became a novelist
IN antebeIlum days.
Clay once visited a little town In Penn
sylvania, after an absence OF ten years.
He was recognized as he left the stage
coach and hurried into the supper room
OF the inn. The news spread. Every
man in the village gathered In the hall
to see him as he came out. The burgess,
a consequential little fellow. who had
once Travelled as far as Washington,
called out:
Form two lines. gentlemen! On either
side. know him. I viii present you to
Mr.. Clay"
But just as the lines were formed the
door opened and 3dr. Clay paused on the
threshold
"Ah." he cried. his keen. black eyes
beaming, how is Wood? And Barnes?
AL my old friends? Humphreys. too?''
He passed down between the lines.
shaking hands. asking questions and
joking. There was not a man whom he
had met ten years before that he did
not hail by name.
At last he stopped. "Ahl Here's
somebody don't know. Wait! One
minute holding the man by the hand
and cycling him keenIy. THAT is a Pugh
nose, III wager my life! You are John
Pugh's sonl Ah?"
A PaIDsbIe Hit
''That hit won the game" concluded
the eyewitness from whom Mrs Davis
heard the story There was a shout
. OF delight, and the crowd followed him
10 the coach. cheering until IL was out
OF sight. Every man there voted for
him at the next elec1on. Pugh stump
ed the country for him. We felt that
II was a man with brain Ike that who
was needed at the helm Of the ship OF
state"
OF James G. Blaine, who was credited
with similar gifts. she tells this story:
He had been invited to be the guest
Of honor at large banquet in PhIadeI-
phia-
Before going thither he dinsd with the
Davises, and took occasion TO ask:
What are the names Of the principal
a--NAA L-AsAA 4 EAte--A l44LNA AAAAAAAA4
Mr.. Davis rold them TO MIN.
Blaine Pleases Fellow Guests.
An hour later when the guests IN the
banquet han were presented 70 him
Blaine detained each with a look OF sud
den keen interest
b. did you say There was a great
jurist B. IN Philadelphia when was
a boy. He stood in the highest court Of
the temple when / was peeping through
the fence"
Ny father. sir" And B. passed
on. flushing and smiling.
W? Of English descent2 I see II
In your features-the name. too II goes
back 70 Elizabeth's time Not from
Leamington2 Why, you must be a de
Ecendent Of the bishop. the immortal
W"
Blaine was a law student in Washing
ton. Pa. when Mrs. Davis was a school
girl there. She describes him as a big.
ungainly cOllegian. so lazy and good ma
tured that nobody ever expected he
would amount 70 anything. One OF his
old-time companions told her this char
acteristie s0try:
Il remember that one day when 1
fresh water. / was ia a rage az leaving
my book and. finding the pail nearly
fun. threw the water out OF the door
Just as Jim was passing fl his Sunday
suit on his way 10 a party. He was
drenched from head 10 foot stood
aghast and dumb. he turned and hur-
ried home. Presently he came back
dry, but dressed In his old clothes. He
stopped and nodded gayly.N
Don't worry. VIII. ! didn't care 20
80 10 the old party, anyhow" stopping
my stammering apologies by sitting
down TO joke and laugh with me"
Caused Him to Wonder.
His good nature remained with Blaine
20 the end. A rancorous Western poll
tician met him one day IN the Capitol
with "Mr. Blaine. ! am a stranger 10
you, but i take the liberty of telling
you that you are a fool and a scOundreI. DO
Really said Blaine. lifting his hat
NOW 7 wonder what you would have
Eeid IL you had- been my intimate
friend"
DOUBLE MEANING.