The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
SOME NEW BOOKS.
A Belle Of the Fifties.

A delightful book, which deserves to
rank among the most valuable oontribu-
lions to our knowledge OF social and poll
teal life In Washington and the South
during ante-bellum, bellum and post
bellum days, Ia the volume entitled Memoirs
OF Mrs. Clement Claiborne Clay, edited by
Ada Sterling Doubleday, Page CO...
The editor tells us In a preface how this
book oamo TO be made The recolleotions
OF Mrs. Clay Of Alabama by which title
Mrs. Clement c. Clay. Jr. (now Mrs. Clay
Ciopton) was known during the period
comprised between 1850 and 1887, begin
In the middle OF the second decade Of the
nineteenth century, the scenes being laid
among the opulent plantations OF North
Carolina and Alabama. and continuing
through two socially brilliant Administra-
lions at the national capital, and close as
abe energies, in 1858, from the distress which
overlook her and her husband after the
assassination Of Lincoln.
1t lie almost forty years since oom-
potent judges recognized the worth OF the
materials with which Mrs. Clay had 1t IN her
power to provide the historian. To their
Suggestions that she put her experiences
into book form she long turned deaf ear,
AIlu ueT VI Il lohH ihO oio 'O"
collected In response to widely and in
sistently expressed desire for her testimony
70 the state OF things at the Federal capital
and in the South during the period begin
ming In 1859 and ending in 1855.
The editor does not forget to acknowledge
gratefully the assistance which she has re-
ceived in the preparation OF this work from
Gen. James H. Wilson, to whom Clement
". IN, from
Gen. Joseph Wheeler from Col. Robert
Barnwell Rhett. and from Col, Henry Wat
terson. 1t is q pleasure to bear witness
that the outcome Of their collaboration,
and Of the skill with which she has turned
to account her unique materials. is an adj
mirable book which merits, and We feel sure
will command, an extensive circulation.
I.
Mrs. Clay's infant days were spent in
North Carolina among the kinsmen Of her
mother At the age of six she was carried to
Tuscaloosa. then the capital Of the young
State of Alabama, where she was placed
In the care of an aunt, whose husband,
Henry W. Collier, then a young lawyer,
afterward became Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court Of his State and its Governor.
Her first eight into the world that lay be-
yond tire horizon OF school life was a visit to
Mobile At a boat club ball the young
girl was introduced to Nine. lie Vert,
who was then the queen OF society in the
beautiful bay city. Mrs. Clay recalls
distinctly Nine. lie Verts appearance on
that occasion. Her face, she says, was
the sweetest have ever seen. She had
Q grace and frankness which made every
Al. f~a tl,ox H.
she alone commanded her attention.
She wore a gown Of golden satin, and on
her hair a wreath of coral flowers. which
her morocco shoes matched in hue In the
dance she moved like bird on the wing
II was Of her that Washington Irving said:
sBut one such woman is born in the course
Of an empire We may here mention that
Nine. LIE Vert was a kinswoman Of Clement
Claiborne Clay, Jr., who subsequently
became the husband Of the author Of these
memoirs
After completing the curriculum Of the
school at Tuscaloosa presided over by
Miss Brooks afterward the wife Of Prof.
Stafford, the author Of these reoollections
was sent to the female academy at Nash
vile, Tenn. Not here but during vacation
visit to Columbus, Miss, she almost became
Q famous duellist who, afterward, In the
Mexican War, was the first to mount the
rarnparts Of Monterey. She refused to
be engaged definitely, however, frankly
acknowledging that before leaving for the
scadsGny at Nashville. she had met in Tusoa-
loosa a young member Of the Alabama
Legislature, Clement c. Clay. IT., and had
then prernonition that. II they two should
xuh aha cd fv,orn GNhnOI aha
would marry him The premonition was
realised Ten days after they met again
they were afianced. A month later their
marriage took place, and the bride was
borne away 30 her husband's home In Hunts
Vile. then only accessible by stageooaoh
She was told on the way by her husband
that, when his parents were members OF
the Congressional circle In Warrington
1s7o-ss--the journey to the capital from
their homo In northern Alabama had been
no light undertaking. In those-for Ala
bama-early days, Representative c. G.
Clay, ST., afterward Governor and United
States Senator, and his wife, travelled by
coach 10 the Federal city. accompanied by
the oolored ooaohman and the maidser-
want who were deemed necessary to their
comfort and station. Many days were oon-
omed In the journey, which lay through
Tennessee, North Carollna.and Virginia, and
IN the course Of it the travellers were ex-
posed 30 all tho dangers incident to an often
unssttled forrest country.
In 1853 Clement G. Clay, Jr., the husband
q tho author OF these Feooieotions, was
chosen q United States Senator to take
he seat which his father had occupied eleven
years before. After Mr.. Clay had been sworn
n on Dec. IA. 1858, he and his colleague
IN the Senate, Mr.. Fitzpatrick, together
With two Representatives from Alabama,
Sstablished their 4mess, a. II was called,
&C the corner OF Thirteenth and @
streets. Here our authors first season
IN Warrington was spent. Subsequently
the "mess,' to which were added bearers OF
names we'll known to the nation, migrated
10 Browns Hotel, and ultimately to the
Ebbitt House.
Mira. Clay recalls that In 1854, and in
the succeeding spring, there was a great
DIAL Of gayety at the Federal capital,
notwithstanding an air Of gravity and
reserve that was peroeptible in the
white House. 1t did not, even then, she