Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1899 — MET HENRY CLAY. [ARTICLE]

MET HENRY CLAY.

An Aneedota Related fcy Mina Croaby* the BUod Hyns Writer. One of the anecdotes related by Fanny Jane Crosby, the blind hymn writer, concerns her meeting with Henry Clay. Clay had been invited to visit the institution for the blind, at Thirty-fourth street and Ninth avenue. “I was but a girl at the time, not yet out of my teens,” she said at her Brooklyn home, "but I had tad considerable experience, and while not reasonably known to Mr. Clay I tad written little things and sent them to him. One in particular which I tad nt to him about that time was upou .he death of his son, which was fresh in his mind, for be referred to it when he began speaking to us. “At 3 o’clock Clay, with a number of friend* drove up to the entrance of th* institution In a carriage and alighted. All the girls were marshaled In the grounds in our best bib and with the board of managers, just 1A side the entrance gate. It was a ni«P day in May, I remember, and the girls who had prepared their pieces came forward and recited them to Mr. Clay. He appeared greatly moved at the demonstration, as indicated by the tones of his voice in his reply, for, of course, I did not see him. “Mr. Clay, who was, I believe, one of the kindest of men, alluded to his several communications with me, and my deep sympathy in his sorrow over the death of his son, and spoke of his sympathy at what he described as my misfortune in not being able to view smiling nature In its happiest mood as It was on that May day. He tad something to say to the other girl speakers, and went up to the institution itself and seemed to feel a deep interest in everything. “Mr. Clay sat down to a luncheon prepared by the girl* and asked particularly as to who tad prepared each one of the good thing* Then be said that at his Kentucky home he tad simple food, and so they could understand how great was his delight to get such nice food when away from it. All of the girls voted Mr. Clay as the greatest and best of men. He went away greatly pleased with his visit.”—New York Sun.