Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-25
JOHN RANDOLPH.

One OF the nioSt remarkable men that ev-
er lived, was John Randolph of Roanoke.
He was born on the Cd Of June, IT'S, at
Matoax, the seat of his father, three miles
above Petersburg, Virginia. In his veins
were blended the aristocratic blood of Eng
land, and the blood royal of Primitive Amer
lea. His lordly bearing aboriginal descent,
eccentric career, and extraordinary ,elo-
quence, early fastened the attention of his
countrymen upon HIM, aud through many
years engrossed popular regard to Won
derfu degree.
Mr.. Randolph made his first appearance
in public life, in 1899, as candidate for a
seat IN Congress, and was elected.
| When he entered Congress, his youthful
aspect, among other striking traits, attracted
universal surprise. As he presented himself
at the table to qualify, the official demanded
his age. "Ask my constituents" was the
characteristic reply.
Mr.. Randolph soon became a marked
man in the national councils. His fearless
thought, pungent language, whitening sar-
casm, and general power as a prompt and
passionate debater, attracted the admiration
as well as excited the dread Of all parties
within Congress and without.
John Randolph was about six feet high.
He had elevated shoulders, small head,
and a physiognomy all the parts of which
were entirely unintellectual except his eye.
His hair was dark, thin and lank, and lay
close TO his head. His voice was shrill as IA
fife, but its clear shrieking tones conl,l he
distinctly heard by large audience. The
muscles aud skin about his face was shrivel-
led and cadaverous, like wrinkled parch-
ment, and hi whole form was so attenuated
and meag that, tall as he was, his ac-
quainta' Is supposed him not to weigh any
more IAN one hundred and thirty pounds.
The author of " Clinton Bradshaw" who
enjoyed favorable opportunity of ohserv-
ing this strange being, has given US the fol-
lowing graphic description of his person,
habilments, and manners:
s. His long, thin legs, about as thick as a
a walking cane, and Of much such shape,
were encased in pair of light small clothes,
so tight that they seemed part and parcel of
the wearer. Handsome white stockings
were fastened with great tidiness at the
knees by small gold buckle, and over them,
coming about half way up the calf, were
pair of what believe are called hose, coarse
and country knit He wore shoes. They
were old-fashoned, and fastened also with
buckles, large ones. He trod like an Indian
without turning his toes out. But planklng
those DAYS 10 wear a fan-tailed coat, with n
small collar, with buttons far apart on the
back and but few on the breast. Mr.. Ran
dolph's was the reverse Of this. Instead of
being fan-tailed, it was what | believe the
knights Of the needle call swalow-taled |;
the collar was immensely large, the buttons
behind were at kissing proximity, and they
sat as close on the breast Of the garment as
the feasters at a crowded festiyel. His waist
was so remarkably slender, that, as he stood
with his arms akimbo, he could easily, as
thought, with his long bony fingers, have
spanned it. Around him his coat, which
was very tight, was held together by one
button, and in consequence, an inch or more
of tape TO which the button was attached,
was perce5ible where it was pulled through
the cloth. About his neck he wore a white
cravat, in which his chin was occasionally
buried as he moved his head in conversa-
ton no shirt collar was perceptble; every
other person seemed to pride himself on the
size. Of bis, as they were then worn large.
Mr.. Randolph's complexion was precisely
that of a lnunmy-withered saffron, dry and
bloodless, you could not have placed pins
point on his face where you would not have
touched wrinkle. His lips were thin,
compressed, and colorless the chin, beard
less as a boy's, was broad for the size of his
face, which was small his nose was straight,
with nothing remarkable in 1t, excepting
that il was too short. He wore fur cap,
which he took off, standing few moments
uncovered Fancy dead man struck into
life by lightning, aud all his life in his eye,
and you have picture of John Randolph"
n