The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-11-20


narkable men that lived was John Randolph
ni Roanoke. He was born the I'd OF June.
1878, al Maioax, the seat ofhis father, three
miles above Peiersburgh, Va. Ia his veins
were blended the arslocrallc blood of En-
gland and the blood royal ofPimiive Amer
lea. His Iordly bearing, aboriginal descent,
eccentric career, aud extraordinary elo
luence early fastened the attention Of his
counlrymen upon him, and through many
Jears engrossed popular regard TO won
1erful degree.
MIR, Randolph made his first appearance
IN public life in 1899 as a candidate for seat
Congress, and was elected.
When he entered Congress, his youthful
'specl, among other striking traits, attracted
universal surprise. AS lie presented him
'eli al the clerks table to qualify, The offici-
Il demahded his age. Ask my constituents
vas the charac ierlsiIc reply.
Mr.. Randolph soon became marked man
n The national councils. His fearless thought.
,nngen, language, whitening sarcasm, and
general power as prompt and passionate
iebaier attracted the admiration as we'll as
xcited the dread of all parties within Con-
gress aud without.
John Randolph was about six feet high
lie had elevated shoulders, small head, and
physiognomy all the puts OF which were
entirely unulelleclual except the eye. His
,ar was dark, thin, and lank. and lay close
10 his head. His voice was shrll as a fife,
'ur It's CLEAR, shrieking tones could be dis
incily heard by large audience. The
muscles aud skin about his face were shriv-
lied aud cailaverous. like wrinkled parch-
nent His whole form was SO alienualed
md meager, that, tall as he was, his ac-
luainiances supposed him not TO weigh more
han hundred and thirty pounds.
The author of Clinton b adshaw, who en-.
loyed favorable opportunity Of observing
his strange being, has given US The following
graphic description of his person, habIlimenls
and manners:
"Iiis long, thick legs, about as thick as
walking cane, and of much such a shape,
we've encased in pair Of lighI small clothes
50 tight the, seemed p,u and parcel Of III.
wearer. Handsome white stockings were
fastened with great iidiness at The knees, b,
a gold buckle, aud over them, coming about
htlf way up The cali, were a pair of what
believe were called hose, country knit. lie
wore shoes. They were old,ashioned, aud
fastened also with buckles-large ones. lie
lrod like all Indian without turning his toes
out, but plauking them right ahead. II was
The fashion in those days 10 wear fantailed
coat, with small collar, with buttons Tar
apart on The back, with but lew on the breas
Mr., Randoph's was the reverse Of this. Ia
stead OF being faniailed, it was what he
leve the Knights of The noodle call swallow
tailed; The collar was immensely large; the
buttons were in kissing proximity, aud they
sal as close on The breas, ol The garment a.
the feasters a, a crowded festival. His
waist was so remarkably slender that, as he
stood with his arms ekimbo, he could easily.
as thought, with his long bony fingers have
sp1nned it. Around him, his coat, which
vas very tight, was held together by on.
button, and in consequence, and an inch Oh
more Of tape, to- which the button was al
'ached, was pIecepllbIe where il was pulled
through the cloth. About b 5 neck he wore
white craval, in which his chin was coca.
lsionally buried as he moved his head IN con
cessation no other collar was percepible;
livery o'htI person. seemed 10 plide himself
pn the size Of his, they were then worn
ARE. Mr.. Randolph'S complexion was
precisely that Of a mummy-wiIhered, SAT
ron, dry. and bloodless; you could not have
placed pins point on his face where you
would not have touched a wrinkle. Ilis
FPS were thin, compressed, aud colorless;
The chin, beardless as boys, was broad for
The size of his face, which was small; his
nose was straight, with nothing remarkable
in il, except that il was too shot. lie wore
fur cap, which he took off, standing few
minutes uncovered. Fancy a dead man
struck into lie by lightning, and all his life
ia his eye and you have picture Of John
Observation-Disclosures Orators Of The A.
acricdn Revolution.