Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-28
EVENING STAR.
JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE

those luxurious soft crabs of that region,
and that, as was the custom of the hotel,
a glass Of milk had been placed near his
plate; looking up from his own he said
IN thin, piping voice:
g That's singular dish Of yours, sir,
very singular (; crabs and milk, Juba,
bring me a bowl of milk, and crumble
some crabs in it :"
Al the same hotel he said to waiter,
IN the temporary absence Of Juba, hand
ing TO him at the same time his cup and
saucer:
Take them away-chspge it."
What do you want, Mr.. Randolph, >
asked the waiter respectfully, DO you
want coffee or tea 2"
.'If that stuff is teass said he, a." give
me coffee: if it is coffee, bring me tea;
want a change" s- asl
Most readers have heard. perhaps, OF
his reply to q well known and highly
respectable gentleman of the South, who
introduced himself TO him while standing
and con Eersing with some friends, with
Il should be pleased TO make the ac-
quaintance OF so distinguished a public
servant as Mr.. Randolph. | am from
the city Of Bsltisnore-my name is
Blunt g.
Blunt, eh! replied Mr.. Randolph
=" L should think so, sir:" and nc degned
him no further notice.
Equally familiar to many, it NAV be
will be found his reply 10 gentleman
WHO rather forced himself upon Mr.. Ran
dolph's notice, while engaged n conver.
sstion with others, in hotel in Virginia.
Il have had the pleasure, bir Rsn-
doiph, recently of passine your house"
ii am glad Of it" said Mr.. Randolph:
II hope you will always do it, sir.
On one occasion, at Washington,
brother member Of Congress was enlight-
ening Mr.. Randolph as TO the manner G;
I" 81 opping' at the capital.
"The merchants, said be, have two
prices-an asking price, and taking
|price. used to send my vile to make
the purchases for the family, by which
ne made a saving of fifteen or twenty per
cent"
"I had rather my wife," said Ran
do!ph, bitterly, "should make living
in any other way but one, than that -
Being a confirmed old bachelor, the
remark was no less conical than severe
Scarcely anything more characteriSt c Of
Mr.. Randolph is recorded of him in any
Of his biographies than in the following
incident, which occurred on the morning
be was to leave for England, on bis lssi
visit. TO that country. The steamer IS
waiting to convey passengers when his
friend calls upon him:
Mr.. Randolph" he says, in the
name Of Heaven, what is the matter !.
Do you know that it is nearly ten
O'Clock, and thst the s:eamb oat waits
for nobody! Why, you are not even
dressed"
Il can't help it, sly, )" he replied; ''I'm
all confus. on this morning; everything
goes wrong; even my memory has gone
a wool-gathering. | am just writing a
farewell address to ny constituents, and
I've forgotten the exact words of q QUO
tation from the Bible, which want TO
use, and, ss | quote correctly, canBot
close my letter unit. | find the passage ::
but, strange to say. forgot both the
chapter and the verse. | never was in
fault before, sir. What shall | do?"
"Do you remember any part of the
quotation 2" asked his friend perhaps
] can assist you with the rest"
1T begins" said he. with how
have I loved thee, OH, but for the life
of me, can't recollcct the next words
On, my head There, do you take the
Bible and run over that page while am
writing the remainder of my address"
My dear sir" was the reply, "you
have no time to do this now let US take
the letter, Bible, and all On board the
steamer, where you will have enough
time TO find the passage you want. before
We reach the packet"
Alter a great deal Of hesitation and
reluctance, and after much expostulation,
the proposition was agreed to.
A rather cruel test of the affection OF
his servant John was tried on the occa-
sion referred 10. john had in some way
offended his master that morning. and,
as he WAS preparing the trunks, Mr.. Ran
dolph said to MIN:
Finish that trunk at once, John, and
take it down to the steamboat, and on
your return take passage in the Phila.
delphia /; call ON Mr. -, in Arch street,
and tell him that have sailed then 90
to Baltimore, call on Nr. -, in Mon
ument Place, and say that l shall write
to him from London; thence proceed to
Washington, pack up the trunks at my
lodging, take them with you to Roam
oke, and report yourself to my over
seer"
After a pause, he added, in sarcastic
tone:
but you need not obey them, unless
you choose to do so. You can, it you
prefer it, when you arrive in Philadel-
phia, call ON the Manumission Society
and they will make you free; and | shall
never look after you. Do you hear,
sir 81
This unjust aspersion Of Johns love,
was TOO much for the faithful fellow; his
cheek swelied. bis lips quivered, his
L