The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-09-24

two years before il was known that he was
1 the famous barrister Erskiue, and then il
was only by accident we knew that he was
not mad
s.How 90
/ Son one Sunday afternoon he brought
i down with him young gentleman, of about
twenty years of age, who walked about the
pier while MIR. Erskine was making speech
ont upon the rocks. One of the men on
the pier remarked to this young gentleman,
hat pity that such fine man, and
such piea-an spoken man when he is
calm, should be so mad - Whereupon
i the young man roared with laughter, and
/ then let the cat out of the bag by Saving
who his friend was. Il was afterwards that
l and several others then here, but now
gone to their account, came to know him
so well. And right merry gentleman he
could be, too. Lord bless US. sir swift as
time flies it seems only yesterday that he
would come down here and say to US as he
made his way to the cliff with his hands in
his breeches' pockets, and walked like a
sailor. he had been in the navy. you know,
sir.) Come along, my lads. and be the ju-
ry l am going TO make another speech
And most beautiful thing it was to listen
| to him..
One minute he would make you laugh
| heartily, ana the next moment he'd bring
the water into your eyes, by the tender way
in which he'd allude to fading flower, or
a sickly child. There was one case in par
Licuar, l remember. It was an action
brought against a Mr.. Somebody or other,
by lords eldest son, for carrying off his
wife. 1t was most beautiful-as we told
him when he asked us how we liked it
Blest if he didn't make out as how the de-
PENDANT was the ill-used party, and not the
man as had lost his wife. Expensive as
travelling was IN those days, five of US
went up To London to hear him deliver that
speech in court before the Judges and the
regular sworn jury; and such crowd
as there was of lords and gentlemen, to be
sure !''
''And did he deliver that same speech 90
asked.
Eyes. In parts it was a little different,
and some things were added; but it was, in
the main. Just what he said standing out on
them rocks yonder. There was no silly
pride about Mr. Erskine, sir. AS soon as
the case was over, and he was coming out
of the court, his quick eye caught sight of
u.s.; and up he comes, puts out his hand to
each of US, and says, What! you here, my
lsds e---Weii, follow me- And he walks
off to an old public house near the court,
called the Chequers, and orders two bottles
of port vine for US; and while we were
drinking it, explained to US how it was not
possible for him to win the day; and that
all the effect his speech would have would
be to reduce the damages. He was mighty
pleased to hear himself praised, and seemed
just as proud of our approval as anybody's
else. i don't think, SIR continued the
old man, that Mr.. Erskine, felt any of the
fine things he said in his speeches. 1t was
all acting with him; and I'll tell you why /
think so. One day he was walking along
the sands, spouting of poetry out of book
he was learning of it, for he read il owe:
and over again and while he was doing so
he turned up his eyes, shook his head. and
stretched forth his hand, in such way that
you might have taken him for street par
son. Il was a most serious sort of poetry.
It was something about Farewell. the drums
and flies, the banners and the big guns
and the plumes and the feathers. cooked
hats and swords. and the virtuous wars and
the fair women-honors. decorations, and
rewards! G. farewell. everything Alas
the poor fellows occupations gone! 7 All
of sudden. sir, he shuts up the book, claps
it under his arm, whistles JIG, and dances
to it, and remarkably well, 100, did he come
The double shuttle. Another time. when he
was reading out poetry, saw him work
himself up till the tears actually rolled
down his cheek~--and not Two minutes af-
forwards he was playing at FOUNDERS with
all of The little boys on the beach,
And did Mr. Erskine know asked
the old smuggler. '.that at first you all
thought he was mad ?''
Eyes; and was very much amused at it."
--Household W0rds