Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-08-23
atl istfIIang.
From the N. Y. Century.
PERSONAL Detailsfoi John Randolph 81
Roanoke,

Roanoke.
Els appearance ana Manners HIS Learns
ing and eIoque,see-His beauty IN youth
II and peculiarly II manhood Eis lopes
ard sorroaus.
In the Old Convention OF 1923.
which had assembled toreyise the Com
stitntion of Virginia, there was a MEM
Der whose appearance attracted and Fixed
the attention Of every spectator, He was
a man of nearly sixty but looked older.
His face was almost the color Of parch-
ment, and beneath the thin, gray brows
rolled pair Iof keen. penetrating eyes,
which burned with a,strange brilliancy.
He was clad in mourning. with Grape
upoh his hat and his arm. aud when some
one asked him one day if he had lost I
friend replied, /" No sir, am in mourn1
ing for the Old Constitution.pf, Sitting
apart from the other members, and rest,
ing his hands upon the head Of his stick,
which be passed up and down from time
to time, in Il measured and absent }nan-
ner. he seemed to take no interest in the
proceedings OF the Convention and for a
long time did not open his bps. One
| day. however. the citizens Of Richmond
might have been seen fastening 70 the
Capitol, in, which the body held it's ses-
sion From every quarter the crowd
poured in eagerly, SCARCE stopping 70 an,
swer any question. The explanation o.
the hurry and curiosity was contained il
| the words passed from mouth to mouth
Through the streets Of the town, John
Randolph is speaking, &
Such was The public curiosity and
l'strapge interest felt ID this singular man
by his own fellow citizens Of the native
soil. What was the source Of H? Many
persons were as famous. The Conyen
ton embraced two Ex- Presidents Mad
Iisen and Monroe Chief Justice Mar
shall, and dozen other men Of wide ce
llebfitys; utwhen these gentlemen spoke
| the citizens did not hurry thus to heai
Hhem.a lit is true that when the yenera
Bile Madison rose to address the body
his associates crowded around him, L
catch the whispered tones Of his feebl'
voice but the general curiosity to hea
/ the orator Of Roanoke was greater eve,
than this. 1t arose from the singuiarit.
iof the man, far more than his wide fam,
lin the councils Of the nation. A lat
Writer called him, with more point thai
truth. zst!the abortiys child Of talent an,
Inuteriely,," but this was only portion
Of The picture. The public might hav,
Ebeen, attracted BY his talent and slim
fulated to curiosity BY his 4 notoriety.
but bis personal traits were the rea
tcauses of the general interest. His per
Dscn WAS a standing theme for gossip
,}syery movement which be made wa
watched and commented on. His wei
known and striking career dwelt in tn
memories of all, and wonld have mad
him the observed Of all observers II bu
4 in addition to all this, behind ali, lay th
man, John Randolph human bein.
unlike all other men 81 his time perhap
.iof all times. Let usEglance at him, apar
| from his political career--recall some Q
Ithe pecnfiarities Of his paison, his man
1 ners and hisshabits -and noti.e, ii pass
ling an anecdot4 or (Which illustrat
Ibis character. They may serve % presen
1.-The orator Of Roanoke As lie lived AM
I moved. and Tie picture rigidly tue i
life as II win Be, may not prove destitat
ef interest and value.
1 Let me introduce the brief sketch
design making. with contrast. Owe
| the ire place of one of the apartments 4
1 Roanoke. hung. not many years ago. tn
portrait 81 ! boy Of twelve, BY Gilber
IStusrs. Ia the rosy complexion, III
bright plump cheeks. The laughing eyes
land beautiful lips Of The boy, you say
and felt tie fresh charm olsyouths the il
nocence and sweet grace Of childhood -
| One who knew the original once held al
This hands and exclaimed, 4 I never sas
such q beautiful boy I" His skin was Pc
culisrly Thin and delicate, and the warn
blood played yisibly beneath. 10 tn
HAPPY eyes and ingenious lips, eset1
Eemotion was distinctly revealed. Sucl
was Randolph It twelve years Of age.--
What was be St City, Or even forty
examined bis portrait some time sine