The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-09-01
B O G r A P HicAL.
John Randolph of Roanoke.


Some forcible writer furnishes the New
York Century" highly interesting arti-
Gle on the eloquent, but very eccentric
John andolph-called by one ''the abor-
tive child of talent and notoriety." We
extract the following in reference to his
singular appearance and peculiarities =
'Let me introduce my sketch by marked
contrast. Over the fireplace of one Of
the apartments at Roanoke, hung, not
many years ago, the portrait of boy of
twelve, by Gilbert Stuart In the rosy
laughing eyes, and beautiful lips of the
boy, you saw and felt the fresh charms of
youth, the innocence and sweet grace of
childhood One who knew the original
once, held up his hands and exclaimed,
! 81 never saw such beautiful boy ~ His
skin was peculiarly thin and delicate, and
the warm blood played visibly beneath
In the happy eyes and ingenious lips,
| every motion was distinctly revealed
| Such was Randolph at twenty years of
| age What was he at fifty, or even forty?
| examined his portrait some time since
with melancholy interest. The keen eyes
fixed coldly and steadily on the beholder,
| defed every attempt to read the thought
of the brain underneath. The hair par
ted in the middle and gathered behind the
ears, had lost the youthful gloss of old
days, and was stiff and intractable The
bright cheeks had become sallow and
shrunken. Bitter tears had dimmed the
bright eyes once so brilliant; midnight ag-
ony and groans had wasted the round
| cheeks between the smiling portrait of
| Gilbert Stuart and the picture looked on
| Of the aged man, there was scarcely any
| resemblance to be discovered.
Randolph's figure, like his face, was
full of singular eccentricity. Tall, angu-
| lar, thin as shadow, he resembled rather
some ghost from another world, than
veritable being of flesh and blood. His
limbs were wonderfully slender, and the
fashion of the time served to display this
popularity to its fullest extent. He wore
small clothes so tight that they seemed 10
| be part of his person and the snow
white stockings, fastened at the knees by
a small gold buckle, fitted as close as the
cuticle almost. Over these, and reaching
midway the calf, were a pair of coarse
country-knit yarn stockings, or chose" as
they were then called. His shoes were of
the old revolutionary fashion, with huge
buckles-his coat ample, and buttoned
| tightly around his slender woman-like
waist; his chin half buried itself in the
folds of great white cravat, and the dry
flaxen hair was surmounted by fur cap
The movements of this singular figure
were as unique as the costume. In walk
ing, Randolph followed the Indian fashion,
placing the foot straight in front-the toes
inclined neither inward nor outward. A
fanciful mind might have attributed this
popularity to his Indian blood, for he was
descended in the seventh degree from the
| Princess Pocahontas. Moving quickly
and slowly by starts, with head thrown
, back, and the keen eyes sparkling beneath
the rim of his dark fur cap, often mutter-
ing to himself, TO wake consciousness of
the world around him, and stride on rap
idly to his lonely apartment-thiss singular
figure was eminently calculated to attract
the attention of every one, whether it mo-
we'd over the familiar court greens of Vir-
| ginia, or in the streets of Washington OF
London. In both of these cities he was
the observed of all observers" The me-
tropolis of England, where physical pecu-
liarltles and eccentricities are met with
necessarily, could furnish nothing stran-
ger than the form of the orator of Vir-
ginia. In Washington, Baltimore, Phila-
delphia, and Richmond, he was the mark
of all eyes-to be pointed out with the
finger Boys often followed him, but
rarely laughed, or INDUCED in those prac
teal jokes so congenial to the mischie
vous minds of youth. They trooped afSs9f'
Randolph, as one who witnessed the de1r y
declares, gin silent and curious ,od s,, 70 no
This notoriety annoyed him H. always
alteration in his costg1b; .,eNe;ther a
coach dragged 5i~@ard 6y 1oar Diooaeu -
horses. or q Ky drawn by fast trottef
I He was l..nerally driven by Jupfrr, his
u bndv seryant-"Juba" was his familiar
, aame, warm-hearted and faithful retain +
er. and loved his master with extreme at
fection. and clung to him in sickness and
health, in JOY and sorrow.
/ On par with his singularity OF dress
and personal appearance, were the manner
of speaking, tone of voice, ssestleuiatlon IN =
; public address, and habits in general OF
, the individual His voice vas high
pitched. 4ad, under strong excitement, 1t
rose t,Ys shriil kew, which penetrated tC