Middletown transcript., 1869-04-24

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Nv JOHN COLLINS M'cABE, D.D.
Tn the closing article of my first sub.
ject-the Life and character of Chief Jus.
tice Marshall, 1 shall indulge in the anec.
dotical more extensively than in my pre-.
vious contributions-,ny object being, in
these memoranda, to let the younger por.
tion of those who may read these sketches
know of whon, have been writing: moi
one of your men of yesterday, not an ad-
ventitiously great man, but one of those
who were giants in the land ere the era oil
pigmies, and the advent of the intellectual
manakins. Take the late Chief Justice
| say late, though he has been dead for
thirty-four years-and I suppose there can
scarcely be found man " take him for all
in all" whom we could so safely, in almost
every particular commend to the study and
imitation of our young men as MODEL
MAN.
One of his near relations wrote of him
at the time of his decease, to gentleman
in Philadelphia, as follows: =" lie had no
trays in his boyhood, he had no quarrels
or outbreakings in manhood; he was the
composer of strifes, he spoke ill of no man,
he meddled not with their affairs, he
viewed their. worst deeds through the me-
dium of charity. Tie had eight sisters and
six brothers, with all of whom from youth
to age, his intercourse was marked by the
utmost kindness and affection; and al
though his eminent talents, high public
character, and acknowledged usefulness
could not fail to be subject of pride and
admiration to all of them, there is not one
of his numerous relations who had the hap
piness of personal association with him,
in whom his purity, simplicity and affcc-
tionate bonevolence did not produce deep
er and more cherished impression than all
the achievements of his powerful intellect" !"
"He was" says John P. Kennedy, zone
of the best men of his age" and, writes
another of his cherished friends: " Rclig-
ious from sentiment and reflection, he was
christian, believed in the gospel, and
practised its tenets" With all the other
distinguishing traits Of character which to-
gethef united in forming the arch of his
greatness, this last is the keystone, and the
fabric is complete and perfect.
A writer in the Southern Literary
Messenger" for 1S36-gupposed by the au-
thor of these sketches to have been James
Il. Heath, Esq. first auditor of the State
of Virginia, and near neighbor and friend
of the Old Chief. tells us the following /:
A visitor in Richmond during the Con-
vention, QS29) being at the market one
morning before sunrise. saw the Chief
Justice of the United States in the blue
mixed WOODEN stockings. and the plain
black suit (far from being super6ne) which
he usually wore, striding along between
the rows of meat and vegetables catering
for his household, and depositing his pur-
chases in basket carried by servant.
But it was his frequent custom to go on
this errand unattended and nothing was
more usual, than to see him returning from
market at sunrise, with poultry in one
hand, and basket of vegetables in the
other. So beautifully, by a simplicity
which pervaded his words, his actions, his
whole life, did he illustrate the character
of republican citizen and magistrate"
The Old Chief was member of the
Quot Club-a Club which up to the OPEN
ing of the war had been in existence for
nearly sevcnty-fve years-and composed
of lawyers, merchants, doctors, judges
and in the good old times the Governor of
Virginia had standing invitation from
the day of his entrance upon Office, to par
ticipate in the enjoyments of the "Quoit
Club
An old Episcopalian Divine whom re-
member very we'll, and an old Presbyte-
rian Minister, both of whom everybody
loved, were also members, and often Joined
their fellow citizens, associates, and equals
in this innocent and healthful exercise.
Some of my readers in Virginia will recog-
nize, or remember the names of Buchanan
the Churchman, and Blair the Presbyte-
rian. They went by the fond nickname
of David and Jonathan, for the love of
these good men each for the other, was as
fraternal as if both had pillowed upon the
same maternal bosom, and draw together
sustenanee from the same fount.
There was not more punctual member
of the Club than Judge Marshail-and he
was good QUOT player, too. 81 He
would" says friend of his, "hurl his
iron ring of two pounds weight with rare
ly erring aim, ifty-fvo or sixty feet and
at some chef-deaure of skill in himself or
his partner. would spring up and clap his
L. ! " l