Middletown transcript., 1869-04-24

one occasion when the contest between
him and another player was SO close, that
an old Scotch gentleman present was called
upon to decide which was nearer the mark
with his quot, the old North Briton
got down on his knees, measured with the
the greatest gravity but totally upset that
of the rest, who could see that the old man
was rather partial, by saying " Mcaster
marshall has it leattel +"
A distinguished Frenchman (Baron
QueniD was at one time guest of the
club, where the Governor, the Chief JUS
tice, and several Judges of the Court of
Appeals, were engaged with others, with
their coats off in we'll contested game
" He asked" says the editor of the Turf
Register, " if it was possible that the Dig
nitaries of the land could thus intermix
with private citizens ?" and when assured
of the fact he observed with true Gallican
enthusiasm, that " he had never before
seen the real beauty of republicanism."
One more anecdote, and we draw to a
close. Judge Marshall never paraded his
religion in the market place nor sought to
force it, ercathedra, upon others. But
when occasion presented itself to vindicate
it from wanton assault, he was not only its
champion, but its able defender. It is said
that on one cold evening in the fall of the
year, an old man arrived at a country Inn.
had his horse attended to, and proceeded to
the Fireplace of the tavern to warm himself.
He seated himself quietly in an unoccupied
corner near the fireplace, which was sur
rounded by group of young men, per-
haps fresh from college, and like most
young men who make their first entire into
life, confident of vast amount of wisdom
and knowledge. They politely, however,
made way for the old stranger, but contin-
ued their loud conversation, which seemed
to be controversy, as indeed it was. They
were discussing the Evidences of Chris
tlanity," and the champions of frce-think-
ing we're boastfully proclaiming them
selves masters of the situation. It was
evident that those who endeavored to ad-
vocate the claims of truth, were not suffi-
ciently posted on the points in debate.
cried several, 'tand all present vote on the
question" Well, old gentleman" said
one of the young men, what have you
to say about it before we put it to the vote
whether Christianity is fact or fable ~
slapping him familiarity, but not imperti-
nently, on the shoulder.
The plain old gentleman, thus appealed
to, moderately commenced by examining
the different positions taken by the dispu-
tants, and pointing out the violations of
logical principles between their premises
and conclusions-th mistakes which both
parties in the controversy had committed
in the misapplcation of the Major and the
Minor in the sylogism, and then, after
having alphabetically stated and argued the
point, his old cheeks flushing with a beau
tiful radiance, and his small dark eye
with an almost holy light, de-
upon the evidence he had ad-
duced, that they should acknowledge Je-
sus Christ was the Son of God, and the
Saviour of the world. Every lin was
mute in wonder, every eye was opened
wide in astonishment and admiration un-
til he finished, An involuntary murlnur
of applause went through the company,
and g who is he, who is he," in whispers
around the room. Landlord" said one
of them as he rushed to the next room
where the proprietor was attending to his
customers, i" who Is that old man by the
fire, yonder p pointing through the open
door between" Well that is Judge Mar
shall, the Chief Justice of the United
States!" The young men were awed, ap-
ologtzed, and t the old man eloquent"
addressing them kindly and pleasantly,
bade them good night, and sought his
room for sleep and rest.
In the city of his adoption and resi-
dence for fifty years, is one of those spots
where the dust returns to the dust as it
was" amid tall mausolea, pointed shafts
and classic columns Of cleaning marble,
in one quiet and unobtrusive portion of
this "city of the dead" are two plain
marble slabs side by side. On one are re-
corded the virtues of loving wife, called
by him who laid her there, "a sainted
spirit who had fed from the sufferings of
life. The other bears this inscription:
JOHN MARSHALL,
Son OF THOMAS AND MARY MARSHALL,
Born on the oath September, 1855 intermarricd
with Mary Willis Amber, Sd January 1888,
Departed this life the 9th day of July 1886.
The three incidents of birth, marriage,
and death-the history of the lowliest and
most obscure son of penury and toll, con-
stitute the only record ON the tomb of
'' THE GREAT ExpoUNpER OF THE Con-
sTITUTIoN OF THE UNITED STATES n'
His own republican simplicity prompted
him three days before his death to reouest
that, nothing more might be inscribed
above his dust-than those simple indica-
lions that he was born, had married and
had died
The marble efigies of Notre Dame,
The gilded sepulchres of Pere le Chaise
ihe echoing arches of Walhalla, the SCUM
ling aisles of Westminster with their
storied urns, marble busts, knightly tombs,
shields, and all g the boast
,f heraldry," fade into nothingness as we
pause before that little unadorhed repos
tory of the ashes, and ponder the life and