Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-09
ANECDOTES OF CHIEF JUSTICE
MARSHALL.


Judge Marshall's simplicity of charac-
ter and absent mindedness have been the |
theme of number of anecdotes. The
one best known is about his puzzle over
the buggy and sapling. Turning aside
one day to avoid one of those awful mud
holes which abound in Virginia country
roads, the axle of his buggy came in con-
tact with a stout sapling. The sapling
was between the hub of the wheel and
the body of the buggy. Too big to bend
down and to supple to break, this sap
ling seemed to the judge to be wholly un-
conquerable. What to do he knew not
He got down out of his buggy the better
to apply his great intellect to the knotty
subject and to study it thoroughly out
While pondering vainly negro man
came along.
"Uncle," said the chief justice, 81
wish you would tell me about this sap
ling l can't get over it and | can't go
around it, and | don't want to stay here
all day and miss the court. What do
you think [ had better do %
The negro could not repress broad
but silent grin. why, ole master, -
said he, 81 specs you'd better back yo'
buggy till yo' git clar OBJ de saplin', den
turn de head OBJ yo' hoss, and den yo'
can void de saplin' an go to cote slick as
goose-grease.
Thank you thank you kindly, uncle.
| should never have thought of that in
the world You are man of superior
mind. There's half dollar for you"
And the judge drove joyfully off.
Another anecdote, illustrating the
same simple mindedness and easy good
nature has, so far as | am aware, never
been in print. 1t is this: When Judge
Marshall lived in Richmond, his opposite
neighbor was Col. Pickett, father of the
confederate general, Geo. E. Pickett, of
Gettysburg fame. Col Pickett was a
man of wealth, lived well, and was not
content unless everything about his house
hold bore the marks of good living. His
horses were his pride, and were conspic-
uous everywhere for the splendid appear
ance, being as sleek, fat and high spirited
as abundant food and excellent grooming
could make them. Judge MARSHALL
horses, on the other hand, were notori-
ously lean and unkempt. Everybody
but the judge had long remarked this
At last it was brought to his notice, with
the suggestion that his carriage driver
neglected the horses, sold much of theil
food, and appropriated the money to hi:
own use, a good deal of it going NJ
doubt for liquor.
The judge called him up without de
lay: "Dick, what is the reason Col
Pickett's horses are in such splendid con
dition, while mine are almost skeletons
| am afraid you neglect them, don't hal
curry them, and don't half feed them"
Dick, not expecting the attack, wa
fairly posed. He hemmed and hawe
awhile till he could gather his negro wit
about him, and then said: "Mars John
y look at you-is you fat?''
mo, )" said the judge '"decidedly not
"Well, look at old MISS Mrs MAJ
shalD-is she fat %
y No"
, Den look at me-is fat?'
y "No."
: Den look at yo' horses-is dey fat ?
. "No."
'Now den, you jes' look at Kunni
y Pickett. He fat, his ca'idge driver ia
. his horses fat, his dogs fatal fat. I
- troof is, Mars John, fat run in the Picl
y ett family, and it don't run in our'n.-
. OATS all
: "Well," said the judge after lit
= = reflection, "theres good deal in tha
r 1t never occurred to me before" E
:. turned back into his study, and Die
was never troubled any more.-Lippii
= = colts Magazine