The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-20
Grfniiig Stats yaitrnaI.
WEDNESDAY EvE'G, NOV. 20, 1872.
Anecdotes Of Chief-Justice Marshall.

Judge Marshall's simplicity Of character
and Observation-Disclosures have been the
theme of number of anecdotes. The
one best known is about his puzzle over
the buggy and the sapling. Turning aside
one day to avoid one of those awful mud
holes which abound in Virginia country
roads, the axle of his buggy encountered a
stout sapling. The sapling was between
the hub of the wheel and the body of tho
buggy. Too big to bend down and too
supple to break, this sapling seemed to the
Judge to be wholly unconquerable. What
to do he knew not. He got down out of
the buggy the better to apply his great in-
~ct to the knotty subject and to study it
thoroughly up. While bordering vainly,
O negro man came along.
"Uncle,o said the Chief-Justice, III wish
you would tell me about this sapling. |
can't get over it, and / can't get around it,
and don't want to stay here all day and
miss court. What do you think | had bet
ter do ?"
The negro could not repress broad but
silent grin. "Why, ole marst.r," said he,
81 spec de bes' thing you kin do is to
back yo' buggy twill you git clar of de
saplin', den turn de hade (head) of yo' boss,
and den you kin void de saplin' and go to
cote slick as goose greese."
''Thank you--thank you kindly, uncle,
l should never have thought of that in the
world. You are man Of superior mind.
There's half dollar for you.n And the
Judge drove joyfully off.
Another anecdote, illustrating the same
simple-mindednes and easy good-nature,
has, so far as arm aware, never been in
print. 1t is this: When Judge Marshall
lived in Richmond, his opposite neighbor
was Colonel Pickett, father of the Confed-
crate General Geo. L. Pickett, of Gettys-
burg fame. Colonel Pickett was a man of
wealth, lived we'll, and was not content un-
less everything about his household bore
the marks of good living. His horses were
where for their splendid appearance, being
as sleek, fat, and hish.spirited as abundant
food and excellent grooming could make
them. Judge Marshall's horses, on the
other hand, were VIGOROUSLY lean and un-
kempt. Everybody but the Judge had
long remarked this. At last it was brought
carriage-driver neglected the horses, sold
much Of their food, and appropriated the
money to his own use, a good deal of it go
lIb, uO OOuut, tOI
The Judge called him up without delay
Dick, what is the reason Colonel Pick.
ett's horses are in such splendid condition,
while mine are almost skeletons ? am
afraid you neglect them, don't half curry
them, and don't half feed them"
Dick, not expecting the attack, was
fairly posed. He hemmed and hawed
awhile till he could gather his negro wits
about him, and then said: "Marse John,
look at you-isyou fat?"
'No,n said the Judge, decidedly not"
swell, look at old MISS" (Mrs. Mar
shalD, is she fat"
"No.u
"Den look at me, is fat?"
''No.n
"Den look at yo' hosses-is dey fat 2"
"No."
"Now den, you jes' look at Kunnie
Pickett. He fat, his ca'idge-driver fat, his
horses rat, his dogs fatal fat. De troof
is, Mars John, fat run in de Pickett family,
and it don't run in our'n. OATS all.o
"Well," said the Judge, after little re-
Election, ''there is good deal in that. 1t
never occurred to me BEFORE" He turned
back into his study, and Dick was never
troubled any more.-From Our Monthly
Gossip, IN the December number Of Lippi1i-
colts Magazine.