New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-24
anecdotes of Chief Justice Marshall.

"a SuAc1 1NStACb NEaFBHHfIp
Judge MarshalPs simplicity of character
and Observation-Disclosures have been the theme
of a 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 stout sapling.
The saplIng was between the hub of the
wheel and the body Of the buggy Too big
to bend down and too supple to break, this
sappling 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 intellect to the knOttv sub
ject and to study it thoroughly up. While
! pOnderjng vainly, negro man came along.
"Uncle," said the Chief Justice, Il 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 dot"
The negro could not repress broad but
silent grin. why, ole marster," said he,
II spec de bes' thing you kin do is to back
yos buggy twill you git clar of de sapIin
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:
should never have thought of that in the
world. You are a man Of superior mind.
There's half a dollar for you" And the
judge owe joyfuIly 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 neighbour
was Colonel Pickett, father of the Confed-
crate general George 4 Pickett, Of Gettys-
burg fame. Colonel Pickett was a man of
wealth, lived well, and was not content
unless everything about his household bore |
the marks of good living. His horses were
his pride, and were conspicuous everywhere |
for their splendid appearance, being as |
sleek, fat, and high-spirited as abundant |
food and excellent grooming could make |
them Judge MarshalIs horses on the |
other hand, were VIGOROUSLY lean and I'M
kempt. Everybody but the Judge had long
remarked this. At last it was brought to
his notice, with the suggestion that his
much Of their food, and appropriated the
money to his own use, q good deal of it
going, no doubt, for liquor.
The judge called him up without DELAY: !
dick, what is the reason Colonel Pickett'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, Tas fairly
posed. He hemIned and hawed awhile till
he could gather his negro wits about him,
and then said; Mars John, looksat you
Is you fatYt
mo" said the Judge. "decidedly not''
We'll, look at old miss" Mrs Marshall).
lis she fat ~
No"
Den looR at me. is fat!"
EMO"
Den fook at 20 horses, is der :a:!'
mo" |
''Now den you jes' look at Kunnfe PICK
tt. He fat his ca'idge driver tat, bis horses
at, his dogs fatal fat. De troof is. Mars
ohm, fat run in de Pickett family, and it
ont run in ourn. OATS all.'
We'll" said the Judge after It ?ittle re-
lection. there is q good deal in that. 1t
ever occurred to me before" He turned
ack into his study. and Dick vas never
r0Ubled any moreo