The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-12-05
Anecdotes Of Chief Justice Marshall.

Judge Marshall's simplicity of character and
Observation-Disclosures have been the theme OF q
number of anecdotes. The one best known is
about his puzzle over the buggy and the sap.
ling. Turning aside one day to avoid one OF
those awful mudhoes which abound in Vlr-
,ginia country roads, the axle OF his buggy en-
conntered stout sapling. The sapiing was
between the hub of the wheel and the body OF
the buggy. Too big to bend and too supple to
wholly uncomfortable. What to do he knew
not. He got down out of the buggy the better
to apply his great intellect to the knotty subject
and to study it thoroughly up. While ponder
ing vainly, q negro man came along.
"Uncle," said the Chief Justice, 81 wish you
would tell me about this sapling: l can't get
over. it, and I can't get around it, and don't
want to stay here all day and miss court. What
do you think had better do?" -
The negro could. snot repress broad but
silent grin. "Why ole mafster," said he, II
spec de bes' thing you can do is to back yo'
buggy till you git clar of de saplin', don turn
de 9Rade (head) of yo' hoss, and den you kin
'void de saplin' and 60 to cote slick as goose
greese." >
"Thank you-thauk 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 OF
joyfully. 8 ~ - "a
Another aneodote, illustrating the same sim
ple-mindedness and easy good nature, has, SO
far "a am aware, never been in print. 1t is
this: When Judge Marshall lived in Richmond
his opposite neighbor was Colonel Picket, father
of the Confederate General George E. Pickett,
of Gettysburg fame. Colonel Picket was a
man of wealth, lived well, and was not content
unless everything about his household bore the
marks of good living. His horses we're his
pride, and were conspicuous everywhere for
their splendid appearance, being as sleek, fat
and high-spirited as abundant food and excel
lent grooming could make them. Judge Mar
shali's 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 their food, and appropriated the money
to his own use, good deal of it going, no doubt,
for liquor. l,.- l!Ei ~
The Judge called him up without delay;
"Dick, what is the reason Colonel Picketts
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 ne
could gather his negro wits about him, and
then said:
.aMars John, look at you-is you fatF" y
"No," said the Judge; decidedly not.a =.
''"Well, look at old miss" Mrs. Marshal) lis
she fat7''
| "No." e' rD@
'"Den look at me-is 1 fat9" ~
| "No." -: !t' ~"
| aDen look at yo' horses-is dey fat3" a.i
"No." ya.
''Now den, you jes' look at Kunnele Pickett.
He fat, his ca'idgedriver fat his horses fat, his
| dogs fatal fat. De troof is, Mars John, fat
run in de Pickett family, and it don't run III
| our'n: OATS all"
'"Well," said the Judge, after little reaec-
ton, "there is good deal in that. 1t never
| occurred TO me, before.p He turned -back,into
his study, and Dick was neyef-troubiedS fang
uioiO'