The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-13
Tom Marshall.

Mr.. Twyman delivered at Louisville a
lecture on Captain Tom Marshall, the cele-
brated Kentucky lawyer aud orator. The
memory of Marshall still fingers about his
native place, and wonderful tales are told Of
his flights of rhetoric; his command over
juries; his boldneSs in debate. 1t is proba-
bic that some of this fame is due TO the fact
that he was popular and drank heavily.
Somehow or other, the public is apt to
enough to keep from making q fool Of
himself with liquor with talents which,
il he kept sober, would never be sus-
pected. Physically, Tom Marshall was q
model for II sculptor. When he was fifty
five years old, we are told, bis weight was
one hundred and eighty pounds. He was six
feet two inches in height, and perfectly erect,
and of commanding and graceful bearing.
He used glasses while reading, but removed
them when speaking. His enumeration was
clear. distinct, and musical, while his diction
was flowing and rapid, but so closely perfect
and logical that 1t was almost equal to mathe-
NAUTICAL demonstration. He was everybody S
fliend but his own, his family's. MIR. ivy
man says:
ale had no home. That was true be-
cause he had in him none of the home quail.
tiles. He could not or would not make a
home. Before the death Of DR.. Louis Mar
shall he gave to his daughter, Mrs. Tom
Marshall, during her life, onc-tifth of the
Buck Pond farm, consisting Of more than
one hundred acres, situated about four miles
from the town of Versailles. Upon this
tract Il small but comfortable cottage was
erected and paid for by the liberality of the
community. Here Mrs. Marshall resided,
and this place the captain called his home.
But he came into town and remained days
and even weeks before returning. How be
lived, and what manner of life he led, it is
indeed difficult to describe"
He drank himself to death drank himself
out of money, friends, home, strength of
brain and strength Of body, until he became
but dirty, low, offensive, whiskey-la laden
topper, with occasional CLEANS OF his old ire
and times OF manliness. The story Of his
last days Is very sad:
"The sober Intervals became less ire
quent. lie grew sad for want of company,
for want OF mental employment, for want of
intellectual association. He would stop the
sehoolboys on the street aud read and ex.
plain 70 them their Latin aud Greek eXer-
cises. He would gather arOund him group.
OF meG or boys-any one tor an audience
and read Ia them iron ancient and modern
history, bat more frequently frOm bis own
writings, which had been published in 1883
by Mr. w. l.. Barre He wonld pause in
these street-readings and explain, critteise,
condemn, or approve, the object OF the.
writer. During the last four or hre
Years OF his lie he was entirely with
out means, aud had no employment. A
preearious and hazardous cbsrity sup
piled bis waats He slept many nights ia
u chair in the common sitttDg-r0om Of q
cheap country tavern, Ia warm weather he
slept on wooden bench DC the courthouse
portieo, and during the cooler nights OF the
early fail in the hay-loft OF public livery
stable. But bis Unsuitable thirst Tor drink
survived all this. 1t was sG-yes, it was
pititui-to follow him toto the cheap, rough
bar.room, and hear him prostitute his genus
and great gifts TO produce coarse and vulgar
wi. TO amuse lot Of thogghtIess boys or ig-
norant men, aud Thus bride them into furnish. |
ing him Liquor. Passing the street one night |
i heard pea! after peal Of daughter coming |
from saloon. Prompted by curiosity, |
opened the door and went 10. and there
was Captain Marshall. quite drunk, sur
rounded by q rude and boisterous crow
bis clothing torn and soiled, bis bat maSlsed
and pulled down over bis face, bis face itself
blackeDed and smeaied with ink and scot.
tie lecred ut the crowd for moment from
beneath bis siouchiug bat, and then drew him
Sell up najes,icalIy, and raised bis arm and
shoulder in q most impressive gesture, ana
said, in bitter and contemptuous tones /:
You remind me of q lot OF c0Wardly ban. !,
tam chickens picking upon the head of an
eagle With bis wings broken This was
greeted with shout OF laughter, and the
whole crowd proceeded to drink. ~ BALI