New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-15

In the fall OF 1859. Just as the Indian sum
mer had past and gone, and the air of tina
Northern climate had become sharp an
ch II, Tom Marshall. of Kentucky, student,
| appeared in the streets of ST. Paul, Min
l neso.a. lily and unsea on ably clad, and an
noun crd the delivery of lectures on Georp
WashiBgfoa and Henry Clay. His G. min,
crea ed quite a ftotter among the good PEG
ple of thai ilk, tor Tom Marsh all'e fame Al
an orator and peculiar eccsrtricities as 8
man were not unknown, even in that ex
IRENE focus of Western civilization Ton
cid NOT, it must be confessed, present Tho
! appearance OF man with whom the world
had dealt gently and generously. On the
| contrary, he was unkempt, unehaven and
unrdy, his raiment. of black drop detc
| showing unmistakable eigns of wear, and
| stfording but poor protection against the
piercing winds which betokeEed the early
coming of a Northwest winter Neverthe
less. be held himself proudly and straight
as an arrow, notwi hstanding bis years and
sad experiences; and as he strobe through
| the streets, buttoned to the chin, leaving TO
impairment conjecture either the presence
| or absence of shirt, he was the very in
| carnation OF dignity, and set med to say:
Lock az me, ii you will am Tom Mar
shall, OF Kentucky: some hat seedy 10 be
sure, but boasting better raiment of the
mind than of the body"
The ST. Pau, people, proverbial for their
hospitality. fraternized with him in III a cor
ventionai Western fas bon. and, as a conse-
quence. the bowl flowed freely to the music
of Toms superior conversational talents.
1t was bnt few days before every BODY
knew him. and when the evening arrived
for his lecture upon Washington. his foray
upon the 'rOsy' was painfully evident,
Nothing aba she'd, he delivered one of those
remarkable eulogiums upon the life, char.
he was preeminen,ly famous; but his glow
ing periods and ornate rhapaOiies we're in
terspereed with occasional commonplace.
not To say vulgarities. which sadly marred
the effect of an eloquence almost divine.
The same course was pursued in his lecture
upon Henry Clay, and it was dis misfor-
tome to dispel, in a measure, the admra
tim OF large audiences of intelligent peo-
die, eager wOrshipers at the shrine of
American orstory. Toms purpose. how
ever, was attained. He was in high
feather with fair share ot dollars. the
proceeds of his lectures, and forthwith he
roamed the town day aud night, in An in
glorious orgie. His variable moods caused
him rather to be eli unned than courteC. for
10 one knew whether his greeting would
be recs ived or repelled. One moment he
WAS the very embodiment of courtliness-
the next, The disposition to quarrel and H.
suit predominated. As natural conse
quence, he became involved in brois with |
of low degree while FRI auent- |
ing disreputable eroggeries, and who were
totally indifferent respecting the name and |
fame Of either Washington. Clay, or even |
Tom Marshall. Considering the rough !
character OF his quondom associates, it was |
indeed a wonder he escaped without serious |
injury to life or limb Occasionally res. |
cued and taken to the home of a respecta- |
Die citizen, he would chafe under his de- |
tentlon until he could escape and return to |
his wallow.
1t was during some of these intervals of |
respectable captivity and comparative So
oerness that enjoyed several interviews |
with Mr.. Marshal, and but for an oc-
casional display OF tierceness and indisposi.
tlon to submit to suggestion, pro or con,
they would have been charming to a de-
gree. There was richness in his choice of
words, dction and phraseOlosy, which, to
my ears, seemed ss though he had culled
ali the choice exotics in the conservatory of
The English language From out his mouth
1rOpped pearls, rnbies and diamonds. and |
,is mobile face TT Elected back their spark
ing and their brilliancy. The settings of
hese cole quail jewels were faultless, dis.
playing their beauty TO the best possible adj
vantage, and. dszzled al blinded, We were
content to shade our eyes and listen But
's there is no joy without it's PAIN no rose
without ltsi norm alter bearing heavenWard |
10 would, without the slightest warning.
lurl me down to the bOttomless abyss
With his sudden changes from sub.
unity to positive coarseness. IL know
omethiDg Of the history of nv coun.
~ and of the world" -he would exclaim
hitting his breast with his hand. and
rawing his tall figure. erect as pine, to it's
ullest height. But the world is replete
vi asses and fools, and, hence, history ia
ull OF thu NJ" On one occasion he asked if
had ever heard of Don John of Austria.
no, when ! mild y replied that had read
that distinguished person, in connection
18th the history OF Naples, under the Span
70 rule, he turned like a tiger, demanding in
offensive manner to know, where was
orn and raised, and how in the devil l | !
ared to be apprlsed OF anything like that
leeting him IN the street ons day, he {
ated he had just learned lesson in po- {
teness. He had met an Iodian, he said.
ad IN all the gorgeous array OF paint,
'athers, ear-rir g. and blanket, striding
ajestical]y along the board walk that sur. t
ouD ted the bluff. Struck with his com. ;
andipg presence, his panoply and defiant