Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-03
TOM MARSHALL AND GEORGE u. rREN-
TICE.

TOM MARSHALL. AND GEORGE u. PREN-
TICE.
The stories of Tom Marshall, :he Con-
gIessional wit from Kentucky, arc.numer-
Gus. and some OF them have been so often
told that he would be n bold man who
should attempt TO rctell them for news
paper.
Once Henry Bascomb. LID. the able
and eloquent Bishop of the Methodist
church. saw him leaning for support
against the outer walls of Il Methodist
chapel at night, and said in bitter jest, not
knowing him: 81 suppose you are 4
Methodist from your attachment to that
building?"
Il lean that way, Bishop" said Tom,
in his best Congressional manner; (hic)
give me your arm and Iii see you as
far as my door" and the Bishop did.
Professor Shannon. since President Of
the Kentucky University, and now of ST.
Louis, once thought TO reprovc him as he
staggered up the steps OF the IlarrodS-
burg Court House. "Oh, dear, Mr. Mar
shall" he began. drunk again ~
Never mind" said Tom. $50 am IT,"
and he went in, and holding himself by
table, made speech that saved 4 man
from the gallows.
Like Daniel Webster, who once soaked
up 4 pint of brandy in 4 loaf of bread and
ate the bread, being retained in case
during the trial of which he had promised
not to drink anything, Tom Marshall was
brilliant in his cups. and only at the heel
of a weeks constitutional" did he ever
get SO oblivious of facts rs to make the
tnl CT Of tIa Hatf IIpnc..
possibility. 1t has been told in many
ways, but Mr.. Talbot, of Boyle county,
who was his friend, says that this is the
true one:
Tom had gone to his room, after lcctur-
ing 4 group of medical students on the
vice of drinking, but soon came out. part
ly dressed, and called excitedly tor the
landlord. That large gentleman respond
ed, and Tom said: .'Ain't respectable
'nough TO have private room, What
dye you put that teller in there with me
for?'
1T is strictly private room, Mr.. Mar
shall, said mine host
d" T'aint so-ieiler in there" Tom per-
sisted.
The landlord went TO see, and rom
holding his arm. soon had him in the mid
die of the room, opposite large and
handsome mirror. There said Tom,
told you so see him yourself don't you
Don't think am drunk now do you
Two of 'em by George One OF 'cm 'nough
like You to be your brother, and 'tother
one the drunkcst, silliest-loOking tool |
ever did sec," Marshall when sober, said
the whole thing was made up to tease
HIM. which was not improbable, save that
his tendency 10 shoot, made jokes about
him very like torpedo warfare. / e., dam
gerous TO the holder.
\ good story is told OF George ID. Prem
tice, of the Louisville Corier-Journal, of
which Henry Watterson, the Kentucky
Congressman, with one eye and new
baby" as his servant once described him.
Is now editor, and who has recently made
fame by saying on the Silver bill debate,
Universal suffrage can make soft soap u
legal-tender il it has mind to-"
When George ID. Prentice arrived in
Louisville. ii was not as 4 brilliant young
journalist, looking for 4 position in which
10 shine, but ns a drunken loaier. utterly
uncertain aOout Il place in which to sleep.
In this condition he met and made friends
with Il fellow who was as near a tramp
as any tnat existed in that day, and who
was known AS a 'strolling tinker or
travelling mender OF Tin pots. They made
a day Of it, to the extent ol the funds they
both had, and such credit As they could
get, at the risk of boots applied 10 their
coat-tailS. Night came on, and George
ID. Prentice bcwailcd his lavish and open
drinking, which LET. him without the
means to get a bed. The tinker said,
with the lordly hospitality OF very tipsy
man; You shall 90 home with me-. "
George aSScnled to his .'comcrlonoer-
me. and arm in arm they started Tor
their home The man seemed to know
where he was going, and soon reached
an obscure street, not far from the Ohio
river. lie paused at 4 she'd let down a
bar, and again mumbled out his word.
which could lee divided in .come-'er-long-
'er me- Then he at once rolled over the
bar, and fell into some straw, and, Prem
ticc following, there were some small
squcals, and some loud and angry grunts,
as Of disturbed swine.
Prentice shook his friend, who was al
ready asleep. and said: See here, is mis-
your home?"
"Ycs, Stree" said the sleepy tinker.
at sound and smells like hog-pcn,"
said the hali-sobcred Prentice
"What-cr-that-they'll have 10 stand
it," said the fellow, and went To sleep.
Prentice was still too drunk to know
how to get out again, but he Law and
thought. Ills thoughts were: "IIcre am
|, man of good education, and of good
parents and well brought up. have
been enjoying myself and living high, aud
having Il good time. Let's sec how high
have got. | am out Of clothes. out Of
money, ont Of character-that's three
outs: and have arisen to be the com
panion of strolling tinker. That's my
outing and elevation. Now what have |
got IN to-let me see Oh, see, or rather
smell-iRto hog-pen. If ever get out,
I'll quit, and serve God for better wages. 8"
lie did quit, and became the first Jour
nalist and wit OF the Southwest. A man
once said to Prentice, as an excuse Tor
his dishonesty in trade. 81 must live, YOU
know" The latter adapted Dean Swiit's