The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-20


MONDAY 90, 1919
nor t,s ,sspaielsi
II very xnsereattAg Ectter FROM II |
Gof.ssn or John santIoipfs
Oh Roanokes
Notes OF BouIDIs's HONE RExiSlscENcEs
or RaHDoErR or R0ANoKs.
80 .--
By,g. r. Bryan, ESQ.
The attempt to describe the home. life Of
an eminent man who has been dead forty
i've years eyitices an interess in the indi. |
yidual which has rarely lasted so long.
among the living { am one OF the few
who were admitted to the privacy OF John
Randolph home. sE
IN 1916 Mr. Randolph took It upon nina-
sell TO 6irect the education OF three very
young orphan boys the Oldest OF bonn
was barely ten years OF age. Two OF these
boys {J. j. Clay, Esq, and the writer are
vet living. They were sent 10 school, but
Y,assefi their vacations OF about two months
on the year at Mr.. Randolphss house, where.
they were treated as bis children some one
OF them often sleepsng in the same bed with
him, and ~ her; away receiving letters from
him frequently. He took en- interest in their
manners. language, aHd reading, made them
say their prayefs, 8rd often read. to them
This supervision and care OF my brother
and myself continued four years, when, IN
1890, we returned to our home in Georgia.
After our separation he wrote constantly to;
me while i was at school and at college.
was with him In New York In 1928, and the
following year he took the trouble, when
was midshipman, to pay me visit ON the
Peacock, in Hampton Roads.
5()n INV return from sea in 1927 staid a
month with him as his home. Returning
from sea again in 1929, received great
Kindness from him. During the Virginia
Convention he treated me as son, and on
one occasion, W hen Mr.. Wickham had many
OF the prominent members OF that illustrious
body among whom were Madison, Monroe,
Giles. Barbour, Chiefs Justice Marshall, and
Leigh) to dine with him, he took me to the
dinner, and gave me an opportunity. never
to be forgotten or repeated, OF seeing these
gentlemen.
Mr.John r. Clay, one Of the three boys
above mentioned, was Mr.. Randolph's Sec
rotary OF Legation at st. Petersburg MT.
Clay was afterwards promoted to be Charge
.
Minister to Peru. y,
When MIR. Randolph was about to light
the duel with Henry Clay he gave his watch
to my brother Thomas, and not to me, as
has been enormously stated. :5
In 1880 married a beloved niece OF Mr..
RandoIpb, and we visited him that year at
his home.
After his return from Russia, and during
the short remainder OF his life, was with
him frequently.
His devotion to his niece, Mrs. Bryan,
was something romantic. For long Pc
Rod he wrote to her at least once a week,
and have more than two hundred Of his
letters to her.
His last writing, done not more than two
hours before his death, was addressed to
her and to me as his children.
The statement above is made to explain
the relation bore to John Randolph OF
Roanoke, and it is elected from respect to
ahe memory of one Of whom Virginia has
been justly proud.
Al little book, entitled "Home Remi-
niscences of Randolph OF Roanoke" has
been recently published by Mr. Powhatan
Bouldin. s.s-..,-gss,r.,
Neither the Mr.. Bouldin who compiled
or rather loosely threw together-the mate
rial OF the book nor his father was In any
way personally acquainted with the home
life OF Mr.. Randolph, and had not the re-
hottest opportunity OF knowing anything
about it,. The authorities chiefly relied on
for describing the subject Of the book APP
pear to be low oVerseers, who saw Mr.
Randolph when he was sick, or others, hike
MIR. Green,-so extensively quoted-Who
only knew John Randolph by sight, and
whose curiosity to know more OF him had
been morbidly excited. q
The curious strangers who viewed MIR.
RandoIph's remains when they were laid
out in HeiskelPs Hotel in Philadelphia in
1888 were as well qualified to measure his
intellect and habits of life as some whom
Mr.. z. Bonldin quotes. -
Mr.. Randolph had some sterling friends
in Charlotte county, who were in the habit
OF visiting him, not one Of whom is men,
toned by Mr.. Bouldin, while the statement
OF one who was detected in stealing is
given, and it is probable that the Hon.
James Bouldin, who is one OF the aTthori-
ties OF the book, was never in Mr.. Ran
dolph's house as an invited guest. ,,,.
/ imagine Mr.. P. Bou;din has not the re-
hottest idea what sort OF man John Ran
doiph was, or with what sort Of society,
both in this country and in Europe, he
habitually mixed. 80.
The training OF Mr.. Randolph's childhood
was by persons OF the most refined and vir-
tuous types OF that period, and his early life
was spent among such.
The society Of Williamsburg, then the
court end Of the Dominion, was modelled
after the highest standard Of grace. polish,
and refinement known among the nobility
of England. -
Mr.. Randolph's step-Iather This own ia
Their having died when he was almost an in,
fant)-the elder St. George Tucker-was an
elegant gentleman and belonged to the high:
est order OF natures noblemen. His mother
was lady OF rare grace, beauty, and intel
lect. His step-father's second Wife-Mrs.
Leila Tucker-had few equals, and no SUI
perior, in this or any other country.
Entering public life at the earliest posi-
BILE period, Mr.. Randolph was from the first
admired for graceful deliberation OF man
ner which impressed every one about him.
He never did anything in hurry. The
way. he met his friends was study. have
often wished it were possible to approach
and shake hands with one as he did. These
praces OF manner were neither lost upon his
Constituents in Charlotte and Buckingham
nor in the refined circles at Washington and
abroad.
Tn the society Of ladies his manner was
deferential, and the effect was magnetic to
degree that made him greatly admired by
them.
His sensitive and intuitiye perception OF