The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-18
rnc Home Life or Chief Justice Mar
asnaH.

-g-t.
shall.
RICHMOND, March q. 1S79.-Chief.Justice
Marshall was as noted for bis simplicity Oh
character, uaodesty, and snavity OF manners
-as for hi. ability and legal learning. HS
not designed here to sketch MS puohc 20.
,eer. that IL a mart OF the history OF ,he
country. The purpose OF tbs paper Is iess
amh;t;ous. being to present some reh1l-
,,;scanc eS OF him rs man, and TO glance at
1,is home life and his private haoits aho
ne was devoted husband. and exhibited
seward his wife, Mary Willis Amber, tue
most chIyalrous tenderness anu oencacs
throughout their married lie. lhey were
married January 3, 1888. Size was ID uer
seventeenth year aud be IN ms twenty
Eighth. Their union lasted forty-eisht years.
During that whole period their home was
in Richmond. For many years Mrs. Mar
shall led the life OF recluse. Her healtn
was extremely delicate, aud she sunefeu
from excessive nervousness. Moses Oh uii
kinds affected her so painfully that sue en-
fleayored cs far as possible to project her-
coli against them. The house was kept per
fec;lr still, All the inmates walked as soitH
ne nossib,e. She was so gentle ana so
fboupbtful OF the comfort OF olhers that
NIL near her endeavored to promote ne1
own comfort and to avoid doing ntthins
that would cause her annoyance. IL Yves
her good husbands habit TO sup on ms
shops rs soon as he entered the door OF bis
bonse and 10 walk MS lightly a, possible.
MS voice, naturally soft, grew even gcntter
when in her presence. Tie house 10 Tbicn
he lived. on the corner OF MarShaH and
Ninth streets, ls still standing. His Office
was near The house aud within The same
enclosure. IL was taken down some years
ago, and no rcsi,ge Of 1t remains ta ihat
Office the Chief Justice, or "Judge Mar
sba,I.'' as he was universally called spent
much OF hrs time. day and night, when not
i'm attendance on the Supreme Court. mere
was his library, and there his stuaies were
pursued His wile'S health was such that
she. received no visitors except her most
intimate friends and relations. n'r
love OF uulet was so well known
that Sic was rarely intruGed upon.
A, certain hour every good day, ana
when well enough. she rode out for ircSh
air and exercise. When the carriage drove
ND to the front Of the house the ChlcfJus-
ticc's Office door was sure to oren ara b'S
tall form issue from it. He proceeded to the
house. where he joined her and escorted her
TO the carriage. Handing her tendcriy III, !
he closed the door and stood until the car
riace moved of. When she returned lie
was promptly on band to help hcr from Tue
carriage and to escort her TO the house. lie
underworld to shield her from all annoy
auces. He was frequently known to 90
among the nci.hborS anG request them, in
his gentle manner. tn keep an eye upon
barking dog or n bIcating calf. A gentle
man, then boy and near neighbor. had Il
barking dog. and he we'll remembers BEN"
called on more than once by the Cbief JUS
ticc, who so politely requested nm 10 Try
and keep his pet quiet that he took unusuai
trouble to do so.
II is said that during the early years OF
Judge Marshall's married life he was ire
cuent attendant at clrd parties, then much
in vogue, and tat Mrs. Marshall was in the
habit OF sitting up until his return. lie is
believed to have attributed her nervous
trouble to bis cause, and to have eadeavorcd
to atone for former inconsideratcncss by the
utmost tenderness and watchfulncss.
The writer, then a boy, well remembers
Chicf-Justcc MarSDalPs appearance in his
latter years. There was no object more fa-
miliar to the people Of Richmond than the
tall, spare, straight figure OF that unlver-
man. His sparkling dark eyes
were full of good bumor and bcnerolencc,
and his smile was like sunshine. He was
bv no means careful dresser. 1t must, in
a slovcn. He generally appeared in rusty
black coat and shorts. The latter came
down to the knees, where they were met |
by long, black stockings. His shoes
were large and loose. He wore a
black hat, which was not kept in
very nice trim. HIS head and face were
small Every motion was free and natural.
His whole bearing was characterized by an |
easy, unaffected dignity. No man, perhaps.
ever lived who was frcer from prefenSlon !
and ostentation. He was striking figure,
somcwha quaint and old-iasnioned. and |
suggestive OF the old school OF gentlemen. |
Richmond was much smaller then than it is |
now, and there were few persons OF any |
age, class, or condition, who were not IA
miliar with Judge Mar>hall's appearance.
He was reyerenced Ivy young and Old. and
all who passed him on The street either
touched or TOOK off their hats to him. lie |
never allowed himself TO he outdone in po-
likeness, but returned the salutations OF old |
and young, high and low, in the most re- !,
spectiu aud courteous manner.
What the Chief Justice lacked in style |
was fully made up by his head servant, old |
Robin Spnrlock. who dressed after the same |
fashion as his master, but in much more |
elegant manner. Robin regarded his mas
ter as the greatest man in the world, and |
himself as the next. He stood at the head |
OF the colored ariStocracy OF Richmond. So |
extremely Indifferent was JUDGE Marshall |
to appearances that he did not hesitate to |
carry home any article, no matter what it
mi.ht br, that he CHANGED to purchase on !
the streets or at the stores. A friend, who |
was then hoy. assures the writer that he |
once saw the simple-heartcd old Chief JUS
tice carrying in bis hand an article OF do
nestle crockery which cannot be named to
Gears polite" 1t was his habit to GO TO
market every morning with his basket on
his arm, and to return home with the mar
kelinS.
He was very fond OF theatrical entertain
ments, and used TO go TO the theatre "hen-
ever tue opportunity offered. An excellent
company. known as tIillson'S Company,
played for some time iu the Richmond |
Theatre, to the delight of the citizens OF
that day. The Chief Justice, who was q |
great admirer Of Mrs. IIllSon's acting, was
an habitua attendant at the performances.
He was much fascinated by Mrs. Hillson's
dramatic talents, and was heard 10 express
his regret that Ter beauty was not equal
to her talents. The Chief Justice had a
decided couvivial turn, and no one
eujoyed more than himself tie Sat-
urday meetings Of famous club OF
which he was for many years, md TO the
time OF his death, u member. THIS CLUB
was composed OF the most eminent citizens
such men MS Judge Marshall, John Wick
ham, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Chapman
johnson, Daniel Gail, Judge Nicholas, etc.
There were skiiYul caterers among ehesn,