The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-11-17
HON. JOHN G.. CARLISLE.
Personal Anecdotes of the
Next Speaker OF the
House.
EEIs First Speech In Court and
ass First LOve-HOSV E7e
saved q Lad Ian TrOu-
bTe-Ezts Il ebuGa-
TiOn and ESers
NOnai Char
acterIstlCs.

"John q. Carlisle is one OF the greatest
men in the country" said prominent
Kentucky politician to Commercial repor
ter last night. 81 have known him since he
was 4 boy, and have watched his course with
a great deal of interest The first time l
met him he was country boy on farm
just bac of Covington. He was pale,
studious boy, working hard all day ON the
farm and studying and reading by night.
visited his family several times and AWAY
found John sitting off in one corner with =
big book in his hand He was quiet kind
OF .ellow, speaking only; when SPOKEN to.
When he was about seventeen years cid he
started to teach school. He was rather shy
at first, but in few weeks all Of his pupils
a dored him. He taught in little out
OF -the-way school house, and the story goes
that he fell desperately in love with young
lady who lived in Covington and was out
near where he taught visiting relatives.
l don't know why or how his counting end
ed, bu- the lady in question is now the
mother OF four children and is very fat,
prosy-looking married woman. She lives
within a stones throw OF Carlisle at Gov
ington. was praeticing law in the Gov
ington district, and one of my friends was
telling that young Carlisle vas going to
make a speech at the courthouse that day
on some land :itle Both Of US were friends
Of lis family and we took considerable in
terest in him. We determined 10 80 to hear
him make his maiden spetch.
HIS FIRST SPEECH
The case was OF dry, hard, knotty
character, full OF legal subtiltv, and /
Il ought 10 myself: Johnny, old boy, YOU re
III tor "A failure to-day HERE was hardly
any one III the court room except LAWYERS,
and considering the case and the auC fence
II must have teen most trying maiden
effort. / can see Carlisle now rs he stood
up IN The court room with a copy OF the lie
yIsed Statutes in his hand he had that
same weary, studious look in his eyes, that
same colo, passionless expression on his
pale lace that he has tO-dHy. Without the
least degree OF nervousness, IN plain, calm,
quiet way he began his - eech. You
could see that he mastered every detail and
the lawyer, as they grew more and more
Interested moved their bodies forward and
hung OH his wor-'s.
!, Il have no hesitation in saying that it
was the best speech Of the kind ever made
IN the COvington courthouse. Without
tell an anecdote or cracking Joke there
was something so winning in his VOICE ana
in his manners that the interest never
Gagged. When he had finished, the lawyers
ala crowded around him, the Judge shook
him warmly by the hand, and Tom Jones,
who happened 10 be in the courtroom, told
him he mad great future before him. From
that day his fortune was made Practice
poured III on him. and in two years he was
doing more business than any lawyer N that
judicial district.
i have heard him many times since
then, and he has never changed his style
or his manner. lie has a remarkaD ~
sweet voice, and while l never heard hi
tell an anecdote, privately, or publicly,
there Is a something about the man that il
mexpressingly winning. He made an ar
guInent before the Court of Appeals in a
murder case few years ago, and spoke for
nearly two hours.
When he concluded Judge Golfer asked
the other Judges to adjourn for the day.
When asked by one OF the lawyers-wno
had case set Tor that day-wly he I'D
Journed court after Carlisle's speech, the
old Judge answered crisply:
81 hated TO hear a good thing spoiled
as would DE the c.rse ii any other man had
followed him.
"Carlisle's wife has wonderful influence
over him, and it was due to her that he did
rot go the way OF too many young poliii-
clans who come to Frankfort and get a taste
of the liquor that is sold there.