Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-17
SUCCESSFUL ECCENTRIClTY.

The Hon. John Randolph Of Roanoke,
known a. the marvellously eccentric man,
found on his return one season from q
long term in Congress that his slaves had
become careless and lazy. They had
great privileges during the holidays.
Chickens and turkeys were caught weeks
before and fattened in boxos and barrels,
and coons, smoked in the big cabin chin
ney, werc served up with pound cake,
puddings, chicken pie, "store" tea. and
locust and persimmon beer. at holiday
feast. night and day. 1t was then that
the fiddle, the banjo, the tambourine and
the clevis and clevis- pin kept up music
for the never ceasing dance.
Mr.. Randolph waited for the termina-
ton of these Christmas holidays, and
promptly on the first day Of January he
ordered hi. overseers to have all the
farming utensils brought into the barn
yard. 1t took all day TO search for them
and get them together from where they
had been left lying about in the fields
far and near. The next morning there
was a grand inspection of all the plows,
hairows, hoes and rskes, and all that
were broken OF seriously injured were
thrown into a pile. Mr.. Randolph then
said in his shrill voice
"Set them on FIRE, Mr., Chumley, and
burn them up"
The oyerseer demonstrated, and urged
that many Of them might easily be re-
paired
mo, sir. No, sir | want them
burned up. They would always be old.
rckety, and good for nothing. want
no good for nothing articles on this plan
tation."
And they were burned.
Orders were then given TO have all the
wagons, carts, slides, lizarns, scy,hes.
cradles, harness and gear brought up,
and after due inspection, the next NOM
ing, d large bonfire was made Of all those
rejected, and immediate orders issued ic
have all the sheer, goats and hogs gath
eied together.
On the ensuing morning these were
inspected, and many were found feebl,
with age and want Of food, others wer,
crippled aud injured. and all such, II
spite of the overseers pleading', wen
remorselessly knocked on the head ant
buried
All the horses. mules and horned stocs
were brought up for The fourth day, sn'
under Mr.. Randolph's rigid inspection
many were declared worthless. and though
Mr.. Chumley begged tina, some Of then
might be spared, as they could be fa,tenec
and pu, to good use, Mr. Randolph We
unrelen,ing. and all the condemned, in
cludip. the blind. lame, spawned, fsiu
lated, and wind broken, were meTcIlessl.
shot and buried.
As the weather had been quite COLI
during these days of inspection, many o
the negroes, and especially the old, hat
continued to play possnm,' and hat
never turned out Of their cabins to aid i
getting together the livestock or farmin
un,enslls. Mr.. Randolph now gave or
der. that all the negroes. old and young
,hould be brought TO the house next do
Tor inspection, and in the meantime h
mad great many plain collins Of a
sizes made, and suitable graves dug nea
the chapel.
The news of these fearful preparation
soon pen,rated every cabin in the nesr
quarter, and things began to look seEiou
IN the mind Of Cutfte Black. The NJ
gross knew that Mr. Randolph was
member Of Congress, and bis man
the country; they Knew he was accu'
toned TO have his own way. ard thl
nobody attempted to interfere with hin
and they fully believed that he mad fu
power of life and death over them. The
knew he was good kind master, mar
and neighbor, but then they said he ha
"such quare WAYS that there was Il
telling wha, he would do il the MOTTO
COX him. They had seen how he ha
1urned mp all the damaged Farm imPl'
nents; had caused all the injured al
worthless sheep, goats and horses TO
Knocked in the head, and how he Ia
shot all the broken. down stock witho'
ny pity; and now what did he mean
10 with them, and with all these cotfiI
md graves: This was exactly the ,rai
! # r,h' elton and comment Mr.. Randolp
rad calculated upon, and accordingI,
upon lis arrival upon the ground, /
ound an anxious. terrified crowd OF Mt
sroes, and not one mi,sing-all we
here. He entered and took his sea; b'
Id the overseer at a table, before BIZ
NJ, duelling case, open. and containing
par of pistols ard pie nty of ammunition
"Are they all there: asked Mr. Raj
do,ph, Of the overseer.
Up spoke hundred voices, "Oh. ye
NJ, I'm. ,ve's all here ~ ChumlC