The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-06-25
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
Two New Anecdotes Of That Brilliant
but Eccentric Gentlemen.

but Eccentric Gentlemen.
\ reader Of the Savannah Nous sends
to that paper two hitherto unpublished /
anecdotes Of John Randolph, saving at /
the same time that he is no sdmirer OF !
the vain. overbearing, naughty and |
pIetty-minded'' Virginian.
Randolph's fastidiousness as to the |
use Of pure English and the proper ap- /
plicati0n Of English words is matter
of history. 1t happened that at social
gathering young gentleman, who had
been attached to some legation abroad,
made use of the word classify in
sense that excited the disapproval of
Mr.. Randolph. He was quick to resent
it.
''It is extremely unpleasant" b" said he,
$50 hear careless or ignorant persons
| debasing the language by a wrong ap-
plication of words or phrases. Now,
sir. you have used the word classify in
! a connection that is entirely wrong"
The Young attache, dreadfully morti-
! fed, colored deeply and retired from the
I conversation. There chanCed to be pre-
! sent Mr.. Harris, a member of the
/ Richmond Bar and a relative of the VIC
tim: He took up the cudgels OF de-
Tense.
"Really. Mr.. Randolph" he said
s'vou are too hard on my young klns-
man. I think that his application OF
the word was perfectly correct amp pro-
per-"
You think" retoIted Randolph. Il
don't believe you know the meaning OF
the word. Pray, sir, what is the mean
ing of classify ?''
"WeH - returned Mr.. Harris, good
naturedly, Il don'tkno that 1 can give
a technical definition of the word, but L
can classify the books of your library by
the size of the Volumes, or can class
ifv the members of the Richmond Bar
by the initial letter of their names"
E ''I thought so - said Randolph 4;
''vou know nothing about 1t. Suppose
I should classify, as you term it, the
books of my library by the size of the
Volumes, a pretty mixture l should
? make. Or, suppose I should classify
there a sneerI the members of the Rich
l mond Bar by the initial letters of their
= names. Let US see There's Mr.,
0 Boggs: he'd stand at the head of the
I list. God forbid There's Mr.. Wick.
= ham he'd stand at the foot Of it;
/ most Improper place for him There!
}. yourself Harris. H? The Greeks es
= teemed H no letter. We'd place yoJ
8 nowhere" "
i The other anecdote is even more un.
IS pleasant. One day Randolph was at
je tackled with sudden faintness, and i'm
h mediately made up his mind that Il
7. was about to die. Accordingly he dis
d patched ne faithful attendant, Jubs
= with orders TO bring him q clergyman
e Juba. diligent though he was, succeed
os ed only in finding an itinerant preacher
a. Jealous enough but very illiteTate.-
le Randolph received the reverend gentle
4 man with great urbanity and offere
h. him refreshments. After these ha
he Seen partaken Of he invited bis que!
a to read the Bible to him. The preacht
IN | consented, and proceeded at once to su
"a the action to the word. Directly
1t . misproncunced a word.
l- ''I beg your pardon ~ exclaimed II
re Sage Of Roanoke, you pronounce thi
m word wrong. The proper pronunciatic
yh is"
n The parson corrected himself, apolgi
he ed and proceeded with the lectur
Every one knows how frequently Il
-, same word is repeated in the Biblic
- text Directly the unluckly word aga
- occurred.
: 81 told you. Randolph, with asperit
!. ''that you misprOnouuced that word al
- you have done it again"
The clerical gentleman again ma
10 due correction. apologized and procee
~ ed. Randolph watched and directly &
- unhappy word was about tc turn upon
more.
ne "Stop - screamed he in his hi
'i7 treble; "stop lay aside the book.
uB rather go to HI and be id than
hear you mispronounce that wo
- again ~
nj A Man or Determination.
ID
as Ward II. IqmOn, Mr, Lincoln's II