Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-29
ANECDOTES OF JOHN RANDOLPH.

Two New Anecdotes Of the Eccentric
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF Language.
Randolph's fastidiousness as to the use
IF the English and the proper application
Jf English words is matter Of history. 1t
happened that at a social gathering
young gentleman, who had been attached
20 some legation abroad, made use Of the
word classify" in a sense that excited the
iisapprOval of Mr.. Randolph He was
quick to resent it
1T is extremely unpleasant" said he,
to hear careless or ignorant persons de-
basing the language by wrong applica-
lion of words or phrases. Now, sir, you
have used the word classify in a connec-
ton that is entirely wrong"
The young attache, dreadfully mortified,
,olored deeply and retired from the con
,ersation. There CHANGED 10 be present
Mr.. Harris, a member Of the Richmond
bar and a relative of the victim He took
up the cudgels OF defense.
Really, Mr.. Randolph" he said, you
are too hard on my young kinsman. l
think that his application of the word was
perfectly correct and proper"
You think" retOrted Randolph u
don't believe you know the meaning of
the word. Pray, sir, what is the meaning
Of classify"
Well" returned Mr.. Harris, good
naturedly, II don't know that can give
a technical definition of the word, but
can illustrate its meaning. For instance, |
can classify the books OF your liabrary by
the size of the volumes; or can classify
the mem bers of the Richmond bar by the
initial letter of their names"
Il thought So" said Randolph. you
know nothing about it. Suppose should
classify, as you term it, the books OF my
liabrary by the size of the volumes,
pretty mixture | should make. Or, sup
pose should classify here a sneerl the
members of the Richmond bar by the ini-
tial letters of their names Let US see!
There's Mr. BOggs; he'd stand at the head
of the list God forbid There's Mr..
Wickham: he'd stand at the foot of it. a
most improper place for him. There's
yourself: Harris, H. H. The Greeks es-
teemed H no letter. We'd place you no
where"
The other anecdote is even more un-
pleasant One day Randolph was attacked
with a sudden faIntneSs, and Immediately
made up his mind that he was about to
Alt hC uCSPhSSASN A4S
faithful attendant Juba, with orders to
bring him clergyman. JubI, diligent
though he was, succeeded only in finding
an itinerant preacher, Jealous enough, but
very illiterate. Randolph received the
reverend gentleman with great urbanity
and offered him refreshments. After
these had been partaken of he invited his
guest to read the Bible to him. The
preacher consented, and proceeded at
once TO suit the action to the word. d.
rectly he misprOnOuncei a word.
Il beg your pardon, exclaimed the sage
'of Roanoke, you pronounce that word
wrong. The proper pronunciation is
The parsOn corrected himself, apOlOgized
and proceeded with the lecture. Every
one knows how frequently the same word
is repeated in the Biblical text. Directly
the unlucky word again occurred.
Il told you,7 said Randolph, with
asperity, that you misprOnOunced that
word, and you have done it again"
The clerical gentleman again made due
correction, spologized and proceeded.
Randolph watched and directly the un-
happy word was about to turn up once
more.
stop" screamed he in his high treble,
stop! lay aside the book. I'd rather go to
HI and be id than to hear you mispro-
nounce that word again!"-Cor Savannah
News.