Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-30
Two Unpublished Anecdotes of John
Randolph.

Randolph.
Editor Morning Nel1s: Reading the other
day in the columns of the NEWS an anecdote
OF John Randolph recalled to my mind two
others, related to me by Virginia gentleman
who bore the name and claimed to be of
collateral branch of the family of the eccen-
trio statesman. AS they NAV amuse your
readers. | send them; at the same time 1 am
far from being one of his admirers. Selfish,
vain. Oyerbearing, naughty and not unfre-
quently petty minded: utterly regardless of
Lne senslDlltles and remOFselessly merclless
OF the feelings of others. he was utterly in
capable OF winning the friendship OF man or
the love of woman.
RandOlph's fastidiousness as to the use of
pure English and the proper application of
English words Is a matter of history. 1t hap
pened that at social gathering a young gem
tlemen, VINO had been attached to some lega-
uon abroad, made use OF the word CLASSIFY
In Ga sense that excited the disapproval
OF Mr.. Randolph. He was quick to resent it.
1T is extremely unpleasant" said he, ITO
hear careless or ignorant persons debasing
the language by wrong application Of words
or phrases. Now, Sir, you have used the word
classify In connection that is entirely
wrong" etc. The young attache, dreadfully
mortified, cOlored deeply and retired from the
conversation. There CHANGED TO be present
Mr.. Harris, d member of the Richmond bar
aud relative of the victim. he took up the
cudgels of defense. "kealiy, Mr.. Randolph"
nc said, You are too hard on my young kins-
man, l think that MS application OF the word
was perfectly correct ana proper" You
THINK" retorted Randolph, IL don't believe
that you know the meaning or the word your
self Pray, Sir, what is the meaning of
classify"
Well" returned Mr.. Harris, good ma
turedly, Il don't know that can give tech
nical definition Of The word, butt can illustrate
IL meaning. For instance, can classify the
books Of your library by the size OF the vol
nmes; or can classify the members of the
Richmond bar by the initial letters of their
names"
~ thought so!" said Randolph, ''you know
nothing about it. suppose l should classify,
as you term 1t, the books of my library by the
size OF the volumes, pretty mixture / should
make. Or, suppose l SHOULD classify here
sneer the members of tue kich bar by
the initial letters of their names Let us see !!
there's Mr.. B0Rg's; he'd stand at the head of
the list. God forb d There's Mr.. Wickham !;
he'dstand at the foot of it.; a most improper
place for him! There's yourself; Harris, IL,
h The Greeks esteemed IL no letter. We'd
place you oW here"
Tart and rude enough, even for Randolph I!
The other anecdOte is even more unpleasant.
One day Randolph was attacked with a sud-
den faintness, and Immediately made up his
mind that he was about to die. Accordingly
he dispatched his faithful attendant, Juba,
with Oruers to bring HIM a ergyman. Juba,
diligent though he was, succeeded only in
finding an itinerary preacher, zealou, enough
reverend gentleman with great urOanity and
offered him refreshments. After these had
been partaken OF ne invited mis- guest to read
the Bible TO him. The preacher consented
and proceeded at once 10 suit the action to the
word. Directly he mlspr0nOuuced a word.
Il beg your pardon" reclaimed the sage Of
Roanoke, "you pronounce that word wrong.
The proper pronunciation is -" and he
gave il. The parson corrected himself, apol-
ogized and proceeded with the lecture. Every
one knows how frequently the same word is
RI peated in the Biblical text. Directly the
unlucky word again occurred and was again
mispronounced.
ii told YOU" said Randolph, with asperty.
"that Fyou misprOnounced that word. and
you have done it again" The clerical gem
tleman againtmade due correction, apologized
and proceeded. Randolph watched and d.
rectly the unhappy word was about 20 turn
up once more. "StOpm screamed he in his
high reble, stop lay aside the book. I'd
rather go to HI and be id than to hear you
mispronOunce that word again."
An anecdote, unpleasant ana profane, but
eminently characteristic. My informant as
sured me that these anecdotes were au-
thentc they certainly sound as though they
might be so. YORICK.