Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-09-13

Hs NffOiAa "a JAN Nup-J =4-. S&tAo iAS 1ShtsA ~ oNe
little of any ofhis instructors, He studied law
with Edmund Randolph, who was Washing
toms attorney general, and he was a member
of congress when he was 25. John Randolph
was a curious looking fellow. He had high
cheek bones, like his Indian ancestors, and like
them he had no beard. He parted his hair in
the middle and looked more like a boy than a
man. When he was sworn in as a member of
the house he looked so young that the author
tiles asked him whether he was old enough to
be o congressman. He replied with dignity:
II refer you to my constituents He was
never in very good health, and during the
last half of his life his customary response in
answer to questions about his health was that
he was 4dying, dying, dying"
John Randolph is said to have been very
tall and thin, with a short body and long legs
and arms. His long, bony fingers nave gone
into history from the way he used to point
them ct his enemies III congress. His fore
finger and his foo. were the parts of his body
which he used most in gesticulation, and it is
said that his finger seemed to have no bone
in it when he thus used it. After it had ac-
complished what 1t had been called into action
for 1t would fall over on the back of his hand
as limp as q string. Randolph's eye was very
bright and piercing, and / find that nearly
all of the men who have written about him
speak OF its wonderful b%rilliancy. He had
delicate feet and he often patted these on the
floor while he was speaking. He drew up his
feet when walking, and did not throw them
forward boldly. He walked like an Indian
and he dressed like an English dude. He was
fastidious about his clothes, and he wore the
most Enthusiastically fashionable apparel. He
had a remarkably shrill voice, but it was soft
orHI H,,fnlt1-n ,,,I ~ ,,,a-4 ~.
matter how sick Randolph was he could make
all about him hear and his voice went to the
most remote corners of the large audiences
which he addressed. He was a good singer
and was fond of music. He drank a great
deal at times and there are some authorities
who believe that his insanity and eccentricity
were largely the result Of drinking.
He was never married, but in his letters,
which l a read very carefully, he often re-
fers to his love, and it is said that his sweet
heart married Peyton Randolph, the son Of
Edmund Randolph who was secretary of
state under Washington. This girls name
was Maria Ward and it is said that Randolph
was engaged to her for some years when the
engagement was broken off. Randolph left
the presence of his sweetheart very angrily.
and that so much so that he would not stop to
unite the halter strap which fastened his
horse to the fence. He whipped out his knife
and cut it Off and then galloped away This
Maria Ward is described as having been the
greatest belle of Virginia at that time, and
Gen. Lafayette was so charmed with her
when he came to this country that he wanted
to adopt her as his daughter and take her to
france. She died.. however, before he left
this country. Randolph never paid attention
to another woman. He calls Miss Ward alis
angel in his letters, and in one of them he
strangely says: II love, aye, and was loved
again, not wisely but too well.n
Randolph was a very good business man.
He had a great number of slaves and he
treated them very well, save when he got
angry. 10 his will lie freed them, and he
was very particular In making the will
strong enough to accomplish this end. He
was a greasicver of horses and kept the best.
He had some of the best race. horses il, the
country during his days, and / doubt not be
was accustomed to bet upon the races. In
his duel with Clay no acted. in d very high
toned inner He did not shoot Mt Mr..
Clay but fired his pistol into the air. He
made up with Clay before he died, aud at one
tiine wbei he thought he was dying he had
himself carried into tue senate that he might
bear Clay speak.
Randolph had little care for other mems
feelings, He delighted in saying mean things
anc Seldom thought twice in making a ro-
mark as to low deep it might cut. Ho was d
superclious fellow, and even nn his ,aeathhe,i
he criticised the language of his doctor. His
easyf' r.,
Randolph replied with an einphssis on the
Ra1icized words: II Ito as easily as a dying;
man can y q