Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-06-28
LAYS OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN

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The New York Tribune has been at
some expense to collect a number of
anecdotes about Judge Thurman from
its Democratic exchanges, and publishes
part of them below:
Some friends calling upon the Judge,
! he could find nothing with which to
treat them except Apollinaris water
Its the strongest stuff Mrs. Thurman
will allow in the house." he explained.
"The fact is he continued in a conf
/ Dental tone, Mrs. Thurman rather runs
| this ranch. When Mrs. Thurman stands
up the Old Roman sings low every time.
But just come out around the corner and
we'n get some whisky" The Judge
thereupon took three straights, pulled
out his well-knOwn red bandana, gave a
great Snort, and returned to the house
stepping high.
As some of our readers may know,
the Old Roman indulges in the use of
snuff to a certain extent. 4 young man
called on him one day who knew moth
ing whatever about its use. The Judge
pulled out very large box of very black
snuff, with dash of Spanish fly in it,
and offered it to his caller. The young
man took large pinch, and Immediate
ly sneezed his head off. After, trying in
vain to revive him, the noble Old Ro-
man blew Snort with his bandana,
which attracted the attention of the 10
cal authorities, who took charge of the
| body.
A few years ago Judge Thurman,
sometimes called the Old Roman, was
taking short cut to his home by walk
ing across q pasture. AS some of our
readers may know, he usually carries a
red bandana pocket handkerchief. While
using it on this occasion it attracted the
attention of a bull in the pasture, which
Immediately charged the grand Old Ro-
man with his head down and tail up
The Judge looked at him calmly over
| his Spectacles till he came to within a
few feet, when he emptied the contents
of his snuff box in the beasts face, which
caused him to stop and turn suddenly
As he did so the Judge tied the red ban
dana to his tail, blew his Justly celebra-
! ted Roman Snort with a reserve ban
dana he had on hand, which stampeded
the bull and left the Judge in possession
of the field. A man capable of such
noble actions couldn't make a very bad
| Vice President.
On one occasion in Washington, when
Thurman 1--WE suppose it is no more than
justice to the reader to explain that he is
sometimes called the Old ROman) was
in Congress, he was presented to the
Chinese Minister. The Judge, as some
people know, is somewhat addicted to
snuff taking, and during the interview,
having occasion to take out his box, po-
litely offered it to the Minister. The
MOngOlian wasn't up on the practice,
but took good nip Notwithstanding.
He immediately began sneezing violent
ly and galloping around the room, max
ing motions as if he had an earthquake
inside of him. Thurman looked at him
moment, his honest indignation rising
in the meantime. "Why" he shouted,
''the pesky fool don't know enough to
take snuff ~ and he seized him by the
pigtail and swung him around his head
several times. He then took out his
bandana, blew a scOrnful Snort, and
went back to the Senate and made a
stirring speech in favor of prohibiting
Chinese immigration. This shows that
he is all right on that point.
A good story comes from Ohio about
Judge Thurman, which shows the alb
solute falsity of the reports concerning
his physical weakness. BY the way, we
might mention that the Judge has in
some manner acquired the title of the
Old Roman. 1t seems that when the
news of his nomination was brought to
him he was considerably agitated, SO
much so that he took pinch of snuff
Immediately after he drew out his red
bandana and blew great Eternal City
Snort which shook the building. At
tendantS looked for the bandana, but ]
not trace of it could be found. There |
can't be much question about the state |
of mans health when he can blow a |
Snort like this. The handkerchief was,
too. strong, well-made bandana, cost |
ing six cents, and of English manufae-
ture, but it got fooled when it tackled |
the Old Roman. 1t was a significant |
triumph of American ideas, as exempli- |
fed by the Judge, over the British lion.
WehOpe to present other interesting
anecdotes of the Judge as they break
out and are detected in the Democratic
press.