Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-25
RocHEsTER's WATERFALL.
aow a Brilliant American Orator Los
His Grin.

aow q Brilliant American Orator Lost
His Grip.
Hon. Thomas f. Marshal, who once
fought duel with Gen. James Watson
Webb, of New York City, was one Of
the most brilliant men America ever
produced-a sort of Chsuncey NJ. De
pew of half century ago-and he was
the pride of Kentucky. His wit aud
eloquence were matchless and he had
an education almost rs perfect as q
mans mind could accept. Thus he was
frequently invited to deliver addresses
on great public occasions, valedictoriel
at commencement exercises of colleges,
speeches upon the dedication of great
buildings, the unwilling of monuments,
etc. Once he was invited to make
speech at Rochester on the dedication
of building which had been erected
for eelemosynary purposes by coter-e
of benevolent ladies there. Mr.. Mar
shall arrived at noon of that day and
was to make his speech at 2 p. IN. A
committee of gentlemen took him in a
carriage and drove him about the city,
its suburbs and its environs, and on the
way the party absorbed large quantities
The result was that when they reached
Falls View Park Mr.. Marshal conceived
the idea that Genesee Falls, really forty
feet high, were 140 feet high. When
he went to the hall to deliver his adj
dress he was somewhat "obfustica ed. "
But it was said of him, and doubtless
with considerable truth, that if he could
get position with his right hand grasp
ing his left wrist behind him he could
go on eloquently and impreSsively with
a speech which would be interrupted
and become maudlin if he lost his grip.
Obtaining the necessary position. he
began his address;
Ladies aud Gentlemen of the City
of Rochester, Since my arrival in
your thriving metropolis | have had the
pleasure of drive about the suburbs
and environs, aud among the places we
visited was the splendid park of groves
where l saw superb waterfall a hun
bred and forty feet high. On my pere-
CARNATIONS through this vale of tears |
have had the pleasure of a visit TO La
Belle France, land of vine-clad hills
and the home of a happy peasantry. l
have seen Paris, the magnificent queen
city of the world / have driven about
her Bots de Boulogne and Champs
Elysees and have rambed through the
galleries of the Tuileries.'
Here Mr.. Marshal lost his grip and
winking and hiccoughing ne went on t.
say: But Paris and France and all
that amt got no waterfall a hundred
and forty feet highly darn sight"
Then seeing his lett hand waving
aimlessly through the air he managed
with some presence of mind to get
grip on his left wrist again, and pro-
ceeded calmly and eloquently to ray:
Il have sailed up the beautiful Rhine
to its confluence with the silyery main.
I've seen the grand old ivory-covered
castles that stand upon her historic
banks, around which cling legend and
tradition and story. / have met Ger
many's warm and generous-hearted peo-
ple-the patrons of the arts and the
sciences. | have grasped in strong and
cordial friendship the rugged hand oil
her great monarch, King William"
Here Tom lost his grip ugain and
proceeded to declare that Germany had
no waterfall hundred and forty feet
high. But quickly he regained the
grasp Of his wrist and proceeded:
Il have stood on the prov of a ma.
jestic ship and sailed along beside the
white chalk cliffs of Albion-proud old
Britain, the mystress Of the seas. ]
have rambled through her shady lane.
and among her pleasant fields. have
had the distinguished honor to meet,
almost in her youth, the peerless Queen
Victoria-a kind and gentle mother,
true and faithful vie, royal and regal
monarch"
Here Marshal lost his grip again and
said: But femme tell You, Vic Great
Britain amt got no (hic) waterfall
hundred and forty feet high"
The remainder of the address was
deferred. Kentuckg State Journal