The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-06
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
SOME NEW ANECDOTES OF The
ECCENTRIC VIzGINIAN.

low re Dressed Tor an English Court
Rsception-Eeary Clay's Story OF
Thar Relations
From the -Nec York Times
In the month Of Nay, 1900, the veteran
teacher Of PenmanshiP, Allison Wrifford.
was passing by the door of the lobby lead
ing to the floor Of the House Of Representa-
tives az Washington. l give what follows
IN his own words as narrated to me forty
years later.
las L approached the entrance said
Wriford, Il heard a shrill, piping, intu-
rated voice as if IN quarrelsome alteration
My first impression was that tipsy woman
had made her way into the House and was
resisting efforts to expel her. To my as
constituent 1 perceived the sounds came
from a tall and very slender, swarthy young
MAJ, with long. skinny fingers, of which
the forehnger was pointed toward and
shaken at one Of tae members.
- i would like to know the meaning of
the gentl eman's insinuation; > these were the
first words that greeted my ear; and what
Is more, viii know, too
'Cries of order brought the speaker to a
pause. On Inqulring who this strange OBJ
Ject was, was told it was John Randolph
| OF Roanoke, who had recently been elected
a representative from Virginia, and who
was then % years Old. Randolph's career is
now a matter of history. but /, who saw him
at the time, can say that he attracted from
the first universal attention, in and out of
congress-, by tae brilliancy aud sarcasm of
his speeches and his eccentric manners
Randolph was democrat, but he could
never be relied on to go with his party on
side issues. The following anscdote will
remind the reader Of stories told of Chat
ham in his best day, il fact, know nothing
In all my reading which compares With it.
l give it on the authority Of the late Leon
ard 5. Vose. born in Virginia, who became
a Texan about 1867 when first met him:
There was great discussion on the east
ern shore, and especially IN Accomac county,
about the course the democracy should take
on some particular local questions A fiery
young democrat-'the arising orator aud
neld to be a 'powerfuIEspeaker-wa to ad-
dress the meeting and it was well under
stood that Randolph would speak in oppo-
sition. l was Is years old, and my father
gave me permission to go to the conven.
ton TO hear the speeches. There was
nothing but organization in the morning
Dinner was served at II o'clock. At the
hotel l found that l was seated directly op-
poSIte Mr.. Randolph When he rose from
the table l followed close at his heels. for
the court house was already damned, and
how was l to get III. An immense crowd
| blocked the door. When we reached it
there seemed no possibility of entering.
| Randolph at once exclaimed in his shrill
| tones:
| Put me in the house-put me in the
house,
Instantly he was raised on the shoulders
of his partisans. aud once inside the choice
of seats was offered him. l had crept in
safely, and got as near tho great man as |
could.
"Ths young orator began his famous
| speecb. 1t was the occasion Of his life to
| have John Randolph opposed to him. He
was poetical when abiding to the eastern
shore, he was howery when he spoke of
| Virginia as the Mother of Presidential he
attempted to be profound when he came to
the subject Of the meetlng-but it was really
| balderdash.
"An eyes were turned on Randolph when
the young man concluded. But Randolph
never stirred from his seat Stretching his
long, thin arm TO its full leng, h toward the
ceiling, With his skinny forehuger thrust
upward, then lowering the arm aud exactly
repeating the motion, he exclaimed in the
highest, shrillest tones which accompanied
each gesture:
"'Fool Foolp
The effect was extraordinary, electrical.
| Nobody laughed, a complete silence pre-
vailed. Then resolution was offered and
unanimously adopted sustaining the course
known to be approved by Mr.. Randolph"
The most interesting accounts of Ran
dolph were told me by Washington Irving,
with whom became intimately acquainted,
whea in 1912 he was appointed minister to
SPAN L was invited by my friend, Capt.
Holchedge, with whom Mr.. Irving was to
sail. to go out with him in the packet ship
Independence on that occasion, and l joy-
fully accepted the invitation. 1t was on
this voyage TO Liverpool, which lasted
twenty days, that among very many anec-
dotes of the men he had met | had this ac-
count of Randolph:
II visited and spent some time in Wash
ington,h said Mr.. Irving, when a very
young man, and through the introduction
OF one of his friends became acquainted
with him. He took a fancy to me, so it
seemed. and l was treated by him with
much kindness. Many years later, in $780,
held the position of secretary of legation
under McLaue our minister to England
Soon after NJ. Randolph was appointed
minister to Russia. His strange conduct at
that court was the subject for newspaper
comment everywhere. Many thought him
insane. | never shared that opinion.
often, however. entertained the idea that be
was addicted to opium. l may be in error.
You remember his sudden departure
from the Russian court He made his way
to London, to the CONSERVATION of Mr..
McLane, who was puzzled what to do with
him. Randolph has arrived he said to
me. L shall turn him over to you. l have
heard you say you we're acquainted with
him. fastened to call on Mr.. Randolph
(Mr. McLaue, of course, had made the
proper visit of etiquette,) to offer my SER
vices for anything he might demand. He
appeared very glad to see me, aad took me
at my word for many tri6ing matters.
"Soon drawing room was announced
where Mr.. Randolph was to DO presented
Keep him away from me, beg of you,'
said Mr.. McLaue, till we reach the room.
l waited on Mr.. Randolph at the appointed
time. l found him arrayed in black dress
coat, waistcoat and knee breeches, all of the
highest possible fit, with black silk stock
ings and low shoes fastened by immense
gold buckles. He had in his hand a black
hat, to open and shut, instead Of a chapeau
bras. At his side dangled an immense
troopers sword which dragged upon the
floor. The Insignia of the American en-
bassy was wanting. l confesssI never saw
so extraordinary a spectacle. Mr.. Ran
dolph was excessively meager and in these
habilimeats his legs looked like a pair Of
candle molds, we'll matched by his spare,
skeleton frame.
81 did not laugh. for he was so seriously
in earnest. / had difficult work to per-
form to induce him in some way to modify
I nNI at -