Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-09
JAMES L. RANDALL.
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~Elch spEssSnsd IL thc northern Ia-Isfs
ezrly la 1861, diFxcTsy after the pssss-Se
II the first Massachusetts, trsaofe Through
he streets % Bsluln0ae. ltw&s sosclsod
With true heroic fre. genuine ln<sar.-
ton. worthy 81 Beranger or keassel &c
IAsle. II sounded through tie south like
the blast Of b0gie. calling aer hrsse
sons a. artns. aud, s-s : 4 &c - !. lady
u haltlmor-, n Wa : al the 1aa1 ~
her regiments as 49, asrrhed - nsesi
she northern IL saers- RFers~ hsEV II Was
greeted with universal admiration In
the north. where Ohyer Wendell Holmes
grieyed that he could no. indite some snch
song for N assaohusetls, AID throughout
Europe, where Titled ladies sang Il IN
their salons, and told their husbands
that a country which could produce SO
patriotic "a strain had night 10 he free.
At once, and universally, il Was rooog-
nizo1 a. one Of those passionate out
bursts Of song that only now aud then,
IL long intervals, woal up from the heart
Of great people. And Who is lie
singer whose inspired voice can - thrill
alike the heats II friends and enemies
This was the universal question, az. ia
due time il Was answered that be was a
native Of Baltimore, young man 81
scarcely twenty-five. named Randall,
who for couple 81 yes.rs hal been pro
fesSor In a Louisiana coilese, aud the
story went that going 10 the Posto6ioe
on the night the news arrived Of the
bl0odshed in Baltimore, he had read the
account Of il in The New Orleans Delta.
Then, riding back the seven miles 10 his
home. he Lad gone 10 his room aud tined
to lose II sleep all thought of the desc
Grafton of AIS native city, but he could
not sleep. His thoughts would not down.
and rising from his bed he paced up and
down his room. still brooding upon the
bloody event in Baltimore. From his
soul Went up the cry. Maryland, Ny
Marylandr' and suddenly ms feeling
formed itself into words, and. sitting
down at his desk, in half an hour he 80.
upon paper The inspired lyric. word for
word, just a. il was atterward sung IN
two worlds by many millions.
On the following day he read it 10 his
college students when they met for their
after dinner recitation. IL seemed 10
them wild with patriotic enthusiasm,
and thus encouraged he sent ii 10 The
New Orleans Delta. and within week
it was read In every corner of the coun-
try, and everywhere its author was rec
oguized as genuine poet, Of the high
est order of lyrical ability, bat some
said, 1T is a single poem. Ike the Burial
Of Sir John Moore and the Last Rose
of Summer bat this young Randall
| quickly disproved by producing one af-
ter another. rs the war brought 10 him
the inspiration, such perfect lyrics as
"Stonewall Jackson" and There's Life
| in the Old Land Yet" lie could not
| fght-a fragile constitution doomed him
TO life of bodily inaction--but il is no.
/ too much 10 say that his stirring lyrics
did more to inspire his loved south
land" than any half dozen of her VIC
tories.
The above remarks are preliminary IN
the statement that had not been many
DAYS settled in my New York Office
when one morning strange gentleman
was ushered into my private sanctum.
! He was a man of about fifty years, Of
slender figure and not above the medium
height. but his face and eye az once at
tracted my attention, and Involuntary
| rose to receive him. Either the usher
had forgotten his name or had not been
told it, for as the stranger extended bis
hand to me he said:
my name is James r. Randall, and
want to know you"
What | exclaimed. Not Mary
land. Ny Marylandy
His smile was affirmative, and at once
| asked him to be seated Then for twc
full hours we sat there, discussing to
gether as if we had known each Other
for century. The conversation ranged
over great variety OF subjects. but If
should attempt the repeating Of any por-
ton of ii ] should have 70 say as the re
porter. Attree. once said 10 the editor oi
The New York Herald. when asked foi
bis report of a speech by Rufus Choa.e
81 have no report. sir. | can't report
chain lightning" have listened to the
eloquence OF many gifted men. but
never before heard logic set on fire. emo
ton cTystallizei into words that burned
in the utterance. He spoke not only
with his voice but with his ewes. hil
every feature. and even with his gest
urcs. His talk was an impromptu poem
with statement so clear and logic 20 con
vincing that ] had to weigh his care
fully before refusing them acceptance.
Somehow the conversation drif.ed
upon Hamlet, and asked his opinion d
his insanity. Was il real or merely sss
sumef? His answer was III substaoc'
that it was real, but that his mind wa
not at al times unhinged. At times b.
was craze1 and a. other times IN T,oeyss
son If his natural faculties. and his pp.s
sage from one state 70 another was sud
den and sysasTnodic. He was acted uTor
ty an evil influence from without. winch
now and then 80 overcarDe hiTn thai b
did violence 70 has natural instincts. a,
ia the killing Il Polorius AID his bruta
speech - oqbelia At other times h
was in full possession q hss faczltses
thst oppressed him. "a IL shown N RAJ
soliloquy and IN ms ste-n Jod5c1sl tai
with his mother HIS was caee RI Oh
session. tSs evil irfspence nof alv,yr
having full control ~ him To syy~e
ciate HarTsi4f &c p.ea ~ urderz1s-S Ia.
character n tie Gbost and tbs nature 6.
/ TuTrsto7y-
PurgsseTy Is a Taacs where rTsen srS
F-rgad a tfsear syils. hereditary szsi 80
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