The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-09-05
QUEER JOHN RANDOLPH.
NEW ANECDOTES OF THE &C.
CENTRIC vIROINIAN.
A Fancy Dress for an English Court Re-
ception-W Washington IrvIny's
Recoliections- Shortest
Speech ON Record.

Randolph was Democrat. but he
could never be relied upon to go
with his party on side issues. The
following anecdote. says the New
York Times, will remind the reader
OF stories told OF Chatham In his best
day-in fact ! know nothing in all my
reading which compares with it. l
give 1t on the authority Of the late
Leonard S. Vose, born in Virginia. who
became a Texan about 1867, whom l
first met him:
There was great discussion on
the eastern shore and especially in
Accomac county about the course the
Democracy should take on some par
ticular local questions. A fiery young
Democrat--the rising orator and held
to be a powerful speaker-was to ad-
dress the meeting and 1t was we'll UNI
derstood that Randolph would speak
in opposition. / was Is years old and
my father gave me permission to go to
the convention to hear the speeches
There was organization in the morn
ing. Dinner was at IL. At the hotel
/ found that was seated directly OPP
posite Mr.. Randolph. When he rose
from the table followed close at his
heels, for the court house was already
jatnmed and how was to get IMP An
immense crowd blocked the door.
When. we reached it there seemed to
be no possibility Of entering. Ran
dolph at once exclaimed IN his shrill
tones:
Z" Put me in the house! Put me in
the housed!
INSTANTLY he was raised on the
shoulders OF his partisans, and once
inside the choice of seats was offered
him. l had crept in safely and got as
near the great man as l could.
The young orator began his famous
speech twas the occasion OF his life
to have John Randolph opposed to
him. He was poetical when abiding
to the Eastern shore, he was fiowery
when he spoke Of Virginia as the
mother of the presidents, he attempt
ed to be profound when he came to
the subject OF the meeting-but it was
really balderdash.
''All eyes were turned to Randolph
when the young man concluded. But
Randolph never stirred him from his
seat. Stretching his long, thin arm to
its full length toward the ceiling with
his skinny forefnger thrust upward,
thon lowering the arm and exactly re-
peating the motion, he exclaimed in
his highest shrillest tones, which ac-
companied each gesture:
Fool! Foolr'
The effect was extraordinary,
electrical Nobody laughed, COM
plete silence prevailed. Then reso-
luton was offered and unanimously
adopted sustaining the course known
to be approved by Mr.. Randolph"
You remember his sudden depart
ure from the Russian court, said Wash
ington Irving relating his recollections
OF the statesman. He made his way
10 London to the CONSERVATION of Mr.
McLane, who was puzzled what to do
with him. Randolph has arrived. ,
he said to me. i shall turn him over
to YOU have heard you say you
were acquainted with him. FASTENED
of course, had made the proper visit
of etiquette) to offer my services for
anything he might demand. He APP
peared very glad to see me, and took
me at my word for many trifing
matters.
."Soon q drawing room was an
nounced where Mr.. Randolph was to
be presented. Keep him away from
me, i beg of you, said Mr.. McLane,
till we reach the ROOM / waited on
Mr.. Randolph at the appointed time.
found him arrayed in "A black dress
coat, waistcoat and knee brooches, all
OF the highest possible fit. with black
silk stockings and low shoes fastened
by immense gold buckles. He had in
his hand c!ack hat to open and shut.
instead of chapeau bras. At his
side dangled an immense troopers
sword which dragged upon the floor.
The insignia of the American embassy
was wanting. / confess never saw
SO extraordinary u spectacle. Mr..
Randolph was excessively meager.
and in these habiliments his legs
looked like pair of candle molds.
well matched by his spare skeleton
frame.
Il did not laugh, for he was so seri-
Ously in earnest. / had difficult
work to perform to induce him in
some way to modify at least portion
CT his arrangement The carriage was
at the door, and no time was to be
lost first made an attack ON the
troopers sword. / explained If he
wore anything of that kind it should
be rapier that the boys in the street
would laugh ut him.
+" Irving he exclaimed, my father
wore sword, and will wear one. by
-, SIR 4.
Il induced him. however. to let me
deposit 1t in the coach, and / took
good care when we reached the palace
that 1t should remain there.
II next begged him to permit me to
at least affix the eagle to the collar
of his coat simply to prevent annoy
ance when we reached the entrance.
Here he was not to be moved. i wear
no mans livery, by -, sir. was all
he would say. which compelled me to
make continual explanations in getting