Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18
JOHN RANDOLPH OF VIRGINIA

Confrerr's Graphic Pen ri-snre of the
Eloquent Soathcra Statesman
A star reporter ran across = VERY interesting
historical document recently IN the share q an
old letter from Rufns Mcintire o. Parscfs,il.e.
Ne. to Horace Piper % Limerick Ne. II con-
tains one o: The mos, striking and probably the
most natural brief ron pictures 81 John Ram
dclph. the Virginia statesman. ever drawn Mr..
Mcintire sat in the Twenty-frst Congress $500
with Mr.. Randolph.
II refers 90 Mr. Randolph using brandy a. .
stimuiant duriag his orAtions. Times aud cu.-
toms have materially changed in sixty wears. IL
. member should follow the eminent Nirgiuian's
example in the Ftfty-second Congress with two
htte glasses. ore containing water and the Other
brandy. on his desk before him. the number Of
members who would demand where are We
az and the great convulsiou that would sbsks
the country from center 10 circumference can
easily be imagined
The letter Is as follows:
PARsoNsvTILE. Ma, November G. 1855
Mr.. Horace Piper:
Dear Sir: Yours dated October s 10 received.
John Randolph was very peculiar looking
map, and when knew ham be Was not too uni-
form IA has dress. a. he was represented pre-
Nioasiy 30 have been. he wss tall very spare
and had been very straight. but strongly mani
Tested the effects OF disease upon bic figure
lconsumption) by growing depression Of tie
breast and bending In his shoulders He wore
has hair parted before and corlbed back like
female or ~ we many BAPTIST prearh.rs
he most frequently came into the HOUSE a.
though from a ride on horseback. with a small
riding stick or switch IN his hand with bauts
that came well up 90 The knee, with white tcps,
ltght-colored surtout that rtted close ard ,ift.
toned mp 90 the chin l do not recollect the
general color Of has coat. but think il wss bloc.
HIS vest, hight bun. and small clothes OF nam
falcons. sometimes and sometimes Tue
other. OF light drab color, about the color
OF his surtout
His clothes always fitted him nicely and he
locked very neatly drapei. He usually Won. q
common beaver hat. bat sometimes = cap. aud
! think have seen him with a high-crowned
nav with white brim. l do not rccollect
whether he wore n crsvat or a stock ills vest
was rather longer than is the modern fashion.
When he spoke he usually lad two tumblers n
liquor before HIM, one Of water and the other
eoiored, either porter or more probably eolored
with brandy. and be frequently wet his lips or
slipped little. de usually carried some Kind
OF lozenges in his vest pocket and during
speaking would take them out, unroI them and
take one or two and put them into his mouth
or wet them IN the tumblers Of liquor or throw
them m and let them dissolve-an this very de-
hoerately while his mind seemed 70 be intent On
his subject This no doubt he did % stop the
tickling In his throat and prevent coughing,
which he scarcely ever did in q long speech
though Immediately after he would cough Sc
verely. having constantly what be called a
''ehurch yard cough" Possibly the colo-~a
liquor might not have been brandy, but come
| other preparation.
lie had very peculiar gesture wav of
! pointing the finger and shaking H. His manner
was very deliberate. giving marked emf hRsis aud
very marked pauses, especially when pointing
| his long forehnger and shaking il and before
some peculia- expression or word which he
| appeared TO be selecting 10 express hrs idea
with peculiar force or significance. His
deliberate manner made IL 20 report his
speeches, more 80 than most public speakers
| In no part Of his speech was he rapid OF
Misunderstanding like the heat Of pass:o or
feehng-hut deliberately severe and cutting,
both in words and manner. His voice Was
shrill and clear, rather Of the treble character
and his enunciation distinct. 50 that YOU
scarcely ever would mistake his words He
language WIS choice. classical aud spoken with
all the precision of well-written Grafton.
Yours respectfully,
RUFCs McISrIRE.