Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-20
HON. JOHN HOWE PEYTON.
Recollections of by Herring Chrisman.

FFOm early lulduCy lONeu d OOui U
house. Ny father was sheriff and l
followed him there almost before
could quite comprehend. At a tender
age was boarded at the County seat
to go to school. l wept every time |
remembered my mother at first and
went to the Court house as sure as ]
wept My mothers uncle was judge Oh
the bench. The old man eloquent Mr.
Robert Gray who prosecuted criminals
was her family friend and my father
was in the sheriff's box. Next to rest
ing on my mothers knee it comforted
me to be there. 1t was a grand pres
ence to be in as learned we'll after
wards and lose but little of its dignl
ty as it recedes from me. The judge.
l came to know after long years and 10
many Courts was without a peer, the
attorney as such had almost no super
ior in any State and the sheriff only,
with his fine culture and rare gifts OF
mind and heart, was out OF place. In
important eases the Stannton bar was
often drawn upon. and came to know
some of them well.
In 1885, was promoted to the Staun
ton Academy. What an ancient |
have lived to be! OF course, feeling my
self stranger in a new place | went
promptly to the Courthouse in search
of old friends, craving to see a familiar
face. A criminal case was on trial, the
crowd was dense, the witnesses had
been heard, and Mr.. Niche, who was
always able, was making the first
speech. When he had concluded, the
prisoner seemed in some danger OF
conviction. Gen. Baldwin followed.
and then Mr.. Stuart. Gen. Baldwin
was always eloquent in defense. Mr..
Stuart was very tall, very handsome,
very graceful, very finished in his Ian
guage, and altogether the most persua
sive speaker | remember to have
heard, especially SO with the opposite
side. There were speakers on the hust-
ings who could goad their enemies
and lash theii followers into a much
greater rage, but he only could so in
sinuate himself into the hearts and
minds of the opposite party as to elect
himself to Congress against heavy odds.
When he had finished. | wished the
poor fellow in the dock might get off
When Mr. Stuart closed, IA gentleman
arose whom | had not seen before. but
whom was careful to hear many times
after that. He was very tall, very
massiye,and with a face that indicated
something that was very rare and
grand. His features were of a classic
mould and his complexion evidently
had been as fair as womans for ii
was still fair His language was sim
pie and pure; his manner serious and
direct his voice neither loud nor yet
low; his enunciation distinct, every
syllable making itself heard and felt.
His speech was neither long nor short.
Its main characteristic was strength
and force. When he had closed l
thought he was the grandest looking
man and the strongest lawyer | had
ever heard, and | kneD the prisoner
was guilty. And now after fifty years
of practice before many Courts III
great cities and in small towns from
the Atlantic to the Rocky mountains
/ AIN even yet forced to think that
Howe Peyton, whom | first heard so
many years since, was the grandest
looking man and the strongest lawyer
/ ever saw and heard.
In 1874, when on nv way to Rich
mond to be examined for license to
practice the profession which Mr.. Pey
ton SO honored and adorned, who
should get into the stage but himself,
and to my no small delight. 1t was in
the dead OF winter, the mercury way
down. the Blue Ridge to be crossed,
and we had it all to ourselves. No
journey | have ever made. unless it is
my wedding tour, was ever so delight
full It's deeply impressed on my
memory, and carried through all these
years. Always fond of young people.
he seemed to just turn himself loose.
He scorned 70 tell an anecdote, but
his resources seemed infinite; his con
versation, gay and serious by turns
and for the most bubbling over with
sprightliness and fun, but never word
unfit for a lady's ears. 1t was his
habit in winter to travel well and care
fully protected and he usually carried
heavy Indian blanket to spread over
his lap. The only thing he told me
resembling an anecode was in relation
to trip over the same routeone former
winter when accompanied by a very
wealthy neighbor whom we both knew
This old man would have been describ
ed in NewEngland as a'little near" and
among his peculiarities always went
thinly, if not meanly clad. Mr.. Peyton's
description of the old mans efforts to
lead the conversation off, while he
would edge and insinuate his lank and
shiveriDg limbs under that blanket
were indescribably funny as well as
severe, for there was nothing to which
he showed SO little mercy as anything
that struck him as being mean.
Whenever | met him after that, he
was exceedingly genial and kind. He
always rode on horseback from his
home a little way out to his office
every day as long as he was able One
warm summers day he invited me to
ride with him to his home. Not a lit
tie pleased, for his home was as charm
ing as himself, | accepted gladly
npl,
started early in the afternoon and un
der that August sun his thoughts re
Yerted to his favOrite beverage, and he
was fairly eloquent in his praises of
buttermilk, its refreshing powers and
all that. Thinking only what would
please him best l concurred fully in
every thing he said. So fully expecting
to give his young friend a rare treat,
we had no sooner entered the house
than he sent one of his daughters for
that dreadful buttermilk and she came
back with two great foaming goblets
of that to Inc dreadful stuff, for at that
time, though | have since learned TO !
like it and rarely ever enjoy it on hot |
summers day without recalling Mr. |
Peyton and having little quiet laugh |
to myself, get at that time there was
scarcely any fluid more repulsive and |
impossible to me. He turned his off |
and drained his glass with great relish.
but soon observed that my glass
still foamed to the top. His eyes fair
ly danced with fun, yet he said never a
word, but sat there enjoying my con
tortions as kitten plays with mouse,
and then sent the glasses away. [
never struggled so hard oyer a repul
sive draft, and so small a space of time
never seemed half so long, but | could
not swallow if would, and dared not
II could. | meyer have carried compla
eency quite SO far since that afternoon
ride on that August day. | can't re.
call anything more of mine host that
day. and not much wonder, for his
house full of daughters were quite as
to man at my age; but
next morning at breakfast he begins
to recall himself to my memory again.
The scene at the table presents itself
to Inc as one of the most charming
have witnessed in my life Himself at
the foot of the long table, his still
handsome and well preserved wife at
The head and that IOpp row of baouti