Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-02-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
A GREAT MANS CAREER,
OF THE PERFECTION
OF JUDGE JOHN MARSHALI's
IIFE-FROM BOYHOOD
UNTIL DEATH.
Richmond DisDatch.l

Richmond Dispatch.
Men may learn much that is good
from each others lives, especially
from good mems lives, Men who
live in our daily sight, as we'll as
men who have lived before us and
handed down illustrious examples
for our imitation, are the most val
liable, practical teachers. For it is
not mere literature that makes men
1t is real, practical life that chiefly
moulds our nature, enables us to
work out our own education, and to
build up our own character.
1t does ones heart good to con-
template the life of such man as
John Marshall, third Chief Justice
Of the United States. He possessed
that quality of earnestness which
gives force to every purpose in life.
He was full of strong sympathy
for all that was true and good, and
of as strong antipathy for all that
he conceived to be false and unjust.
He did battle in the cause that he
cOnscientiOuSly felt to be right with
his whole heart and soul, and waged
an uncompr0misiEg was against
what seemed to he sham and falsi-
ties.
The life of John Marshall, the
great Judge and statesman, is a part
of the history of the country he so
faithfully served and so dearly loved.
The following extracts are from a
sketch which was compiled for the
Green Bag by Miss Sal!ie f.. Mar
shall, Observation-Disclosures of Judge
Marshall, from personal reminis-
censes of his son, Edward, and some
intimate friends, tells something of
his inner life and and dwells rather
upon the rare perfection and deep
sweetness Of his character than upon
the surprising grandeur of his mind.
A GENTLE, LOVING AND STUDIoUs
BOY.
Judge Marshall was Il gentle, low
ing, studious boy. To his mother
and sisters he was especially kind
and tender. His father said, "John
never seriously displeased me in his
life" His father, Colonel Thomas
Marshall, was upright, consistent,
and plain spoken, and very intoler-
ant of the lack Of these qualities in
others. 1t is said that when his son
was candidate for the Legislature
from Fauquler county, one vote only
was cast against him. Colonel Mar
shall was very angry. He said !:
THAT man could only have been
prompted by malice and spite, and
must be punished" He ascertalDed
his name, and the next time he met
him he gave him sound thrashing.
John MarshaIl's mother was
Mary Isham Keith, daughter of
Rev. James Keith, Scotchman,
and a clergyman Of the Epicopal
Church. The Keiths are descended
from Robert Keith, grand Marshall
of the Scottish army under Bruce.
Rev. James Keith was son of
Bishop Keith. The Bishop was a
guardian Of his nephew, afterwards
the renowned Field Marshall James
Keith, Frederick the Greats valued
lieutenant, who was slain while ral-
lying his troops the night the King
was surprised in his camp at Hoch-
kirchen.
Mrs. Marshall was a woman of
great force Of character and strong
religious faith. She was pleasing In
mind, person and manners, and her
son loved her with that chivalrous,
tender devotion which made him
gentle with all women throughout
his life. The Judge told Judge
i Story few weeks before his death
that he had never failed to repeat
each night through his long life the
little prayer which begins, " Now
Law me down to sleep" that he had
learned when a baby, at his mothers
knee,
HIS EARLY LIFE.
John Marshall " was taught moth
ing in the cradle that he had to un-
learn in ripper years." Both fatber
and mother were Well.fitted to train
him, by precept and example, SO
dav by day he learned that love and
respect for the laws Of God and
man. which, in after years, made
him 80 faithfully obey them himseii
and so skillfully eXpound them to
others.
Like most of the young men o'
that day, he served term at survey,
ing, and Martineau says she was tolo
he discovered that exquisitely oeau
tiful spot, Hawks Nest" near
Kanawha Falls, la West Virginia
on the line of the Chesapeake ano
Ohio railroad, while surveying II
! the mountains. .
IL was in 1777 he first met Alex
ander Hamilton from the first mo
ment he admired him, and that ad
miration soon grew into love. L
I was one Of the strongest evidences
: of the extreme justice of his char
acter that he could so fairly and hon
es,ly sit in judgment upon Aarol