The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
REC0LLECTIONs OF 4 PICTURESQUE
PUBLIC \ IRE OF THIS CUUNTRT.
lris LOnciy lirs Among Hia slaves AFTER Ers
1lad Retired rrun ConEreas-The woman &
whom re L~orcd-Noota or n Trco Hurst +
lais Comn ard Grew About Liis Body. q

wv AN w " wv" ~
H,s Gems ard Grew About uis Dody. .
From the Philadelphia 7Yp,cs. f.
John Randolph OF Roanoke was one OF the
most remarkable characters ever produced by
this country. There arc yet, after all these
years. numbers Of anecdotes told and printed
of the ecccntr!city, tho power OF sarcasm. aud
the wonderful cloquonco OF the man who was
perhaps the most unique. figure OF this century.
For more than thirty years Randolph was
constantly in public life, serving as ConEreas-
man, Senator, and Minister to Russia, during
which time he was called the political meteor
OF his day, and attracted tl.A attention Of the
public in II way that no othor man ever did.
He was known by many. but comprehendcd by
none; his brilliancy was cqualled only by his
ccccntricity; and his mirth mingled with n sad.
ness not untouched by bitterness. His whole
life was tinged with that morbid unhappiness
and love Of solitude which characterized his
later years. lie believed himself to he the child
of destiny, and would often assert in great am
guish that he felt " the curse clcaving to him.
In early youth he acquired great knowledge
OF politics and an extensive acquaintance with
the leading characters of the country which
served him well In 1893, when no found himself
elected to Congress. He became during the
next fourteen years tho most prominent figure
In Congress. Crowds fockod to the House
whenever it was announced he would speak,
't - 49, ""o hhuo olOh
by tho tall. gaunt man, who, with dark eyes
flashing and sallow face lighted up by his won.
derful cloqucnce. emphasized with his long,
bony foroinger some OF the most cutting barbs
of irony and sarcasm which ever fell from
mortal lips. Sometimes. but not often. he made
use Of the wonderful power of pathos he pos
scssed and swayed his audience whichsoever
way he would.
In 1913 he retired from congress and returned
In his patatp m thp Gtnupton Rirer tho GALA.
bratcd Roanoke. which ia never separated from
the mention Of his name: Here he dwelt alone,
would i0t be n' di si& g in indo sG" 80 S discover %, iS q more ~
W x;Sd heard ,%i1u but &, Ihe rus TastlinSE and nSvs siE6inE Sf ib :
twig to be cut on the place, and the dense un-
dcrgrowth and unprnncd trees seemed to form q
fitting retreat for tho wild nature of this de-
s%eendant of Pocahontas. Humble as his dwel-
ling place was in appearance. 1t contained some
fine paintings and engrayings, and a magnificent
library Of more than II thousand volumes, most
Of which he had imported from England. Many
bound, and in numbers Of them were marginal
notes, ovidcncing thought and research.
in a coach and four long after others had aban.
dress. too. he adhered to the fashions Of the
past to such a degree that his queer figure was
alteration of costume. He advocated tho Eng
never be persuaded to part with a foot of his
Kandolph's habit of withdrawing from his
fellow men caused him to make few friends. but
ment seldom eqSalled. One Of / them Hsn' was Francis
Scott Key. author Of the "star.spangled Ban
% nHr; w't eor mes% nS Rest w %p q 'U %as a pnbl xGi%i
In the life Of John Randolph was a romance.
around which has always lowered n mystery
quite in accord with the rest of his strange
| home lived Maria Ward n Nnnnn nirl nf yynu-
derful beauty, famed as the belle OF her day IN
the State. All the wild devotion in Randolph's
Dor. and finally they became beirolhed. One day.
however, they.parted after a long. solemn inter-
view, and from that time never met when DOS
other seemed undated. Neither Of them
eurrsnce: In after Years Miss Ward married. n;sniisi his |,
cousin. Pey on Randolph, and at her death left
lions that it should be kept unopened and given
to her daughter. then 3 years old, when she
s ssp%,h the eSG REASONS sons ea'f the broken 70 % engage e1asee:
ment, but the executors concluded the papers
30 many years and burned them unopened. do
s%troying at the same time all. chances OF ever
John Randolph re:enterod Congress. in 1918.
and Though ths n health from which he suf:
e epposcd n the .0 S%si { nleinBi5a aSR Eli. Il tha s0 tariff. the he
portant measures which were brought forward.
He upheld his opinions in defiance of every ono.
those around him. The sentiment which ruled
him was a passionate devotion to his State.
chief political efforts were exertGd for States
rights In opposition to most of the party leaders
1 %e she dn ~ s whG fag0F Sis fiiffr s one sG fIa6s t gESEEe6SnI IT:
most fiery shafts and bitterest taunts were
a aHsinst t not SO m %oGh az Against cdnsid bis ST FRs enemies 5onr i, "a e.
coRRi 6Is turn him ma from ! S i5is sIi;n hsGT 81 Ed theme; =.
Virginia convention of 1899. where the great
ness OF his intellect and cloquence was con-
men as Monroe, Madison, and John Marshall,
A few months before his death tho country wnl
sons proclamation to enforce the tariff law.
Randolph. though ~ in bed at the time. OPP
lifted into his coach and driven from county q
county. where he addressed tho Reonle with
trict Immediately adopted resolutions con.
demn Ing I the pr rs am as sn an inmfringSsmen .;
his cioguence Spreading abroad had great in:
fuenee in bringing about the compromise bill
cause for which the powers Of his genius and
eloGuence had been SO constantly exertcd seemed
&c So, Form liz i il dIad j sne e. e i issa 'i e, t IF 3 6isy H E%ei
in IN PhMi ns1shd o Mhf nis he @oG had ib g9n' to to s Sss sal
through Washington. and dragging his pa o@a.
ciaied body with difficulty TO the Senate cham.
S SeF again : tou MT Hf inFssr Tiey; and nd0 paried. e fr tss
last time. in peace and good I'll.
Randolph was carried to Virginia and buried
solitude which he had always craved in life.
Many years later his remains were removed 10
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. and a hand.
some monument placed over them by John Ran.
dolph Bryan.
In making tho removal II was found that his
body was buried no less than eight feet in the
ground; the triple lead coffin was with difficulty
removed, rs the roots of nm old oak had burst
it asunder and wrapped round and round hiG
body. holding him IN II long embrace close h
the State he had loved so well.
Dimcuit 20 Raise Frogs.
, BANGOR, Dec. 3.-Thc frog season in Maine
is nearly over, but the best of tho frogs are now