The means of locomotion in the Southern States being limited in the days of Judge Marshall, it was his custom to travel about the country, when holding his circuit courts, in an old-fashioned and very much dilapidated gig.  His plain and even rusty appearance often led him into ludicrous adventures, which he related to his friends with keen enjoyment.  At other times people to whom he was personally unknown were astonished to find that this shabbily-dressed old man was the famous Chief-Justice Marshall.  One of his adventures is thus related by an eye-witness: 

“It is not long since a gentleman was traveling in one of the counties of Virginia, and about the close of the day stopped at a public-house to obtain refreshment and spend the night.  He had been there but a short time when an old man alighted from his gig, with the apparent intention of becoming his fellow-guest at the same house.  As the old man drove up, he observed that both the shafts of his gig were broken, and that they were held together by withes formed from the bark of a hickory sapling.  Our traveler observed, further, that he was plainly clad, that his knee-buckles were loosened, and that something like negligence pervaded his dress.  Conceiving him to be one of the honest yeomanry of our land, the courtesies of strangers passed between them, and they entered the tavern.  It was about the same time that an addition of three or four young gentlemen was made to their number—­most of them, if not all, of the legal profession.  As soon as they became conveniently accommodated, the conversation was turned by the latter upon an eloquent harangue which had that day been delivered at the bar.  The other replied that he had witnessed the same day a degree of eloquence no doubt equal, but that it was from the pulpit.  Something like a sarcastic rejoinder was made to the eloquence of the pulpit, and a warm and able altercation ensued, in which the merits of the Christian religion became the subject of discussion.  From six o’clock until eleven the young champions wielded the sword of argument, adducing with ingenuity and ability every thing that could be said pro and con.  During this protracted period, the old gentleman listened with all the meekness and modesty of a child, as if he was adding new information to the stores of his own mind; or perhaps he was observing, with philosophic eye, the faculties of the youthful mind, and how new energies are evolved by repeated action; or, perhaps, with patriotic emotion, he was reflecting upon the future destinies of his country, and on the rising generation upon whom these future destinies must devolve; or, most probably, with a sentiment of moral and religious feeling, he was collecting an argument which—­characteristic of himself—­no art would be ‘able to elude and no force resist.’  Our traveler remained a spectator, and took no part in what was said.”

[Illustration:  MARSHALL’S DEFENCE OF CHRISTIANITY]