American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-04-30
CHARACTERISTIC SKETCH

0fte Rev. Nh" Sumnefeid-1oren during ms mte Uss 20
B.qLTLH0RE
Mr.. SummerheId though only in his twenty
fourth year, possesses in an eminent degree the
magical influence of attracting and interesting every
eye that beholds him, and ryetting the attention oil
every listening ear To attempt description oil
him would be as impossible as to attempt to copy
his style, or initiate his graceful action II you
would completely understand his oratory or feel his
eloquence, you must view him while speaking, Tor
there is magic charm in every gestures; iasclna'
ton in every glance of his eye-and duly to appre
ciate his talents you mast hear him for he has
the wonderful power indeed "to give to airy nothing
la local habitation and name" de can even draw
la smie from an acorn make it proudly wave the
veteran OF the Forest until we see beauty IN an oak
we never saw before. He can take a blown thistle,
thin 1t by the breeze of heaven and light II where
he peases and in his smile, make it appear TO us
more lovely than the bIushing rose. HIS figures
are truly apprcpriae---hls Smiles beautu and
sublime, yet the most simple, perhaps, ever uttered
by the lips OF an orator. In him you discover no
thing like an endeayor to display his superior &c.
MUS. His subject alone calls forth his oratoral
power; and it then he is eloquence ITSELF. Posses
sing the fertile Imagination ever gifted to man,
and having the happy art Of feeling the subject he
wishes to impress his hearers he has them "
pletely spell bound, taking the senses capture, mel
ling the eye into tears, kndng the fire OF religl-
Gus enthusiasm in the throbbing breast. He paints
dying as only enjoying bliss and de tn, the terri
fck monster, he strips Of all his horrors clothing
him in CARDS so lovely and vsage so inviting, tina
we only view him as the messenger Of peace-And
The narrow house the dark gray vau--the soul
appalling grave--he perfumes with the blood OF
Christ, and pointing to the sepulchre where GU
God did lie-asks the righteous il they would refuse
10 enter there. But the contrast to them that know
not God, what an eternity does he portray
where the sound of the sad, desparing, awful bell
hall forever and forever vbrate on their Responding
hearts, and ring into their aching ears that their
poor souls are lost forever Is there heart so cal
ous, so lost to every sense of feeling, that could
thus hear him, and not with horrour shudder-and
is there one can see him sweety smile, and grace
fully invite while he procalms "Now is the accep-
ted time-this is the day OF salvation, and not
accept the invitation
He certainly excels all orators Of his day-fol
however Cicero or Demosthenes in ancient days
may have charmed their delighted auditory by theil
powerful eloquence-or even in our modern day, \
Notwithstanding an i may have shone--a p
- been listened to, and wondered at-and d
yet followed and adr1ired-st still, Tor grace
in motion, charm in action, and sublime, simple, sI
beautiful imagery, Mr. Symmetrical must eclipse
them ALL He is in every sense of the word anI
original, and initiates nature aone-and is, what II
should term, Natures Orator The talents he pos
sesses no art can atain-nor all Goconda's pearls
purchase--for they are the boon OF Heaven, & few
receive them. - baltimore fn1rrican.