Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-08-06

LAWYERS of great intellectual vigor and fer
tility that they press on argument so lar
as to produce The impression that their
convictions are not sincere, not sa,lsfacto-
nv to themselves. But Prenliss had re-
Imarkable faculty of making all subjects
attractive and interesting. When he at
tended courts in the country. the ln,lma-
tion that he was about To speak, would at.
tract TO the court house crowds OF ladies
and gentlemen from miles around. | re-
member well plain case of usury which
he had once TO argue at a county court,
and great crowd assembled to hear him.
Most of us would have argued the case on
dry principles, on adiudicated cases, but
in Prentss' hand, it became prolific
theme for the richest imagery and the most
striking illustrations. He made Shylock
more hideous and revolving by his scorch-
! ing satire and invective against the usurer.
/ In truth there was no chasm so wide that
| he could not arch it with the rainbow of
his imagination-a rainbow in which the
brightest and most varied hues were beau
tfully comminged into one gorgeous cir
Gle of bright and brilliancy.
The fame of such man as S. s. Prem
tss could not be narrowed down to the
limits of any State or section. 1t extend
ed all over the country. 1t shone with
splendor in the halls of Congress--in 9TH
er cities and States. Even in Faneuil
Hall, appropriately called the Cradle of
Liberty, where the first words of indepen-
dence were heard, and where the greatest
orators of the country have Numbered forth
their noblest efforts; where Adams, Eve
ret, Webster, Dexter, Choate, and others
had long maintained an ascendancy over
the minds and hearts Of that cold, reflec-
ting, but intellectual people-there, when
Prentiss appeared and poured forth the
burning torrent Of his gorgeous elocution,
the whole audience would rise 10 their
| feet under the influence of his magical
powers.
Ihave heard most of the great men OF
the age, and can freely say, that | never.
heard man combining in so remarkable
degree the reasoning faculty, with such
brillancy Of fancy and felicity of language.
There are no doubt, men more learned, of
more chaste and cultivated language and
fancy, but none from whom rolled such
brilliant thoughts, such ingenious meta
phors, such exhausiless wit. In these
respects, his speeches were like the most
brilliant displays of the skilful pyrotech-
mist.
But, gentlemen, | intrude too far upon
your indulgence. / hardly knew how to
begin do not know when TO stop, on
this theme. Ii is inexhalstlble.
Poor Prentiss what can say Of his
qualities of the heart-who can describe
the charms of his social intercourse ! Old
as am, his society was one Of my great
est pleasures it made me feel young a.
gain. His conversation resembled the
Kaleidoscope, i'll the variety and brilliancy
of its hues and objects. The darkest
cloud was fringed with the lightning of his
wit, and his beaming imagination colored
every subject it touched. Who would
have thought, but that |, worn down with
age and infrmity would have preceded
him, TO the dark vale of the Shadow of
Death Why should |, passed so far be-
yond the meridian of life, be spared, and
he, in the vigor of life and maturity Of
strength, be cut cut down by the arrows
ofthe relentless Archer-Death But that
is an inquiry which it may not be proper
to pursue. InscrutabIe are the ways of
Providence, and it becomes us TO submit
with fortitude and resignation TO His de-
cree.
Ere | close these remarks allow me to
express my warm thanks to the editors of
the Delta for the truthful and eloquent eu-
IIogium which that journal contained of
the virtues and genius of the lamented de-
ceased. Proceeding, as il does, from
gentlemen ofopposite political sentiments,
it does credit TO tie heart and head OF the
writer, and is Cne of the most touching
and eloquent el1usions ever read.
Gentlemen, 1t is the fate of The impro-
visator that, though his influence is so
strong and visible, and his fame so bril-
liant and extended in his day, he leaves be-
hind him but few and faint memorials OF
his genius and greatness. Such Is emit
nently the case with orators like Patrick
Heny and s. s. Prentiss. The effect Ol
their oraiory lives in the memories OF
those who enjoyed the rare happiness OF
hearing them. How many brilliant efiu'
sions have we all heard from Prentiss,
which have no permanent record, and
which pass away with memories of those
who heard them. will state an incident
illustrative of this remark. There was,
some years ago, meeting held al DIR.
Clapp's church, the object of which was,
10 raise subscription 10 procure statue
of Franklin, to be executed Ivy the grea;
American artist, Hiram Powers. The
occasion called forth the eloquence and