Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-15
PHILIP S. WHITE.
BY '' cRAYoN.

and hear Philip S White, the distinguished
champion of the temperance reform" At
the appointed hour, that magnificent forum
was flied with the wealth, beauty, talent and
moral worth Of Boston.
As the music subsided, a tall, portly man,
on the mellow side of fifty, arose to address
the audience. Is that the man who stood
at the head Of the Order of the Sons Of Tenn
perance {" is the general inquiry. 1t is
none other" is the significant respoase. The
3" observed Of all observers on this occasion"
is a person of good mould, is somewhat bald,
but makes up that deficiency by luxurious
growth of whiskers, which become his face
as feathers do an eagle He has large,
aquiline, Bardolphian nose dark eyes, and
wide mouth. indicative of eloquence and good
nature He commences in a conversational
pitch Of voice. His face is dull and passion
less as marble. He has spoken ten minutes
without saying anything, and the sanguine
expectations Of the people are sadly disap-
pointed. They bow their heads like bulrusl-
es, and some would leave the meeting but
that they hope for better things. He is not
quite so prosy now as he was fifteen minutes
ago. His voice is deeper and clearer, his
utterance more rapid and distinct. His face
shines as though it had besn freshly oiled.
, There is resurrection now among the bow
ed heads. He has Just made thrilling ap-
peal which moved the audience like shock
from an electric-battery. Now he relates
tale of pity which is drawing tears from eyes
unused to weep" Now he surprises his
. attentive hearers with an unanticipated stroke
! of humor which makes them laugh until they
shake the tear-drops from their cheeks. All
q are glad they came, now, for the orator is In
!, his happiest mood. His blood is up, and
Il his tongue as free as the pen of "a ready wri-
70 ter. He throws light on the the question by
IS the corruscation of his attic wit. He drives
le home a truth by solid argument, and clinch-
IN es it by quotation from Scripture. He
d convulses the auditory by using a ludicrous
rs comparison. He convinces them by present
IN ing sober-faced statistics. He entertains them
us by relating an appropriate anecdote. He
IS fires their indignation against the traffic while
In the rum-dealers present shake In their shoes.
He warns the drinkers with voice which
en- arouse them like clap of thunder through
ut speaking-trumpet. In word, his sparkling
nd satire, keen wit, eloquent defamation, happy
ers comparisons, classical illusions, rib-cracking
m, fun, and heart-melting pathOs, render him one
no of the most efficient public speakers in Amer
H. lea.
ow Mr.. White can labor syllogism, or tell a
Ia story, with the same ease that Talleyrand
tn could turn cofee-mill or kingdom. His
inimitable histrionie powers enable him to tell
INK story admirably. He has almost omnipo-
en-, tent power in sWaying the minds and hearts
m of his hearers when he is fairly engaged and
lno has sea of crystal faces before him He
speaks without notes, and is so careless,
withal, that he preserves no minutes of hi:
ave speeches consequently, when he responds
'ot to second invitation to visit place he is apt
to repeat the same stories, although he has al
'f,s inexhaustlble supply of unused material al
the ways on hand. He has studied human ma
hey ture so thoroughly he knows how to reach
= the hearts of the masses. Ifthe people vii
Id but listen to his lectures, they will open thei
mouths SO earnestly he could almost reacl
their hearts by the way of the esophagus
ye1 He is personally known on the Green Noun
iaH tains Of Vermont on the granite hills of Nel
him Hamneb;ra in tho pleosan1 valley of the Con
you neeticut, and on the banks Of the Mississippi
He has hosts of friends at the sunny South
my at the stormy North, and the far-of Yes
1edES dggO Ht ludue lOuE VI n
:, that time he was fond of luxurious living an
ola unweaned from the wine-cup. He was
and' good Judge of 0tard" and d" Madeira,
your and can speak from personal experience O
matters pertaining to fashionable drinkin
ana usages.
own Mr.. White is a good specimen of Ke
l'Cn, Z. lucky gentleman-gallant, generous and u
'hun bane. Indeed, he can accommodate himse
eeho to any company, and would be a WELDON
e a guest at the table of duke, or feel perfect
wei at homein the cottage of peasant. He mu
;, have been studious man IN his day, but
on has bravely overcome the habit now. (
dew would rather hold a man by the button-hc
salo all day, entertaining him by telling storie
leFy, than to read page or write stick-full
IS ol matter for newspaper. When he has l
Gown port to make, he viii throw the burden, if
ohn- can possibly do so, on shoulders not so al
. "o- to bear it as his own. He Will pat of 4
'lulh- unwelcome task to the last hoar, then da
7, as o4r On ;ronrornr4,, ro,or+ o,l baartv N,
snuff, brooL ont &c s+at;s+;os ond f,o+s Gto Aowe
anu on the rod of Aaron. When be has leisu
between his lectures, he visits, l am tol
lugh- Subordinate Divisions Of his faverite Ordt
cuoh as well as Sections ofthe juvenile Cadets,
es' fire the zeal, strengthen the faith, and e
u@y' courage the hopes Of the :. Sons and tht
er Is sons.
her Mr.. White Is good company, good stol
sanoS teller, and terror to all hypochondriaci'
'no'e and dyspepsia. Blessed are they who he
awe his voice and see his face, for they shall lau
lspic- an3 orov f.t am no stickler for emf
l. IL