Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-09-07
.f,pm The spi,f, IF ths ftTss
"Reminiscences of sargent \. prem.
lisa. Of Mississippi.
By ttis AUTHOR oF IRON ewkN, fHE t,Hs
uunrtH."

The death III SARGENT =. TRENTiss
fas called forA, universal FEELING Of scfi
row the consciousness that "a great itihi
has iaIlen'' Is depicted upon the taees u
the multitude
The eloquent offerings ID his virtues and
to his genns, that every where follow the
news Of his demise, are but slight tokens
Of the sorrow Tint fills The Heart t,T all whe
knew the gifted Ptentiss, Having known
hin long, mud having OH many pttasiens
witnessed exhibitions Of liis great mental
powers, | cannot. fslfain from paying t,ti
imperfect ttibute tp his ,t,einstys
1 first inet Mi Pfentiss when he was HI
the full maturity Of his power, bit l he W
the rleHsue Of knowing hundreds who
were well acquainted with his eatlyshsto.
~ ard early tfi,iiipls, Volumes of in.
terest might he written upon the lie ol
Mr.. ptentiss, his hisi, sense OF honor,
his brave spirit, his nobleness Of soul,
his intense but eotamendable pride,
his classical attannients, and his deep
knowledge Of the law eat stateeiy he
illustrated, 80 universal mud superior we're
his accomplishments a,il requirements.
In his eafly eareef, | consider Mr., Prem.
tiss both fortunate and unfortunate have
often imagined the shrinking but proud
boy, living tiniioticed and unknown Among
the wealthiest citisens. OF the South
Buried In the oljsctititY Of his humble
scheol, he looksd o,,t upon the btisy Whrld,
and measured the mighty capacities ef HE
soWl with those whom society had placed
above him. ! think | see him breeding
over his position, aud longing to liz free.
az the sullotating ,nsh longs FOR the bound
ess air Of heaven. His hour Of triumph
estae, and surpassed. perhaps, his own
aspirations From the seiool.roem he
entered that Of The eouft==a chance offer
ed==a position gainel--tbe law his theme,
he 81 once not only equhlled, but SCARED
even beyond the aim ef the mest favored
Of his tonipeers.
Tie era was ene Of ettfsvauanae. the
virgin soil Of Mississippi was pouring into
the laps ef her generous suns untold a.
bnndance, there were thousands OF her
citizens, full Of health and talent, who
adorned escesses Of living by the tasteful
rFecuteineiits Of wealth, and. the highest
plshinsits Of ,nina. Into this world
Ftentiss entered, heralded by naiiaht save
his own genius. The heirs Of prineey
fortunes, the descendants of hereps, men
Of power and place, Of family pride, Of
national associations, were not ,nere proud.
more gallant, than was pfentiss, Tor "le
was teshohed among the noblest Homans
Of them ALL
Each step la his new fortune seemed
only to elicit new qualities for admiration
lat The forum lie aasaed--tl,e Jury aud
the iuaga were eonfeuhded-t crowd
carried him to the stump, and the multi
tude listened as to one inspifed=faif ladies'
We'd with each other In waving tiny hands
in token Of hdftiifatiali4-the stolid judges
Of the supreme Court wondered III The
wonderful mind Of the apparent boy
even the wells Of Congress echoed forth
p#ans 10 his praise. lie course Yves ~
rapid and brilliant as that OF the meteef
that suddenly springs atl,waft the heavens,
but he was hunian and accomplished his
task, hefeaien AZ he was, At the price Of
an injured constitution.
In personal appearance, rrentias was
cf,inehtly handsome. aud yet eminently
manly although Of medium height, there
waa that In the carriage of his head that
was astonishingly impressive ] shall
never forget him on one occasion, lin '44)
when he rose al a public meeting to reply
to an antagonist worthy Of his steel. His
whole soul was reused, his high sfieeth
forehead fairly eefr,iseated. he remained
silent for some seconds and only ioohei--
the bald eagle never glanced 80 6efcely
from his eyry, II seemed NJ II his deep blue
eye would diatend until 1t swallowed up
the thousands of HE Hutiienee-4tor aii
instant the effect was painful he saw II
and smiled, when cheer burst from the
adniring multitude that fairly shock the
earth
His voice was clear and sweet, and
could le heard at mn immense distanee,
and Yet to be all like Demosthenes, he had
arereeptibIe impeachment In hisspeeeh As
afeader he had no superior, his narration
was clear and unsdorned. proper sentences
were subduedly Numerous, but the i'm.
pfessive parts were delivered with an ef-
feet that reminded me of the elder Kean.
His imagination was unsurpassed, and
the rich stores OF his mind supplied him
with never edding material, quoted and
otiginal---the slightest allusion tonny thing
gave the key to oil its peculiarities--~if he
had occasion to spenk Of the diamond, It's
bed in the Goconda, its discovery by some
poor native, its being associated with com
meree, its polish by the laridary. its adon-
ing the neck of beauty, It's rays brilliant
and serene, its birth, It's life, It's history, oil
flashed upon hin--4so with every idea in
the vast storehouse of his mind, he seemed
to know all things in mass and In particu.
lars, never confused, never at a loss--the
hearer listened, wondered, and dreamed.
Thoughts of moment came forth as de.
mauded but ten thousand other thoughts,
rare and beautiful, continued to bubble up,
after all effort ceased.
No man had moro delicate and subtle
wit than Prenti.s, or more Falstaffinn
hnmor when ID suited his purpose. Who
will ever forget the spending Of social
dinner hour withwhim, when his health
was high atdshis mind at ease. Who SO
lovely who so refined? What delight
was exhibited by sweet ladies who listened
to his words. who could so. eloquently
discourse of roses and buds, Of lilies and
pearls, Of eyes and graces, Of robes and
angels, and yet never offend the most SEN
sitive ofthe sex, or call other in the blush
Of pleasure and JOY to the cheek! Who
cpnldo on the "public day, 'ascend 50 grace
-fI1llv frnm the nssncinfinns nf tariffs and