The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-14
From the Spnit q shs Tiasa.
"Reminiscences ef sargeams 8. rrenfass.
of afsssssfppf.

OF Missassippi.
zg THE AUTHOR OF TOM OWEN, THE szz Huxrnn.n
The death of Sargeant 8. Prsntss has called
fortc universal feeing Of sorrow the conscious
ness that "a great man has fallen" is depicted upon
the faces Of the multitude.
ne eloquent offerings to his virtues and to his
genius, that every where follow the news OF his
Gsnse are put slight tokens of the sorrow that
nils the heart Of all who knew the gifted Prentss
Having known him long, and having had freuueut
occasions 90 witness exhibitions Of his great mem
tal powers, cannot refrain IRON paying an imper-
feet tribute to hIs memory
first met Mr.. Prennss when he was in the full
maturity OF his power, but have the pleasure OF
knowing hundreds v no were well acaus,nsed with
his early history, and early niumPhs. Volames Of
interest might be written upon the lite Of Mr.
Prentiss, and then his high sense Of honor, his
brave spirit, his nObeness Of SOUL his incense but
commendabie pride, his classical afsainmeats and
his deep knowledge OF the law, can scarcely be
illustrated, 80 universal and superior were his ac-
comPllshments and requirements.
In his early Career, consider Mr. Prentiss both
fortunate aud unfortunate i have often imagined
the shrinking but proud boy, living unnoriced and
unknown among the wealthiest citizens Of the
South Buried in the obscunEy OF bis hunbe
school, he looked Out upon the busy world, aud
measured the mighty capacities OF his soul with
those whom society had placed above him /
think see him broodIng over his position, and
the Doundless air Of heaven His hour Of triumph
came, and surpassed, perhaps, his own aspirations.
From the scho0l-r0om he entered that Of the
court--a chance offered--a position gained-the
law his theme, he at once not only equafled, but
scared even beyond the ann OF the most favored Of
his compeers.
The era was one OF extravagance, the virgin soil
OF mississippi was pouring into the laps OF her
generous sons untold abundance, there were thou
sands Of her citizens full Of health and tal~nt who
adorned exc sses OF living by the tasteful procure
ments OF wealth, and the highest aecomplishments
Of mind Into this world Prentias entered,
heralded by naughk save his own genius. The
heirs Of princely fortunes, the descendants Of
heroes men Of power and place, of family Pdde, Of
national associations were not more proud more gal
liant, than was Prentiss, for (. he was seckoued
among the noblest Romans Of them ALL
Each step IN his new fortune seemed only 20 ell
icit new qualities for admraii9n--&t The fbsum he
| dazz'sd-the jury and the Judge were conf uaded
the crowd carried HIN - The stump, and the null
titnde iisiened TO one nspiFed-fair adi-s We'd
with each other in waving tiny hands in token Of
admi ation-the stold judges Of The SHpFr me Court
i wlndend at the mind # tie apparent boy-eyen
the walls of Congress echoed o.Ih Feans to his
| praise. Ills course wss as rapid and brilliant as
| that Of the meteor thai suddenly sprinss athwart
| the heavens. but he was human, ami ascompli.hed
his ask, herculi-n he was, at The price Of an
injured constitution.
In personal appearances Prentiss was eminenfly
HdtlusOl1e, NC Yet efnIn6DilV manly. AifhDIuh a
me lum height, he e Iha In the GARAGE of
his head that was asEonishingiy imp essiv- IshalI
never forget him in occasi n :" ia IA " when
h rose at public NEE ing reply 10 an antag mist
W r nv Of his sseL His whole slu wa, reused,
b high smto b ofeh ad fairly corifscat a. he ne
manned silent Tor secD Dds and onl Iooksd--lhe
bald eagle never g am-d so fier,-t lv from hs eyry
il SCENE a. if his deep blue eye wDuli dis end
until IL swallowed upt ihsiusa nls of is au encs
Tor an ms ant the efieef WIS painful saw it
and hens
multitude that fairly shook he earsh.
His voice WINS clear and sweet, and eauld he
heard at an Immense distance, and vet TO he Ill
ike DemosiheDes, he hal a precrpfible mpeimeut
in his speech as a reader he he'd n, snp-tior.
his nara i'm was cl ar an iunadornei proper sen
lences were suhduedly Humsrvts but The i'm reSs-
i've parts delisered wi an eff set thai remind
ed me of the elder Kean.
His maaination as unsurps-s-d and the rich
stores of his m'nd suptl ed min wi n-ver en.iing
material, quot-d and ofgnsk-t sI,gh,esi allusien
10 any hing gave the key 20 all | peculiarI es-if
he had occasion 10 ainds TO he diamond it. be,i in
the Golcoeda, It's discovery by some i've. Its
b; ing as7orta'ed with cUmmerre, / polish by the
'apidary, lis adjoining the neck OF b-auty its rays
brilliant and serene, lts bira h. iIs fe lis history all
flashed upon hirn-so with every idea in the vast
sorr-honse Of bis nd, he seemed TO know all
things in mass and in particulars never confus ed
n-ver at a lors-'he hearer lislend wondered, and
DRAINED Thoughts OF momen cam forth as de-
manded. but tn 'hOusend other thougts rare and
b'auiiiul, continued TO bubble up, after all effort
ceased
No man had more delicate or subtle wit than
Prentss, more Falstaffian humor when it suit
ed his purpose. Who will ever forget the spending
OF social dinner hour with him, when his health
was high and his mind at ease. Who so lovey?-
who so refined? What delight was ekhibItedtb
sweet ladies' who listened to his words; who could
so eloquenty discourse OF roses and buds Of lilies
and pearls, of eyes and graces Of robes sad angels
and yet never offend the sensitive Of the sex,
or call other than the blush Of pleasure and joy TO
the cheeky Who could on the public day,
ascend so gracefully from the associations Of tariffs,
and banks, and cotton, and sugar, greet the alr
ladies' that honored him with their presenees How
he would lean towards thea, he dwelt upon +" the
blessed OF all Gods handiwork and compared their
bright eyes to day-stars that liz up the dark re-
/ cesses of his elouded Imagination; and how be
would reve like another Puck, among the rays
and beams OF smiles called forth by his own happy
| compliments-and how he would change from all
| this and in an instant seemingly arm himself with
/ the thunderbos OF Jove, which he would dash with
appalling sound among his antagonists, or at prn-
| cpies he opposed, and vet with such charm with
such manner, that these very daughters OF the
sunny South, who had listened to his syren song so
admiringly would now stare, and wonder, and fal-
ter and yet listen, even gazes over the pteci-
pice and Is fascinated at the very nearness to de-
struction
Prentiss had originally constitution Of iron his
''-e N9 ~ PCAtSCt ~ tts Of&dnizattout fhdt. III
spite OF the most extraordinary negligence Of health
his muscles had all the eompactness glossiness,
and di,unctrveness OF one who had been specially
trained by diet and exercise. Il was this constu-
ton that enabled him TO accomplish much N so
| short time. He could almost wholly discard sleep
tor weeks, with apparent impunity; he could eat or
starve do any thing that would kill ordinary men,
! yet never feel a twnge Of pain. saw him once
amidst tremendous political excitement; he had
been talking, arguing dining, visiting, and travel
ing, without rest, for three whole days. His COM
panions would steal away at times for sleep, but
Prentss Ike ever-busy spirit, here, and
there, and every where. The morning OF the fourth
day came, and he was to appear before an audience
familiar with his fame but one that had never heard
him speak; an audience critical in the last degree
He desired to succeed for more was depending than
he had ever before had cause stake upon such an
occasion. Many felt fear that he would De un-
prepared. Mingled in the expecting erosds l
saw ladies' who bad never honofed the stump with
their presence struggling for seats, counselIors,
statesmen and professional men, the elite Of great
city, were gathered together. An hour before,
had seen Prentiss sub apparently ignOrant Of his
| engagement