The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-06-09
An Unpublished "Reminiscences Of Red
Jacket.

Many years ago" says Thomas
Maxwell, Esq, of Elmira, in conver.
sation with Red jacket at Bath, after
a little frewatcr had thawed his reserve.
the chief remarked, that when a boy, he
was present at Il great council FIRE held
on the Shenandoah Many nations
were represented by their wise men and
orators, but the greatest was Logan,
who had removed from the territory of
his tribe to ShcmOkin. lie was the son
of Shikellcimus, celebrated chief of
the Cayuga nation, who was warm
friend of the whites before the Revolu-
ton On the occasion alluded to, Red
Jacket remarked that he was so charmed
with his manner and style of delivery,
that he resolved to attain, if possible,
the same high standard of eloqucncc
though he almost dcspaired of equalling
his distinguished model.
He said that after his return to his
then home, at Kanadesaga, near Geneva.
he sometimes incurred the reproofs and
displeasurcs of his mother, by his long
absence from her cabin without any os-
tensible cause When hard pressed for
an answer, he informed his mother that
he had been playing Logan"
Thus in his mighty soul, the fire of a
generous emulation had been kindled not
to 60 out, until his oratorical fame threw
a rcfulgcnt glory on the declining for
tunes of the once formidable Iroquois.
In the deep and silent forest. he prac-
tisod elocution. or to use his own express
siye language, played Logan. until he
caught the manner and tone of his great
master. What a singular revelation
Cnconscously the forest orator was an
imitator of the eloquent Greek, who
tuned his voice on the wild sea beach
to the thundcrs of the surge. and caught
from natures altar his lofty inspiration
Not without previous preparation, and
the sevcrest discipline, did Red Jacket
acquire his power Of moving and melt
ing his hearers His graceful attitudes
significant gestures, perfect -intonation
and impressive pauses, when the lifted
finger and flashing eye told more thar
utterancc, were the result of slceples
toll, while his high requirements were
the product of stern, habitual thought
study of man. and keen observation o
eternal nature.
He did not trust to the occasion alon
for his finest periods, and noblcst meta
phors In the armory of his capaciou
intellect the weapons of forensic wal
fare had been previously polished am
stored away. Ever ready for the unfal
tering tongue, was the cutting rebukc o
apt illustration Let not the superficial
candidate for fame in Senate halls. SUI
pose for moment. that a-go-ya-wat. ho
~ The Keeper awake" was 4 spcake
who sprung up fully equipped for dc
bate, without grave meditation, and cur
ming anticipation Of whatever an advcl
sary might advance or maintain.
By labor, like all other great mel
persoyering labor. too-hc achieved hi
: rcnown \ profound student, thoug
unlcttcrod, he found books in the rur
ming brooks, sermons in stones b
exercising his faculties in playing Loga
when boy.-onc of the highest stan
dards Of mortal eloquence, either in al
cicnt or modern timcs-hc has left
lesson to all ambitious aspirants, tina
there is no royal road to greatness, tina
the desired goal is only to be gained b
sealing rugged cliffs, and trcading pain
ful paths