The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-04-18
s. S. Rrsaass.

,. >. FZentiss.
Ia one Of the sketches recently contri.
buted to the SoaiRsrn Ffeld ssd Fresile.
augusta. Ga.) by the Rev. DR.. J. H. In
graham. there is powerful and touching
eulogy upon the gifted man. whose name
heads this paragraph. We subioin an
extract:
Emerging from a romantic dell. we
came upon high road. which lad us to
small brick-enclosed cemetery half hid
den by shrubbery. We had manfred for
Prentiss grave, and we were told We
should find it within this quiet enclosure,
wherein three or four ancient-looking,
moss-grown tombs were visible half OBJ
scured by vines. The iron gate was lock-
ed. climbed it. and making NV way
through matted grass and TANGLED creep
ers, stood before the upright slab of white
marble which marked the restine-place of
the great Orator. | barred NV head in
the presence of the mighty dead for,
with all his infrmities, Prentiss was the
peer of the greatest intellects Of his age.
Justice has not yet been done 10 his noble
character. His errors are all referable to
his physical infirmity. He was lame
very lame, and had been SO from his
birth. When he grew to boyhood. sensi-
tive, and talented, and ambitious. he felt
keenly his lameness, and wept over de-
tormity which, in his own mind. degraded
him in the presence of his school-mates.
Early he learned to taste the bitterness of
an ambitious and lofty spirit, feeling ply
steal inieriority, while he was proudly con-
scious of intellectual superiority. When
he became man, his painful sensitive
ness to his lameness led him to withdraw
himself from all female society. Under
the cloud of his morbid feelings. he fan
cied worlan scorned him. He felt hum
bled and degraded in her presence. The
barb tlrs ranked ever in his heart. He
did not know till long afterwards, when a
lovely woman gave him her heart and
hand, that a true woman is interested
more by the splendor of mind in man
than symmetry Of person; that beautiful
women look rather to the intellect and
are dazzled by it, no matter how plain
the casket
For thirteen years of his earlier man
hood he refused Introduction to ladies.
Such was the sensitiveneSs of this proud
nature! He well knew his own intellee-
tual powers, and moving the4Rrbe des-
believed that oil Others did. Yet his face
was wonderfully handsome. His head
was large and noble and grand in outline
His smile was beautiful. His powers of
COW ersation were imperial and unap-
p,OachFble. Yet, constantly feeding up
on his own morbid en- otions, he despised
himself He felt like some mighty an
gel III ch?irsl bound to a body that lacked
the full and rerfect impress of his kind.
| This ole. uncomfortable idea was never alb
sent from him. Once an injudicious
| friend. indiscreet with wine, said, prem
tiss. win made you lame"
Mr. Prenti.s turned upon him wither-
| ing look of scorn, hatred and contempt,
I and answered in a hoarse and terrible
| whisper, before which the other trembled !:
"God's curse, Sr
Then, turning his back upon him, with
/ lip tremulous from unfathomable feel
! ing. he covered his face with his hands,
and fastening to his chamber. cast him.
self upon his bed in a paraxysm of bitter
weeping. Who would not pity such a
! man? Who shall wonder, oh uncharita-
Gle Pharisee, that he sought relief at the
taming-board, stalking thousands reckless
Is upon a card or in the intoxication OF
the wine-cup! He gambled not for mon
ey; he drank not from love of strong
drink: brit to escape the pressure Of dam
ming thought. The sight of this infirm
limb at till es would drive this proud man
to fierce despair. What cared he for the
sots who aoclsed about him and drank at
his expense? They were his tools. He
used them &c help drown reflection. The
drank for sensual thirst of drink; he to
quench the fires of thought! He despis
ed them. Not one dared to take famil
ia,ity with him! He who spoke to him
lightly of his lameness was unforgiven by
him forever
Who will fling the stone? Who will
condemn? WAC can Judge him, who wa
never in his place? What mind can con
ceive Of the intellectual and moral torture
Of this proud, brillient genius, goinl
through life hating his own form. anC
stunning. for years, Gods greatest anC
best gift to man, from a sense of self
depreciation in womon's presence?
No, justice has not yet been done Il
this great and wonderful man. He wa
not understood by but few of his near
, est friends-nercr by his boon cOmpanisnS
They fancied hewa as one Of themselves
when he lowered above them like prince
and despised them like god. His owl
BROTHER. who wrote his life in two volumes
did not at all comprehend his true char
= acter. and has unawares Left false anC
unjust impression of him upon the minC
Of his readers. .
Even the grave lifts up its voice in ech,
Of the vulgar opinion which classes hin
E with ordinary inebriates and rockies
ramersters. Ii was with pain ! read tn
inscription upon the headstone it is witt
sorrow copy it. giveit below:
.If thou, Lord, shouldst mark inquiry
4 who shall stand
/ But there Is forgiveness with thee tbs
4 Thou mayest he feared"
L S. S. PRENTIsS.
L horn At PORTLAND. NE.