Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-09-28
RUFus e.

AOf4C ~ - q r
Tie incidents u ~ lifs ore
very few. Born in entering
Dartmouth College -, becominT
tutor. there on gra1 e entering
on the study Of Bis - Il ia
Cambridge Law Scho@ posuinea
year IN the Office Of y rnenci19
practice at Danvers II e1ected 10
the Legislature in 1871 : State in
1897, and to Congress nmcv-
ing to Boston in 16So ~ "a the
United States Senate, 11Gf's re-
tirement, in 1S41; rea5~ ~ posi-
ton in 1S45; pFacticf Boston
1859. This is the barren hdex % Z
most fruitful life.
Choate's first appearance at the bar
was the signal for much laughter and
ridicule. His advent was regarded by
the lawyers and suitors Of his dhy very
much as the appearance ofjPegasus
would be received by the stesdy-going
earth-born equine race, if he should de-
scend and assume the role Of q cart
horse. His ways were not as their
ways. His seccentricities, and his strug-
giles to carry his burden alof into his
native element, excited much merri-
ment. But soon it was found that Pc
gasus drew his load better than any Of
them, despite his antics and his curvet-
tings. Men soon came to acknowledge
that there was a new and legitimate
style of advocate and advocacy, and
although it proved inimitahe, ye. it
soon secured ungrudging admiration,
and to the newcomer was accorded the
leadership which his unique genius de-
manded. Fram then until his death he
was as much sovereign in the Boston
Courthouse as Webster was in Faneuil
Hall.
1t is no wonder that Choate's manner
startled the staid New England Court
houses from their composure. Nothing
like it was seen before, and hasbeen seen
since, or will ever be seen again. In
its voiubiiity and vehemence his speech
was more like that of an Oriental than
that of Boston man." His voice,
which naturally was rich, grand, and
melodious, he frequently urged to its
highest key; he tore passion to tatters:
he swung his fists; he ran his trembling
fingers through his long curling locks,
dripping with perspiration; he shook his
head like lions name; he raised his
body on his toes and brought his weight
down on his heels with force that
shook the courtroom; he paused for
two or three seconds; threw back his
head, swept the inry with terrific
glance, and violently Inhaled his breath
through his nostrils with a snufEing that
was heard all over the courtroom; his
weird eyes glared like a maniac's; his
wrinkled face assumed hundred un-
natural corrugations; in short, his speech
tore his frame, and his body was con-
vulsed like that of the Delphic priestess
IN her moments Of inspiration. All
this seems very ridiculous in the de-
scription. II is not singular that it
sometimes excited derision. But deri-
sion was short-lived. All this time his
thoughts were poured forth with an un-
varying and incredible velocity; an Or
derby and coherent array of felicitous
and choice expressions, which none but
the orator could have selected and COM
bined; startling and beautiful images;
soaring fancies, glittering with SOUL
searching analysis; classical illusions
even Latin quotations: ingenious Illus
trations; denunciation rarely employed,
but blasting where it struck; simple
and unadorned pathos: deep and subtle
sympathy with nature and with human
ity: breaking down the barriers of pre-
judice, raising and enlarging the souls
Of his auditors, Illuminating their under
standings, and investing them for the
hour with a portion of the orators own
greatness. 1t was the very abandon
ment and ecstasy of elequence, the
true-inspired frenzy, which, at long in
tervals, has descended from heaven and
given to the world Demosthenes or a
Cicero, Chatham or an Erskine, a
Webster or q Choate.
Choate's personal appearance was as
remarkable as his oratory. About six
feet in height, with powerful chest
and shoulders, a gaunt frame, huge
hands and feet; rolling numbering sort
of gait; a bilious colFee-colored COM
plexion, his face deeply corrugated with
profound wrinkles and hollows, and
scanned with powerful lines; his head
deep rather than wide, and completely
covered with luxurianf, black, curly,
hair, scarcely tinged with gray at the
day of his death; mouth large and lips
thin and tremulous, his eyes large, deep
set, and black. with . weird, far-away
expression in quiet, but terrible burn
ing intensity Of excitement; a face no
ticeable in throng Of a thousand with
intellect looking out at every point; a
most haggard, woebegone, fortune-tel-
ling countenance: his person arrayed in
slouching, ll-fitting garments, including
always several coats Of various and ia
describable hues, which he DOTTED or
donned in the progress ofa cause ac-
cording to the. amount Of perspira.ion
which he was secreting, and a crava.
which has been said "a TO meet in an in
describable tie, which seems like for
tuitous concurrence Of original atoms. -
He possessed wonderful capacity for
labor and study. but was q martyr to
sick headaches all his life.
No less extraordinary in style than in
appearance and manner was this phe-
nomenal being. His wild soarings were
strange to an audience accustomed to
the majesty and regular flights Of Web