Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-09-14
Rufus Choate.

Chote's first appearance at the bar was
the signal tor much laughter and ridcule.
His advent was regarded by the lawyers
and sutors of his day very much aS the
appearance of Pegasus would be received
by the steady going earth-born equine
race, If he should descent and assume the
role Of a cart-horse. His ways were not
as their ways. His eccentrctes and his
struggles to carry his burden aloft into
his native element excited much merriment.
But soon il was found that Pegasus drew
his load better than any OF them. despite
his antics and his curyetngs. Men soon
came To acknowledge that there was IA
new and legitimate style OF advocate and
OF advocacy. and although it proved im-
Unable, yet it soon secured ungrudgiug
admiration, and 10 the new conner was ac-
corded the leadership which his unique
genius demanded. From then until his
death he was a, much sovereign in the
EostoH court house is Webster was in
Fanueil hall.
Ii is no wonder that Choat's msnner
startled the staid New England court
houses from their composure. Nothing
like it was ever seen before, has been seen
since, or will ever be seen again. In its
volubilty and vehemence his speech was
more ike that of an Oriental than that OF
"Boston man." His voice, which nat
urally was rich. grand and melodious, he
frequently urged to its highest key; he
shrieked; he raved he tore a passion to
tatters swung his fists he ran his tremb-
ling 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 tor two or three
/ cacnuI. fbrauv hanL haa1 th..
jury with terrific glance, and violently
inhauled his breath though his nostrils
with snuffiing that was heard all over
| the courtroom; his wierd eyes glsred like
| a maniac's; his wrinkled face assumed a
| hundred unnatural corrugations; in short,
| his speech tore his frame, and his body
was convused like that of the Delphic
| priestess in her moments of inspiration.
| All this seems very ridiculous in the de-
scription. 1t is not singular that 1t some
| times excited derision. But derision was
| short-ved. All this time his thoughts
were poured forth with IN unvarying aud
incredible velocity; an orderly coherent
array of felicitious and choice expression,
which none but the orator could have select
ed and combined; startling and beautiful
images. soaring fancies, gittering wit,
| soul. stirring analysis, illusions, even
| Latin quotations; ingenious illustrations,
denunciation-rarely employed but blast
ing where it strucked; simple and unborn
ed pathos, deep and subtle sympathy with
nature and with humanity, breaking down
the barriers of prejudice. raising and en-
larged the souls of his auditors. iliuminat-
ing their understandings, and investing
them for the hour with portion OF the
orators own greatness. 1t was the very
abandonment and ecstasy of eloquence, the
true-inspired frenzy, which, at long inter-
walls, has descsned from heaven and given
to the world a Demosthenes or a Cicero, a
Chatham or an Erskine, Webster or a
Choate.
Choat's personal appearance was as re-
markable as his oratOry. About six feet
in height, with powerful chest and shoul-
ders. gaunt frame, huge hands and feet,
a rolling, numbering sort of gait, bilious,
coffee-colored camplexion; his face deeply
corrugated with profound wrinkles and
hollows, and scanned with powerful lines
his head rather deep than wide, and CON-
pletely covered with luxurisnt black curly
hair scarcely tinged with gray at the day
of his death; mouth large, and lips thin
and tIemulous; his eyes large. deep-set
and black, with weird, far-away ex-
preston in quiet, but terrible burning
intensity in excitement; face noticeable
in a throng Of a thousands, with intellect
looking out at every point most haggard,
woe begOrn, fertune-telling countenance
his person arrayed in slouching, ill.ftting