The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-11-15

preston OF his features gave great
force TO his language. In those
days there were more wealth, aris.
tocracy and cultivated refinement
! within "a circumference of 20 miles
around Natchez than in any other
portion of the .State. During the
time Prentiss was teaching iu the
family of Mrs. Shields he was in
vited to neighborhood party, and
being total stranger, and at that
time extremely sensitive as to his
deformity, he felt himself neglected
and looked down upon by the
aristocratic planters and fair ladies',
and unjustly attributed the cause
to his being poor, lame school.
master. From that time he Sc
cluded himself from all society and
wholly devoted himself to his
books aud studies, having resolved
to himself that he would, to use
his own language, some day bring
these people to his feet" In reIa
ting this incident to the writer, he
said it was the modification he felC
occasionon that he owed his future
success.
On one of Mr.. Preutiss' visits to
Natchez, the writer, who had then
just been admitted to the bar, took
stroll with him to the Natchez
Bluffs, which are some 300 feet
above the level of the river, and
from its long reach commanded a
fine view. A glorious sunset, with
its crimson hues, was melting on
the western sky, and spriukliDg the
tieecy clouds with the golden splen,
dcr 6i its rays, when Prentiss broke
forth into a rapturouS improvisa-
tion i'll which the exquisite beauty
Of his language was only equalled
by the gorgeous brilliancy of the
scene before us. When he had
finished, supposing that he had
been quoting from some author, the
writer asked where the supposed
quotation was from' Tapping his
toreheod with his fingers, he said,
" From here, | never heard it be-
fore"
In 1914 Mr.. Prentiss moved to
New Orleans (where the writer had
preceded him) and formed a part
nership with his old confrcre, Gen.
Huston. In January, 1913, he was
in il suit against james
Irwin, the Son-in-law of Henry |
Clay, to set aside certain deeds of |
trust made to James Irwin to his |
brother Andrew, who lived in Ten
neSsce, on the ground of fraud.
Randall Hunt, one of the ableSt |
advocates at the bar, was retained
to defend Mr.. Irwin. The case oc-
cupied three days in taking the
testimony, and created general in
terest. GA the testimony being
closed the court adjourned until
the next day for the argument OF
the case. There was Il great deal
Of feeling on both sides, and no
little clashing and sparring between
the counsel. AS they were going
down the courthouse steps, the
writer being behind them, Hunt
observed with pompous, confident
air, "Well, PrentisS, rather think
you have got an alligator case to
handle" Yes,' replied PrentiSs,
with bis kissing lisp, "it is an ALI
gator case, Hunt, and | am going
o skin him Tomorrow" And he
sept his word. The next day the
court room was crowded to its ut
most capacity. Mr.. PrentisS, in
up and commenting Oh
he evidence before the jury, dealt
n bursts OF scathing, withering ,
efections Oh the conduct of the
defendant. "Why, gentlemen" ,
aid he, the evidence before you
hows that this man James Irwin, !
Il robhing his creditors, has not :
hown even the common honesty of !
he highwayman, much less his ,
ourage. for the highwayman in !
aking spoil does 1t at the risk of ,
is lite, while he was never known !
o Stoop so low as to rob the poor" ,
Iere Mr.. PrentisS made IA deep y
ause, aud, as If rejecting on the !,
everity of the language he had !;
sed, he turned from the jury and :
hus addressed the court: May it ;,
lease the court, on reflection,
eem it my duty, in presence of
bis vast assemblage, to tender an Y
II apology for the language | have y
lst permitted to escape from my y
ps profound sensation /; for in =
he olden days of chivalry, when r
night errantry prevailed, there h
as a nobility, generosity and q
in the soul of the n
Iivalrous highwayman never pos a
,ssed by the defendant in this Il
lse." The court aud counsel for u
lie defendant looked confouDded, r,
hile a burst of irrepressible ap- n
ause broke forth from the audi n,
zee. Mr.. Prentiss continued: 81, if
Ierefore, feel compelled to do JUS a,
&c to the memory of the knightly q
)nor of the highwayman for hav
g connected his name with that
man so degraded and dis. d,
'aced, and make my apology to s
e court for the wrong have com la
itted." Then, returning to the g,
ry, he said: A more fitting aud lu
comparison, gentlemen, in
Ould be to associate the name of a,
INES Irwin with that of the ot
ealthy, light-tingered pickpocket, 1