Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-07
Life In Mississippi in 1914.

Seargent 3. Prentiss had won 9
world. wide reputation in Mississippi al
an orator and lawyer. His two duels
with Gov. Henry 8. Foot, in 1888, ir
which he was both times challenged
and each time wounded his adversary
had established his reputation for cour.
age. The witchery of his eloQuence
surpassed any living orator of his times,
or, indeed, any that proceeded him from
Patrick Henry down to the present day.
He first came to Natchez, Miss. in
1927, and was employed as tutor in the
private family OF the widow Of the late
Judge Shields, of the Supreme Court
Of that State, and availed himself of
tho fine library Of that noted jurist.
Although native Of the State Of Maine,
Prentiss had none of the prejudices of
his people, and readily adapted himself
to Southern customs and institutions.
In 1929 he was admitted to the bar.
Mr.. Printiss was small in stature, not
being over FIVE feet eight inches in
hight, and was deformed by his right
foot being smaller than the left one,
and which turned .uhder, 60 that he
used q cane in walking. He had q.
massive cliff forehead, large blue eyes,
handsome features, with q remarkable
intellectual expression, in which noble
ness, daring and magnanimity were
singularly combined. He had very
slight lisp, which gave to certain words
. kissing sound, and the expression of
his features gave great force to his Ian,
guage. In those days there were more
wealth, aristocracy and cultivated re.
Anement within q circumference of
twenty miles around Nstchez than in
any other portion Of the States. Dur
ing the time Prentiss was teaching in
the family of Mrs. Shields he was in
vited to neighborhood party, and be.
ing total stranger, and at that time
extremely sensitive of 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 secluded
himself from all society and wholly do.
voted himself TO his books and studies,
having resolved to himself that he
would, to use his own language, "brine
these people to his feet" In relating
this incident to the writer, he said il
was to the modification he felt on tina,
occasion that he owed his future sue
cess.
On one of Mr.. Premises visits t.
Nachez, the writer, who had then jus,
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 com
manded Q fine view. A glorious sun
ret, with its crimson hues, was melting
ON the western sky, and sprinkling the
decoy clouds with the golden splendol
of its rays, when Prentiss broke forth
into . rsptur,us Improvisation, in which
the exquisite beauty of his language
was only equalled BY the gorgeous bril-.
iancy OF the scese before Us. When
he had dnished, supporting he had been
quoting from some author, the writer
asked where the supposed quotation
vas from. Tapping his forehead with
his fingers, he said. Prom here;
never heard it before"
In 1874 Mr.. Prentiss moved TO New
Orleans( where the Sriser had preced.
Cd him)and formed . partnership With
HIS old confrere. Gen. Huston. In
January, l6Ae. he Vas employed in q
suit aeainst James Irwin, the son.in.
law q Henry Clay. 70 ct aside certain
doeds q txust made BY James Irwin TO
hi hrothR Andrew, Who lived in Ten.
nessss. On he ground Of fnad. Ran
dAl Hunt. ooe Of the ablest advocates
e - hae vss retained TO defend Mr..
Irwin. Ths eass occupied three days
n fixing IL testimony. and created
Osaseal istsssst. On The testimony
beiag clossd, Tie Court eGjournsd
un1n ~ nsxt day Tor the argument Of
~ 60. Thero vas . great deal Of
1ss1iAg o. both sides, and no little
G1aaAiDg and epaeriAg between the
essnssL A. tlsy we're going down
- Court Hooso s1sps. TIE writer being
bohisd thsa, Hsnt observed, With .
pampoas, ceufdeoE air. We'll, Prsatiss.
/ nihes thisk yoa hevs GOT IN alligator
- % hanl1s." "Yes," replied Prem
lissI With Lis kissing lisp. ut 4 IN Al