Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-11-06
A REAINISCENCE OFls45.
rnE CHALLENGE THAT HENRY cLAY's
GRANDSON SENT s. s. PhENT1ss.

. III W ufiI ilN was itAi AAAiiNh NN'f
and each time wounded his adversary,
had established his reputation Tor cour.
age. Tho witchery OF his eloqnencc
surpassed any living orator of his times,
or, indeed, any that bad preceded HIM
from Patrick Henry down TO the pres.
ent day.
He first came TO Natchez, Mississip-
pl, in 1927, and was employed as tutor
in the private family Of the widow OF
the late Judge Shields, of the Supreme
Court Ct that State, and availed him.
self OF the fine library of that eminent
iurist. Although native Of the State
of Maine, Prentiss had none of the pre-
iudices Of bis people, and readily adapt
ed himself TO Southern customs and
institutions. la 1920 he was admitted
to the bar.
Mr.. Prentiss was small in stature,
not being over five feet eight inches in
height. and was deformed by his right
foot being smaller than tho left one,
and which turned under SO that he
used cane in walking. He had a
massive cliff forehead, large blue eyes
handsome features, with remarkably
intellectual expression, in which noble
ness, daring and magnanimity were
singularly combined He had very
slight lisp, which gave to certain word'
Kissing sound, and the expression Of
his features gave great force to his Ian
guagc. In those dnys there were more
wealth, arislocracy and cultivated re-
finemcnt within circumference Of
twenty miles around Natchez than II
any other portion Of the States. Dur
ing the time Prentiss was teaching il
the family of Mrs. Shields he was in
vitcd to neighborhood party, and be
ing a total stranger, and at that tune
extremely sensitive as TO his def rml
ty, he felt himself neglected and loo k
cd down upon 10y the aristocraIie plant
ers and fair ladies', and unjustly attrib
uted the cause to bis being p or LIANT
schoolmaster. From that time he SO
cuded himself to his books and studies
having resolved TO bimsef that HI
would, TO use bis own language, "on'
day bring these people to his feet" Ii
relating this incident to the writer, h,
said it was to the modification whicl
be felt on that occasion that he owc'
his future success.
On one of Mr.. Premises visits T.
Natchez the writer, who had then jus
been admitted to the bar, took u strol
with him to the Natchez Bluffs whic
are some 500 feet above the level c
the river and from its long reach CON
manded q fine view. A glorious sur
set. with its crimson hues, was meltin
on the western sky, and sprinkling tn
decoy clouds with the golden splendo
of its rays, when Prentiss broke tort
into rapturous improvisation, !
which the exquisite beauty of his lal
guage was only equaled by the gorg'
; Gus splendor of the scene before u
When he had finished, supposing b
had been quoting from some autho
the writer asked where the suppose
quotation was from. Tapping his for
head with bis fingers he said, Error
here; never heard Of it before"
In 1874 Mr.. Prentiss moved TO Ne
Orleans (whero the writer had prece'
ed him) and formed partnership wit
|. his old confrere, General Huston. ]
!. January, ls4s, he was employed in
d suit against James Irwin, the son-il
: law of Henry Clay, TO set aside certal
l, deeds of trust made by James Irwin
: his brother Andrew, who lived inTcl
nessee, on the ground of fraud. Ra
!. dali Hunt, one of the ablest advocate
OF the bar, was retained to defend NJ
Irwin. The case occupied three da,
in taking the testimony, and Great,
:, general interest. On the testimony b
t. ing closed the court adjourned, uni
y the next day, for the argument OF Il
- case. There was great deal of Ice
ing on both sides, ard no little clas
ing and sparring between the counsc
As they were gong down the Con
y House steps, the writer being behlI
At them, Hunt observed, with pompou
:, confident all, sWell, Preniiss, ! rath'
think you have got on alligator ca
to handle" "Yes,' replied Prcntl'
with his Kissing lisp, "it is an alligat
case, Hunt, and I'm going to skin b.
tomorrow" Aud he kept his wor
The next day the court room W
crowded to It's utmost capacity, N
IS. Prentiss, in summing up aud commer
ng upon the evidence before the ju
dealt in bursts OF scatbing, withcril
reflections ON the conduct of the
nd iendant. "Why, gentlemen" said !
de "thc evidence before you shows th
this man, James Irwin, in robbing
y, creditors, has not shown even the col
mon honesty, OF the bighwaym'
much less his courage, for the highwa
man, in taking spoil does II at the n
OF his life, while he was never kno'
to stoop 30 low as 10 rob the poo
= Here Mr.. Prentiss made deep pau
y and, as II rejecting on the severity
&C. the language he bad used, he turn
from the jury and thus addressed
Court; "May it please the Court,
40 reflection, | deem It my duty, in
presence of this vast assemblagc,
tender an apology for the Language
have just permitted TO escape from
10, lips (proiound sensation) for in
%" oIdcn days of cbivalry whom knight
rantry prevailed, there was a nobili
lin u generosity and magnanimity in
soul of the chivalrous bighwaym
/. never possessed by the defendant
- this casc.p The Court and counsel
the defendant looked coniounded, wi
2 bust of irrcpressible applause br'
forth from the audience. Mr. PREM
continued II therefore, feel compel
10 do Justice TO tho memory OF
knigbtly honor Of the bighwayman
sei having connected his namc with I
,oo OF man so degraded and disgrat
WV and mako my apology to the Ccort
900 the wrong have committed" I'll
20" e"s returning to the jury, he said
w. more fitting and appropriate comp
900 son, gentlemen, would be to assoc
ere the namo OF James Irwin with tba
#. can =, the steallby, light fingered pick. poe
nj. who robs you while not knowing
'iss you are robbed" The effect was bl
ing and painfully whitening, and wi
= = Il" 1. - Il. Ia