The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-19
rRIPLE SHEET
d. 8. pRENTIss.


Tho following Ii one or the many tradition
Ntories III one of tho most remarkable mei
who has figured III the history of tho South
went during the last half century StrnnRel.
% " may read, the writer Gun confirm ~
I Iitcrnl accuracy from having heard It vouchot
hi by one of the auditors on tho occasion q
& thie speech. and from personal knowledge o.
& like exhibitions Of the wonderful gift OF nat
D nral eioquanoe and rhetorical md dramatic
4 power Of the great Mlsslyslppan:
s#s lid The autumn Of 1871 ho Joined . hunting
DAILY With Whiuh he epent y. week OF two ,tnhe'
rtvar tributary 10 ihp Mtstiaaippi. III tho VI
Unity ot VIekabutE. Towering nbnvs tht
4 telt stood ono Of those ramiskablp eleyallon 2,
q evidently the work Ut art, which abound III TN
nddian mounds. Ono day MI. rrontlas. viii
= tas atd 81 Tho ylnea md oyerhansinE bouSlia
y xuHHa hiR way ~ the top OF the mound, when
! nm ffiAtids, who were collected around tho tent
dtkeovnriag him. united 10 thssall for y speeent
IN aparrh from prsntigS. Upon what Sub.
ss ffsi 80 80 'a0'se' -
I'D Ill once set, off n playful sally for the
u tmuHanlent oil himself and friends. bur. warm.
I'M II thu su jeet 10 he preeeeaed. btu greatiy.
4 aunaRination now paopled tho forest with TINT
1ost drips. thaf MYSTERIOUS raeo VINO nEna past
\ nlapflKinnl traeA that abound upon these huge
piiAH mil tespsak their previous existence He
rfilsona. cpurtinra, warriors. nlnrsnaed armies
Il md fought baulns, going on TINS for more than
\ ~ hour ia. vein 81 phllgsophienl retiectinn
. tfg alaast d real interest to the imnginnry
= 7ueiin. Tho Hontiomnn from whom Ind thia
aniaht w n Fl ~ lh bnr t asa @
M hnstinga. and considered this hs ono OF his
II htppieHt effcrtH.
Dy those who have had tho good fortune to
4 hear Prantias In one OF his moods of impro-
nation and oratorlenl ebulltion this inel-
ut will be received with entire confidence.
ID II ID writer enjoyed this good fortune on
"A ,tious occasions He heard Prentiss few
IDnths after tho incident described IA y
gitieal speech at the old st. Charles Theatre
tO an audience OF five thousand persons, which
Wds tho full capacity of that famous Thesplan
tAmple. Its founder and builder, james H..
GalHweil would never suffer II w be called .
theatre.
3 The grand old building was filed to its
utmost capacity by ladies and gentlemen.
Many persons had been turned away for tho
lnck of room and seats. II was IN time Of
htRh political excitement, during an animated
presidential campaign. On the stage were
assembled the chief gentlemen OF tho city.
Ihe meeting had been called on short notice,
j b hear 4 raputed Rreat orator from Missis-
sippi, who had never addressed q New Or
leans audience before. The fame 81 his wit
and eloquenee had only reached US through
i tha newspapers and the stories Of our Mlssis-
eippi friends md writer's. These stories We're
received ut ii large discount by community
which then arrogated TO Itself great supe-
Hriority ever our nelghbors In the number and
ability of Its great orators, advocates, wits
md juristE. Our Mississippi neighbors were
sSsapaeted of their characteristic hyborbole
ana bluiiinE. lii their Wanting ovor the une-
tI,taind power OF this little lame Yankee
nehoolmaster, whom they had magnliled Into
4 the aroat orator Of tho Southwest He had
visited the city to attend tho session Of the
nited states court and conduct the arEu-
n1ant iii great land case. The Whig party
embraced the opportunity to call bis great
! eervioes Into reputation Ia behalf Of their
party.
s. Hence the grand assemblage at the Old
original San Carlos. Well do We remember
Thu effect of his appearance on the stage
hen announced BY the president amid
prm Oh cheers. A small youthful. lame
Id. supporting himself with cane, which ne
,0a ILL a crutch, hobbled to the front lights.
Dor him oil eyes were fixed. Curiosity,
xiety, pity and admiration wore the mill
rieti emotions with which he was regarded by
tho vast audience. Never was stranger and
orator subjected to 50 severe test OF his
courage, self-polse and presence Of mind.
II These proved equal to the occasion. In o
clear, distinct, slightly llsplng voice, he be-
nun bits speech. With u few utterances Of
modest, but incisive and epRrammatic SEN
tAt1ces he effected u complete command OF his
yagt audience. No tragedian who ever ap-
reared on that stage ever 50 promptly and
nerfectly won and concentrated upon himself
the profound attention, sympathy, Intense
aad earnest surrender OF every emotion rs
MD great artist who now held them with his
Rlittering eye.
= III did not take Prentiss long to warm up
or any theme. Highly poetic and dramatic
III all his tastes, feelings and thoughts, he
appeared to be greatly animated by the ASSOC
ciations Of the mimic stage, and quickly
launched forth on narrow and dry field OF
discourse into one OF the most effective,
varied and brilliant speeches ever heard In
this city. Ii was never surpassed save by
himself on subsequent and equally interest
Ing occasions.
For two hours he held his audience In
NNathiess attention. People listened with
pen mouths and staring eyes at his unin-
prrupted fiow of keen wit, broad humor,
sesh, graceful, thrilling eloquence, inter-
,rded with telling references to dramatic
senes and personagas with felicltous quota
lions from Shakespeare, Byron, Shell and
Sheridan Knowles and all the great drama
tists, Without WEAKNESS or exhaustion of
his subject or the patience OF his auditory, Or
hfs own marvellous physical and mental
forces. this speech was maintained through
out and concluded with harmonious com
pleteness and effectiveness. The few now
living who had the good fortune to be OF that
audience never heard it. like In oil the ele