The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-23
SERGEANT L. PkENTISS,
The Overpowering Eloquence Of the Great
Mississippi Orator.

The Overpowering Eloquence of the Great
Mississippi Orator.
Sketch in Philadelphia Times.
heard the great speech of William Pick
ney upon the Missouri question in the
United States senate in 1920. sat near by
and listened to that of Mr.. Clay upon the
same subject in the house of representa-
tives. They were, perhaps, the greatest Of
their lives, and were most powerful in their
influence upon the action of congress. The
speech of Mr.. Pickney was perhaps the
most finished and mastery piece of oratory
ever listened to on this continent. That of
MIR. Clay was grandly eloquent; Mr.. Pick
ney's. though admitted to be the most con-
vincing. stirred no feeling rs did the burn
ing words of Mr. Clay. A few weeks after
was in the court room of Columbia, South
Carolina, and heard George McDuffee in
celebrated criminal trial, and this was the
only speech ever listened to thatI thought
approached the eloquence that have often
heard from Prentiss.
As an evidence of Prentiss' great elo-
an incident in the life of this remarkable
man. In 1914, in company with the late
John Bell, of Tennessee, William C. Daw-
son and Chief Justice Lumpkin, of Georgia,
I met alta dinner table in Newark, N. j., q
distinguished gentleman, who shall be
nameless. who was far advanced in years.
During the dinner lady present said to
me: Il believe you are acquainted with
the great Southern orator, Mr.. Prentiss?'
On being answered in the affirmative, she
added: II was tempted once in this city to
90 aud hear him make political speech,
and consider it an era in my life"
"Did you ever hear him, judge Lump
kim" asked the aged gentleman above al
luded to.
II never did," was the Judges reply.
Then, sir" continued this gentleman,
you should seek an opportunity to do so,
for certainly he is the great master Of mod
ern eloquence. had heard and read
lation to his ability, and could scarcely be-
ieve that heaven had vouchsaf-
ed such powers to any man as
were ascribed to him. I was dis
courteous enough to lau CHAT my lady friend
there, who asserted that he had held her
spell bound for three hours. was incred-
ulous to the existence of any human pow
or being such as to chain my attention
for SO long time, and was tempted to 90
for once to a political meeting to hear this
man from the woods of the west. found
an immense concourse present. There
we're at least one thousand ladies seated all
around the rostrum in the open air, Just
where you have been speaking to-day. I
wished to be near the speaker, and pushe
my way, with the privilege of age, through
the throng, until, reaching convenient
distance. found standing room. It was
Just rs Mr.. Prentiss rose to speak, I took
out my watch to time him. The cheering
was vociferous, and I failed to hear his
commencement, and started to replace my
watch in my pocket. was arrested by 3
most startling thrill of words, and stopped to
listen. And did listen with an intention and
interest had ever given to an orator be-
fore. So intense was my interest that
every faculty, every feeling, was concentrat-
ed upon the man and the wonderful flow
of burning words. It seemed the incarna-
ton of eloquence. There was witchery
in his words, clothed in tones 30 melliduous
that they not only enraptured, but stab the
heart, and I lost consciousness of passing
time, and when closed found my hands
holding my watch at the pockets mouth,
waiting the power to replace it. Hooked at
it and found had been listening for more
than three hours, and, though over seventy
years Of age, felt no fatigue. A friend, q
clergyman, who had followed me into the
crowd, stood. pale and agitated, looking at
the man after he was seated. As approach
cd him he exclaimed: will you ever again
d09bt that God inspires manY I"