The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-12
WHOLE No. I, 1892

/ have only a short time, which L must
employ in writing to my family. Shall |
see you tomorrow, or is this our last
partingo' I told him it had been made
my duty to superintend his execution.
I'VE will part then at the grave, he
said covering his face with his hands
sank sobbing into his chair. When we
met at the scene of execution the next
morning, he asked me to secure his
watch, which had been taken from him
at headquarters, and send it to his fam
lily. | made him the promise, but never
secured the watch. AS he saw his grave
a shudder ran through his frame and he
said i am to be buried there. One
more word, Colonel; mark it, so that my
friends may find it when this cruel con-
flict shall have ended These were the
last words he ever spoke to me. He
pressed my hand, turned and assembled
the scaffold with unfaltering steps. In a
few moments all was over. Many time
have | heard Colonel Talmage tell this
story, and a precious privilege esteemed
it to hear from the lips of the man who
had superintendent it the story of the
execution of Andre
"Who is the most eloquent man that
you ever heard? 20
81 have heard nearly every prominent
man that has figured in American his
tory, and never heard any man to equal
S. S. Prentiss. He and | We're close
friends for years. and up to his death.
His speech in Fanueil Hall was the
grandest effort ever made in that body
perhaps. A venerable judge, of New
Jersey, told me a strange story concern
ing Prentiss' powers. Said he:
81 never believed any living man could
enchain my attention for three hours as
he is said to have done the audience in
Fanueil Hall, so / took the first chance
of hearing him. found an enormous
crowd gathered and was unable to get a
seat. AS he began to speak / took out
my watch to note the time. The first
words that he uttered arrested my atten-.
ton. There was something in his eye
that startled me. and the words came
bubbling up so full of power, eloquence
and originality, that found myself ell
thralled. His flights of passion we're so
heart searching and superb that found it
impossible to take my eyes from his face.
At one time | remember | felt as if I
should faint under the intense feeling he
produced. l forgot the presence of the
crowd-I forgot my seventy years of age,
although | was standing-and when at
last, his physical powers failing under
jectcd to, he sunk back in his seat COM
pletey exhausted, | found that | was
still holding in my hand the watch that
had taken out three hours and fifteen
minutes before. My attention had been
so completely absorbed that | had failed
to return it to my pocket. At my side
stood an old mana minister of the Cos
pei. He was livid with excitement, and
his lips trembled as he said. "Will you
ever doubt again that God inspires
man?''
"Did you hear Prentss speak often -
"Frequently. The greatest speech
ever heard him make was in a court
room. 1t was in the prosecution of
prominent man for fraud. Prentiss spoke
for hours, producing the most wonderful
effect. returned from the court house
with him and remarked that his CONVEX
sation tagged. He said at last, 81 was
never so much fatigued. 1 feel as if
did not have an idea in my head
"You have poured out enough to-day
to empty any head" remarked.
"And yet" he said, 81 have made
signal failure" exhausted my culver
in the effort to pierce that mans
armor and reach his vitals. but his integ-
uments were proof against my shafts and
| failed"
called. Why, you made the most
powerful and telling speech of your life.
eyes, upon the audience, perhaps, but
not on the victim-he escapes uncrushed.
l care nothing for the crack of the rifle
if the bullet flies wide of it's mark. /
wanted to reach his heart and crash it to
remorse and confuson-but have learn
ed that his obtusity is superior to my
invective."
This was Prentiss' way. lie had a ter
ribe and earnest purpose i'll his oratory.
Poor fellow. His greatness was his ruin.
His genius burned so fiercely tibet it wore
his system away and created the demand
for artificial stimulants. The mere fact
that liquors ruined one man like Prentiss
is sufficient to have it banished entirely
from the world. He said to me once;
''The great mistake of my life was in
leaving my Northern home, There home
influences might have restrained me, be-
fore this fearful habit got hold upon me-
Prentiss was a chivalric man in the high
est sense of the word. He and II. S.
Foote had a bitter feud that ut last cul
minated in duel, in which Foote was
wounded. A short time afterwards Prem
tiss was with some friends in Cincinnati.
alitt Al loaSy MS iSio" S0"oH' W i'
favor with Prentiss by abusing Foote.
At last he went so far rs to denounce him..A
as dog. At this Prentiss turneJtsnarp-
" on him and said: stop, sir. You
shall not abuse Mr. Foote in my pres
ence If he is dog he is our dog ant.
he shall not be abused.'
But space fails for further recital of
TIE "reminiscences Of Colonel Sparks. |
have only written down 1.-THE of the
graphic and entertaining things he told
me. and he only drew casually upon his
enormous fund of personal information.
He has embodied much of the gossip and
history of the century in charming
book called "The Memories of Fifty
Years" but when he dies there will per-
ish with him more information concern
ing the great men of this country than
was ever before locked up in the heart of
any one man.
THE HEALTH PROBLEM.