The Indianapolis journal., 1883-01-31

MIN IL ne nau ever nearQ anything ike IL.
He answered: Never, except from Mr.. Prem
tiss himself"
The speeches of Mr.. Prentiss in behalf of
the Whig candidates for President in 1S4O,
1874 and 1S49 we're amazing specimens OF
popular eloquence. Governor James Z.
Jones, of Tennessee, in a letter dated Mem
phis, Feb. ~, 1851, gives this opinion OF his
two speeches at Nashville in 1874:
He arose calm and collected. The inter-
est OF the vast assembly was so intense that
it seemed you could see and feel it-that it
was something material something that
could be touched. He had not completed
his first sentence before the agony with me
was over; 1 knew that all was
we'll He entranced the immense
crowd that was estimated by acres
for about two and a half hours. The ap-
plause was terrific. 1t would be impossible
at this late day to give even tolerable out
line of his speech; but the argument sentl-
ments, illustrations, manner, were alike ad-
mirable. The effect was overwhelming, and
his few friends who were accustomed to hear
him felt that it was the best effort of his life
"a monument on which he might securely
rest his fame. But So captivated were his
hearers that no entreaty was OF any avail;
they were unwilling to disperse for their
homes until they had again heard that manly,
eloquent voice that so thrilled their souls,
the music Of which still fingered around
their hearts like expiring strains of some
enchanting melody, 1t was decided that he
should address the convention again at night
in Courthouse Square. Aud here, in my
Judgment, did he place the cap-stone on the
pyramid of his fame. l have heard re-
nowned orators; L have been transported
with visions of fancy and hope; have heard
S. s. Prentiss, and thought had heard him
do all that man could do, but the most
magnificent display of intellectual power,
beauty and eloquence that | ever hear was
reserved for this occasion. Friends and
political opponents all join in tributes of
praise and wonder in memory of the
splendid genius which shone forth on that
night"
His speech at Louisville in 1874 was thus
noticed by George D. Prentice, editor of the
Louisville Journal:
"He spoke more than two hours. and when
we say that his speech was the most pro-
found and logical argument to which it has
ever been our fortune to listen-clothed in
the purest and most classical language and
imagery, and glowing with the fire of true
genius-animate1 by the loftiest patriotism
we have given but a beggarly description.
1t was speech that will long live in the
memory of ali who heard it; and if Mr.. Prem
tiss had never before said or done anything
worthy of notice-had never stood up as the
colossal denouncer of repudiation-had never
dropped mama from his lips-this splendid
effort alone would place him among the men
OF the hnest talents OF the age.
A friend once said to him, "Prentiss, you
always mesmeriZe me when you speak" He
answered: Then it is an affair of reciprocity,
for a crowd always electrifies me. 1 feel at
such times q kind of preternatural rapture;
new thoughts come rushing into my mind
unbidden, and seem to myself like one ut
tering oracles. | am as much astonshed at
my own conceptions as any of my auditors,
and when the excitement is over | could no
more reproduce them than 1 could make a
/ world"
Mr. PREMISES PERSONAL cHARACTERIsTIcs
| was greatly amused the first time l ever
saw Nlr. Prentiss. 1t was at Vicksburg. in
1885. An old Scotchman, called the WAN
dering Piper" was to play on his instrument
one night at the courthouse, and l went to
hear the music. There was a considerable
assem5lage of gentlemen and ladies present
| After few tunes were piped 1 saw young
man, whom took to be a boy, come to the
door with q cigar in his mouth. There he
! stopped and continued smoking The old
| piper, like myseII, thought he was a uov.
Presently he came down from the stand,
walked as far as the door, deliberately took
the cigar out of the smokers mouth and
| threw it away. 1t was not tmany minutes be-
fore the young man appeared in front of the
piper and said; II require you, sir, to apollo.
gize for your rudeness" "Who is that?" |
inquired of a gentleman at my side
1T is Sergeant S. Prentiss," he respond
ed, adding that the "old man had
barked up the wrong saplng this time" The
ladies. fearing row, Immediately rose and
left the room. Thereupon, every gentleman
who had cigar lit it, and have no idea that
such cloud of tobacco smoke has ever been
seen from that day to this.
Mr. Prentiss was rather below than above
the medium size, and lame in his right leg
from infancy. His chest, neck and shoulders
were uncommonly full. erect and well dc
veloped. His features, taken together were
distinguished for manly beauty, and mark ed
by an expression of unmistakable kindness
and benevolence. His convvial habits were
we'll known to his contemporaries, but they
never caused him to neglect any important
business he had on hand, He was alway.
himselfat the bar or on the stump. No mar
was ever more beloved by his intimate
friends, and most worthy was he of theii
affection. No pen can describe the charms
of his conversation in moments of relaxation
and social intercourse. The effect OF his elo
quence still lives in the memory of those who
enjoyed the rare happiness OF hearing him.