The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-02-15
by any false oratory. In letter
dated Buffalo, November, lS53,speak-
inU Of Mr.. Prentiss sneech In his con-

o5olth oittO vi 'doV,ic 0dI0'
a can never forget that speech
1t was certainly the most briIlian
that | ever heard, and, as a whole,
think it fully equallcd, if it did not
exceed, any rhetorical effort to whicl
it has been my good fortune to lister
in either House of Congress. 1t ele
waited him at once to the first rank o
Congressional orators, and stamped
his short and brilliant parliamentary
career with the impression of un.
doubted genius and the highest ora.
torieal powers. | have never rcac
the published speech,but ! apprehenc
that it is not possible that it should
convey to the reader any adequate
idea of the effect produced by its de.
livery" Mr.. Prentiss was then but
twenty-nine years of age.
| have said that the contestants
were sent back to the people of Mis-,
sissippi. The election took place on
the fourth Monday of April, 1898.
am forced by the want Of space tc
make short work of this canvass. II
is sufficient to say that Prentiss and
Wood were triumphantly elected and
returned to Washington conquering
heroes. ! will here add that Mr.
Gholson declined running and Gen
James Davis took his place,
In July, 1898, dinner was given
to Daniel Webster in Faneuil Hall
Mr.. Prentiss was one of the guests
and was called on for a speech. 1t is
thus described by Edward Everett
who was the candidate for Vice-Pres,
ident on the Bell ticket in 1850.
''lle took possession ofthe audience
from the first sentence, and carried
them along with unabated interest,
think for above an hour. 1t seemed
to me the most wonderful specimen OF
sententious huency which | had ever
witnessed, The words poured from
his Ii ips in a torrent, but the sentences
were correctly formed, the matter
grave and important, the train oI
thought distinctly pursued, the illus
trations wonderfully happy, drawn
from a wide range of reading, and
aided by brilliant imagination. That
it was a carefully prepared speech ne
one could believe for a moment. II
was the overflow of II full mind, swell
ling in the joyous excitement of the
friendly reception, kindling with the
glowing themes suggested by the oc
casion,and not unmoved by the geniu
of the place. Sitting by Mr.. Webster
| asked him if he had ever hearc
anything like i. He answered
Never except from Mr.. Prentiss, him
self"
The speeches of Mr.. Prentiss il
behalf of the Wing candidates fo
President in 1910, 1874 and 1915
were amazing specimens OF popular
eloquence. Gov. James G. Jones, o
Tennessee, in a letter dated Memphis
February II, 1851, gives the opinion
Of his two speeches at Nashville ii
1914.
Gle arose calm and collected. The
interest of the vast assembly was SC
intense that it seemed You could soc
and feel it-that it was something
material, something could be touched
lie had not completed his first sen.
tence before the agony with me wa.
over; knew that all was well. He
cmtranced the immense crowd thai
was estimated by acres for about two
and half hours. The applause was
terrific. 1t would be impossible at
this late day to give even tolerablc
outline of his speech; but the argu
mcnt, sentiments, s,ilIustrations,manner
were alike admirable. The effect wa.
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 NIGH
securely rest his fame. But so capt.
waited were his hearers that no entreat
ty was of any avail; they were un
willing to disperse for their homes
until they had again heard that manly
eloquent voice that so thrilled thei
souls, the music of which still fingered
AROUND their hearts like expiring
strains of some enchanting melody
1t was decided that he should addres
the convention again at night il
Court House Square. And here, il
my judgment, did he place the cap
stone on the pyramid of his fame
| have heard renowned orators;l hay,
been transported with visions of fame,
and hope; ! have heard S. 5. Prentiss
and thought | had heard him do al
that man could do, but the mos
magnificent display Of intellectual
power, beauty and eloquence that
ever heard was reserved for this oc
casion. Friends and political oppo
nents all join in tributes of praise an
wonder in memory Of the splendi
genius which shone forth on tia
night"
A friend once said to him, "Prer
! tiss, you always mesmerize me whe
you speak" He answered, "Then
is an affair of reciprocity, for crow
always electriiies me. ! feel at sue
times kind Of perternatural rapture
new thoughts come rushing to m
mind unbidden, and | seem to myse
like one uttering oracles. am a
much astonished at my own conceI
tons as any of my auditors, and whe
the excitement is over could n
more reproduce them than | coul
make a world"
One of the correspondents tells {
a lady in Washington society WI
lately attended six entertainment
between noon and midnight Che san
day. First she went to a II o'cloc
breakfast, then to a two o'clock luncI