The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-09
SERGEANT 5. PRENTIss.
"Reminiscences of Typical American stump
Speaker.

Speaker.
Chicago Saturday Herald.
Sergeant S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, was I'M
undoubtedly the most eloquent man who ever
addressed the House of Representatives.
carpet Dagger from Maine, he went to Missis-
sippi poor and friendless, and not only became
foremost among her sons. but acquired nation
al reputation. Edward Everett, after having
listened to one of his impassioned bursts of elo-
quence in Faneuil Hall, turned to Daniel Web
sJer, who sat near him, and said: Did you
ever hear anything like It'll" Never, said Web
ster, except from Mr.. Prentiss himsefm He
was indeed, remarkable orator, his intellectu
al endowments presenting remarkable example
In which great logical power and the most vivid
imagination were most happily blended. As
Dryden said of Halifax. he was man
OF piercing wit and frequent thought,
Endowed by nature and by learning taught
To move assemblies
The great secret of his oratorical success was
his readiness; he seemed never at a loss for an
epigram or retort, and his impromptu speeches
were the best
second canvass of the State of Mississippi. He
had arranged route, and one of his friends had
gone ahead to make arrangements for a hall in
each successive town. and to advertise the meeJ-
ing there. The proprietor of travelling me-
nagerie took advantage of these congregations,
and followed, exhibiting at each place on the
day that Prentiss spoke. The first intimation
that the orator had of this rivalry, was at
near the Alabama line After Prentiss had been
speaking for about an hour holding the atten
ton of the audience, he observed some of the
outsiders looking over their shoulders and this
movement was gradually followed by more
Of his audience. He began to think he
was growing dull, and endeavored to
rouse himself up to animation
but it was all in vain. He at length
looked IN the popular direction, and there to his
horror. just coming over the hill, was the ele-
plant, dressed in his scarlet wrappings and ORR
entail splendor. A foolish feeling of vanity not
to be outdone by the elephant came over him,
and he continued to talk. He found it was no
use So he said: well, ladies and gentlemen,
| am beaten. But have the consolation of
knowing that it was not by my competitor
will not knock under to any two-legged beast,
but Yield to the elephant
Prentiss afterward made an arrangement with
the proprietor of the menagerie to divide time
with the monkey and the clown the first hour
being given to politics One of the cages was
used as rostrum. Soon he heard a low sound,
which reseInbed a growl: and he learned that
the hyena was his nearest listener There were
large augur- holes in the top of the box for the
admission of air. Prentiss commenced speak
ing and when he reached the blood
and-thunder portion of his speech
he ran his cane into the cage, and
called forth most horrible yell from the en-
ragged animals, at the same time gesticulating
violently with the other hand why, fellow
citizens" he would exclaim, the very wild
corruption Of the times. See how this worthy
fellow Just below me is scandaized Hear his veil
of political shame and indignationln The effect
was electrical: he called down the house in per-
feet tempest of enthusiasm. He hurled his
anathemas at his foes and enforced them by the
yells of his neighbors. The people of Mississippi
worshiped Mr.. Prentss his habits which would
have beon condemned in other sections of the
country only endearing him the more to them.
Generous to his foes faithful to his friends he
won the confidence and affection of all who
knew him. Bailey Peyton used to Illustrate
his readiness at an impromptu speech by mar
rating an incident which occurred in 1874 when
Prentiss joined hunting party with which he
spent week or two under q tent in the forests
of the Sunflower, a small river tributary to the
Mississippi in the vicinity of Vicksburg. Tower
ing above the tent stood one of those remark
able elevations, evidently the work Of art, which
abound in the Mississippi valley and are com
monty called Indian mounds. One day Mr..
Prentiss. with the aid of the vines and the over
hanging boughs, made his way TO the top of the
mound when his friends, who were collected
around the tent, discovered him, united in the
call for speech-a speech from Prentiss. Upon
what subjectp Upon the subject on which you
now stand" He at once set off in playful
sally, for the amusement of himself and friends
but, warming in the subject as he proceeded. his
creative imagination now peopled the forest with
the lost tribe-that mysterious race who, ages
past inhabited the country before the birth of
the aboriginal trees that abound upon the huge
rs. He introduced every variety of character
fairies, princes. courters, warriors, marshaled
armies and fought ttles-going on thus for
more than an hour in vein of philosophical re-
Election and poetical invention, which impaired
a thrilling-almost a real-interest to the imag-
mary scene. The gentleman from whom | had
this incident was man of cultivated tastes, and
often heard Mr. Prentiss at the bar and on the
hastings, and he considered this one of his hap
piest efforts