Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-01

THE ORATOR THAT EMPHASIZES WITH
HIS FIST.
be found in any book-he is only a
tradition. In speaking he lacked all
the physical grace of oratory. He had
neither voice, striking appearance, nor
elegance of action. Yet have never
heard and never expect to hear any
one who had such mastery over a jury
or an audience as George Washington
Barton. He alternately convulsed with
| laughter and melted To tears. He had
the quality without which no one can
| be an orator, nor a great actor in the
higher range of the drama, a quality
that cannot be counterfeited-inten
| W. He was a world-made genius. His
mind has been compared TO rag dip
| ped in gum arabic and rolled through
a library, He worked himself into
sort of intellectual frenzy, then leaped
forth into such gorgeous imagery,
| thrilling passages, tremendous flights,
| tipped all through with classic, historic
and poetic references, that he stands
alone in my remembrance. My young
remembrance cannot parable a fell
| low"
"And who was Barton?"
George w. Barton was a native of
Lancaster, Penn. A democrat, and by
| all odds the greatest speaker of the
state. He was appointed presiding
Judge of a criminal court in Philadel-
phia."
Robert 7. Conrad, the author of
Jack Cade, another splendid speaker,
was on the bench with him. After a
few years the court was abolished, and
Barton practiced at the Philadelphia
bar, almost exclusively in the criminal
courts. His habits were regular. He
hurriedly left Philadelphia about 1851
or 1882, went to San Francisco, where,
| heard, he achieved immense success
at the bar. Not long afterwards he
one night left convival party and
was never seen again. 1t was supposed
he wandered to the bay and fell over.
81 once heard Sargent ). Prentiss
1t was in the open air; the political
meeting was larger when he stopped
at II o'clock at night than when he
commenced at 8. / head Henry Clay
speak several times. Though William
G. Preston of South Carolina, was con-
sidered the most finished speaker in
the senate, yet | cannot conceive of
any being finer than Mr.. Clay | never
-
filled my ideal. A commanding pres
ence, a voice melodious, powerful, yet
under perfect control, dignity and
grace of action as | have never seen
since. Oh, what sight it was to see
him even walk across the floor of the
old senate chamber. / have heard
good many famous speakers don't
| think Mr.. Gladstone, grand old man
that he is-wou compare with Mr..
Clay as an orator. Yet he is, like
Calhoun, now comparatively forgotten,
while the fame of Webster, the great
est head | ever saw, grows brighter
every year. Thinking of Clay and
| Webster reminds me of some lines in
the elder Bulwer's poem of st. Steph-
ems, after drawing comparison be-
tween Fox and Burke:
Loud as a scandal on the ear OF time.
And just az brief, the ora ors renown,
| Year after YER deba ers blaze and fade.
! Scarce mark'd the deal ere depart the shade,
| Words die tor soon when tit but 10 be said,
| Words only live when worthy TO be read.
perhaps | have not the words cor
rectly. Let me add, TO my mind, his
grace, the archbishop of Philadelphia,
! is the greatest pulpit orator of to-day"
DO you think that the profession of
law is overcrowded now-a-days!"
There are more lawyers than enough
| TO do all the business in every locality.
| But sooner or later ability will assert
! itself 1t is said that William Nj. Mere
| dith was ten years at the bar before he
ever had case, yet he afterwards de-
| servedly stood for many wears the very
head and front of the Philadelphia bar.
| If am not mistaken, it was the same
way with Charles OConnor at the New
! York bar"
"What of the comparative oppor.
tunites for success in New lork and
| Philadelphia"
with all my love for my dear ma
tive city, | am bound to say that OPP.
portunities for success in professional
or public life, there is no comparison
between Philadelphia and New York.
James r. Brady, then the pride of
New York city, came over to Philadel-
| phia early in 1861, and was engaged
| for week in case in United States
court as colleague of George Nj.
! Wharton, a distinguished Philadelphia
lawyear. During the trial Mr.. Brady
remarked to me- Just think | have
lived all nv life within a hundred
miles of George Nj. Wharton and never
| knew until now there was such a man.
There are now number of gentlemen
at the Philadelphia bar entirely un.
known here who, in ability, would
rank with any at the New York or Lon
don bar | doubt not the same might
be said of Boston, Baltimore or any of
our chief cities"
Have you ever thought Of turning
your attention TO authorship of any de-
scriptionY"
"1have seen good deal Of the world
have met many distinguished men
and sometimes i think il / live TO be
old and musty will dictate my reminis-
| cences.
"Is the lyceum thing of the past or
has il future in America as a means
of instruction and mental recreationf"
whenever first-class lecturer be-.
comes known in America, he will, I'M