The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-05
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LIE \EhA WILD BEASTS ARE SHOCKED"
Jabbed it through the ventilators and
stirred up the beast to the most unearthly
howls Then he would add, most mad
vertently, why, fellow citizens, the very
wild beasts are shocked at the political
baseness and corruption of the times"
AT one time. while he was absorbed in
an argumentative political address, an in
truder forced his way through the crowd
toward the platform, holding up i'll full
view banner inscribed to the opposition
candidate, something like this, "Hurrah
for Muggins." Prentiss spoke xicht on
and allowed him to come near NV every
eye in the audience had caught the in
scription on the banner; then, proceeding
without change OF voice and pointing TO
the legend, he said, SIN short, fellow citi-
zens, you now have before you the sum
and substance of all the arguments of the
party-'Hurrah for Mugginsr
Mr.. Prentiss had n lively sociable tenn
permanent, and missed none of the excite
ments Of life in the wild southwest. lie
acquired an inordinate passion for gam
bling, and was drawn into several duelling
scrapes. He fought a few times just to
prove that he had blood, if he was Yam
kee, and then began to talk against the
barbarous practice. While in Washington
he talked his friend Henry 4. Wise out of
IA duel with personal enemy of his own,
and did the same in the case of n mutual
friend. He was also man enough to take
his own medicine. One day Wise met him
as he was going into u faro bank, and after
expostulating with him in vain for the
habit detained him by force and said, You
have IL mother and sisters-are they pro
vided for by you:"
do You take Inc for dog!" said Prem
tiss, fumbiinS with the stout cane that
supported his crippled limb.
Yes, bascr than dog if you give youl
abundance to the faro bank bells instead
OF to your mother"
Wise's firmnesS made the tears come.
Prcntiss anger melted and he walked away
"A subdncd man. He fought twice with
Gen Foote, once wounding him and once
sparing his life. Afterward the TWO be-
came warm friends.
In his early days Prcntiss secured the
conviction of two murderers, and ever
afterward refused to hunt man to tho
galiows. In one of the cases he took his
life i'll his hand, but drove the wretch tc
his doom with pitiless though eloquent
invective The murder had been done in
cold blood, but the evidence was ONLY cir
cumstantal. The criminal was n noted
desperate and robber, and was Hercules
III size and strength. When PrentisS arose
Still an understood, boyish looking stu
dent-the rutlian scowled upon him with
hatred and insolence. Prentiss bore on a
little harder and IL little harder, kindlinY
with his own rhetoric, and finally let loose
Hood OF denunciation upon the atrocities
laid at the door of the barbarous villain.
Then that strong, defiant face relaxed, his
eyes wandered away from the inspired face
before him, and he buried his head and
broke down completely under the ordeal of
Prentiss' unflinching courage and mas
terly denunciation of sin and crime.
The fellow was convicted, and while
awaiting sentence begged for interviews
with Prentss, to whom he had taken
liking, and made him his confessoi. Among
other things, he said that he entered the
prisoners dock at the trial with the greatest
confidence, intending during the excite
meht OF the prosecutors speech to leap
upon Prentiss, kill him, and then dash for
liberty. But the bearing and tones of the
STRIPPING pleader had completely unnamed
him, and he skunk back cowed and misern
pie. Prentiss listened to the cold blooded
disclosure with the utmost calmness, and
nj Its close quietly remarked, INV dcm
leilow, saG it all and was prepared for
you' GEORGE l.. KILMER