The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
STORIES OF GEORGE D. PRENTICE.
An Editor who Made His Mark
In the South.
From the Chicago Trmes Herald.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
A great many people unwittingly confuse
George d. Prentice of the L0uisrille journal
with Sergeant S. Prentiss of Mississippi. Both
were natives OF New England. ard IN many
points OF character they resem bled each other.
though they differed Us widely as the poles in
others. Prentice went to Kentucky to write a
biography of Henry Clay when that wonderful
man was about to become a candidate for Presi-
dent. Prentiss went to Mississippi when that
state was in its very youth. Both were little
moro than boys then. One became a great Jour
nalist. the other a great orator.
Tho Life of Henry Clay" was written at
Lexington. KY, and at Olympian Springs. a
rural resort In the mountains of eastern Ken
lucky. then owned by Clay. The work was done
In such an incredibly short space of time. and 80
nertectly. that Prentice Mt once became n lion,
and the Wings put up" for him the Louisville
Journal. At that time Shadrach Penn was the
eoitor OF the Advertiser. the Democratic organ
IN Louisville. and Penn's friends predicted that
ne would make short work of the Yankee boy.
But he didn't. Prentice made short work of
MIN. AT the start Prentice announced that
no had quilts of all sizes in his culver
from the hunming birds wing to tho
eagle'H. and persons could choose which he
should use on them. Penn chose the eagle and
Prentice gave 1t to him. For q time such a DO.
lemic war was waeed between those giants that
people stood almost aghast, but after about nine
years Penn threw down his weapon and quit.
He went to st. Louis shortly afterward and
died. Upon Penn's departure from Louisville
Prentice wrote an article 10 magnauimous and
beautiful concerning his ancient enemy that Its
kind has never been excelled. except when he
wrote of PENIS death.
While Prentice was working on his life of
Clay at olympian Springs one day at u favorite
ln0L IN the fnrngf NAM "a rrant a.
spring. he was resting under a huge chestnut
tree that is standing to this day. and is called
"Prenttce's chestnut" with manuscript mud
pencil In hand. Leaning against the tree back
Of him was a double. barreiied gun that he kent II
Win pm ~ these jaunts for II chance shot at
aome object OF game. There came along y ma
tive, one of the Jackson Democrats of those
times. who. II alive. WHICH is Improbable. is still
voting for jackson. He wore a coonsEin cap,
rife Of the long, old-tashioned Kentucky va
ris syou sDeS MrIaiI! !9 PIenti9s he SAID: ~,
Yes" replied Prentice.
We'll. | want you to write my life. and do It
glance ut his lengthy weapon.
,r saG h q rrsntiGe snn,ghed from behind tho
tho face Of the intruder. he said:
wont write your life, but I'll take it II you
The fellow protested that he was Just Joking.
teil into a good. natured compliment upon Prem
But I MAS not game" Mr.. Pr re n said to
the writer. after telling the foregoing story. II
always knew that III | wanted to stay in KEN
lucky, In my business ] must show hight. and
though ! am timid | did show fight. and that
show has saved me from many q dinicultym
Prentice Is often spoken Of as u duellist, but |
don't think no eTer fought "a duel. though ho
was frequently challenged. He went TO Arkan-
sAs once to hght n duel. but the affair was nd
1usted In n satisfactory WAY before the princi-
pals met on the Held. Generally he got Out OF
duels with u joke. On one occasion he sail IN
response 70 an Invitation to thus make u
Target or himself: 1T takes only one fool
70 send a challenge. but IL takes two 10
ng a and beg to be omitted from
the category Frequently. however, lie
was suddenly brought into personal encoun-
ters from which he always emerged with
Tor instance. a Frankfort editor fired at him
Vita a pistol nm a Louisville street. Prentice
elored with the man, ani had him down with a
khiie orandished above him. Some bystanders
Sho9tea Mn the sconndrel!" ''Cnt his head
hoan on! and the like. hut Prentice put away
nus knife. remArking as he cid so: II cant Kali
IN unarmed man" and allowing his foe to rise,
auoA matters Prentice OF Louisville was unlike