The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-14

A.. Prominent lawyers refused to argue
the case against them as hopeless. and
IL was given to Patrick Henry. He a
never spoken in public before. and be-
gan In so awkward and faltering a
manner that the parsons were observed
giving each other sly nudges OF con-
graduation. His father. who happened
10 be one Of the judges. WAS overcome
with confusion and modification. But
in a few moments all war changed. The
speaker warmed to his subject and re-
gained his self-control. Eloquence such
as the simple country people a never
before listened to ~astounded their ears.
The charm. the magic, al the wonder
full speaker. held them spellbound, un-
til finally the parsons. we are told.
could stand IL no longer, and ran out
Of the house. The jury Immediately
returned the verdict of one penny
damages the triumphant people. in
spite of the sheriff. court and cries OF
order" elevated their champion upon
their shoulders and marched through
the street with him: and Patrick
Henry's public career Of prosperity had
begun.
He never became a trained lawyer.
and lacked two very necessary ele-
ments. industry and studious habits:
but before a jury his matches elo-
quence and subtle reasoning powers.
combined with no small share or plain
common sense, mdue MIN truly tFiulu
able. He had the power of completely
controlling the feelings of his hearers.
Sometimes he elaxed into ridicule.
when the whole audience would be con-
vlused. We are old OF one occasion
when the dignified old clerk OF the
house. unable to control himself, and
unwilling to commit a breach OF decor
um i'm his place, rushed out OF the
court house and threw himself on the
grass in such paroxysms of laughter
that the passersby stopped to ask
what allied him. to which he was only
able To answer: II cannot help II.
You should have heard him." Again,
his power OF pathos when exerted were
so great that he could deluge the house
with tears.
Patrick Henry was emphatically a
man of the people. To him Is due not
only the phrase, but In a great measure
the fact. Of the majesty of the people"
This was the object of his life work. for
which his eloquence was always exert
ed. In ~sustenance of this he framed
the famous Virginia resolutions against
the stamp act. which he mentions in his
will as the most valuable thing he
ever did"
Many important offices were offered
him. In 1876 he was made the first re-
publican governor of Virginia, and re-
elected several times. He was offered
the POSITIONS OF secretary OF stdte anu
of chief justice of the United States by
Washington. but these. on account of
his health. ne was obliged to decline.
as also the position Of minister to
France. rendered him by John Adams
In 1893. the yea OF his death. Two
counties in his native state were named
after him. The first. Henry county. was
organized and given that name while he
was governor of the state. and later
the adjoining county was called Pat
rick. also in his honor.
Red Hill Is now owned by Henry's
grandson. william Writ Henry. a
clever. cultivated gentleman Of the
"old school" He has in his possession
some most interesting relics of his cell
ebrated grandfather. including the desk
he always used. which still contains his
letters from Lafayette. Washington,
Madison and other great men OF early
days: the large. M backed chair in
which Patrick Henry died. and a por-
trait OF him by the elder Sully, under
which hangs a yellow slip OF paper
signed by Chief Justice John Marshall
and several others of his friends. testi-
flying to the faithfulness OF the likeness
The accompanying illustration Is a
photograph of this portrait.