The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11

first to speak, and failed to meet eXpecta-
tions. He was followed by Menifee, VINO
also made a partial failure. Then Prem
tiss appeared as fresh as the dawn, with
his matchless voice in splendid tune and
every nerve ready for the strain. 1t was
then that he uttered what ten thousahu
school boys have since detained.
"Fellow Citizens, by the Father OF
Waters at New Orleans. l have sada
Fellow Citizens; on the banks OF the
beautiful Ohio, have said Fellow Cltl-
zens; ere / say Fellow Citizens ana
a thousand miles beyond this, North,
thank be to God! can still say Fellow
Citizens. Mr.. Wise says that he never
saw such magic effect as that which at
tended those opening words and from
that eXordium to the close the audience
was under the spell of the man.
After his great speech at Nashville in
1914, he returned to Mississippi, and 1t
came to be that he participated in joint
discussion, his adversary, distinguish
ed Democrats, who spoke first and closed
with a reference to the scandal With
which the name of Mr.. Clay was asso-
ciated when he became Secretary OF
Prentiss rose and advanced to the front
of the platform. His Ease was thunder
cloud and he shook his invincible Jocks
like a lion before he roars. For some
moments thus he stood, every nerve
strung, every muscle quivering, every
indignant emotion playing. 1t was elo-
quence silent, and the Hottest. he au-
dience was thrilled and led captive. De
mosthenes said, oratory is action.
Prentiss was the great star of the oc-
casion of that historic Wing meeting at
Nashville in 1914 Perhaps that speech
surpassed all his other efforts on the
stump. AS he closed in a peroration that
thrilled twice ten thousand, he fell in a
swoon in the arms of James c. Jones,
himself magnificent orator, who Rugged
him to his bosom and exclaimed in an
ecstacy: Die, Prentiss die; You VIII
never have another so glorious an OPP
portunity!"
Tradition of this man could double the
reasonable limits of this article. He was
of a generation that is gone. He must
have been a prodigy. A Yankee from
Maine he twice appeared on the field
with that stormy petrol, Henry S. Foote,
for adversary Prentiss could be man
of infinite jest. One one occasion he
visited a sick man, down with delirium
tremens. The doctor said that if the
patient could sleep he would recover.
20, damn it, give him Foote'S book on
Texas; if he can read, that will put him
to sleep" Imagine that tale borne to
Henry S. Foote. OF course fight came
Of it, and, in this case, two fights re
suited.
He was convivial in his habits, and fire.
ouently tarried at the wine and had
grievous wounds without a cause. he
was addicted, too, to card playing
though he was not inveterate gamester
1t is related that on one occasion he was
passenger aboard a Mississippi River
packet, and became engaged in game
Of poker. Fortune was his. The cards
appeared to obey his wish. After while
he had won all his adersaries had to
stake The wine had freely circulated.
When the game closed he rested his head
upon his hands prone on the table, and
appeared to be in profound thought. Sud
denly he aroused himself and said: If
the archangel Michael would come down
from heaven and play poker against me
at a star ante, / would obfiterate the
armament before midnight"
He was an exaggera tion even when he
blasphemed Take him all in all he must
have been a very remarkable man.