The Monticellonian., 1903-05-14
SERGEANT SMITH PRENTISS.
Wonderful EIoauence nnd Power Over His Hearers of Mississippi's
 Most Famous Adopted Son.

Sergeant Smith Prentiss was identi-
 fled with all of the best and highest
 interests of the south in his time. It
 is not possible to say anything which
 would add to his fame.
 $. $. Prentiss was born in Port land,
 Me, September 30. 1s0s. He was de-
 scended from an old and distingui she'd family which came to America in 1640. One of his paternal aupts married Ma I thaniel Hancock, and they were the great grandparents of John Hancock,
 the famous president of the continen- | tai congress. When the family left England the name was spelled "Pren- tice," but was changed to "Prentiss" | by an old minister, Joshua Prentice, and thereafter all the descendants of Henry of Cambridge adopted the change. (The great George D. Prem tce of the old Louisville Courier was undoubtedly of the same blood.) | Sergeant s. Prentiss was reared un- der the tutelage of the Rev. Edward | Payson. q man of extensive learning and cultivation. Doubtless the subtle | influences of that man gave tone and shape to the ambition which opened up the matchless mind of the boy l When a boy Mir. Prentiss was admired | for his noble. beaming eountenance, | fine eyes, frank expression. and keen wit, and that intellectual fire which in subsequent years was wont to flash 1 like sheets of lightning was predicted by the old and knowing folks of the vicinity.
 More attractive, however. than his wit, his beauty, and his wisdom was his sweet disposition when a child. It has been said by his biographers that he was singularly free from selfish ness and petuance, which so often casts a shadow over our lives. After Mir. Prentiss had finished school he studied law in the little town where his family resided. but the opportuni- | ties there were too small for great mind like his, and he decided to go west. Arriving at Cincinnati in Sep | tember, 1897, he made the acquaint- | ance of several gentlemen. to whom he imparted his wish to obtain a po- | sition in some school. and at the same time pursue his studies. Fortunately for him. doubtless, and certainly so for Mississippi, he met two gentle men from Natchez. who persuaded him to go south. He soon found an ideal place. where he engaged to teach the children of Mrs. Shields, near Nat chez. Judge Shields had died. leaving one of the finest law libraries in the state. which Mrs. Shields gave young Prentss the entire use of. Joseph D. Shields, one of the children whom he taught during his work there, in writing about Mir Prentss said: Tt is my opinion that he almost memor- ized the library. At any rate. he mastered the contents of every book in it.
 Along the scope of that great river the name of Prentiss became house. hold word from Louisville to New Or leans. No man ever possessed SC com pletely the love and admiration of the people, and probably no one can ever hope to do so. As an orator and de- batter he had no peer, as q patriot he never disappointed those whom he professed to love.
 Lovable and gentle as he was, no man could endure his sharp wit and keen sarcasm when he was aroused in debate.
 Few men ever possessed the perfect features of s. S. PrentisS, and it is doubtful if any at any time pos sessed such brain as his. After he entered politics he met in debate the ablest men of that day, and from his earliest contests was more than match for any of them. The strength and purity of the man was fathom- less. He was great and brilliant and resourceful, because he could not be otherwise. To prove that he was great it is necessary to recite but one instance. Henry $. Foote challenged him to fight duel. which took place opposite Nieksburg. Mir. Foote. some what excited. fired before the word was given. Mr. Prentiss, therefore, was privileged to fire at will. but he declined to do so, and insisted on giv- ing Mir Foote another shot. Foote fired as before. but Prentiss declined to take advantage of him. After which Mir Foote advanced and shook his hand.
 At that period gentlemen settled their differences with pistols. Mir. Prentiss never sent a challenge, but he never declined one.
 On one occasion he was employed to defend a ease before the state su- preme court at Jackson. Gen. Quit man was his associate in the suit. By an unavoidable circumstance he did not reach Jackson until late in the afternoon, while the attorney general was speaking. but he plunged into the subject and changed the whole aspect. Judge Guion, in referring to his speech. said: To hear him was like standing on the prairie at night. list ening to the wind make melody through the grasses"
 While he spoke, every man in the room arose to his feet. even the judges. He words, resonant with meaning. struck d new melody upon every ear. and he won.
 Mr Prentiss never learned the mys- tery of his matchless oratOrY. His power was as unknown to himself as l it was to his friends. He never for
 ro+ .,,tb;ncr be rsaJ ar hoard and