The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-01

features II paced AAF8Sk &1f@ &F&A
upon one common footing Il made
men guarded n word ana act. for the
physical giant was no more imgery-
ious TO the deadly power II a bullet
than ~a= tire feebIeSt n frame
PTsntf=z readily conforfned - the
prevailing custom ard went 10 the
field OF combat a. gaily A. ne ought
the social circle or Joined In the IN
teIiectusl battles Of the bar
He desp!sed anything like decep-
ton or ;reachery and never heztAted
70 d~snounce Il fearlcssly
His resentment 81 ar Insult or IN
jury was fierce and speedy. Yet. ct
the same time. he vaS generous and
forgivtng. and when peace had been
restored stood ready - befriend the
opponent with whom he had been at
daggers points a Few moments be-
fore.
His ~onadenc in his friends was
almost unlimited. Whatever he had
might be theirs for the askin He
loaned money. endorsed notes right
and left with reckless profnsion and
10 his own damage But he never
lost his belief in humanity.
Even when nearing the end % his
brilliant and tragic career. wrecked in
health and ruined in fortune, he kept
the treasure OF a nature as genial and
cheering as the sunlight.
Prentiss was an ardent Wing and
al an age when most men have
scarcely been heard o. in politics be-
came the idol OF his party in Missis-
sippi. 1T was like a beautiful poem, +"
said an old man describing a speech
which he had heard Prentiss deliver
long before. Even after all these
years, the charm OF his voice and
manner arc still as fresh in my mem
DRY as If had heard him but yes
terdaY. All, we'll. there are no more
orators like Sargent s Prentiss.
Some idea or the fascination which
he exercised over his hearers may be
formed from an incident told by a
gentleman who knew and loved the
great Nississippian. In a small torn
where PrentLss was to speak. lived an
inn-keeper who was a staunch fol-
lower of Andrew Jackson and a Dem
ocrat OF Democrats. His proudest
boast was that he heard no political
speaker VIII did not preach Demo-
cratic doctrine. Drawn from the foun-
tain-head, pure and undefIed.
On this occasion. Prentiss addressed
the crowd from a platform near a
public well. Meanwhile the inn
keeper went to the well for "A bucket
of water and becoming Interested in
some statement of the speaker sat
down on the curb. intending to remain
only a moment. Finally amid deaf
ening shouts the orator concluded and
tic III dltC IIII-h ttptI rose I'D
in establishment to find that the sun
was sinking low in the west, and that
he had sat for three hours perched on
a we'll curb, listening to a Wing cam
paign speech. Nevertheless he was
game. He took up his bucket and
wended his way homeward, swearing
that 'Prentiss had taken 3 low down
advantage of him and made him listen
whether he wanted to or not
The only time that it is recorded
that PrentisS ever encountered an at
traction superior in drawing powers
to- his own oratOry was when a circus
parade passed the place where he was
speaking in a small country town.
The wonder of the menagerie and th2
saw dust circle were not comma
then. Accordingly as the long line
of gilded cages and spangled men and
women in chariots and on horseback
filed slowly by the spot. the audience
in small groups, began to forsake the
scene of the speaking. The majority,
however. remained loyal to the cause,
until a huge elephant, an animal that
very few Of them had ever before
seen, hove into sight and went swing
ing p~onderously down the line OF
march. That was altogether toe
much for the remaining hearers. who
with common consent began to leave
their seats and hurry after the ele-
plant. Angered at this sudden deser-
ton. the chairman Of the meeting
rose and sharply demonstrated with
the people. "Oh, that's all right
broke in Prentiss pointing at the ele-
plant. you can't expect any better
| of him, Mr.. Chairman. He's no gen
tleman. any way. See, he is carrying
his own trunk"
Prentiss by means of Il single
speech, became a national figure. He
and his associate on the Wing tickle
bod hnnn nlnntn to rnnroCnnf ~ q
: State-at-large in the House of Rep
, resentatives; but their seats were con
tested. During this contest Prentiss
delivered his famous argument which
still remains one of the master pieces
: Of American oratory.
t He was making his appearance ir
a renowned arena and before a hos
| tile majority; for the House was Dem
ocratic. Those circumstances and his
! own deep sense of the wrong which
!. Re felt had been inflicted on himself
and his State. stirred him to the high
: est effort of his gifted mind. Wher
!, he began, the House contained only
!, the ordinary daily attendance o.
! members. Before he had spoken ter
, minutes every eye was fixed on him
? every ear strained to catch his slight
, est word. His silver tones rams
through the hall like the blast of I
2 trumpet and soon the news spread
l like Win Ire Ildt oNti III liz 11ouSt
of Representatives. an unknown
young Congressman was speaking
? with all the eloquence of Clay anC
: Webster In a few moments the lob.
bies and cloak rooms were emptied by
+. members fastening to their seats. Elk
cited crowds from the streets whert
the startling report had spread, flock.
ed into the galleries of the House
The Senate was practically C~SerteC
and soon every available place on the
! floor was occupied by intent listen.
, ers. Before that distinguished au.
dience, many of whom were known
and honored in lands beyond the sea
he stood. holding them silent. breath
> less, agitated. beneath the resistles!
spell Of his stormy ~eloquence. Thar
sat Daniel Webster, his massive fea.
lures rejecting the mingled emotions
Of sympathy for the doomed Contested
and pride in the new Wing Cham,
), picn. There sat Clay. the Mill boy
of the Slashes.' "one of those whc
had come up through great ribula'
), tion.' whose compromise measure!
long kept the peace in a distraugh'
/, and feud-rent land. There sat Johr
! Quincy Adams, the odd ma Flo.
quent." rejoicing in the knowledge
! that this mar of the hour who was