Evening journal., 1914-07-08
New News Of Yesterday
A Speech That Charmed
Clay and Webster
~ Holland.


was esteemed perhaps the greatest
master Of internal navigation by way
Of the Erie Canal and the Hudson
river, spoke 70 me. at tim when tho
conversation had turned upon the
mastery Of great audiences by william
j Bryan, Of an incident IN his early
life which he always recalled when ho
heard any famous orator or when he
heard any one speak OF someone who
had gained distinction as an orator.
a year or two before was twenty
one years o. age, | paid my first visit
to Washington said the commodore.
= am not sure Of the year, but think
Il was IN 1897 | was very anxious to
see the distinguished Senators and
Representatives Of that day hoped
that Daniel Webster would speak
while | was there, for / greatly
wanted to hear him. But / was es-
pecially anxious to hear Henry Clay,
for Clay was the idol Of the Wings in
my boyhood days In Central New
York.
4 made many inquiries, but learned
that no discussion was pending In the
Senate or was likely to take place In
which either Webster or Clay would
take part The best / could do was to
go 70 the Senate Chamber and look
from the gallery at these distin-
guished men.
Two or three days after / had
arrived in Washington q friend Of my
father who was then living in the city,
advised me to go to the House Of Rep
resentatyes and hear a Young man
who, although native of Maine, had
removed to Vicksburg, Miss, where he
had gained a wonderful reputation as
an orator. This young man, ! was
told, had been elected as a Represen-
tatiye in Congress from Mississippi
He was a Whig and had beaten the
Democratic candidate for Congress.
II asked what the young mans
name was, and was told that it was
Sergent S. Prentiss His election had
been contested and he was to speak in
defense of the report that he be al
4 was not particularly interested
until my friends said 10 me that Prem
tiss had SO great a reputation as an
orator that ! was likely to see some OF
the great orators OF the Senate, among
them Webster and Clay. in the House.
They would be sure TO go to the
House for the purpose Of hearing tie
brilliant young orator
THAT information was sufficient to-
lead me to the House Of Representa-
tiyos. | got there Just in time ! saw
very handsome. smooth-shayen
young man, the brilliancy of whose
eyes especially attracted me, rise and
address the speaker. who afterward
became President of the United States
James *. Polk.
was instantly charmed by the pc
culiar melodous and yet not monot-
onous tones Of the young mans voice
n exercised spell over everybody
who was in the House His language
was singularly felicitous. and he
seemed not to hesitate for a single
word. Every member of the House, so
far as ! could see, sat so as to face,
II possible, the speaker, and as he
turned continually those who were in
the rear had abundant opportunity to
see him. | heard a little rustic or saw
a little movement " the House, and
then somebody who sat near me said.
Here come Webster and Clayl'
'Fhese great men we're offered good.
seats and / constantly observed them.
They must have listened to Prentiss
for at least three hours Both were
completely absorbed with his oratory.
Webster never took his eyes off the
speaker This mastery, however,
Prentiss eXerted over the entire as
semhly could have sat all night
and have listened to him, although
was so young that was unable
. fully TO appreciate the force OF his
arguments | stayed there until adj
iournment for the day Prentiss had
not finished his speech at adjourn
ment and went next day to the
House to hear him again, but was un-
able to get in so great was the throng.
Il afterward learned that he lost
his seat by the casting vote of the
Speaker, James x. Polk, but that j
year later he was returned To Con-
gress.
That speech Of the Maine boy who
had made his home in Mississippi has
remained among the most vivid Of the
recollections Of my early life"
Copyright 1914, by +. j Edwards.
All rights reserved.
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell OF
"The Favorite Book Of the Lumber
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BRIEF SERVICES An MIDDLET0WN
Special 20 THE EVENING JOURNAL
MIDDLETOWN. Del, July S.-The
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