The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-10
ORATOR LAUGHED
OUT OF CONGRESS
A Lawyer Held the Vermont Courts
Spellbound.

Courts of law are now, as they al
ways have been, occasionally the scene
of thrilling dramas of real life, played
out to the end before eagerly interest
ed spectators. who become ardent par
tisans of plaintiff or defendant as the
case progresses. Lawyers realize the
dramatic value of the trials in which
they take part and still continue TO
appeal to the sympathies as well as to
the reason of judge, jury and lockers
on.
Nevertheless, logic and skillful ques-
tioning now play far more important
part than oratory in court, and the
grandiloquent speeches of many of the
famous lawyers of an earlier day.
should they be redeivered in our own,
would arouse only laughter nor would
some OF the dramatic effects they did
not disdain to spring upon startled
audience be to-day regarded as relevant
Or fair.
Thomas Bartlett of Vermont was at
one time noted lawyer of singular
and impressive appearance six feet
three or four inches in height, with a
palsied arm and a slow, hating walk
and was renowned alike for his flights
OF deliberately rhetorical oratory and
for his ability to destroy the effect of
the same kind OF thing in the mouth of
an opponent by clever mockery or a
sudden thrust of wit Here is an ex-
ample of the effect he could produce in
case that afforded an opportunity for
pathos:
A poor widow was being sued for
debt by rich and notably close listed
man. and Bartlett was assisting the de-
Tense The case looked rather like per
secution, and he determined to win the
sympathes of the court for the woman
This is how he concluded his speech:
II am here at the solicitation of my
younger brother, serving without scrip
and without price. | told him that
would make no charge. | reconsider
| will charge ami ne must now promise
to repay me. When my shattered form
shall be lying in the grave and my
wife shall be set upon by legal robbers
and he is standing BY with warm heart
and large experience, let him come 70
her defense. as ! have struggled to de-
fend his client here to-day. Dale. will
you do il -
As he spoke he turned suddenly TO
his young colleague and the Young man
rose to his feet and stretched out his
hand.
II will" he answered. and the two
clasped hands amid a breathless silence
in the court room, followed by deep
murmur OF emotion.
The widow let us hope rightfullv
won her case, bu, such an eNpedient as
that of her defenders, though excellent
a. piece OF acting, was absurd and
improper a. part Of 2 legal address.
The high flown, artificial quality Of
his successes brought about in the end.
his notifying downfall. at least in
Congress. which was the special goal OF
his ambition A Fourth OF July ora
ton, which he had attempted to deliver
one wear at ST. ,lohnsbury. had been
interrupted and finally suppressed by
the boots and tin horns Of a crowd Of
riotous Dartmouth students
Instead Of keeping digniiied silence
under this objectionable treatment in
which case he would have had the sym
PATTY of the public-he wrote an i'll
Judged letter Of remembrance, which
drew forth, IN turn, cruelty clever re-
ply from the culprits, in which all
Bartlett's peculiarities were exposed,
burlesqued and made laughably ridicu
lous.
A copy Of this production was laid
on the desk OF every member Of Con.
gress on the occasion of the new mem
ber's first appearance; and, of course,
the House was prepared to receive him
in anything but serious spirit. Ris
ing to indorse a proposition which had
Just been vigorously attacked, he be-
gan TO declaim impressively;
"Sir. were il not for the rules Of the
House. I would pour upon the oppo
nents Of this measure the walls Of my
wrath"
He got no further Mr. Polk Of Ten
ncssee. was upon his feet in a moment,
moving, with every appearance Of Gag
or interest that the rules be suspend
cd, and the gentleman allowed to
pour"
such disconccrting burst Of laugh
ter followed that all possibility Of
pouring was over in an instant aud
the unfortunate orator could only sub
side wrathfully into silence aud his
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