Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1884 — SARGENT S. PRENTISS. [ARTICLE]

SARGENT S. PRENTISS.

Reminiscences of m Typical American Stomp Speaker. Saturday Chicago Herald. Sargent S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, was undoubtedly the most eloquent man oho ever addressed the House of Representatives. A carpet-bagger from Maine, he went to Mississippi poor and friendless, and not only became foremost among her sons, but acquired a national reputation. Edward Everett, after having listened to one of his impassioned bursts of eloquence in Faneuil Hall, turned to Daniel Webster, who sat near him,,and said: “ Did you ever hear anything like it?" “Never,” said Webster, “except from Mr. Prentiss himself!” He was, indeed, a remarkable orator, his intellectual endowments presenting a remarkable example, in which great logical power and the most vivid imagination were most happily blended. As Dryden said of Halifax, he was a man Of piercing wit and frequent thought, Endowed by natnre and by learning Aught To move assemblies. i The great secret of his oratorical success was his readiness; he seemed never at a loss for an epigram or a retort, and his impromptu speeches were the best. Prentiss used to tell a good story about his second canvass of the State of Mississippi. He had arranged a route, and one of bis friends bad gone; ahead to make arrangements for a hall in each successive town, and to advertise the meeting there. The proprietor of a traveling menagerie took advantage of these congregations, and followed, exhibiting at each place on the day that Prentiss spoke. The first intimation that the orator had of this rivalry was at a small town in the northern part of the State, near the Alabama line. After Prentiss had been speaking for about an hour, holding the attention of the audience, he observed some of the outsiders looking over their shoulders, and this movement was gradually followed by more of his audience. He began to think he was growing dull, and endeavored to rouse himself up to more animation, but it was all in vain. He at length looked in the popular direction, and there, to his horror, just coming over the hill was the elephant, dressed in liis scarlet wrappings and Oriental splendor. A foolish feeling of vanity not to be outdone by the elephant came over him, and he continued to talk. He found it was no use, so he said: “Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am beaten: But I have the consolation of knowing that it was not by my competitor. I will not knock under to any two-legged beast, but I yield to the elephant.” Prentiss afterward made an arrangement with the proprietor of the menagerie to divide time with the monkey and the clown, the first hour being given to politics. One of the cages was used as a rostrum. Soon he heard a low sound, which resembled a growl; and he learned that the hyena was his nearest listener. There were large augur-holes in the top of the box for the admission of air. Prentiss commenced speaking, and when he reached the blood and thunder portion of his speech he ran his cane into the cage, and called forth a most horrible veil from the enraged animals, at the same time gesticulating violently with the other hand. “Why, fellow-citizens,” he would exclaim, “the very wild beasts are shocked at the political baseness and corruption of the times. See how this worthy fellow just below me is scandalized. Hear bis yell of political shame and indignation!” The effect was electrical; he called down the house in a perfect tempest of enthusiasm. He hurled his anathemas at nis foes and enforced them by the yells of his neighbors. The people of Mississippi worshiped Mr. Prentiss, his habits, which would have been condemned in other sections of the country, only endearing him the more to them. Generous to his foes, faithful to his friends, he won the confidence and affection of all who knew him.