A Sportsman 65 



the mastery of one mind over another, of an effort to 

 establish the line of transmission by the visual organ 

 from brain to brain for the torrential outpouring, 

 negatively diverted by the dam of obstinacy. The 

 impassioned orator advanced and withdrew by turn 

 over the open space between himself and the object of 

 attack, vainly seeking an opening for his spellbinding 

 power, until with a final advance accompanied with a 

 flow of words in rapidity beyond the power of the sten- 

 ographer's art, holding all present in breathless quiet, 

 brought down his clenched hand with resounding 

 force upon the flat bar by the downcast head which 

 held the ransom of a human life. Thus startled, 

 and much confused, the head quickly rose with an 

 inquiring glance, which was fated to lose its domina- 

 tion, and the battle was won, for Choate caught it 

 before it could slink away again, and held it with an 

 intensity from which there was no mortal escape; 

 and into the now receptive brain of his victim with a 

 communication now established he poured forth a 

 flow of alternate commanding and persuasive logic, 

 which even the befuddled intelligence of his now 

 terrified quarry could not withstand, coupled with the 

 apparent conspicuousness of his position and a clear 

 condemnation of his previously held attitude. There 

 was little doubt felt when the jury retired what its 

 conclusion would be, and a unanimous acquittal was 

 soon declared. 



The assemblage of 1853 at the Webster banquet 

 on the first anniversary of his death was of most 

 devoted friends of the departed statesman, and repre- 

 sented a distinguished element of advanced intelli- 

 gence gleaned from the surrounding region. It was 



