66 Reminiscences of 



a question if any one could arise to the expectations 

 of the event in a sufficient tribute to the memory of 

 the departed one whose majestic presence and grand 

 oratorical powers had been unequalled in the records 

 of history of one whom nature's mould had never 

 given another of grander personification of manhood. 

 When the moment arrived for the rising of Rufus 

 Choate, all movement and conversation ceased and 

 the stillness of expectation prevailed. All knew the 

 careworn countenance of the orator of the evening 

 with its graven lines, the brow whereabout struggled 

 the furtive locks now silvering from time, the chin of 

 firmness and classic mould ; the mouth of expressiveness, 

 from which issued the honeyed words of persuasive- 

 ness or those of disdain, contempt, or denunciation; 

 the form moderately tall and spare, of nervous mus- 

 cular build without tendency to fulness, quick in 

 movement or quiet as occasion required, natural and 

 unaffected, yet trained by years of active practice. 

 The commencement was quiet, moderate, and of clear 

 enunciation, of gentle tones seeking way into the 

 hearts of the lovers of Webster, and finding place 

 there; and thus on, with slowly increased recitations of 

 moment, which found willing response. The orator 

 knew full well the union he had found, without hand 

 recognition. It was not required, for the words of 

 the master mind in sorrow and regret and in sym- 

 pathy and love and admiration were but the breathing 

 form of united thought. And so on, with gradual 

 increase of emotion so apt and natural that admira- 

 tion of the orator was forgotten in the perfection of 

 illustration. 



There are many forms of oratory: The smooth 



