He loved to speak, to hold the attention of a listening audience.

He practised off-hand speaking, but he more commonly prepared himself by meditating on his subject and making notes, which, however, he never used.

He would enter the class-room or debating society and begin in a low voice and almost sleepy manner, and would then gradually rouse himself like a lion, and pour forth his words until he had his hearers completely under his control, and glowing with enthusiasm.
We see too, at this time, the first evidence of that other great gift of bountiful nature in his commanding presence.

He was then tall and thin, with high cheek bones and dark skin, but he was still impressive.

The boys about him never forgot the look of his deep-set eyes, or the sound of the solemn tones of his voice, his dignity of mien, and his absorption in his subject.