The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-27
THE ATLANTA TRAGEDY.
Traits of Character of Col. Bob" Alst,

Henry W. Grady in the Atlanta Constitution
! 1t is my opinion that in the death of
"Bob" Aston the State of Georgia lost
one of her most useful sons He was
just emerging from lis boyhood when Inc
died. He had hardly entered upon his
real and earnest life. He carried the
freshness and the impulses Of his teens
into his forty years. lie was just throw
ing these oil. And those splendid ener-
gies--that marvellous information-that
active brain-that buoyant force-what
could they not have accomplished when
ballasted with the wisdom and expert
ence of fifty years? In the Legislature
lie had already gone to the front rank,
and as fast AS the vein Of earncstncss and
sagacity was discovered beneath the mp.
parent lightncss his leadership was being
confirmed. lie would have gone cut OF
the present House very nearly its fore
most man if he had lived. His real
career was just opening, and the man in
MN was just asserting itself over those
charming and boyish traits which, win
some as they were, could not enforce a
genuine leadership. Just recovered from
his financial troubles, he would have been
moro than independent in few months.
1t is hard that, just rs his hand was out
stretched to pluck the tedious fruitage Of
lifetime, it should be palsied with death.
Truly, Gods ways are inscrutable!
Aston was the most generous man that
ever knew. have seen him literally
give away his last dollar. Never in my
life did see him refuse help to any ap-
plicant, if he had aught to give. He
gave lavishly, heartily and without a
question. lie has spent several snug
fortunes since 1872. At one stroke he
made $4,000: at another, $l1 900, and
at another $4,000. He spent wonder
fully little mouey on himself. He de-
MED himself even the comforts of life
that he might give To others. / never
shall forget how my eyes filled with tears
and laughter ut the same time, when |
saw him at the Governors inaugural ball
with trousers that had had great holes in
them, and remembered that two DAYS be-
fore hejhad given to noble purpose ten
times the amount needed for new pair.
have seen him spend the day without
q mouthful of dinner, and .he next day
make $50 and give $40 of it away. Of
the Sl5, 900 that he received short time
ago, am sure he gave away nearly
$4,000, and in two weeks he had not n
cent left. He showed ME list Of his
expenditures and there he had given to
friend and enemy alike, to all who had
asked, as long ms he had dollar. There
was no ostentation about this He rather
kept it hidden that he might escape the
ecoldings Of his more worldly wise
friends.
He was true to his friends to the last
degree, He never failed to help them
| when chance offered, and never deserted
them IN,
Bile, sympathetic and frank, he was won
derfully magnetic. Every man who
worked on the old Herald with him loved
him. On yesterday dispatches we're re-
ceived from them all over the State, and
to-day half hundred OF them will be
in Decatur to see him buried. Moore
comes from Augusta, Winter from Ma
con, Burney from Albany, and two score
! from Atlanta. Those men who knew
him best loved him most.
| His love for his wife was marvellous in
its freshness and strength. 1t wan the
| passion of his life. To the very last he
wss her lover. The last letter lie ever
wrote was addressed to her as if ho vas
| suing for her hand in marriage, and he
says: 81 shall be in Atlanta on Saturday
for my answer" The morning that he
left her he kissed her Mt the dr. 1r. She
followed him to the steps anu there
stopped. "What! no further than the
steps with meH" he said. And, laugh
ingly went with him to the gate. And
the poor woman spoke the secret of her
heart and the glory of her life when she
rubbed his chilled hands and said "Oh
my poor lover; my precious lover
| Speak to me-look at mel" She was all
to him-and nobly did she fill his life
with her swect and loyal Lowell MAY
God in his infinite gentleness bathe her
heart with mercyl
Aston was child-like in his faith. He
had absolute trust in prayer. doubt if
he ever closed his eyes ut night without
going on his knees. He PRAYED all the
time and in all places. l have seen him
| down on his knees in our old editorial
room and pray aloud for help and guild
ance. And the first impulse that fol-
lowed this prayer he would follow blind
ly and to the end. At heart he was pro-
foundly religious, and his beliefs were
old-fashioned on all religious matters.
He used to upbraid me for working on
Sunday in the severest terms. That he
sometimes sinned himself was due to the
peculiar impuisiveness of his nature
His life though was singulnrly free from
vices. | know OF few men who vero
cleaner in their habits His life was
struggle, in which grea! religious heart
tried to coral myriad of impulses. 1t
is not for me to judge him. know none
of the secrets Of the future, but l do
know that if there is mercy in God lie
vii. not turn away from this silent heart,
that in all its sorrows and triumphs went
up TO Him in an impulse Of praise 81
application. If ever man walked rev.
crntly in the shadow of His footstool my
poor friend did.
l might write forever about him.
About his home-life, &C ROit and loving
and gentle about the kindness with
which he placed his arm about me when
| came to this city 8 friendless youngster
about the charming surprises that his
iie 'ioso.opcd szy ahto. ;a,aa;- -,o::s: --,bo::s: ;!.a
half.sad, halftender talks VIC used to
have about his life and the hopes and
loves he had centered on his children
about his wonderful adventures and ex-
ploits, 80 full Of that bright audacity that
sat him SO well!
But the public has nothing to do with
this. To-day we bury him-to-morrow
we shrine his memory in our hearts and
:aTn our faces to the future. Tears are
idle, and no cry can bring back that
bright presence and that winsome face
Nothing can light those darkene! eyes
nothing thrill that cofiined hr u.-noth
ing quicken that tired brain-nothing
nerve that listless hand Gods will be
done, and God rest thee in peace, thou
honest iriend-thou golden-hearteG gen
tlemanl
QUITE AS SENsITIvE.-The sense oi