St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-29
RECOLLECTIONS OF GRADY.
Glimpses Of the Life Of the Great South
ern Editor.
HIS WORK IN THE SOUTH.
He Was Performing Duty Of Patriotism
for Which He Was Thoroughly
Fitted.


Atlanta for few days on my return
from Florida trip, / had the good for
! tune to make the acquaintance of a
young newspaper man in that city, who
showed me great many cOurtesies dur
ing my brief stay. He was one of those
young fellows whom a stranger will tie
to OH first sight, because he carried the
certificate of noble nature in his face.
AS remember him, he was a young
man of robust frame, with we'll
rounded head set squarely on good
broad shoulders, beardless face, not
less remarkable for its boyish appear
ance than its stamp of intellectually
imprinted upon it. He was unknown
to fame. then, only a Woodworking
newspaper man, with but little
experience, and less fortune, bnt
everybody In the city seemed
ing for him. 1t was ''Hello, Henry,
how are you?" and cordial grip of the
hand wherever we went, and whoever
we met. The only variation from the
customary salutations during our ram
bles around the metropolis of the New
South, was when my chaperon would
meet some old cOlOred acquaintance,
and then it was "Howdy, Marse Henry,
l'se glad to see you, deed is" And
"MarSe Henry" never omitted to give
the cOlOred gentleman as hearty shake
of the hama as he did his white brother.
Henry Grady was no reSpecter of per-
sons, because he was a man broad
enough to encompass all humanity
within his esteem. His heart was as
warm as the rays of his own tropical
sun, and he impressed me at that time
as being man of superior abilities. He
ready talker and fluent writer, and
seemed destined for a higher po-
sition than the circumscribed
sphere he then occupied. 1t was
a stumpY row he was hoelng at
that time, yet he was not whit dis
cOuraged by the unprOmiSing prospect
before him. Fortunately he lived in
section where yOnng men are not de-
pendent on wealth for promotion. and
where brains count for more than adj
ventitiOuS circumstances in taking
rise in the world. And when the oppor-
tunity came to make his mark his abili-
ties were recognized, and he went to
the top at almost the first bound.
l only met MIR. Grady once after our
Atlanta acquaintance, and that was but
reputation as the editor of the COnStitu-
ton. but had not yet been brought into
that conspicuous prominence which he
afterwards attained by his speech at the
New England banquet. Our second
meeting was in Washington, and l re-
Call in that connection q remark made
by Randall concerning MIR. Grady.
'There is the most promising
young man of his age in this
country" is what MIR. Randall said
as Mr.. Grady stepped away from the
group who had been cOnverSng with
the eminent Democratic leader. Mr..
Randall always eVlnced great fOndneSS
for Mr.. Grady, and the latter hal the
greatest admiration for Mr.. Randall.
In fact. there were manv striking traits
common to both. They were not wholly
unlike i'll personal appearance, with
their clean-shaven faces, compactly
built forms, and similarity in their
gait. And then they were men whose
natures were moulded alike, men of
vigorous intellect, honest and earnest
IN their convictions. Each would rather
follow conscience than to be president;
just and faithful in every department
OF life, and holding honor in greater es-
.tinatiOn than the rewards of ambitious
toll. Mr.. Grady was the greater orator
of the two. His mouth seemed to he
rooted with gold and his tongue
tipped with silver, while words
fell from his lips like strings
of pearl. He was ardent in the regen-
Grated patriotism of the new South. and
his mind loved to dwell upon the eX-
panding glories of the new creation of
which he was the oracle. 1t was his
pride that the prosperity of the New
South was due almost exclusively to the
newborn enterprise among the people
of his own section, and not to outside
capital or immigration; and it was In
demonstration of this fact he employed
his latest writings. His death was
most unfortunate for the nation, be-
cause he was performing duty of pa
triotiSm that none other coult do so
we'll as he. 1t was his fate to die young;
and that, too, when ripening honors
were crowding upon him; but with that
manly spirit which actuated every mo-
tive of his life, he bowed to the inc tia
bic, saying: Not my will, but Thine;
o Lord, be DONE"
GEORGE r. MOFFETT