New-York tribune., 1889-12-24
SKETCH OF MR.. GRADY,S CAREER.


Henry Wooden Grady as his name indicates, was
Of Irish descent, and exhibited in his magnetic per
sonality many OF the characteristics Of that race
His family had become we'll Americanized, however
and his father Of the weathiest business men
Of Athens, Ga. when at that place. on May Ia lsol'
the subject of this sketch born. The elder Grady
was af earnest politician, Of the Union Democrat
school. and supported Bell and Everett In the Pres-
Dental campaign of 1860. But when his state Sc
cedcd from the Union he followed its banner into
rebellion Joining the rebel army he rose to the
rank of Colonel and commanded the 23th North
Carolina regiment and while acting in that capacity
he was killed in one of the battles before Petersburg
being shot seven times. lie left enough Of his
fortune save, Srom the wreck of the Lost Cause"
to give his son an excellent start in life
Young Grady educated first at the University
Of Georgia. in his native town, and graduated
at the head of his class at the Of nineteen After
that he studied for time at the University ot VIZ
gina. 1t had been planned That he should be
lawyer. but his irresistible inclination and the ul-
mistakable trend OF his talents carried him IN another
direction few weeks after he left college he was
engaged by the proprietor OF The Courier OF Rome
Ga, to edit that paper at $500 year lie
had plenty OF money Of his own 10
live on and he thought the job would give him good
practice There he worked for couple OF years. ana
then wrote an editorial the KuKluX that MS EN-
ployer would not allow him to print That angereu
MN ana he determined 10 Set Oh PdPOl 'H"'
print whatever lie wrote. so he went across the way
and purchased rival paper, The Commercial and
ran 1t he pleased There was moro fun than money
in it, however and he soon set out for wider heu'
lie went down to Atlanta and started The Herald"
in partnership with Bob Allston. 1t was lively
sheet. all the time spelling for fight" Win some
one. First it had a battle with rival paper, and
won. Embodened by this IL attacked senator
Joe" Brown and was beaten; badly beaten that it
died soon after i'm 1876. However Mr. Grady had made
his mark and there was danger of his pen having
to go a-begging for paper TO scribble on. senator
zebs Vance invited him TO go up to Raleigh, " C.,
and edit paper for $50 week, but he declined
lie wanted something bigger in all respects than any
thing the Tar Heels had to offer him.
Ills next move brought him to this city as an
employe OF The New-York Herald and for about
four years he had general supervision OF tS soute'
Correspondence, and Feslc"eS hook lor in ISL
While thus connected with The New-i ORR
Herald he formed the connection which
led 10 the crownng work OF MS he ms was INC
purchase, in 1850 Of one fourth OF the capital stock
Of The Atlanta Constitution That paper was
and MIR Grady had little difficulty in securing a
quarter of the whole for 100000, which he had mace
came a leading writer Tor Tho Constitution and 10
that paper his time and talents have since Dcch almost
exclusively devoted. Under his sway the paper
RAPIDLY increased i'm circulation and influence ana be
came Of the two three most important Journals
in the south Equally, it increased in monetary value
and MIR Grady's $4,000 turned in each year to him
A handsome dividend His control OF the paper was
not ahsolute however. but was equally shared with
Capran Evan p. Howell. on one occasion, TINS
IIao 1hie yras Srben The Prohibition campaign
vas raging i'm Atlanta. Mr. Grady favored Proh6i,
ton and Captain Howell opposed IL: NclJher NVuiu
allow the paper to be committed TO the oer P P0,,S
20 each aired his views vigorously I'D us cOlumll9
daily over his own signature. This really amoahteu
To- vigorous controversy between the TWO men III le
columns of their own paper and the speC,
rI,'''' tsrIe attracted much attention and excited
not little amusenie,. eliienos,,, as an orator. In
that canacy he first attracted National attention by
his speech at the New England dinner In TINS cry on
december D. 1ss6. lie spoke on Tue ne" Iou'Il,, I
a"d najnted in glowing coOrs the renewed loyalty o.
that section TO the Nation, ana inc snGeldy ttin6 81 M
forever and TO enter upon new oid VI Pfion w.
peace and prospery TINS eloquent or1alon os coned
and commented on all over the lanu, anu ~ IA not
was thereafter regarded as me sPokesnan anu aPonb Pb
in demand as political and occasional speaker ana
never failed 10 charm his hearers by the ferNd earI
Of his sentiments ana the giowG Hf Mr. u rsdT
lie gave them expression Inc StOA VI III Inner
acceptance Of the invitation to speak az t1s % rne
stltution7 editOralroom one day IN INC iale Ial o
11sG loci Chandler Harris and Wallace T. heeu anu
others there Mr. Grady TOOK clar & Wa & sJv I'M
for a few minutes and then sara boNs lEe pec, IN III
vited to deliver address before the New England so
ccy in NewY9r Would You yaec6e d9 had bpen TO 1nb uf
,hed lie lad made many beautiful speeches no oue
knew his ability better that the members of his stall
and those who were present at the time answered IN
ono voice. Cor " But SAID he, NOu must IT, |
member thc greatest orators of the country have ad-
dressed that Society That's all right. CO.
Last year Mr.. Grady wa, an advocate OF
Mr.. Clevelands reelection, although he opposed
his free trade policy and in an mpassioncd speech
he nredicted that with the election of another Rcpub
lican President the south would be engilfed in a !
roaring flood Of sorrows. on the race problem lle
was especially outspOken. lie favored kind treat /
ment of the negroes. but always as Interiors. To |
their social and political equality with the white |
race he would not for moment agree; but main |
tanned that the South must always be kept "whlte |
mans country lie wrote several articles on this |
and other southern topics for The Century" and |
:. IIarper's Magazine only few DAYS ago he went !
10 Boston with Mr.. Cleveland, and there before the /
Mere hants Club made one Of his most eloquent ad
dresses on The Future Of the Negro on that trip
he contracted the malody which has caused his death.
The personal appearance Of Mr.. Grady was at once /
striking and attractive Ills Youthful face was smoothly
shaven round. dark skinned. expressive. His hair |
and ewes were black. His voice was not powerful. |
but had q musical and farreachlng quality that |
made IL highly effective. lie genial. quick |
wittcd versatile. and brstling with that peculiar and
lndcscribabc quality known personal magnetism. |
Iiy all who knew HIN he held In high esteem. |
ard among his follow citizens in Atlanta he tho |
one great Of tho world Mr.. Grady's wife. Julia
King and son sixteen years. and daughter twelve
ycarsi survive him