Huntsville gazette., 1889-12-28
biographical.

Hon. Henry Wo0dfin Grady was born IN
Athens, Ca, in 1851. During his boyhood
he enioyed the best educational advant-
AGES, but the four years of the civil war
seriously interrupted his studies and much
oi bis time was spent in visiting the vari-
Gus points where his father, Colonel Grady,
was stationed with his regiment.
When gentle peace came it found the
lad fatherless, Colonel Grady having fallen
in battle while leading his men in des-
perate charge. Young Grady found that
he had no time to lose in equipping him.
self for his career.
After graduating at the State University
be went to the University of Virginia,
where he took a postgraduate course. He
was during his term in each of these insti.
Ma0nstb the youngest student in attendance.
He stMNea diligently what suited his intel
lectua bent and paid but little attention to
branches in which he felt no interest. His
tory, bsleslettress, Anglo-Saxon and
Greek attracted him, and his standing was
very high in all of these.
From the first his command of LANGUAGE
vas remarkable. HIS pen transferred his
thoughts to paper in graphic and glowing
PHRASES with lightning like rapidity and
Dis ready, magnetic style of speaking soon
won for him the name Of the silver tongued
orator.
IN the literary societies of the two uni
Verstles he carried off the highest honors
as a Speaker While still a student he
"r0Ie letter to the Atlanta Constitution.
n"as printed and the editor was so much
'uuck with the sparkle and dash of tho
COMMUNICATION that he signifed his desire
"Aear from the writer again.
"aen the first press excursion after the
'" was rendered ride over the State
''aa' tne editor telegraphed his boyish
%,eSpohdent, who had then returned to
80 u0iie IN Athens, that he wished to have
-I represent the Constitution on the trip.
.lu "ri'e up the country and its surround J..
Us aohs the line of the road. Mr.. Grady
| ''p'eu The commission, and of the hum
a.'us o' letters written on the occasion his.
'He Slgnature of King Hans, We're the
'''' popular and widely copied.
,.', ~ quite likely that this pleasant ex.
4, ,,'"Os n caused this p' ecious boy to turn
n u ~Vughts seriously to journalism. At
.I;,. l's he was, year or two later, the
y ,4l'" and one of the owners of the Rome
.+a ra: commercial, sprightly, newsv and
r's'ns journal. Rome, however.
sar ~ 'u"' TIME too small to support a
aa 'un on such scale, and in 1872 Mr..
Ssrsd. al interest In the Atlanta
N !, ue found field wide enough for
ss,,a 'lu' w stage Of his experience. The
b,a.4 4 "aS one Of the most brilliant news
enir sser printed in the South. MIR.
Sg..,' 1'Useu something of his fire and en-
vi s,oh 'u'o every member of his staff,
snmt W. man seemed to feel that it was
klr an on nm to be at his best, not
n. Pe'ial occasions, but at all times.
s,,sl;,S ;spuag editor from Rome, who had
Vi tba -. ni'nseif in Atlanta to compete
Acfr, ucf journalists who were con.
si.is 'ue constitution, started ont with
~ kus puck and vim, proving himself
alis astale '-0 n resources and exped ents
eaat ,h... eVlleu contemporary recognized
4 = That it had strong rival to fight hit
y. n Herald Sunday edition and trods
Grsn tho, ','e Nc inarvels of that day. -
&ho,i"A. MI Grady showed a disnosi.
sisQ, '' lis own methods in jour.
n leaders s'ahs to suppose that newspa.
Vie, Or rs.t are welded to old fashioned
esy ara .~'atr to the fashions with which
shborn rliaf. tbrat There is in every man
'aias pnbIia IItrs' Tor novelty, and when the
@estbing snlis "a" that the newspaper had
@ps a bs solld back Of its daring innova.
spt ,Ss H. aoTsd 10 in from every quarter. ps y
%bsre I,ery se of the Herald cannot bo
%as coatt Alter the sharpest comnat;tion sIs os
tsop.i'ution ever known between
y tie iSJPs asJd Of the South, it disappeared red
ashad NJ by this time its editor,,
H. u as al No.. niln many friends abroad
ess opee nodD no%', and James Gordon MI BEN. en-
''saaspt q tbs e I him the Southern CORE.
4' New York Herald