The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-02
a PEN PICTURE OF HENRY W. GRADY.
The Remarkable and Brilliant Career of a
Young Man Universally Loved and
Admired.

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he appeared somewhat thick-set. His
shoulders were broad and we'll proper
toned to support the thick neck and
large head that rested upon them. His
face was round and always clean
shaven. His lips We're firm and gave
his face an expression Of frmness and
decision. At times this expression
varied to one of intense thoughtfulness,
with even a trace of melancholy and
and anxiety. But those occasions were
rare. Usually his face beamed with
good nature and happiness.
Mr.. Grady was courteous in his inter
course with others, and in his office
was even jovial and familiar in his
treatment Of the men who helped him
to make the Constitution the great
newspaper Of Georgia. His complexion
was clear, with the slightest suspicion
ofruddiness when in repose, looked as
if it had come from some sculptor's
studio.
Mr.. Ora y was q confirmed dyspep-
tic, and was able to find very little
food that he could eat with safety. He
always paid dearly for indulgence at
dinners and banquets. He was pro-
hibitionist in practice as we'll as theory,
and never touched drop of any kind
of liquor. Much Of his distracted man
ner was due to suffering from the eff
fects Of his great enemy, dyspepsia.
His enemies often complained that he
did not speak to them on the streets,
or was at times short and impatient in
his answers to questions. His answer
always was that if his friends knew
how he was suffering they would be
surprised to see him as cheerful as he
was. He was often urged to take wine
as an appetizer and stimulant, but
always declared that he had decided
that question, and never again should
Intoxicating liquor pass his lips.
Mr.. Grady was very accessible to
young men. He took an interest in
them, and listened with patience and
even interest to their plans and ambi-
tions. He was always ready to en-
courage any struggling young man,
and all over Georgia to-day are hun
dreds Of rising men who owe their
start to line or word from Henry
Grady. He was graduated from the
University of Georgia, and took the
liveliest interest in everything that
pertained to the interest of bis alma
mater. The university students felt
towards him as if he-were an older
brother. When they, passed through
Atlanta they invariably called upon
him and told him the latest jokes from
the campus. He made it q point TO
attend commencement, and it required
more than ordinary business to keep
him from his annual pilgrimage. He
was member of Chi Phi College Fra
ternity, and at the National Conven-
ton of 1882 he was elected to the high
est office of the Fraternity. This threw
him in contact with numbers of young
men from all parts Of the country, and
added scores to the host of his ardent
personal admirers. When the Chi Phi
Convention met in Atlanta he ten
dered a reception to the collegians at
his Peachtree street residence, and was
as youthfully exuberant as any Of his
guests.
Mr.. Grady made several failures in
journalism before he landed on the firm
rock Of assured success. It is doubtful
if he ever would have succeeded if he
had been obliged to manage a news
paper in all its details. He was not a
business man and was bored with the
details Of office work. He had no ap-
probation of the value Of money, and
seemed to regard it only as very good
thing to have around when he wanted
to buy something. He was 4 news
paper man by instinct and understood
the value of news, and nothing morti-
fed him more than not to have money
enough to get the information be
wanted. But this common veNation
of his earlier life passed away when be
became attached to the Constitution,
and field was opened to him by his
mettle in the higher realms of Journal
ism. His bright and graceful style
soon attracted attention. His future
was secured, and the Constitution soon
became known all over the country as
Grady's paper.
AS 2 newspaper worker, Mr.. Grady
was more meteoric than methodlcai.
Everything he did was i'll a daShing
way. He rolled out sentences and full
rounded periods as fast us the most eS-
pert stenographer could put them on
paper He walked up and down his
Office with his great big face all covered:
with frowns as he thouShtaud clothed
his thoughts in the pureSt English.
AS soon as. the work WAS completed lie
was joyous man, happy in his free
dom from work. His whole manner
would change rs the last word would
drop from his lips. His frowns would
melt away and smiles would cncircle
his face. He would whistle as merri'y
as a school boy on his way home from
the school room. Often he would rush
out Of his Office and go home to his wife
and children, leaving his editorials to
the mercy Of the printers and the
proof-readers. 4 great effort generally
tired him. He would at times spend
all day and night in some big piece OF
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