The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-01-02
THURSDAY, JAN. 2, 1890.
DEATH OF HENRY w. GRADY.

DEATH OF HENRY w. GRADY.
The whole country has sustained
great loss in the death of Henry w.
Grady, the editor-o of the South.
He was, perhaps, the most brilliant
and widely known man of his age in
the United States, and no life gave
promise of more honor and usefulness.
Just as the plaudits of the Nation,
North and South, were ringing in his
ears after his remarkable speech before
the Merchants Club, of Boston, Mass,
he returns to his home in Atlanta, Ca,
TO die, at time when his life work
seems just to have begun.
Mr.. Grady left home sick man
and against the advice of his physician,
but he had given his promise and felt
the call of duty. He went to Boston
and the sudden change from the balmy
air of the South to the rigorous climate
of the North aggravated his case and
brought on pneumonia. Unfavorable
symptoms manifested themselves soon
after making his speech, land he hurried
home by special train to be with his
family if the worst should come. On
his return to Atlanta he was met at
the railroad station by thousands of
persons who loved and esteemed him
high above his fellows, for what he
had done for the city as editor Of the
Constitution, as we'll as for his own
worth of character and nobleness of
soul, to give him greeting; but he was
too i'll to respond to the congratulations
of his friends, and went from the Pull
man coach on the arm of his physician
directly to his home where he died at
forty minutes past three O'Clock Mon
day morning, Dec. a3rd.
Mr.. Grady fully realized that death |
was confronting him and short while
before Inconsistencies settled upon
him he uttered this message to his
mother, to whom he was devotedly |
attached. Said he If I die, | die
serving the South, the land l love 50
we'll. Father fell for it. l am proud
to die talking for it." Noble speech
of a noble man.
Mr.. Grady's death is calamity to
the country. The brightest light of
the South has gone out. A press dis
patch gives this account of the closing
hours of the gifted young editor, orator
and statesman:
ATLANTA, Ca, Dec. a3-Henry w.
Grady is dead. Death came at $40
this morning. Its coming had been
feared by those who had watched the
case closely, but nobody expected 1t SO
soon. The scene at his home during
the last hours were most pathetic 1t
was shortly after II o'clock that DR..
Everett announced that Mr. Grady was
sinking rapidly and the end was near.
Then it was that all the members of
the family and relations gathered
about the sick bed hoping against hope
yet praying that the cup might be
taken from them. Friends who at the
doctors suggestion lett the house few
hours previously were hastily summon
ed. Same question, same answer,
!" No hope1 No, no. Strong men
wept like children. One by one they
stole back, gazed for a few seconds
upon the ashy pale face and came
back with bowed heads and burdened
hearts. They realized for the first time
that death was inevitable, there was
no hope he was still unconcious At
$40 o'clock he drew his last breath
and the great heart was still.
Mr.. Grady was born in Athens,
Ca, in 1851. His father was killed
AZ eAi~ wal "hiiS SalidItir ISduiuS the
Twenty-fifth North Carolina regiment
at Petersburg.
Mr.. Grady leaves widow and two
children.
With, perhaps, no exception, Henry
Woodfin Grady was the best known (
editor in all the southern states. He
stood in the front rank of American !
journalists, and the prospect of none
was brighter. t
Young Grady was educated at the |
University of Georgia, in his native
city, where he graduated at the he'd
of his class, and his studies were after
wards continued at the University of
Virginia.
In the December following the
Charleston catastrophe, he delivered
an address in New York at the annual
dinner OF the New England society," n {