New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
HENRY ". GRADY
4 DISAPPOINTING VOLUME.

y UlNA1fOlN lNu NOLtMT
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIs'S LIFE OF HENRY W.
GRADY. including his Writings and spesche,: \
memorial volume compiled by Mr. Henry w Grady
co-wOrkcrs The Constitution" and edited by
Joel Chandler Harris 6vo. PIP. G@7 CasscI Pub
lishinS co.
LIFE AND LABoEs OF HENRY W. GRADY. his
speeches. Writings. etc Illustrated. W. VI. Gold
thwaite.
The memorial volume compiled by Mr.. Grady 5
felow-workcrs Of d" The Atlanta Constitution IS
a massive book, but like all publications. Of the
kind, it is disappointing. II is easier 10 under
stand the impatient affection which, regarding
delay as injurious To the fame Of the dead, PUSHES
forward with whatever testimonials can be scraped
and scrambled together, than 10 realize the state
Of mind in which such a hurried. crude ara
unsiftcd mass can he considered an adequate trlb-
ute 10 friendship worth. II must also be said
that the attempt 10 preserve speeches and verses
made n grace funeral solemnitics is always Of
questionable Judgment. The emotional alone IS
commonly represented in such productions and
the language which AZ or near the moment Of
deepest sorrow may appear not eXtravagant, when
committed 20 book form IS apt 10 seem more than
hyperbolical. In tho large volume entitled Joel
Chandler Harrs's Life Of Henry W Grady" tie
work of Mr.. Harris is certainly the best original
matter present; but il constitutes less than
tenth Of the work. and thou g. satisfactory as far
il goes is at best but hlsty and loosely drawn
outline sketch, and not in any true life.
Mr. Harris. however. laS done his part well and
sufficiently TO suggest his special fitness for tie
writing of a real biography. Such work has yet
to be done, for il is impossible to consider either
Of the books named at the head Of this review rs
serious biographies. To n certain extent they
may be regarded as memoirs pour servir"; the
rough undigestcd material from which the true life
is TO be evolved. More than this they assurcdly
not. a brief analysis will show The
memorial volume contains an In Memoram
sketch Of Grady by Henry Wat,erson-a bout the
substance Of Of his leading articles then
comes the so-caled Life by Joel Chandler Harris
occupying some sixty pages then there is another
tiny memorial sketch" by Marion vcrdery. Ncx,
appear the "Spccches,7 the Writings" Poems
by Various Hands, reports Of memorial meetings.
personal tributes. tributes of the Northern press,
tributes Of the Southern press, and letters and
kilograms from distinguished persons All the
biographical part Of the volume is In the first
siXty-nine pages; yet there are 6oS pages
IN the volume. IL is perhaps needless
70 say that large proportion Of the
so-callcd tributes is wholly unworthy of prcscr-
walton. OF the verses ninetcon- twentictis are
doggcIel. OF the prose much is almost incredibly
eXtravagant. Surely il is no honor 10 the memory
Of q distinguished man 10 endeavor to give cndur
Ing life TO such stuff, or 70 connect it directly
with his name in the too prevalent memorial
volume fashion. Henry w. Grady in fact de-
served better than this, and it is To be- hoped That
these volumes will not have the seriously mis-
chievous effect Of persuading those who are chiefly
accountable that every duty 10 the dead has been
discharged by their publication
We have said that Joel Chandler Harris has
mere donc well what he undertook to do The
picture ne gives OF Grady is. doubt, in the
main accurate and It Is pleasing and satisfying
Mr. Harris does not venture upon much analv-
Sis, but what he does In this direction IS keen
and penetrating His remark that the sen,i-
mental side of Mr.. Grady's character was moro
largely and more practically developed than that
OF any other person have over seen, and that.
whereas in most persons sentiment devclops
into scntimcntality that is sometimes rnandlin
sometimes oficious. and frequently offensive
IL was the stronghold OF Mr. Grady's nature
gives better idea Of the man Than many much
more elaborate studies could have done Yet
even here there is a distinct omission 20 record
most important elemcnt-perhaps the most i'm
pOrtant-in Mr.. Grady's character This is his
altruism. Sentiment in many cases is factitions
II is the sham feeling Of callous nature and
those most addicted Ia it sometimes the most
suiierings Of others In Grady's case this was not
true His sentiment was the frank and sincere
expression of nature phenomcnally sensitive 70
the condition Of his fellows; OF nature which
found its fullest satisfaction In the exercise Of
benevolence. All that has been written all that
is known, Of Gredy's life. proves him to have
been above all things phianthropist, and II is
because he WAS so palpably and consistently "A
lover Of his kind that his kind warmed to him
quickly and responded TO his advances with
so much enthusiasm.
Then, too, Henry Grady, with rare gift Of
eloquence and graphic skill, with command of
opportunities which woIIl have made him
wealthy "Tcy ond the dreams OF avarice" cared so
little for money and much more for other
things, that lac ually-incredible as il must
seem-prcferred to remain comparatively poor
From fist TO last he expended himself for Others
and the feeling which made him 90 ndmira bic a
peace commissioner for the South. and which gave
such magnetism 10 his oratorV, was closely coll
ncctcd with the unselfshness which was the most
conspicuous trait in his character Mr. Harris
gives an interesting account OF the way In which
Grady made his speeches lie could not prepare
them in advance. Several times be tried 10 do
so, but in every case the speech nc actually de-
hyered was something quite different from that
which he had prepared. lie spoke, in fact upon
the Inspiration of the moment, and most elo-
quent when lie had apparently given least thought
10 what he should say. Though sentiment in
fiuenced him strongly, there was intensely
practical side TO his character also. and this was
shown in his newspaper work He recognized the
Importance OF news in the modern Journal and