Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-01-24

1t was IN the winter of 1886 that Mr.
Grady told me his early newspaper exper-
fences. He began to use his pen soon
after the war. The South, however was
so poor that he put for New York in
search of living. He had very little
money with him. After registering at the
Astor House he went oven to the Heyad
Office to look for work. Thomas b. Con-
merry, late Secretary of Legation TO Mex
leo, was then managing editor. lie re-
ceiyed the youthful Georgian with his
usual urbanity. The conversation turned
upon the political situation in Georgia.
Grady laid bare the inside of Georgia pol
itics. Ii was SO entertaining that Connery
invited him 10 write an article upon it.
The invitation was promptly accepted.
Over to his rooms at the Astor House
sped the young journalist He turned on
his literary faucet, AMI in less than three
hours the article was completed. 1t filed
nearly two columns of the Herad. The
style was quaint and dashiug. Interest
in the subject was first adroitly fastened.
After that the reader unconsciousIy abb
sorbed all that was said, and was sorry
when the end was reached. 1t was with the
utmost joy that Grady saw the article in the
Herald in the morning. His funds were
low. 1t meant new supply of money.
The sky Of his intellect was aglow with
! hope. After breakfast he crossed the street.
He knew little about the hours of morn
ing newspapers in New York. He
reached the Herald office at Ga, NJ. and
remtiaed there six mortal hours before
Mr.. Connery entered. The editor greeted
him cordially, and even vouchsofed a few
words OF praise over lis work, but said
nothing about payment therefor.
The Georgian was too modest to hiut
at his necessities. He beat around the
bush a while. and finally returned to The
Asior House much downcaet. After pay
ing his hotel bin he had barely enough
money to take him back to Atlanta. He
had no friends in New York, and he
dared not longer trust himself away from
the base Of his supplies. As ii was, he
had so little in his pocket that he rode
from New York to Atlanta withou, a
mouthful to eat.
Before his departure he had sought thg
post of Her0ld correspondent in Atlanta.
He was taken aback when Mr.. Cunnegy
assured him that the Herald had no sal.
aried correspondent In the South, but his
eyes sparkled when he was told that he
was at liberty to gather what news he
could and forward it at space rates. He
went 10 work with a will after reaching
Atlanta. For a month he showered the
Herald with small kilograms. Tie most
of them were used At the end of the
month he received a check for $35. II
covered the article printed while he was
at the Astor House. 1t was not as much
as he expected, but it inspired him with
fresh hopes and renewed his energies.
The day of peace and plenty quickly
dawucd. Within three weeks an Incl.
dent occurred which was Il crucial test of
Mr.. Grady's newspaper ability. One af-
ternoon he received a telegram from Mr..
Connery asking hlm to ascertain
whether the name of a certain man was
registered at any Atlanta hotel. Grady
was on tie street in an instant. He ex-
amiucd all the hotel registers in the city
and could find no such name. Then he
sat down, rubbed his head, and wondered
why the Heyald wanted to get upon the
mans trail. I Ie name seemed strangely
familiar. He turned over the files of the
Herai3 looking for it. He found it. The
stranger had been mixed up in some
Cuban trouble, haG fed from Havana.
and had landed in Charleston fortnight
gone The Georgian reasoned that lie
would be more apt to run to New Orleans
from charleston than TO Atlanta. He tel
egraphed al his own expense TO friend
in the Crescent City,asking him to search
the registers there The friend did so,
and found the stranger Grady theraupon
forwarded this dispatch to Connery;
| ATLANTA, GA, 18TH.
! Io Ibomas D. C0Bte,y, Nslr Yoib " Hei'ayd:n
Your man is registered at the ST. Charles
| hotel, New o Oleans HENRY w. GRADY.
Counery was dumfounded. The reply
was received within three hours of the in
qury, The news had also come from an
entirely unexpected quarter. From that
moment Grady's stock began to 20 up.
The Georgian had struck the bullseye in
journalism with unerring aim. HIS for
tune was made. That year he received
over $1,000 from the Herald alone for his
! services.
Such was the'story as it came to me
from Mr.. Grady's own lips.
Washington ladies are far from being
| moro buttpr0iaa pf fashion Mrc C,,reat