The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-22
Wstterson's Prose Poe I'm.

Wstterson's Prose Poem.
Henry Watterson is one Of those
happy, eloquent natures which grow
tender and sentimental npon any oc-
casion. The spirit of the company he
is in largerly colors his thoughts aud
influences his expression. So it hap
pens that at banquet givenin Chicago
last Thursday night we find Henry
Watterson weeping touchingly over
the memory of Gen. Grant and add
lag the most exquisite tribute that was
offered at the unveiling of the Grant
monument. The chandeliers at the
Palmer House were very bright on
the evening Of the banquet of the
Army of the Tennessee. Judge Gre
sham, the orator Of the day, was
there, as was Editor Joseph Medill,
James Whitcomb Riley and Henry
Wattersou. Mr.. Watterson was the
second speaker. '"The War Is Over;
Let Us Have Peace" was the toast,
and his words aroused perfect tum-
ult OF enthusiasm among the men who
many time in years gone by had
lodged Confederate bullets. Mr.. Wat
terson, in his speech, paid this tribute
to Gen. Giant:
came here, primarily, to bow my
head and to pay my measure of hon.
age to the statue that was unveiled to-
day. The career and the name which
that statue commentaries belong to
me no less than to you. When 7 fol-
lowed him to the grave-proud to ap-
pear in his obsequies, though as the
obscurist ofthose who bore any official
part therein-I felt that I was helping
to bury not only great man, but a
true friend. From that day to this
the story of the life and death of Gen.
Grant has more and more impressed
and touched me.
never allowed myself to make bis
acquaintance until be had quilted the
White House. The period of his polit-
ical activity was full of uncouth and
partisan contention. It was kind of
civil war. I had my duty to do, and I
did not dare trust myself to the sub
DUNG influence of what I was sure to
follow friendly relations between such
a man as he was, and such a man as I
knew myself to be. In this I was not
mistaken, as the sequel proved. I met
him for the first time beneath my own
vine and fig tree, and happy series OF
accidents, thereafter, gave me the op-
portunity to meet him often and to
know him we'll. He was the embodi-
ment of simplicity, integrity, and
courage; every inch 9 general, SOL
dier, and man but the circumstances
of his last illness figure of heroic pro-
portions for the contemplation of the
ages. I recall nothing in history so
sublime as the spectacle of that brave
spirit, broken in fortune and in health,
with the dread hand of the dark angel
clutched about his throat, struggling
with every breath to hold the clumsy,
unfamiliar weapon with which be
sought to wrest from thejaws of death
g. little something for the support OF
wife and children when he was gone
If he had done nothing else, that
would have made his exit from the
world an immortal epic!
A little while after came home from
the last scene Of all I found that q
woman's hand had collected the insig.
MIA I had worn in the magnificent
melancholy pageant-the orders as
signing me to duty and the funeral
scarfs and badges-and had grouped
and framed them ; unbidden, silent.
ly, tenderly. and when reflected that
the hand that did this were those Of g
loving Southern woman, whose father
had fallen on the Confederate side
n the battle, said: "The wal
indeed is oyer; let US have peace !"
Gentlemen, soldiers, comrades, the
siIken folds that twine about US here
for all t.ieir soft and careless grace, art
yet as strong as hooks Of steel ! They
hold together 4 united people and
great nation for, realizing the truth a
!ast--With no wounds to be healed anc
no stings Of defeat to remember-th'
South says TO the North, as simply ant
AN truly as was said 5000 years ago il
that far-away meadow upon the mar
gin of the mystic sea "Whither tho'
goest I will go; and where thou lodg
est will lodge; thy people shall be m,
peopie and thy God my God"