The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-05-24
FAMOUS SOUTHERN ORATOR.
John Temple Graves Eulogy on
Henry w. Grady.
l.. L. Knight in Sunny South.


New England society, OF New York
it is doubtful II any production ol
southern oratory within the past twC
decades has surpassed in purity OF
diction or rythnlic grace OF sentimer;
the eulogy. on Mr.. Grady delivered
by Colonel John Temple Graves. in
Atlanta in 1880 Even in cold type
the eulogy retains much or the cleo
trio spell which captivated the inn
mense audience which heard it. Such
an ovation as Mr. Graves received on
this occasion seldom falls TO the lot
OF men, Said he:
| am one OF the thousands who
loved him and | stand with the mil
lions who lamen, his death. | loved
him in the promise OF his glowing
youth when across my boyish vision
he walked with winning grace from
easy effort TO success. | loved HIM
in the flush OF splendid manhood
when nation hung upon his words;
and now with the dross of human
friendship smitten in my soul love
him best OF all as he lies out yonder
underneath December skies with face
as tranquil and with smile as swee.
as victor ever wore.
In this sweet and solemn hour all
the rare and radiant adjectlves that
blossomed in the shining pathway OF
his pen seem to have come to
Law themselves in loving tribute al
their masters feet; but rich as the
music which they bring, the cadences
of all our eulogy.
Sigh for the touch OF the vanished
hand
And the sound OF the voice that is
still"
And here today in this hall glor-
flied by the echoes OF his eloquence,
standing to answer the impulse OF my
heart to the roll call of his friends
and stricken with an emptiness OF
words, | know that when the finger
of God touched his eyelids into sleep
there gathered a silence on the only
lips that could weave the sun-brlght
stroy of his days or mete sufficient eu-
logy to the incompatible richness OF
his life. No pen has plowed such
noble fu1row in his country's fallow
fields since the wrist. of Horace
Greely rested. No eloquence has
rivaled his since Sergeant Prentiss
faded from the earth; no age OF the
republic has witnessed such marve-
lous conjunction OF magic pen with
the velvet splendor OF a mellow tongue,
and Though the warlike rival
of these wondrous forces never
rose within his life, it is writ Of all
his living that the noble fires OF his
genius were kindled in his boyhood
from the gleam that died upon his
fathers sword Ali the forces
of our craftsmanship have not pre-
vailed for union like the speeches o.
this bright. magnetic man. His elo-
ouence was the medium through
which sections were learning TO see
each other clearer and to love each
other better. He was melting bitter.
ness in the warmth OF his patriotic
fervor. sections were being linkec in
the logic OF his liquid sentences and
when he died he was literally loving
a nation into peace.
Fit and dramatic climax to his
glorious mission that he should have
lived to carry the south's last message
to the center of the nations culture
and then with the gracious answer to
his transcendent service locked in ms
loyal heart, come back to die among
the people he had served! Filter still
that as he walked in the final triumph
through the streets of his beloved
city he should have caught upon his
kingly brow that wreath of southern
roses-richer jewels than Victoria
wears-plucked by the hands Of
Georgia men and flung about him