The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-05-07

well KNOW II anu - i'iit Jodi nal
.ets i'm our Southland. Writers Of
,minence were well known, because
rho.p present system had not come into
vogue Of suppressing the real writer's.
and putting publishers who never
wrote 10 the front as the real con
tIibutors. Virginia excelled, 50 far as
remember, and edward William
Johnston, (brothcr Of General Joseph
r.. Johnston, the great soldier); John
~Ifampden Peasants, John VI. Daniel
and Roger A. Pryor were the best
known, and We're really of very mark
ID gifts. Forty years ago / knew the
names Of almost every really eminent
journalist in New York city. Today |
ITO not know by name one who is con-
spIcuOuS for his qualities as a writer,
and yet New York has 4,000, 600 in
habitants, while in 1860 it had not
more than 500, 900, if 50 much. The
writer's on the leading newspapers are
absorbed, and have no personal ac-
~guaintance with outsiders.
I wish to write Of a Southern
journalist who 'periShed in his
prime" now nearly or quite eighteen
years ago. / refer to Henry w.
Grady, a native Of Georgia, and Of
good North Carolina descent, as / have
seen it stated that his parents were
born in this State. as were those of
G~OVernor-elect Hoke Smith. His
death came IS a great shock, and
was much lamented all over thc
South. At the time Of his death. he
was probably the most brilliant, the
most gifted man Of his own age in
our favored section of the American
Union. 1t was an Union Of States
that was formed and not . Nation. He
was q born orator, and a born Journal
list, if [ have studied his record cor
reCtly. He had both readiness and
amplitude Of power as q writer and
& b4 off nf alaC114nca# h4y,,nl all rivals
of his own age who edited and in q
most marked degree. | never met
him, but i greatly admired him, and
read ali Ills productions for the press
that | saw. He edited the Atlanta
Constitution when | was his constant
reader, and he made it very attractive,
influential, potential. His Journalistic
career v a~ppr1ved ana enjoyed
and distinguished throughout by d re-
markable blending Of the brilliant with
the practical, the thoughtful with the
Imaginative. He was capable of
producing an article OF uncommon
rhetorical finish and beautiful for
sentiment. He could turn to the
dryeSt, most buSincSS-lke OF topics
and surpass the Dry-as-dust plodder in
his own narrow, chosen field. He
was always discussing questions that
looked to the development, the enrich
ment and the glory of his native
South. Whatever concerned the hap
pineSS the progress, the renoVn Of his
people, he SO we'll understood and
admired, concerned him, and the
whole Southland was included, for he
was governed by mo pent up Utica.
He Ia that very rare power that
comes of the birthright of genius, or
Of magnificent gifts that are of near
akin. He possessed in q most marked
degree that WOndrous gift Of saying
old things in a new way, and investing
them With the charm of originality.
He had the Midas touch by Which the
dross of i~nanenees and common-place
could he TRANSMITTED into fine Gold
Of rich, perhaps genuine poetic sen
timent He possessed that noble art
of making the old appear IN the at
tractiVe livery of the new He had
the combination Of udg
ment and skill which enabled hIm TO
seize the right idea, and by n VIM
ing power Of rhetoric or speech pre-
sent It With such grace, felicity ana
earneStneSS as to convert or enthra.t
the nearer. He had the gift of elo-
quence in a high and refined degree
such as is bestowed by God upon but
few of the aspiring children of men.
He could avoid, by happy intention.
the dangers that lay in n track OF
his argosy of speech, and by 8racelui
lacking and ingenious steering, coutd
pass successfully and safely betWeeh
SCNl1d ana 1IEdly bulS H. 49, -
astonishing and yet noble endoWlneilt.
Gracious and friendly Muses. must
have stood by his cradle in the birth
hour, and the n who could DeSloW
the high Gift of fertile, fellcltouS ana
ina speech smiled b~enlSpantlS'
while the other who could endoN
with the rare qualities OF q reauN
and fruitful writer and a Vocapuldfy
responsive to every demand, ilch ahu
select. looked with benignant taVor
and withheld not her hand.
ing a
Too sweet to last"
Although Ibis tongue dropped man
ma and he could even charm lhe
widest tempers," and win applause
from the people of Boston of q frlgld,
unsympathetic CLINE, and by happy
and tender. wore even compet. the
enemies of his own people to DestoW
their praises in no unStllted Way nc
could not stay the biting. uhlflehaiH
winds n the nipping and cruel az"
mosDhere of winter or drive back the
~devOuring disease that came from
them to lay him low in the full iluSii
of manhood's perfect prime. he dleu
from an attack produced by exposure
while addressing the people OF =
tom in mid-winter. What a sad pc
reavement it was! What an untlnle,
Iv death. viewed from the standpolft
Of death! And yet his WORK
was done. His fame sufficed. he hao
Given his heart to God. He had &C
cepted Jesus Christ as his savior. lit
nd placed his hopes upon the fullhess.
Of the. efficacy of the Atonement OF
lie blessed Son of God. Ihe man Oh
youth and strength, of gifts and ac-
complishments. of aspirations ana
uppes Of heart and sympathy mao TO
meet so soon the inevitable summons,
aud to lie 50 far as the body was m
Volved in the alabaster arms 81
DEATH The South over ,he
enforced early departure OF TIE
Young Marcellus'-posslbiy ITS hoso
@ifted among the young OF his age,
Who was sounding the depths OF iaile'
and riding so successfully. so bravery
upon the high crest of popular laVoi
and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Illustration
OF the truth spoken by the poet, that
"The paths of glory lead but to the
rave.
| have said that Henry w. Grady
was eloquent, but he never used ~
Nn' =