The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-07-01

generosity OF inc peOPAe VI Ino
IHe which he served for fourteen
al''' N congress, is without prece-
ye@I IN Georgia, and testifies as elo-
u0Is ,+Iv 70 the aspirations of the liv-
'ns as it commentaries the achieve
lnS Of the dead. No monument
~'1 oror set up to man or event by
Sas ,,or consent without ennobling
W. living while honoring the dead
US ,,,,en+s are history marks es-
Mv yI.bed by men to testify their kin
s,a nv appreciation and sympathy
SI' whatever was luminously wise
VIZ. ,.ofuI or heroic in the life of an
,or The history of the world IS
.sa history of men. The progress Of
-. world is marked by the leader
' ~, If men and the leaders become
s Ia mopumented achievement Of
.,- +irne Who can conceive OF the
n w. without Martin Luther,
tbo revolution for American indie
.aorce without Washington? The
.,r,on+ to Luther is also by ap-
a,aciation and sympathy the monu-
ront to every Protestant in christen-
1om as the monument to Washing
I'm svmboIizes the aspirations OF
~orr American patriot. Why, then,
.s,s monument to James Mathews
C-.rgsq The answer is to be found
- 90 much of his life's work as made
-. tbo betterment of the conditions
- life among his people. No just
..aoo+a can be made of Judge
criggs, mower and influence that does
.o+ take into account his remarkable
personality. This was his introduc-
.ion to all men, the key to his hand
ling of all subjects.
Judge Griggs was man fully six
foet tall broad shouldered, deep
oba.ted with erect body, large head,
b;gb and broad forehead, light hair,
foir complexion, light blue eyes, an
onan countenance and bright, happy
Ioors beamed constantly from his
4acA-a face so mobile in expression
that If easily relaxed from smiles to
laughter. The motions of his body
wora Cuick. and his large eyes rest
loss with alertness. His self-posses-
sion was complete, his manners easy
and engaging, his sympathies quick,
and his generosity habitual. Abound
irg in vitality he was easily a con-
sDicuous person any company. Faith
arless in his early boyhood life TO
him was a battle before his youth
fuI body had developed to the weight
of armor needed in it's conflicts. HIS
quick perception, rapid thought and
uDfailing memory were the great
basic qualities of the mind that
would have shown superior and re-
sDlendent had the misfortune OF MS
bovhood robbed him of some of the
advantages the schools conferred. His
first efforts at self-support were as
a school teacher, and quick follow
i ing this he began the study OF law,
and in this field in his brief career
he mastered it in the two-fold aspect
Of science and a profession. Like
50 many of the poorer but talented
Young men in Georgia he began the
practice in the country and not III
the crowded city; first at Alapaha, IN
Berrien county, in 1884, a county
now many times multiplied in It's
population and richer than when
young Griggs settled there a rbriehess
barrister. So slender were the
means his profession afforded that
he added the publication of a news
paper. In the following year he re-
moved to the now prosperous town
Of Dawson, where his talents enabled
him to realize from the better oppor-
tunities both in money and protes-
sianal experience. In 1888 he was
elected by the legislature solicitor
general of the Pataula circuit In
this office his duties carried him TO
several counties and to the prosecu-
ton of all crimes within their Jurls-
diCtion. This was an exceptional op-
pOrtunity for his signal talents. IN
addition to a knowledge of the Ia"
adequate to every case and equal 10
every adversary he must possess
frmness and courage. With an eX-
ceptional knowledge of human ma
ture and quick perception of indivld-
ual traits of character he combined
the power oH clear analysis and log-
lcal statement so necessary to per
suade and to convince juries. Re
elected by the legislature in 1892, ne
resigned to accept the judgeship OF
the circuit in 1893, and this office ne
resigned in 1896 to enter the race
for congress from this district. he
was nominated and elected to the
55th congress.
The rapid elevation which marked
his career is a tribute to more va
ried qualities than I have yet ascrlD-
ed to him. To his qualities of mind
and attainments as lawyer he add
ed qualities of heart which complet-
ed his character to that roundness
which will account for his personal
popularity and election to congress