Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-02
SOUTHLAND STORIES
Larry CAN'T Gives Some Interesting
ReCOlleCtiOlS.
TELLS OF The Men OF OTHER DAYS
Pc sonaI Recollections o, Henry w
Grady, Orator and Journalist.

orator than Henry w. Grady. ! have
seen him sway vast audiences as 4
field Of grain before gale. at one
moment having them convulsed with
laughter, the next silent with the
closest attention as he discussed
some intricate subject, and then with
tear-dimmed eyes as ne depicted a
pathetic scene. Grady had not only
most captivating voice and rare eio-
quence, but the few addresses he made
were exquisite word paintings and yet
his language was so beautifully plain,
and his illustrations so vivid and
pointed that he charmed and capti-
waited alike the learned and illiterate
Henry Grady was a literary cleaner
and miser When not at work or in
conversation his mind was kept busy.
Wherever Grady went Jim Holiday,
his faithful stenOgrapher and secre-
tary. was at his side, pencil and note
book in hand When a bright thought
or expression flashed through Grady's
mind he repeated 1t to Holiday and
he jotted it down. Each night the
secretary would read over to Grady
the notes taken during the day and
all deemed worth preserving were re-
corded, under suitable captions in d
notebook kept for this purpose. So
when Grady was to deliver an address
he drew on these notes for sentences
german TO his subject. II was like
stringing pearls.
Grady was delightful companion
and ore of the most genial and pleas
ing men / ever knew. Everybody
was his friend and enthusiastic ad-
mirer, and Grady loved the whole hu-
man race. never heard him speak
an unkind word Of any one and wnrn
he died il could be truly said of him
that he left not an enemy behind.
Grady died in the very zenith Of hla
fame. | was with him on a pleasure
iaunt Of several days and the next time
1 looked upon his face his body was
lying in state in an Atlanta church
and an unbroken line of sorrowins
friends and admirers slowly filed by inc
flower er-embowerCd caSket. AS mani
frstation of their love for and pride in
Henry w. Grady the people of Georgia
erected i'm Atlanta a heroic bronze
statue to perpetuate the memory ol
Grady-but the figure does not do him
Justice, as it is more like Hokc Smith
than Grady. But Henry Grady has
monument far more enduring than
marble or bronze implanted in the
hearts and affections of every Georgian
and Albanian that will endure as long
as memory remains.
Grady had soul and heart as lare-
as the universe, and a nature 50 hope
full and buoymt that not even advcr-
sitv cOud daunt Atlanta was un-
questionabIy built by Grady and his
faith in the future Of the place never
wavered.
Grady had always been my true and
loyal friend and | never called on him
for Il favor but it was unhesitatingiy
granted. He cared only for money &c
spend it and died comparatively poor
and in debt.
To show the great and care-froc
heart Of Grady, one Christmas eve
farmer admirer sent him big fat tur-
key. After dark he started home, n
darkey trailing behind with bird IN
hand. He had gone few blocks when
he met an old crippled beggar, who APP
preached him with the plea:
Mister, will you give me a quarter
to'ard gittin dinner for my folks, as
we amt got 'er thing ter eat at my
house,"
Sure, | will, rold man. replied Gra-
when he remembered that he, too, was
dead broke.
After thinking an instant he called
the dariey TO him and told him: Here,
give that old fellow the turkey. His
family needs it worse than | do. I'll
have half dozen invitations to dinner
and no one will think Of inviting him."
So with muttered thanks the mendi-
cant marched away carrying Grady's
Christmas turkey.
But no plutocrat ever got more en-
juymcnt of the good things out Of life
than Henry w. Grady. No trouble or
adversely could daunt his buoyant hap
uv. hopeful spirits. Atlanta idoliZed
him and gave him her best. Georgia
loved and honored him and whatever