The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-12
STORIES OF OUR SOUTHLAND
Personal Recollections of Henry w.
Grady, Orator and
Journalist
Larry Gannt's Weekly Letter

ouent orator than Henry w. Grady.
I have seen him sway vast audiences
As a field Of grain before a gale, at
one moment having them con-
vulsed with laughter, the next silent
with the closest attention as he dis
eussed some intricate subject, and
then with tear -dimmed eyes as he de-
picted pathetic scene. Grady had
not only most captivating voice and
rare ,sloqaence, but the few address
es he made were exquisite word
painting and yet his language was so
beautifully plain, and his illustrations
30 vivid and pointed that he charmed
and captivated alike the learned and
illirerate.
Henry Grady was literary CLEAN
er and miser. When not at work or
in conversation his mind was kept
busy. Wherever Grady went Jim
Holiday, his faithful stenographer
and secretary, was at his side, pencil
and notebook in hand. When a
bright thought or expression flashed
through Grady's mind he repeated it
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 preserv-
ing Were recorded, under suitable
captions in a notebook kept for this
purpose. So when Grady was to de-
liver an address he drew on these
notes for sentences german to the
subject. 1t was like stringing pearls.
Grady was delightful companion
and one of the most genial and pleas
ANT men / ever knew. Everybody
was his friend and enthusiastic admir-
Ar, and Grady loved the whole human
race. / never heard him speak an
unkind word of any one and when
he died it could be truly said Of him
thst he left not an enemy behind.
Grady died in the zenith of his
fame. I was with him on q pleasure
jannt of several days and the next.
time T looked upon his face his body
was lying in state in an Atlanta
church and an unbrokea line of Sor-
rowing friends and admirers slowly
filed by the, hower-embcwered casket.:
As. manifestation of their love for
and pride in Henry W. Grady the
people Of Georgia erected in Atlanta
heroic bronze statue to perpetuate
the memory of Grady-but the figure
does not do him justice, as it is more
like Hoke Smith than Grady. But
Henry Grady has a 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 re-
mains.
Grady had a soul and heart as large
as the universe, and nature so hope
full, and. buoyant that not even ad-
versity could daunt. Atlanta was un-
questionably built by Grady and his
faith in the future of the place never
waYered.
Grady has always been my true and
loyal friend and ! never called ON hlm
for favor but it was unhesitatingly
granted. He cared only for money to
spend it and died comparatively poor
and in debt.
To show the great and care-free
heart of Grady, one Christmas eve
farmer adnlirer sent him a big fat
turkey. After dark he started hcme,
darkey trailing behind with bird in
hand. He haa gone a few blocks
when he met an Old crippled oeggar,
who approached him with the plea:
Mister, will you give me quarter
to'ard gittin' a dinner for my folks, as
we amt got er thing ter eat at my
heuse?"
Sure / will, old man." replied Gra-
dy as he ran his hand into pocket,
when he remembered that he, too, was
dead broke.
After thinking an instant he called
the darkey to him and told him:
"Here, give that old fellow the tur-
key. His family needs it worse than
] do. I'll have half dozen invita-
tiens to dinner and no one will think
Of inviting himw So with muttered
thanks the mendicant marched away
carrying Grady's Christmas turkey.
But no plutocrat ever got more en-
joyment Of the good things out of life
than Henry w. Grady. No trouble
or adversely could daunt his buoyant,
happy, hopeful spirits. Atlanta idol
lied him and gave him her best.