The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-04-06

NdTltu CAREER do JUL hoiios oaS
many and extraordinarily interest
ing. Once he scored a great beat
over news associations and cores
pondents from all the European cap
itals when his paper first flashed the
news to the world of the acquittal of
thirteen Hebrews whose trial for the
ritual murder" of the 13-year-old
Christian girl, Tisza Estar, at the
Hungarian town of Nyereghaza, 200
miles from Budapest, was one of the
world sensations at the time. He
has interviewed world rulers and dip
lomats, even Lord Curzon, whom
everyone said could not be approach
ed. In his capacity as writer Mr..
Konta probably has been entrusted
with diplomatic secrets which, if
known today, might work upheavais.
Mr.. Konta is thoroughly familiar
with central European politics. He
describes the widowed empress, Zita,
as being vigorous, forceful, brainy
and ambitious woman, and Count
Aponyi he declares to be the leader
of those who would restore a Haps-
burg to the throne of st. Stephen.
Mr.. Konta, to whom "Marse Hen
ry" dedicated his autobiography, has
translated and adapted several plays
for the American stage, notably "The
Devil" some years ago. He paid the
following tribute to Mr.. Watterson:
"'Marse Henry never can be re-
placed. | wish it weren't so. There
never was time. when a man like
Henry Watterson was more needed
than at this moment. He was a great
fighter. He fought for his convic-
tons. He wouldn't compromise
Things we're black or white to him.
wrong was wrong and right right
And he could tell you, in the slang
Of the day. where to get off, every
time. No one ever called him
preacher. But he preached better
sermons from that editorial chair of
his than some of our $4,000 pulpit
teers. This is not saying that our
clergymen aren't good. It means that
'Marse Henry was better.
81 knew Henry Watterson for a
good many years. The friendship he
gave me was one of the precious
things of my life. often used to
wonder how 1t was that he rarely
lost his friends. He kept them, as
rule, right to the end. When he
died, there wasn't a harsh word spo-
ken or written about him. He left
life with the love of thousands who
had known him, and millions who
knew of him only through his writings.
Yet he had been fighting men and bad
principles throughout his career.
That sort of thing makes enemies.
1t leaves scars that are supposedly
unbeatable. Where are the enemies
and their scars today-if they ever
existed? Nowhere. They have all
been forgotten. at Watterson's tomb.
"Yes. he hit hard-terribly hard.
But not maliciously or vindictively.
He was sportsman. He gave blows
with all his might, He took what
came to him in return with a certain
enjoyment. II was all in the game.
l think that's why even his bitterest
political opponents held him in such
personal respect.
There was great sweetness and
loyeableness about 'Marse Henry
Here in Louisville, you knew this per-
haps better than we did In New York.
But up there, all who came into touch
with him. particularly during the past
few years, felt the singular soft
charm Of his personality, Amongst
his friends-and they numbered both
old and young--he was more like a