Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-10-23
In the Heart Of
Americas

low during the past six years
Every one in Americas seems tc
have known and loved him.
Wightman F. Melton, writing
in the Atlanta Georgian a few
days ago, paid this tribute to the
former news editor of The
Times-Recorder:
There are only three cities in
the United States with the name
Americus. They are in Geor-
gia, Kansas and Missouri. In
Americas, Ga, little while
ago, there was the only Colonel
J, Walter Furlow in the world.
Browning says, "Open my heart
heart and you will see, 'graved
inside of it, Italy Open the
heart of Americas, Ca, and you
will find, 'graved inside of it,
Colonel Walter"
Mayor Quimby Melton now
with the International Proprie-
taries, Inc, formerly city editor
of The Atlanta Constitution,
and prior to that time editor
of the Times-Recorder, Ameri-
Gus. says it is doubtful if the
State of Georgia ever had a
more versatile writer than J.
Walter Furlow, who for many
years was city editor of The
Times-Recorder. Colonel Wall
ter" as he was known to every
body in Southwest Georgia, was
a character all to himself. 1t
is probable that no more brill
liant mind than his ever graced
the newspaper profession in
Georgia.
Colonel Furlow "broke in" on
The Times-Recorder in the early
eighties and for more than
twenty years was on the job
every day in the year-with no
vacation at all. His constant
delight was to brighten the pages
of his little daily paper. Most
of what he wrote never went
further than the circulation linz
its Of his paper; but many of his
routine stories are a real contri-
button to Georgia literature,
and would make as interesting
reading, if collected in book
form, as Longstreet's Georgia
Scenes" in an Augusta paper,
and Thompson's major Jones'
courtship, )" in a Madison paper.
Joe Chandler Harris doubtless
would have been pleased to place
-them side by side with his "Uncle
Remus" stories.
Walt Furlow had certain peculi-
arities. He refused to learn to
write on a typewriter. He was
correspondent for many years of
the state papers. Every line he
sent in was in long hand. He
always said, Il can't think when
typewriter is pecking away"
News in a small city such as
Amerlcus was twenty years ago,
was scarce; but there was always
a certain amount of space to be
filled. Furlow was "city editor"
IN name; but he was, in fact,
managing editor, city editor, star
reporter, cub reporter, copy boy
makeup man; and, when things
got in a rush, he often helped to
feed the old flat-bed press on
which the paper was then print
ed.
Walt Furlow was never hap
pier than when he was writing.
He even reveled in those days
when there was no sport news
and he was forced to grind out
copy from his fertile brain.
The files of The Times-Ree
corGer reveal many a classic de-
seription of a Georgia barbecue.
On one occasion he devoted
column and half to a negro null
let supper. describing, in detail,
the creations" worn by the
cooks and washerwomen of Amer
icus.
Recently, The Times-Recorder,
IN column on its editorial page,
headed Twenty Years Ago in
Americas, copied the following
news" item, which is typical of
Colonel Walters" own style:
Miss Jennie Jones and Bob
Smith were married at the Jones
mansion last night The bride is
daughter of Constable Jones,
who is a good officer and will un-
doubtedly be reelected this
spring. he offers a fine horse for
sale in another column. The
groom runs a grocery store on
Main street and is a good patron
of our ad columns and has a fine
lot of bargains this week. All
summer he paid more for butter
than any other merchant in town.
The happy couple left on the 10
O'Clock train for pawson to visit
the brides uncle, who is report
ed to have lots of money and
Bright's disease"
Colonel Walter Furlow could
write about anything and make it
interesting. He knew exactly
what to say to please all classes
Of society. If he had had the
opportunity he would have made
a larger name for himself as a
descri-s i've writer.
1t was Colonel Walter" the
friend and neighbor, as well as
Editor Furlow, who so endeared
himself to his section of the
state that he will live forever