Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEOEGIA AND GEORGIANS 3327byterian ministry, in which his matchless eloquence would have brought himat once to the front ranks. After a sojourn of some two months in Europe,visiting places of historic interest, lie went to Southern California in searchof the healing balm.But his talents could not be suppressed, and what was lost to the pulpitwas only shifted to the republic of letters. It was while on Catalina Island,in the Pacific, 3,000 miles from home, that surrounded by an atmosphere ofGeorgia memories, he began to weave Into Attic prose the story of his nativestate. Thus, while his ambitions were thwarted in one direction, a rich fieldof usefulness was opened to his rare gifts in another. "We quote the followingparagraph from the preface to Mr. Knight's first work. It shows his passionate love for his native state, while exemplifying at the same time his felicitouscommand of English:"Love's labor is always light; and, though the task of producing two ponderous volumes within the brief: space of two years has kept him bound likePrometheus to the rock, he has scarcely felt the gentle fetters. He has dailywaxed stronger and younger at his work; but the exhilarating cordial hasnot eome from the vineyards of the San Gabriel valley. It has been distilled,in memory's alembic, on the distant slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Moreinvigorating than ocean breeze or upland ozone has been the task of weavingthis simple tapestry of reminiscent threads.-* It has kindled the ruddy glowand stirred the sluggish blood and made the heart beat faster. All otherscenes have been excluded; and, alike by day and by night, his visions haveever been of Georgia. On an island of enchantment he has dwelt in an atmosphere of dreams; and, deaf to the siren voices of the sunset sea, his thoughtshave traveled silently and softty eastward like pilgrims journeying to theHoly Land."When the author's initial work, in two volumes, came from the press entitled : "Reminiscences of Famous Georgians," it produced a profound impression in literary circles. John Temple Graves, in an eloquent editorial, pronounced it one of the most brilliant works of its kind ever produced.in thestate, declaring that "when the roster was made up of those whose pens hadpaid high tribute to Georgia, Mr. Knight's name would head the roll;" andin like vein, Thomas E. "Watson, himself a rare critic, declared, "some day,some other writer will lengthen the list of famous Georgians, and our children'schildren will treasure the name of Lucian Lamar Knight." Judge JosephR. Lamar, afterwards a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States,was also enthusiastic in praising his kinsman's first literary effort.Mr. Knight is essentially a student and a man of letters. With returningphysical strength, his brilliant intellect regained its natural poise 'and power,and one volume rapidly succeeded another. On completing his first work,lie crossed the continent by invitation of his Alma Mater to deliver thealumni address at the University of Georgia, and in this masterful effort,undertook a defense of Lee's old war horse (General Longstreet) before thebar of public opinion.Mr. Knight's contributions to the history of his state have not only givenhim an established prestige among the writers of America, but brought himrecognition from literary savants both at home and abroad. In addition tohis more serious compositions, he has at leisure moments written many fascinating poems arid sketches, not a few of which have been preserved in scrapbooks.It is the hope of thousands that some day these rare literary gemswill be published in book form.Mr. Knight, though distinguished as a writer, is not less gifted as an orator, and from the days of his early boyhood, eloquence of the highest orderhag fallen from his lips and charmed his hearers into admiration. As a highschool pupil, and as an undergraduate at college, he won many glitteringtrophies. One of these was a medal conferred upon him by the Phi Kappa