Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia
Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia
3328 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSSociety at Athens, as its best debater. Another was the speakership whichhe won at commencement during his senior year, on three distinct merits:Class standing, composition and declamation. Prof. Charles Morris, whooccupied the chair of belles-lettres, during Mr. Knight's college days, declaredof him that he possessed the largest vocabulary of any young man he had evertaught, and predicted for him high honors in the years to come. On receivinghis diploma, in 1888, he was class valedictorian, senior essayist, and MellMemorial orator, and delivered three magnificent speeches during the sameweek at commencement. While studying law at Athens, Mr. Knight edited theAthens Banner Watchman, and it was doubtless in this connection that hispenchant for literary work inclined him to literature, rather than to law.Mr. Knight is in constant demand as a speaker, and invitations come tohim from all parts of the South. Among the orations which I recall at thistime, one was the address which he delivered on Henry W. Grady before theFulton Club of Atlanta in 1897, a masterpiece of diction. Doubtless no manin Georgia has spoken more frequently at banquets, on commencement occasions and on occasions of a commemorative character. He has unveiled numerous memorials to Revolutionary and Confederate heroes, and his speeches, ifpublished, would constitute in themselves a rare contribution to the literatureof eloquence. Perhaps his greatest oratorical honors came to him in- the fallof 1916, when he delivered two addresses at Wallingford, Connecticut, thebirthplace of Dr. Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence for Georgia. These speeches, both eloquent pleas for nationalbrotherhood, perhaps registered the maturest efforts of his genius. In concluding the second address, Mr. Knight said:"I come, sir, in the spirit of the great Lamar who, at Sumner's bier, exclaimed: 'My countrymen, let us know one another and we will love oneanother.' I come in the spirit of the immortal Grady who, at Plymouth Rock,entreated: 'This hour little needs the loyalty which is loyal to one section,yet holds the other in enduring suspicion and estrangement.' I come in thespirit of the martyred Lincoln, whose words of prophecy still ring like bells,wrought from the pure ore of his own golden heart: 'The mystic chordsof memory, stretching from every patriot's grave to every home and hearthstone all over our broad land, will yet swell the music of the Union whenagain swept, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.' Invoking the spirit of seventy-six, let the watchword of our national life be themotto of D'Artagnan: 'All for one and one for all.' Like the sisters ofBethany whom the Master loved, let Georgia and Connecticut, in all the yearsto come, reflect the kindred feature of one common family, vying with -eachother only in love's sweet ministries."Descendants of the Puritan, sons and daughters of New England, todayI bring you Georgia's love sweet with the autumn's breath among her hillsand mellow with the old-time fragrance of the long ago. May I not take heryours in return ? Then let our parting word be 'Mizpah.'"In the heart of my native town stands a monument erected by a nation'sgratitude to one of Georgia's gifted sons. Around its base, like ocean billows,the surging waves of commerce break, while silently, upon its head, the silkensun-beams of old Dixie fall. Fronting the east, it reflects from its massivebronze the light of a better day which is dawning all over our land, to tellof the golden fruition of his work, the happy fulfilment of his dream. Deepcutinto its pedestal of granite is inscribed this sentiment 'and when hedied he was literally loving a nation into peace.' On his return to us, fromhis mission to you, twenty-seven years ago, he fell asleep. Standing in theshadow of Grady's monument, let us hear again the sweet bugle notes of hismessage to New England. Then, betaking ourselves to Plymouth Rock, letus there, at the landing-place of the Pilgrim, erase Mason and Dixon's linefrom the map; let .us put North and South behind us in every sense which
GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3329means discord and division; let us relegate Cavalier and Puritan to the departed shades of history; and, remembering only our common birth-right inan ever-glorious Revolution, let this be our choral anthem:" 'A Union of lakes and a Union of landsA Union of States none can sever;A Union of hearts and a Union of handsAnd the flag of our Union forever.' "Mr. Knight is a great admirer of Robert Burns, and on the anniversaryof the poet's birth in 1911, delivered one of his happiest speeches in dedicating the Burns Cottage in Atlanta, perhaps the most Unique memorial inexistence, to the great poet of Scotland. It is an exact replica of the BurnsCottage in Ayrshire. Mr. Knight's address on this occasion was widely readby admirers of the poet, and brought him many enthusiastic letters fromabroad.Extensive travel has given Mr. Knight intimate acquaintance with manylands, in addition to which, his knowledge of books is both vast and varied,and he owns one of the most extensive libraries in the South. But he is alsointerested in current events. With no personal ambitions to gratify, he takesa deep interest in political affairs, but more from the standpoint of the historian, than of the politician. With a fortune large enough to gratify everywish, he prefers a life of labor to a life of ease, and makes his home by preference, in the capital city of his native state, where, though something of arecluse, he enjoys the esteem and love of all.Mr. Knight's fondness for the history of his state amounts to a sacred passion. Nor can I better close this sketch than to quote the following paragraphfrom the preface to his "Georgia's Land-Marks, Memorials and Legends:"'' Infallibility is not vouchsafed to mortals. To no one are the shortcomingsof this work more painfully apparent than to the author himself. Mindfulof his human frailties and limitations, he has sought only to render conscientious and faithful service to his state. This has ever been his endeavor. Hewill be satisfied if Georgia's benediction rests upon his labors; happier stillif, when his day's work is done, he can fall asleep in the clasp of her violetsaround him the ashes of his loved ones and over him an epitaph like this: Here.lies one who gave his pen to Georgia's memories, whose ambition was tobrighten the names on her fading records and to deepen the epitaphs on hermouldering monuments, whose richest recompense of reward was found inthe all-sufficient joy of service, and who coveted naught within the gift of theold mother State, save the privilege of loving every foot of her soil and everypage of her history."
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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3329means discord <strong>and</strong> division; let us relegate Cavalier <strong>and</strong> Puritan to <strong>the</strong> departed shades <strong>of</strong> history; <strong>and</strong>, remembering only our common birth-right inan ever-glorious Revolution, let this be our choral an<strong>the</strong>m:" 'A Union <strong>of</strong> lakes <strong>and</strong> a Union <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>sA Union <strong>of</strong> States none can sever;A Union <strong>of</strong> hearts <strong>and</strong> a Union <strong>of</strong> h<strong>and</strong>sAnd <strong>the</strong> flag <strong>of</strong> our Union forever.' "Mr. Knight is a great admirer <strong>of</strong> Robert Burns, <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong> anniversary<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poet's birth in 1911, delivered one <strong>of</strong> his happiest speeches in dedicating <strong>the</strong> Burns Cottage in Atlanta, perhaps <strong>the</strong> most Unique memorial inexistence, to <strong>the</strong> great poet <strong>of</strong> Scotl<strong>and</strong>. It is an exact replica <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BurnsCottage in Ayrshire. Mr. Knight's address on this occasion was widely readby admirers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poet, <strong>and</strong> brought him many enthusiastic letters fromabroad.Extensive travel has given Mr. Knight intimate acquaintance with manyl<strong>and</strong>s, in addition to which, his knowledge <strong>of</strong> books is both vast <strong>and</strong> varied,<strong>and</strong> he owns one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most extensive libraries in <strong>the</strong> South. But he is alsointerested in current events. With no personal ambitions to gratify, he takesa deep interest in political affairs, but more from <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>point <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> historian, than <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> politician. With a fortune large enough to gratify everywish, he prefers a life <strong>of</strong> labor to a life <strong>of</strong> ease, <strong>and</strong> makes his home by preference, in <strong>the</strong> capital city <strong>of</strong> his native state, where, though something <strong>of</strong> arecluse, he enjoys <strong>the</strong> esteem <strong>and</strong> love <strong>of</strong> all.Mr. Knight's fondness for <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> his state amounts to a sacred passion. Nor can I better close this sketch than to quote <strong>the</strong> following paragraphfrom <strong>the</strong> preface to his "<strong>Georgia</strong>'s L<strong>and</strong>-Marks, Memorials <strong>and</strong> Legends:"'' Infallibility is not vouchsafed to mortals. To no one are <strong>the</strong> shortcomings<strong>of</strong> this work more painfully apparent than to <strong>the</strong> author himself. Mindful<strong>of</strong> his human frailties <strong>and</strong> limitations, he has sought only to render conscientious <strong>and</strong> faithful service to his state. This has ever been his endeavor. Hewill be satisfied if <strong>Georgia</strong>'s benediction rests upon his labors; happier stillif, when his day's work is done, he can fall asleep in <strong>the</strong> clasp <strong>of</strong> her violetsaround him <strong>the</strong> ashes <strong>of</strong> his loved ones <strong>and</strong> over him an epitaph like this: Here.lies one who gave his pen to <strong>Georgia</strong>'s memories, whose ambition was tobrighten <strong>the</strong> names on her fading records <strong>and</strong> to deepen <strong>the</strong> epitaphs on hermouldering monuments, whose richest recompense <strong>of</strong> reward was found in<strong>the</strong> all-sufficient joy <strong>of</strong> service, <strong>and</strong> who coveted naught within <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>old mo<strong>the</strong>r State, save <strong>the</strong> privilege <strong>of</strong> loving every foot <strong>of</strong> her soil <strong>and</strong> everypage <strong>of</strong> her history."
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