Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1894-12-13
The Home Life OF William J BRYAN.
BY GENEvIEvE BENNETT CLARK

BY GENEvIEvE BENNETT CLARK.
In that master piece OF English
fiction of Henry Esmond, Thack
cray makes the hero say: "Indeed
think If Nero were to rise pgaiu
and be King Of England and a good
family man. the ladies would par
don him If it be true, az the
great satirist would have US believe,
that women judge all men not by
theirpublic services but by the private
conduct of their lives, that explains
why the women OF Nebraska are sc
anxious to see Mr.. Bryan elected tc
United States Senate while those o
Kentucky were equally anxious t.
defeat Mr.. Breckinridge for Con
gress.
81 can forgive anything in a man
if he is good husband" l heard
a bright woman exelaim a few days
ago, and l think she voiced the
sentiment of majority of her sex.
There are few men who have
achieved so great a reputation in SO
short a period of time as has Mr..
William J. Bryan, of Nebraska.
His election to Congress was con.
vincing proof of his personal popu-
larity for the Democrats are in the
minority in his district. He won
national fame by his tariff speech
during his first term in Congress !;
and his speeches in the last Con-
gress, especially the one delivered
during the extra session upon the
subject of silver, has well sustained
his reputation as an orator.
In nothing, however, does Mr..
Bryan show forth to such advantage
as in the character of husband and
father. Between him and his wife
there exists the perfect freedom and
confidence of good comrades, to-
gether with the devotion and ten
derness that attend young lovers.
She was admitted to the bar while
he was practicing law in Lincoln,
and now, in his wider sphere of action,
she is the friend and adviser whose
counsel he most of all values.
When Mr.. Bryan made his tariff
speech in the last Congress, the
rules were suspended for the evening
and ladies were allowed seats upon
the floor of the House. Every avail
able spot was occupied; the galleries
were crowded; the orator was at his
best; and for three hours held the
vast audience sp ell.bound. His
beautiful little daughter sat beside
him and was one of his most attent-
i've and delighted auditors. 1 met
the little lady few days after at
matinee whittier | had taken my
little boy to see Sol Smith Russell
in "April Weather." She was very
much interested in the play, and
between scenes conided to me her
anxiety lest the widows husband
should turn up in the last scene and
knock the nose of the impecunions
artist out of joint. l took advant.
age of the occasion to ask what she
thought of her fathers speech.
"Oh," she replied, sit isn't for me
to brag on my papa. What did
you think of it?" I said: "Indeed,
1 thought it pretty hard to beat"
Here little Bennett interposed, pro.
testing in loud voice that "daddy
could beat everybody in this world
speakin'." Miss Bryan gave him
a patronizing look and then with all
the superiority of a seven-year old,
glanced at me as if to say, "See
what manners the small boy has,"
To see Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan to-
gether one is reminded of all the
nice things ever seen in literature
and art touching the happiness of
a perfectly welded pair. A great
American author in the first part of
this century said something pretty
about the oak and the vine, which
is not quoted as much now as for
merly; but when l looked at the
Nebraska Congressman and saw the
look of tenderness and admiration
With which he regarded the fair
woman at his side, and marked the
glow of love and pride in her face,
l remembered that one of the most
womanly and best beloved Of
American writer's has said: "While
the sap st:rs in the heart of the
princely oak, let the ivy cling and
climb closer and yet closer to its
heaven-heart support; drink of the
showers that refresh it; flourish in
its sunlight; and, at last, in the
Fathers own good time, lie down
with it inthe dust" g.
Cure for Diphtherla.
At.la G..& :.I;ont;o.n &c l;nlfL o.