Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-14
Mr.. BRYAN AT SALEM
The Democratic Candidate Passes a
Quiet Day.
WILL DRIVE over 10 CENTRALIA
Preparing for a Demonstration
There Tonight.
TALK OF THE OLD SETTLERS

SALEM, H., July l4.-The inhabitants
of this quiet town were rather slow in get
ting about today. The demonstration of
last night appears 10 have been rather too
much for them, and everybody, weary from
the unaccustomed loss of sleep remained
in bed until the sun WIS high in the heay-
ems. Then they began TO assemble in small
groups about the court house square and
to talk of the wonderful display that had
been made in honor of the return of VIM.
j. Bryan, the presidential nominee OF the
democratic party.
Mr.. and Mrs Bryan. like the inhabitants
OF the town, were weary this morning.
They rested until after O'Clock, and, GO
ing up to breakfast, they had spring chick
en- and fried potatoes and blackberries,
grown in the yard of his sisters home, and
coffee. With them at breakfast were j. w,
Baird and his wife, Mr.. Bryan's sister, and
Misses Mamie and Mamie Bryan who have
just finished their college education. After
breakfast Mrs. Bryan remained at home
while Mr.. Bryan went TO the court house to
attend to some business of his mothers
estate. At dinner time Mr.. Bryan, his
wife and two unmarried sisters went to the
home of their aunt, Mrs. ID. S. Marshall
and In the afternoon drove about the town
father lived during the last of his life.
1t has been arranged that Mr.. Bryan
shall drive over 10 Centralia twelve miles
southwest of here, where a demonstration
will be given tonight. Ii was Mr.. Bryan's
wish to remain quiet today. but the people
of Centralia had made all the arrange
ments for a display in his honor, and he
finally consented to go. A big demonstra-
ton will be held here tomorrow and tomor-
row night. Mr.. Bryan has been advertised
as one of the principal speakers.
Bryan's birthplace.
The oldest settlers, and the town is full
of them, recounted stories and anecdotes
of Bryan when he was known as a bare
footed boy in this region thirty years ago.
Prophets among these old residents were
numerous. They said they always did
know that Billy Bryan was going 10 be
somebody.
They all knew his father. Judge Silas
Bryan, who settled here in the early for
ties. Incidents in the life OF the old judge
We're recounted, and from what the old set
tiers say he wa In his time the best plead
er and jury lawyer in this part of the state,
and he had the reputation Of being a re-
markably clever campaigner or stump
speaker.
This town was laid out by the early white
settlers long before Illinois was admitted
TO the Union as a state. The main thor
ouRhfare of the city. the one on which Mr..
Bryans birthplace stands was the old
national road, surveyed from Pttsburg to
Cincinnati. to Nincennes and ST. Louis. 1t
was over this road that the United States
mails were transported. At the age of
nineteen Sias Bryan settled in this sec
ton, coming from Culpeper Court IL ouse
Va, where he was born. His father was a
soldier in the war of the revolution. on
settling here Bryan began the study of
law: A year. OF SO later he was admitted
to practice before the courts of the state
A few months later he married Miss Jen-
fagp dan, ,r
one of the earliest settlers of the state.
Being a thrifty man Bryan prospered
and was soon able to put UP little home.
1t was little story and a half building,
with porch running the entire length
along the front. 1t had four rooms down
/ stairs and three upstairs and n hallway
through the center 1t was painted white
and had green blinds. The house still
stands, and is now the center OF attraction
for all visitors to this place. for il was
here that William J. Bryan was born. 1t
is not different from the scores of other
houses along the street though during the
last score of years or several houses
more pretentious in size have heen erect
ed. But Salem is an attractive town.
Every one of the streets is broad and
every one has a row of gigantic maple
trees upon each side that the use of
an umbrella in the hot sultry weather
that now prevails is unnecessary TO protect
one from the glare of the sun. And the
lawns about the houses well kept and
the comfort-loving Inhabitants have learn
ed the use of hammocks, and beneath the
trees which surround every house these
restful inventions are swung. The old
stone court house, where for twelve years
Judge Silas Bryan sat upon !he bench
still stands in the center Of the public
square, which is The business center of
the village. This court house built
according to the early settlers along in
1855 or 1856 and the old trees that were
planted around in that time of its build
ing still stand and furnish iuXuriant Shade
for the citizens who, during the summer,
have much leisure time.