Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-13

man beings. The heat was not so in
tense within as might have been expect
ed. But 1t was hot enough. Overheated
men took off their coats and unloosened
their collars. The women had prepared
for the torridity by dressing in cool light
frocks.
There was little decoration in the hall.
The speakers rostrum was simply COW
( cred with the drapery of an American
standard, while the gallery spaces i'm
mediately behind 1t were decorated more
elaborately, but with the same material.
That was all with the exception of two
gigantic portraits of William j. Bryan
and Arthur Sewall, one on each side of
the stand
Seats on the platform Immediately in
the rear of the rostrum had been reserv-
ed for members of the national commit
tee, members of the notification commit
tee and few distinguished guests
In the boxes surrounding the platform
were seated Mrs. Bryan, Ex-Congress-
man and Mrs Bland, Senator Blackburn
Walsh of New York, General Bond of
Maryland and many Others.
Richard p. Bland entered the garden
at TAO With hime was Mrs. Bland but
they came in so quietly that no one no.
ticed their entrance. Just prior. to that
time the vast audience had been grow
ing impatient.
An emotional silverite gave vent to his
feelings by calling for three cheers for
Bryan, and they were given with a will.
The members of the notification commit
tee had entered without exciting any
demonstration. Then came the national
committee, and with them Arthur Sew
ALL the vice presidential candidate, who
occupied place second only to the Ne
braskan in tonights proceedings. He
was recognized by only few, and the
vast majority of the audience did not un-
derstand the sporadic cheering in the au-
dience and the hand clapping on the
stand. frs
But 1t was when the young wifeof the
Nebraska nominee entered the box re-
served for the use of herself and her
friends that the tsassemblage let itself
loose for the first time. All men are anx-
ious to do honor tosa woman, and the fan
waving beings who thronged the garden
were only too willing to follow the prece-
dent Cheer after cheer went up from
floor and gallery and platform, and the
dark-skinned little woman opened her
eyes in surprise and then went ahead,
calmly settling herself In her seat in the
box nearest to and to the right of the ros-
trum.
But the cheering continued, and men
got up on their chairs and waved hats
and fans in their desire to do honor to
Women, too, rose and Joined in the shout
ing, and soon it looked as IL the whole
audience was on it's feet yelling with
might and main Mrs. Bryan rose to bow
her thanks. The cheering became more
intense. She bowed again and again,
and still they cheered. Through it all
she looked cool and calm, just as she APP
peared on that exciting day at Chicago
when the Bryan whirlwind swept all be-
fore it and brought about the circum-
stances that made her so prominent q
parsonage. Finally the cheering ceased,
and Mrs Bryan began welding broad
palm leaf fan and surveyed the audience.
She was attired simply in waist of light
gray silk, crossed with black bars, and a
dark skirt A little black jet turban,
adorned with white aigrette, was on
her head. Mrs. Bryan had entered the
hall on the arm of William p. ST. John.
Mrs. St. John could not attend on ac-
count of illness, and the wife of Governor
Stone came in her place. In the box with
Mrs. Bryan were Mr.. and Mrs. Bland,
Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Macey of New York
and Clark Howell. editor of the Atlanta
Constitution.
1t was just 8 o'clock when -the principal
actor of the evening entered Mr.. Bryan
had reached the garden In company with
his wife and Mr.. st. John. but had re-
manned below until they were seated
They had been conveyed to the Twenty
seventh street entrance. from which the
police had kept back the crowd, and the