The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-15
NO ATTEMPT AT ORATORY
But the Scene Was an Intensely
Dramatic One.
PICTURE OF THE YOUNG LEADER
His Attack On Trusts at nd His Advocacy
of An Income Tax Mas Loudly
Applauded by His $4,000
Hearers.

night, when Bryan was formally mott
fed of his nomination for President of
the United States. The young leader
of the silver revolution had gone to
New York-the very heart of the enc
mv's country-as Paul went to Athens
TO convert the Epicureans and Stolcs,
and 10000 throats proclaimed, their
enthusiasm and approval OF him and
his cause and 10000 upturned faces
greeted him, despite the intense heat,
when he rose to accept the nomination.
The scene was an intensely dramatic
one. James Creelman, staff cores
pondent of the New York World Ia
gold paper), thus describes the man
who was the center of this great gath
ering:
HOW BRYAN LOOKED.
Now Mr.. Bryan stood up. He is a
tall, powerfully built and strikingly
handsome man. His brow is broad and
high and his large, firmly curved nose,
the mark of ambition and command,
juts out between dark, hazel eyes that
kindle and flash.
His head is thickly covered with
black, wavy hair, which curls over and
conceals the tips of his finely formed
and characteristic ears. His hair is so
long at the back that it curves upward
from the coat collar. His jaws are
wide and strong. His chin is massive,
the chin of a born fighter. His upper
lip is long and his mouth is large and
mobile, almost TOO large. Mr.. Bryan's
mouth is the least pleasant feature in
his face. When he speaks he uses his
lips as though his teeth projected and
there is a curious lisping or Missing
sound from many of his words. His
neck is thick and sinewy.
HIS MASSIVE HEAD.
His head is massive and high. the
sign of a reyerent nature. His arms
are very long, and his hands are big,
sinewey hands, carpenters hands,
practical hands, with strong spatulate
fingers. a curious thing to find in an
idealist. Mr. Bryan's hands are not
those which are usually owned by inn
aginatiye men, and they go far to
prove his w;fe's often-repeated asser-
ton. that he is deliberate, slow-thinl-
ing and laborious man. His legs, which
pulpit, are thick and muscular. His
feet are broad He was dressed in a
black suit. with a sack coat and a
white tie. A tiny diamond sparkled
in his shirt front.
When Mr.. Bryan faced the audience
The held a mass of printed sheets in
his hand He was pale and seemed to
be nervous. As the great audience
roared again he moved his jaws ner-
vcusly, as though he were chewing
something. He raised his hands with
a gesture that is familiar to those who
have heard him speak to crowds be-
fore-a gesture commanding silence.
But the crowd would not be silent.
For eight minutes the coatless null
titude hurrahed and hosannaed the
leader of the New York Democracy.
Mr.. BRYAN raised his hand again and
again.
CHEERED OVER EIGHT MINUTES.
He tried to speak, but the roaring
continued. He passed his handkerchief
across his brow and shook his head
reproachfully. He caught his thumb
on the gold watch-chain swung across
his vest. and the hand holding the
manuscript trembled. Chairman Dan
forth tried to restore order. Mr.. Bry-
an sat down Then Chairman Jones
pounded the edge of the platform with
the gayel and finally the noise ceased.
Mr.. Bryan made no attempt at ora
tory. He held the printed sheets close
to his face and read slowly and hest
tatingly, lowering the paper and lift
ing it again in curious old-fashloned
way. He waved from side to side, first
shifting bis weight on one leg ana
then on the other, like tired ana
nervous man. He seemed TO be lm-
barrassed by the occasion.
Tt was not the old Western Bryan
full of dash and fire, but careful man,
treading unknown soil. His voice was
husky. and after he had read for ten
minutes chose who were near him
could hear his labored breathing.
FOLLOWED HIS MS. CLOSELY.
During most of the speech he held
the printed sheets with both hands
occasionally leaning against the front
part of the pulpit. Now and then ne
would drop the manuscript to his side
and finish a sentence ringlngly, bu'
that was seldom, and not until he
reached the conclusion Of his ORATOR
did he show any of the oratorical quail
1tleS winch nave 1llCeN MN 1hto AShN
ership.
The orator did not falter, but wen
straight on with the work, glanclns
neither to the right nor the left. Fol
twelve minutes Mr.. Bryan talked
steadily, without stirring his heafer
to applause. Then he said that prop
erty rights were safe in the hands o
the common people. Good boy, Willie,
cried a voice A round of applause fol
lowed.
ATTACK ON TRUSTS APPLAUDED
The second burst of applause occur
red when Mr. Bryan talked abou
trusts. The applause was lighs ant
scattering Again he was applaudet
when he said that there was no sug
gestion in the Chicago platform Of al
attempt to dispute the authority o