The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-21
BOY BRYAN, PRESS AGENT.
Asked a theatrical Manager for Job
Early This Year.

EaIly tuiS ISaT.
Leslie's Weekly prints this week story
TO the effect that William Jennings Bry-
an, Popocratic candidate for President,
applied by letter in January last to W. J.
Block of the Herald Square Theater for
tho place OF press agent for the company
of which MIR. Block is the manager. Mr..
Block is at present managing tae "H cart
of Maryland" company. The manager IL
represented as having said TO the repre-
sentative OF Leslie's Weekly who inter-
viewed him on the subject:
"Yes, IT Ia true that Mr.. Bryan applied
to me for the position OF press agent.
received the letter from him last January.
j cannot show you the letter, because
do not believe that would be acting in
good faith to Mr.. Bryan, who was an old
school chum OF mine at Jacksonville, Ill.
But know where could put my hands
on 1t at moments notice. (here Mr..
Block indicated vaguely a certain drawer
in his desk.) could not accede to Mr..
Bryan's request, because at that tine we
were not in need OF press agent"
W. j. Arkeil, publisher of Leslies', sad
Yesterday that some snap shot portraits
taken of Mr.. Bryan on his stumping
tour, which were printed In his paper and
were reproduced in The Sun, had sug-
gested to him that Mr.. Bryan was quail
fled rs an actor, and he was not surprised
to learn some time ago that the letter to
which reference 10 made had been writ
ten. lie had Arthur Horn blow, dramatic
editor OF the Weekly, investigate, and
tho result was the published interview
with Manager Block.
Mr.. Hornblow, who was interviewed by
The Sun reporter yesterday, said:
! have been informed that certain per-
sons have been denying the truth of my
interview with Mr.. Block, and have
made an atiosvit In which swear to the
details OF the interview. Mr.. Block told
me that no has the letter OF Mr.. Bryan In
his possession.
MIR. Arkell's Newspaper prints six por-
traits of tho candidate intended TO repre-
sent him In a. many dramatic characters.
Three Of these are adapted from the snap
shot portraits referred to.
The Republican National Executive
COMMITTEES was informed ,omc time ago
OF this reported application of Mr.. Bryan
for theatrical jon, but the campaign
managers did not care TO use II for cam
paign material.
~ do not know that II proves any
thing" said Joseph ~. Manley of the
committee, "except that Mr.. Bryan
t.A l,rst
might say that 1t is the mans own esti-
mate of his proper sphere in life."
Charles Il. Evans, proprietor OF the
Hersld Square Tbeater, said yesterday:
"One of my lieutenants Informed me
some time ago that Mr.. Brysp had sp-
piled for the Office OF press. agont."
Mr.. II. g. Howland, "a newspaper
writer, who went to see Manager Block
in Philadelphia. where he is at present,
and tried to get the Bryan letter for pub
lication, is authority for the statement
that MIR. Bryan made q second applica-
tiop for appointment In another letter
written IN June, . few weeks before his
nomination.
The press agent OF a travelling theater
company Is the ingenious gentleman VINO
furnishes 10 the newspapers thrilling
stories about the diamond robberies, di-
vorces, runaway accidents, milk baths,
poisoned flowers, and other porils that
so easily boset some of the ladies of the
stage. Sometimes. also, he attends to
tie legitimate advertising. Travelling
ually in advance OF the show, he is
likely to describe himself ms It's manager.
aud to be a manager Is his dream.-The
Enn