The Dickinson press., 1896-07-18
SKETCH or BRYAN.
The Democrtic Nominee IL Ba,
thiFtY-Six Year. Old


William Jennings Bryan was born March
~, $500 In Salem. Ill. He was taught
under his mothers care until he was ten
years old. when he went to the public
school OF Salem. which he attended for
hve years. At the age Of fifteen he went
to the Whtpple academy In Jacksonville,
ILL.,, which is the preparatory department
OF the l.inois college located at the same
place. He spent two years In the academy
and four years in the college taking a class.
ical course. He represented his college In
the interstate oratorial contest in 1850, and
was class orator and valedictorlan In 1881.
He then went to the Union college Of law
In Chicago, and while In attendance there
was In the Office of Lyman Trumbull. He
left the law school June is, 1883, and went
TO jacksonville to practice law. remaining
ut Jacksonville until October. 1887. When
he removed to Lincoln. Neb., going into
partnership with a. II. Talbot. a classmate
Of the law school. He has taken part In
political campaigns since 1850, aud made q
number OF speeches.
He took part in the campaign of 1855
in Nebraska, and was nominated to repre-
sent the First district In congress in 1870
He was elected by the majority OF G.7l3. al
though The district had gone Republican by
3,4OO when Secretary Morton had been de-
feated In 1888. and was thought to be Ger
tainly Republican. He supported Springer
for speaker In the Fifty-second congress
from whose district In Illinois he came
originally. This led to his being put OF
the ways and means committee In congress
of which Springer was chairman. and OF
March 1G, 1872. he made u tariff speect
that was the sensation Of the day, and wa.
literally distributed as campaign litcra
ture. He was reelected in 1892, In spite
of the fact that the legislature had redis
trictcd the state and his district In the
previous election had given the Republican
ticket about G.OOO majority, and was re
elected by no votes.
In the Fifty-third congress he helped Il
frame the Wilson bill, being u member o.
the ways aud means committee. and tool
an especially active part In the income
tax provision. At the close Of the debat,
on the income tax In congress replying Il
Bourke Cockrane. Aug. 16. 1893. ut thu
special session he delivered a three-lours
speech against the repeal of the Sherma,
law, this speech being more largely circii
lated than the tariff speech had been. HI
also spoke in favor of the bill to coin tb'
seigniOrage and spoke against Carlisle
currency policy, and also against Clevc
lands gold contract with the Rothschilds
In 1884 he became candidate for th'
United States senate, and announced tina
house Of congress. He was nominated fO
United States senator In the Democratic
convention, and the Populist candidate il
his district was fndOrsed by the Democrats
for the house of representatives. Th,
ensuing state legislature being Republican
John NJ. Thurston was sent to the senate
and the Republican candidate In his forme
congressional district. ]. Il. Strobe, wa
elected by 5000 majority. During all three
of the campaigns he challenged the oppos
ing candidates to Il debate, and severa
discussions were held.
After his retirement from congress HI
took up the practice Of law In Lincoll
again, but the silver campaign opening liz
found that the calls upon him for speeclle.
and campaign work were so frequent tina
he was forced 10 give up his law practice
In September, 1894. he became the editor
in-chcf Of the Omaha World Herald, ant
had control of Its editorial policy OH stat.
and national questions.
The Candidates Hclpmcct.
Mr.. Bryan is a man of small means. HI
was married Oct. /, 1884, to Mary lbair(
of Perry, ILL.,, who attended the female
academy in Jacksonville when he was IL
the other school ut the same place. and who
graduated the same week that he did ant
was also the valedictorlan of her class. Sht
studied law and was admitted to the bar
without any idea of practicing, but simply
to be more thoroughly companionable t.
him. She Is year or two younger than he
Three children have been born to them
Ruth, ten years old; William j., Jr.. abou
seven, and Grace, five years old.
MIR. Bryan is Presbyterian, havin:
Joined the Cumberland Presbyterian churcl
at the age of fourteen. He is now mem
Der OF the First Presbyterian church o
Lincoln. His father was Silas Il. Bryan
who was u circuit judge at the time o1
his sons birth, and served In that capacity
from 1860 to 1872 Oh the bench of Illinois
Il IWn nm fp SInn
distance from Salem when his son wa.
six years old and from that time until III
was twenty-thrce years old Bryan spen
his summers OH the farm. In 1872 hi.
father ran for congress on the Creole,
ticket ana was defeated by 240 votes. Hi
was born in Culpepper Court House, ii
that state, and died In Salem. ILL.,, in 1850
His mother, whose name was Mary Eliza
beth Jennings. was born In Marion county
ILL.,. and died In Salem a week ago las
Saturday after n protracted illness. In ap
pcarante Mr.. Bryan is impressive, his fac,
Indicating intellectually and power, Il.
well as good nature. There is notable alb
sence Of the boyish expression in the pic
lures Of Autographs of him which have
been circulated. He is afflble and kindly
In manner, easily approachable and doe
not luck dignity. In appearance he Is al
Illustration of the fact that some men ar,
In his case does not prepare one for thu
expression of keenness shown in his face
Mrs. Byran has great liking for poll
ties and accompanies her husband on man,
of his Nebraska jaunts. Her tastes are es
| scntially literary and she has written mucl
| woman and Is as great Il favorite in Lin
coin as her husband. She was one of th'
J organizers Of Sorosis, the leading wOmen
club of Lincoln, and is also Il leader Of th'
w. G. A., and other societies. Mr.. Bryan
says she Is Invaluable to him In suggestions
and the preparation Of material and In nd
vice to points and methods. The children
are very bright and are pretty and wei
bred. 1t is not only for Mr.. Bryan's grca
gifts as a speaker that he is esteemed 3,
highly by the people of his home. No tain
has ever attached to his public or private
| acts. He neither smokes, chews, swear
nor drinks, and his language Is pure Bry
ans friends figure that he should be an In
| flucntial factor with the Popullsts. since !
was much through his influencing that tn
Nebraska Democrats. two years ago
endorsed Silas A. Holcomb, the Pop
| ulist nominee for governor, and b,
virtue of the fusion defeated Thoma
Republican forces. He Is the picture o
health. mental, moral and physical. HI
| stands about five feet ten inches. weigh
about 40, is a pronounced brunette. ha
| a massive head, a clean shaven face. al
aqucline nose. large under jaw. square chin
| broad chest. large lustrous dark eyes
and a nouth extending almost from ear t
ear. Beneath his eyes is the protuberen
flesh which physiognomists say is indica
tive of fluency of language and which wa
one of the striking features in the face o
James q. Blaine.
bryan negects none of the accessories o
oratory Nature richly endowed him witt
rare grace. He is happy In attitude m,
pose. Mellifuous is the one word tha
most aptly describes his voice. 1t Is stron;
enough to be heard by thousands. 1t is ~
modulated as not to vex the ear with mo
notony and can be stern and pathetic fierc
or gentle. serious or humorous with th
varying emotions of Its master.
'Cyclone.''
"Cyclone," though portentous word, IL not ol
IN the English lnnEulge. 1t was introduced
1SlS hy Henry PidlnYton. the author OF 18th
Sailors Horn Book" ''(Hurricune storms wbir
wintls African tornado water spOuts, samiel, 9
nlonnl. suggest that We might for all this elias
OF circular highly curved winds adopt the teri
'cyclone' frOrn the Greek 'kukl0s (which sIcrihe
among other Things the coil of snake) as e,
pressing sufficiently the tendency to circular M
| ton In these meteOrs." DIR. Kane In 1856 use
| the spelling "cyclope."
1