Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-07
BRYAN'SB BETTER HALF
A REALLY COMPETENT SECRE-
TARY OF THE INTERIOR"
Mrs. Bryan a Woman of Rare
Mental Endowments-A Lawyer
Whose Speciality is Domestic
Relations''-Bryan ElOquence.

Mental EndOwments-A Lawyer
ReIations''-Bryan's EIoquence.
Mr.. Bryan's wife was Miss Mary E.
Baird. the only daughter of a prosper
GUS merchant in Perry, Ills. Opinions
seem to differ somewhat as to whether
she is handsome or otherwise, but the
fact is, she is what would be called
really handsome and attractive. She
is withal woman of rare mental
endOwments, is rather studious and
very reserved. But she has an i'm
mense amount of determination, and
found no difficulty in passing her ex-
animation for admission to the bar.
She does not care for fashion or society
and pays no attention whatever to
either.
A! the time Bryan made his famous
tariff speech in the House he generous
ly declared his wife deserved share of
the praise he got for it. Mrs. Bryan
was in the gallery and heard every
word of the speech. She roted the
volume Of tone required to fill the hall,
and by means of signals communicated
to her husband until she had satisfied
herself that he had struck the most
effective tone.
Mrs. Bryan can be very sarcastic
when sufficiently reused, and at any
time will say droll, witty things with
only gleam OF smile in her dark
eyes.
She is the mother of three children
and is very domestic in her inclina-
tions. When it was discovered that
she was lawyer, congressman who
meant to be very agreeable inquired of
her with what line Of law she was
most familiar.
Mrs. Bryan's quick answer was:
Domestic relations, sir"
If the Bryans should come into the
White House, many people would re-
call and contrast the night of their
first appearance there with Mrs.
Bryan's prospect of standing at the
head OF the reception line.
1t was just after Bryan's speech,
when everybody wanted to see him
and his lawyer wife. Mrs. Bryan ap-
peared in high necked, long sleeved
black cashmere dress, not even fashion
ably cut or made. Bryan wore his
usual Prince Albert coat and possibly
a white lawn tie. The pair stood about
and looked lost while people told each
other who the unostentatious, rather
old fashioned looking couple were, yet
neither was at all embarrassed. Both
got more than little amusement out
OF watching the crowds. They went
out very seldom in Washington, and
then only on official occasions. Mrs.
Bryan never appeared in evening dress
during their Washington life and
Bryan surely never has owned dress
suit. They never attended fashionable
dinners and certainly gave none them
selves.
Mrs. Bryan's head is the most
noticeable thing about her. 1t is very
shapely and the heavy dark brown
hair is always brushed smoothly back
from very high, full forehead. The
hair is thick, soft and fine and simply
coiled into mass on top of the head.
| Mrs. Bryan would sacrifice and en-
dure anything once she had made up
her mind that a thing was right. She
has ideals and will consider her hus-
bands nomination as righteous and q
step toward what the Bryans maintain
is the correction of the wrongs OF the
masses OF the people. She has a sweet
and well trained voice in talking, and
the men and women who penetrate
her reserve appreciate her honesty of
purpose and sincerity. She despises
shams of every kind, and. above all, is
natural and unaffected.
Mr.. Bryan lives we'll, in O COM
modious dwelling in the fashionable
part OF Lincoln. His family consists of
Mrs. Bryan; Ruth, aged IL; William
j. Jr., aged 6, and Grace, aged 5. Tho
study, in which both Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan have desks, is very attractive.
1t is filled with books, statuary and
mementos OF campaigns. There are
busts or portraits of noted men, and
there are two butcher knives which
M. Bryan used in the campaign with
Field to refute the latter's boast of the
effects OF high protection.
Last year Mr.. Bryan was asked if
he had any aspirations looking to the
White House, and he said "No, /
have no wish to be presidential can
didate, neither now nor in the years to
come. My whole thought now is
centered on my family and my pro-
fession so far IS my own personal de-
sires SO. | was brought up in the
country and l wish my children to
have some of the same rearing. They
are now of the age when they need
fathers care, and wish to get into
practice again, for l very much enjoy
the law, which has been necessarily
abandoned during my four years in
Washington"
| Concerning his speech at the con-