The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-15
The Next President ReviSits
Scenes of His Youth.
HIS NElGHBORS GREET HIM
They Open Their Hearts and
sa Homes to Bryan.
NEITHER BANDS NOR BLUsTER
Accompanies This Young champion
of the lowly" as He Jour-
neys Back to the
Old Home.

Salem. ILL.,, July 14-The inhabi-
tants of this quiet town were rather
slow in getting about to-day.
When they began to assemble in
small groups about the court house
square they talked of the wonderful
display that had been made in honor
of the return of VIM. j. Bryan, the
Presidential nominee of the Demo-
cratic party. The oldest settlers re-
counted the stories and anecdotes OF
BRYAN when he was known as bare
footed boy in this region thirty years
ago. Prophets among them, old resi-
dents. were numerous. They said they
ALWAYS did know that Billy" Bryan
was going to be some body. They
all knew his father, Judge Silas Bryan,
who settled here in the early 40's.
This town was laid out by the early
settlers long beroe Illinois was adj
mitted to the Union as State. The
main thoroughfare of the city, the one
on which Mr.. Bryan's birthplace stands
was the old National road, surveyed
from Pittsburg to Cincinnati, to Vim
cennes and ST. Louis. At the age of
10. Silas Bryan settled in this section,
coming from Culpepper Court House,
Va, where he was born. His father
was a soldier in the war of the Revolu-
ton. On settling here Bryan began
the study of law. A year or so later
he was admitted to practice before the
courts of the State. A few months
later he married Miss Jennings, daugh-
ter of prominent farmer and one OF
the earliest settlers OF the State.
na,,xr thrifty man RrV9u IrDSnPr-
ed and soon was able to put up a little
home. 1t was little story and a half
building with a porch running the en-
tire length along the front. 1t had
four rooms down stairs and three up
stairs and hallway through the cen
ter 1t was painted white and had
green blinds. The house still stands
and is now the center of attraction for
all visitors to this place, for it was
here that VIM. J. Bryan was born.
The old stone court house, where
for twelve years Judge Silas Bryan
sat upon the bench. still stands in the
center of the public square which IS
the business center of the village. Mr..
and Mrs. Bryan, like the inhabitants
of the town, We're weary this morn
ing They rested until after s o'clock.
With them at breakfast were j. w.
Baird and his wife, Mr.. Bryan's sister
and Misses Mamie and Mamie Bryan,
two attractive looking young women
who have Just finished their college
education After breakfast Mrs. Bryan
remained at home, while Mr.. Bryan
went to the court house to attend to
some business of his mothers estate.
At dinner time Mr.. Bryan, his wife and
two unmarried sisters went to the
home of their aunt, Mrs. ID. S. Mar
shall. and in the afternoon drove about
the town and out to the old farm upon
which his father lived during the last
of his life.
Mr. Bryan himself is mem
ber of the Presbyterian church, but
his father was Baptist, and according
to Col r. E. Merritt, who, in the early
DAYS, stumped the county with him,
believed there was no salvation for a
man unless he was batized by INNER
sion. But, there We're not enough
Baptists in the town to support a
preacher regularly and so services
were only held in the Baptist church
twice month, and in that way it
came to pass that VIM. j. Bryan at
tended Presbyterian services and final
ly became a member of that church.
The citizens of Salem have been in
a SUdIE VI dCtiFIuy all Uc~idy LII PiS-
para ton for the grand demonstration
to be given tomorrow. Every tree on
every street and in every yard is being
whitewashed in response to a procla
NATION ISSUED by the mayor of the
city.
When Mr.. Bryan had finished his
dinner today he took his three chill
dren and went to the house in which
he was born and had his photograph
taken. He then returned to the home
of his aunt, where he remained until
train time.