The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-20
lust Glance at the rIan and the Family of the
r1an Who Received the Highest Honors at the
Chicago Convention.


Ae has the ppearance-despite his
Smooth face-the ripe wisdom and the
Experience in politics and business of a
man much older
He was born on farm just outside
he little town of Salem. H., in the
FEAR 1860. His father, a lawyer of high
Handing, represented the Salem district
b the state senate for eight years and
VAS circuit judge for twelve years.
Judge Bryan had strong religious SEN
iiments and a peculiar habit of open
hg his court with devotional exercises,
md at noon the court always adjourned
lor prayer.
DR.. Hill says that Bryan was a re-
lnarkable child in his tender years, and
kouid read and write before he was E
rearS old.
A BORN ORATOR.
His oratorical powers were developed
1t a very early age. When but q mere
Poy ne was accustomed To stand up be-
lore his playmates at school and on the
street and pour forth words of elo-
ekuence. This wonderful gift brought
distinction 10 him in his childhood
Ind when he had reached his twelfth
rear his father took him to a great
Democratic demonstration in Centralia,
H., and there the boy began his politi-
Pal career.
After hearing addresses from the most
distinguished men in the STATE, the lad
Mounted the platform. He had pro-
eeded but short time when the aud
ence had become spellbound under the
way of the boy orators burning e!o-
guence
Soon a ripple of applause greeted the
speaker; then the audience catching
e hoy,
became tumultuous and he could hardly
proceed because Of the deafening cheers
Which greeted every sentence.
1t was a great triumph for the boy
orator, and he was surrounded by those
present and carried away on the Shout
hers of the strong men. The whole
kountTy around Centralia was electri-
hed. and young Bryan was made one
be the chief attractions during the cam
baign.
Young Bryan was instructed at home
until 10 years of age. Then followed hVe
Years in the public schools; two years
ia Whipple academy at Jacksonville,
In, and two years at the Jacksonville
iIn.) college. He graduated from the
latter institution in 1881 as orator and
saledictorian of his class. Soon after
ward he entered the Union law college
1t Chicago, from which he graduated
n 1888.
He was connected with the law office
bf ex-United States Senator Lyman
Trumbull for a time and later opened
hn office in Jacksonville, Ill, but re-
moved to Nebraska's capital in 1887
Ind began to gain prominence.
lie was elected to Congress in the
First Nebraska district in 1890 over W.
j. Council of Omaha. and was reelected
l. "a al If 7
In 1894 Mr.. Bryan declined q third
nomination. and was nominated by the
Democratic state convention for United
States senator by the unanimous vote OF
he convention. The Republicans. how
ever. had majority in the legislature,
and Bryan was defeated for the sena-
torship. Since Mr.. Bryan's Congress
term expired he has given his time to
Exclusively spreading the doctrine OF
free silver.
He f1rt appeared in the political arena
Of Nebraska in the campaign of 1888,
when he stumped the First district for
J. Sterling Morton, nominee for Con-
gress. The same year he declined a
domination for lieutenant governor. On
July So 1890 he was nominated for
Congress and wrote the platform on
which he ran. Nobody but himself
thought he could be elected. He stumped
the district on the tariff issue and won
fame as a political orator throughout
the state.
4 He was a remarkable campaign ora
tor Being a young man of barely 80
years of age, and resident of the
state but three years, and without
money TO use in the contest, he over
kurned a plurality of 3.4O0 given his
opponent two years before and rolled
ap plurality of 6,713 for himself.
4 In speaking of Bryans power as an
orator, an admirer once said:
BRYAN neglects none Of the acces-
series of oratory. Nature richly endow-
ed him with rare grace. He is happy in
attitude and pose. His gestures are on
Hogartf's line Of beauty. Meliif1uous is
the word that most aptly describes his
Voice. 1t is strong enough to be heard
by thousands; it is sweet enough to
charm those least inclined to music. It
is SO modulated as not to vex the ear
with mono9ony, and can be stern or pa
thetic, fierce or gentle, serious or HUI
morous with the varying emotions of
its master"
There is evidence in every word he
utters that in his youth Bryan had
careful Evolutionary training. He en-
riches his speeches with illustrations
from the classics or from the common
occurrences of every day life with equal
Felicity and facility. Some passages
from his orations are gems and are
being used as declamations by boys at
school But his browning gift as an
Orator is his evident sincerity. He is
candor incarnate and thoroughly be-
1ieves what he says himself.
The personnel of the young Nebraska
statesman is most happily adapted to
7,iS r1oSifior7 as q leader in the councils
of mis- party and in public debates with
opponents of his political doctrines He
lis of medium build, square shouldered
and of generally athletic proportions.
He is the embodiment of physical
health, his square head rests firmly on
his shoulders and his firm. massive face,
neither flushed nor pallid, makes an
attractive mark for all eyes.
His hair is black and recalcitrant
rather than docile, def1es brush and
comb. and tlmbles and losses with a
method of its own. No beard. no mus
tacne, has the freedom of Bryan's Wis
a-e. Every trace is carefully moved
away with the light Of each day
THE MANNERS OF THE MAN.
fsetic Men like him. He is pleasant to
aae eye. TO the ear, and soothes by his
presence and never troubles. No man
ever saw him in a passion. He is cool
and Of fiawless temper. He is of good
poise and his emotions sit steadily, as
becomes the emotions of one who, with
care for himself, eats thrice a day,
SCOTS at dyspepsia and sleeps soundly
of nights.
Bryan is well, even highly, educated.
He has dug through books and trun-
inn n