Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-07-23
BRYAN's PERSONALITY.
His Defeat of Connell-His Home at
Washington How He Makes
Up" Speech.

sprung up between Mr.. Bryan and Mr..
Bassford:
Mr.. Bryan's individuality is..striking.
Standing about feet 1o1s inches in
height, he is perfectly proportioned
and finely endowed. Broad shoulder
ed, graceful and of kingiy bearing, he
is fit to have ridden
s'With Spottswood round the land,
And Raleigh round the sea.'
With head thrown back, kindly
smile on his open and intelligent coun-
tenance, with ready hand extended
for that queer old greeting which may
mean SO little or SO much, first saw
Mr.. Bryan. I have, since tried to
analyze my feeling when I grasped
his hand and felt the pressure of good
fellowship and read the human broth
erhood that shone from his full, steady
eye. / could not do so, but since then
I have heard another say: "When
Bryan shakes a mans hand he owns
him from that moment" There is
more or less truth in it. He is mag
netic in the highest sense of the word.
Being himself true friend, he readily
begets true friendship.
Mr.. Bryan's glossy, dark brown
hair is beginning to grow little thin
on the top of his head, but below the
brim of his hat it is still seen in its
luxuriant and primal beauty. Like
the gentlemen of the old school, his
face is clean shaven and encircling a
plain turned-down collar he wears in
winter black "string" tie and in
summer one of white lawn. His large
and eloquent mouth readily breaks
into a smile that is genial and eio-
quent. He dresses uniformly in black,
his coat being generally a sack of
average length.
The oratory which stirred the great
Coliseum to its uttermost ends and,
breaking its bounds, re-echoed in the
hearts and minds of great nation, is
but one of the strong elements of Mr..
Bryan's personality. Judged by both
the ancient and modern standards, he
is doubtless the greatest orator who
has sat in Congress since the days of
Webster, Benton, Calhoun and Clay.
AS an orator he is both born and
made. His father was long known as
the "Little Giant of Southern Illinois. I"
To handsome presence, strong lungs,
clear voice and ready wit, he has add
ed the graces of the elocutionist's art,
the knowledge of the worlds history
and familiarity with English litera-
ture. Satire, invective, the rapier oi
wit and the battleax of truth are his
weapons.
Major Mckinley prides himself on
his ability as stump speaker, but let
him look to his laurels. He may be
overtaken by the fate that fell to ex-
Congressman ConneIl, of the old
Omaha district. In 1890 the Demo-
Gratis of that district, in looking about
to find man who was willing to be
sacrificed, hit upon Bryan, young
Lincoln lawyer, and put him up for
Connell to knock down. Bryan made
a fine speech, accepting the nomina-
tion for which no one else would have
given a dime, and remarked, as he
wound up his speech, that he did not
propose to be sacrificed. He chal-
lenged Connell to joint debate and
was gratified to receive lightning
acceptance. Connell was o good de-
bator, and expected to see Bryan
withdraw after the first meeting. But
presto! change! the bottom rails on
top! No statesmen ever got such a
drubbing since Webster replied to
Hayne. After the second night, in
which Connen was humiliated and
made to resemble the King of the
Lilliputians in the hands of GuIliver,
before an immense audience, ,he plead
ed Illness and declined to continue the
debates.
The Latins loved to say, 'JaciIis
decensus auerno"-easy the road to
destruction-and so Connell found it.
HIS poasted majority of 5000 votes
melted away before the matchless
eloquence of this young man, fresh
from the Justices courts of Lincoln,
and in its stead was rolled up the su-
perb Democratic victory that gave
Bryan majority of more than six
thousand. Speaker Charles Frederick
Crisp broke all precedent and appoint
ed him member of the Committee on
Ways and Means. When the session
ended Bryan went home and found
that the State had been redistricted,
and that he was located in district
with the kind of Republican majority
that one might look for in Vermont.
Undaunted, he went to work and won
by narrow margin. 1t was after
wards found that this margin would
have been increased by one thousand
had the printing of the tickets not
been manipulated. He declined to run
again.
MR.. BRYAN IN WASHINGTON.
While in Washington Mr.. Bryan
lived in a modest two-story stone
house a short distance southeast OF the
Capitol, at 131 b street, 8. e. On the
second floor was his den, lined with
book cases that could readily be moved
in case of departure. Tue room was
small, snug and cozy. Il looked like
the abode of a studious worker. The
large desk was Uttered with papers,
documents and letter files; on stand
at one side stood typewriter.
One day while sitting there with Mr..
Bryan heard knock at the door; II
was opened and admitted a sweet
faced young matron of medium size
Mr.. Bryan introduced met was his
wife and mother of his three children
She at once impresses the observer a.
one thoroughly in accord with her
husbands work and ambition. She
studied law and secured the right to
practice at the bar In order that she
might be more fit companion and
helper to her husband. Honor te
whom honor is due; IL Mr.. Bryan ID
eIected presideut hfs honest little