Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
Mr.. Bryan's Youth.

Hon. VIM. l.. Wilson, in his recent
speech at Charles Town, objected to
Mr.. Bryan on account of his youth.
Percy l.. Moore, replying to Mr..
Wilson in the Washington Post says
"Mr. Bryan is in his thirty seventh
year. We are told that Alexander
the Great was on the throne at
twenty six, had conquered the world
and died at thirty-three that Napo-
leon Bonaparte was brigadier of ar
tillery at thirty-five, and had made
the world tremble at his power by
the time he was thirty-seven George
Washington was Colonel and covered
the famous retreat of BraddOCk at
twenty-three, and was the foremost
figure in American affairs before he
was thirty-seYen Jefferson Davis
was Lieutenant in the United States
Army and in command of Fort Win
nebago at twenty, in Congress at
thirty-six, and Colonel in the Mexi-
can war, where he won great military
distinction at thirty-eight Stone
wall Jackson, one of the most dash
ing and brilliant military figures of
any nation or time, was killed at
thirty-eight; Commodore Perry
fought the awful battle of Lake Erie
at twenty eight Gen. George Gus
ter was twenty-four at the close of
the war Gen. Judson Fitzpatrick re-
ceived his commission at twenty-five
and four years later was in the dip
lomatic service of the government :;
Joseph Wheeler was twenty-nine
when made Lieutenant-Gener in
the Confederate army; Eli Murray
had been Governor of Utah and was
Brigadier in the Union army at
twenty-five; Gen. Phil Sheridan,
one of the greatest military Gener-
ais known to history, was hut thirty
four at the close of the war.
Alexander Hamilton was in Con-
gress at twenty-five, and before he
was thirty was engaged in the work
that led to the formation of the Con-
stitution of our country. 1t is said
that Thomas Jefferson drafted the
Declaration of Independence at
thirty-three. Watt was a mere boy
when he discovered the power of
steam, and Robert Fulton was thirty.
eight when he launched his first
steamboat. Benjamin Franklin was
philosopher, scholar and inventor
AT an early age. William Pitt was
Prime Minister at twenty-seven.
Daniel Webster was the leading law
yer of the United States at thirty
seven. Henry Clay was United
States Commissioner to negotiate the
treaty of Client at thirty-seven. -
John Hancock was President of the
Continental Congress at thirty eight.
Charles James Fox was elected to
Parliament and was one of the most
powerful statesmen of his day be-
fore he had attained his majority,
and was just of age when made Jun
Tor Lord Of the Admiralty. Samuel
l.. Southland, of New Jersey, was
Secretary of the Navy in President
Monroe's Cabinet at twenty-niue.-
John Calvin was only twenty seven
when he wrote his " Institut ties of the
Christian Religion" Melancthon,
the colleague Of Luther, was twenty.
five when he wrote the Loci Com
munes," the first system of Evan
gelical Protestant theology, which
passed through fifty editions in his
lifetime. Charles Dickens wrote
Pickwick Papers" before he was
was twenty-five. Bryant wrote
"Thanatopsis" at eighteen. Byron
wrote "Childe Harold" at twenty
one. Bulwer Lytton, Thomas Moore,
10y uto AoSoi, z,
Chaucer, Halleck and innumerahle
others were conspicuous authors be-
fore they were Of age, and thus we
might, for Mr.. Wilson's benefit, go
on indefinitely with the list of dis
tinguished young men, including Mr..
Wilson himself in the brilliant cata-
logGe. but 1t would only be consum.
ing your valuable space to reiterate
that which Mr.. Wilson and the bal.
ance of the world already know
We hope Mr.. Wilson may retract his
uncalled for attack upon youth"
A CONSIDERABLE number Of the
one hundred and seventy coke ovens
of the Davis Coal and Coke Com
pany at Coketon, which have been