The Irish standard., 1896-08-22
Interesting Story of Her Home
Life, Ability and General
characteristics.
A Woman Clever i'm Many Ways
and Fitting Help-neet for
Her Husband.
Cares Nothing for the Fads OF
Hypnotism, Palm Reading and
.@@ftt = * ~ Ia :, .s
Theosophy.

| lar person in the United States ana tne
next mistress of the White House. That
| Is how the chairman of the Salem cele-
bration ceremonies introduced MIS-. Will
| lam Jennings Bryan to the residents OF
Mr.. Bryan's birthplace the other evening,
writes Mrs McGuirk from Salem, ILL.,, the
| former home OF Bryan.
Wives of presidential nominees are not
usually presented to audiences gathered
to hear the nominee speak. But TINS
wasn't purely political meeting. 1t was
a town doing honor to an ex-townsfnan
whose name will be on every tongue for
four months, perhaps future president.
Every one wanted to see the woman
whom that man delights to honor. The
situation might have embarrassed any
woman. r
Mrs. Bryan rose from the seat beside
her husband and took step forward.
Hers lis figure five feet six inches tall.
It looks shorter. She was clothed in
black China silk frock, printed in pat
l tern of tiny flowers. Three OR four rutt1es
made cluster at the skirt hem. Tne
sleeves were of medium size, with black
| lace gathered on the top seam and falling
over the sleeve. Black point d'esprlt
over pale old pink silk made the vest. A
pink enamel anen0ue fastened the collar
at the throat.
She wore toque OF black; it's outlines
softened by white lace and violets. The
women noticed all that
AS Mrs. Bryan turned to the right she
bowed to the friends grouped behind her
on the platform. With slight motion
she faced the big crowd that covered the
green common. AS a cheer Travelled over
the crowd the young ,Woman's eyes
l On hill fnrSrN q CHI y
from intensity of feeling, and with an
other bow to the chairman Mrs. Bryan
sank into her seat again.
| 1t was not like anything else any one
present had ever seen, but then Mrs.
Bryan does not resemble other women
who have been wives. Of presidential
nominees. A man who had met women
! at almost every station and rank entl1u-
siasticaEy declared that the wife OF the
Democratic nominee would be interesting
even if she lost both eyes and ears, for
she has intelligence Of unusual quality.
OF course Mrs. Bryan is young. They
were engaged when she was nineteen and
! he twenty. 1t was not, however, until
four years later that they were married.
| Then there was a little house ready for
them in an Illinois town, and for this first
home of their married life the Bryans
have great affection. A deep attach
ment to whatever spot has been called
| s'home'' seems 10 be a Bryan character
istic.
Their Lincoln (Neb) household con-
sists of Mrs. Bryan's father, who has suf-
fered great affliction in the loss Of his
sight. The three children, Ruth, Grace
and William j., are all wide-awake
school children. Grace attends a kinder
garten. Mrs Bryan believes in the sys~
tenn, and indeed, is an advocate OF all
practical education. If she had sufficient
time, her inclinations are such that prac-
tical educational movements would re-
ceive her active support.
Outside of school, the mother keeps an
eve on the children's studies. A. while
ago one of the children hadn't received
the desired percentage in one study, and
Mrs. Bryan ruled that until the necessary
rating was reached the girl should not be
allowed out.
Bicyclists will feel friendly towards
Mrs. Bryan. She knows the charm OF the
wheel. although she does not ride very
much at present. She believes in a mod
e1 ate amount of wheeling. No bloomers
or advanced bicycle suits have captured
Mrs. Bryan She wears an ordinary
walking dress when she rides. Next to
her husband and family Mrs. Bryan $
pride is the Lincoln Sorosis. 1t does not
! belong to the federation of clubs, but is
| in the Nebraska State federation. The
| Lincoln Sorosis has membership OF
! twenty-five, to which number it is strict
| ly limited. Three or four names are al
ways on the waiting list. No. one is ad-
mittted who has not some. claim It to d sslnem- EN-
bership through interest ;;ins current
events. or some special excellence in
other directions.
Speaking and debate are encouraged
and given preference over the reading OF
papers The club has now adjourned for
! the summer That is Mrs. Bryan's only
club. In Nebraska many women college
tgraduates attend State Club federation
meetings, and in these meetings Mrs.
Bryan finds enjoyment. A movement
that she has especially at heart is a trav
cling library, recently started by the fed
Grafton.
/ In time this movement is expected to
furnish many woman on lonely farm
with late reading matter. Every club
woman will understand the full signif1-
canoe of such library in state of such
distances as Nebraska.
! The home life of the Bryans is not at
all complex. lueIS is always Vu6 ser
want, sometimes two. Mrs. Bryan has
assistance with the family sewing and
the making of the children's dresses.
| She is. the head of well-ordered
household, in which she takes pride
| and which she intends at all times
shall be the most attractive spot in the
world to her husband and children.
The Bryans enjoy music. Since her
marriage Mrs. Bryan has not kept up
| her music, and now depends, on others
| to play while she listens, either to che
piano in her own home or..to the play
ers that visit Lincoln during the, sea-
son. Sometimes Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
70 to receptions and teas or to some
very good theater.
& Ia addition to polftictl and sociologi-
cal matters, Mrs. Bryan is thoroughly
poste1aon all curre9t events She reads
from Sfeference those magazines hand
j linx {ineilyss topics and events, both