San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-22
BRYAN ASPIRED
TO BE A THEATRICAL PRESS
AGENT
After Disappointing Career in Law and
journalism he Applied to a, Friend
For a Place as Press Agent.
New York Mail and Express.l

| dramatic agent, ana more especially
of the histronic aspirations of pres
ent candidate for the presidency o.
the United States, one William Jen
nings Bryan.
1t begins with the statement tina
| two weeks or so before the Chicago
convention, which nominated him fol
the high Office of president of the
greatest republic of the world, a pc
sition of coequal dignity with that Of
the most exalted Queen or King OF
Gar, or any other designation of Eu
rOpean monarchy, William Jenning:
Bryan, then, and still to be, a private
| citizen of Lincoln. Neb., wrote letter
to W. J. Block, one of the managers
of the Herald Square theatre, in this
city, asking for employment as press
| agent. About a month before Mr.
| Bryan had written another letter to
Mr.. Block asking for like employ.
| ment.
There is no personal discredit to be
attached to Mr.. Bryan for seeking
employment at which he could earn
money for the support of his family.
In this nation where the initial ques-
ton asked about any man whose ac-
quaintance is first made, is, "What
does he do" and where labor is an
honor and not a disgrace, it is impos-
sible TO rebuke Mr.. Bryan for apply
ing for any position whatever in any
honest field of labor. He had failed
to earn sufficient bread for his wife
and children as a lawyer; he had lost
his position as a newspaper writer
for the Omaha World. In the alb
sence of clients and in the failure in
western journalism, no personal re-
proach can attach itself to Mr.. Bryan
for trying to find other work.
But this story further illustrates the
histronic tendencies of the popcratic
nominee for the presidency, who has
been starring the country in this cam
paign at the expense of the silver
mine owners, who, in this case, are
acting as what in the vernacular of
the theatrical world, are termed IAN
gels"
1t was about a year ago when the
drama entitled "Pudd'nhead Wilson,"
then on the road after its New York
success, reached Lincoln, Nebraska.
Correspondent william J. Bryan,
of the Omaha World, went to the
Lincoln Theatre to write a notice of
the play. When he reached the thea
tire he learned to his surprise that the
manager of the show was W. J. Block
who had been classmate and chum
of his at the Illinois State College at
Jacksonville, Ill. Manager Block
greeted Correspondent Bryan cordial,
ly. That is a way theatrical mana
gers have of greeting dramatic critics
even when they are not college
chums AS Anna Held announces
every night, 81 have such a way with
me-" so the average theatrical
manager might say to the man who
comes to write a criticism of his per-
Torrance.
from the Rialto, away out among the
vast distance and dreary prairies of
Nebraska, was not only charmed to
discover a newspaper man willing to
write glowing words to be put into
the cold type of the Omaha World
about "Pudd'nhead Wilson," but he
was still more delighted to find in this
amateur critic one who had shared
his walks and talks amid the classic
shades of a mutual alma mater. No
wonder that Manager Block was de-
lighted with Correspondent Bryan.
No wonder Correspondent Bryan was
so easily induced to be pleased with
the dramatic merits of "Pudd'nhead
Wilson" They exchanged reminis-
cences. The world of politics, of
newspaperdom and of the stage were
all mingled in their conversation. Mr..
Bryan told Mr.. Block of how he was
no longer in congress, owing to de-
cided lack of appreciation of his
windy services in Washington by his
constituents. He told also of the fall
ure of Nebraska litigants to appraise
properly the value of his presence at
the bar. And finally he exclaimed in
effect, this citizen who had failed as
a lawyer and as a congressman, in
an outburst of confidence to his for
mer college chum:
"Pll tell you what it is Block.
ought to have been an actor, instead
of lawyer or politician"
And Block perforce agreeing with
Bryan, and admiring the smooth
shaven countenanee, his long, flowing
black locks and his full, round vocal
throat rising above his turned-down
Bryan collar, asked the amateur critic
to write a good notice of the play
Correspondent Bryan did it. Mana
ger Block cut the notice out of the
Omaha World and he still preserves
it in his scrap book.
The months rolled by. Mr.. Bryan's
law practice did not improve. His
connection with the Omaha World
was severed. He recalled his am
bition to go on the stage. If he
could not star at once as an actor
why should he not begin, as a start
toward treading the boards himself
by exploiting the talents Of those who
did? Why should he not exercise as
press agent, his vivid imagination and
his fluent diction in describing for the
newspapers how leading ladies lose
| their diamonds or eat DoiSoned peach