The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-30

and the baby Virginia Elizabeth, aged three.
The home children run about barefooted.
are healthy and strong and would make
the White House a scene Of continual eX-
element il their father ever got there.
Mr. Bland is sixty-One years old and his
wife is forty-three She has a placid. quiet
face. with large blue eyes Her hair is
generally worn parted in the middle. and
any painter would be glad to have her pose
for him were he painting a picture of the
Madonna She is remarkable for a woman
whose husband has Presidential aspirations.
Her candid and frequently expressed opin-
ion is that his chances of landing in the
White House are mighty slim She does
not like politics or political life and the
possibility Of her reigning in the White
House does not dazzle her Bit She would
rather live on the s--rm in Lebanon she
is vastly more interested in the well being
Of the farm animals than in the condition
of her husbands campaign, and the fact
that old Molly the horse, was sick. would
appeal more strongly to her than the news
Of some baclset TO her husbands cam
DOES THE HOUsEWORK-
Mrs. Bland does all the work of the house
hold, no house servant being employed
One hired man looks out for the farm and
with true democracy ne eats his meals with
the family. Ordinarily the ex-Congressnlan
helps with the farm work. but Just now
he is dev0ting much of his time to political
matters. Mrs. Bland can hitch up old Molly
or old Peter. the two horses on the farm
and usually she drives to Lebanon once a
day. She is a Catholic, and. although her
husband was raised a Protestant the A. P.
A. people in his district are bitterly opposed
to him, and helped in his defeat in the last
Congressional election.
BLAND ON RELIGION.
Recently. when spoken to about the A. P.
A. opposition, because Of the religious belief
Of his wife Nj. bland said: II was born
and raised a Protestant. I am one yet, and
I am willing TO die in the faith, yet I do
not consider my chances Of heaven any bet
I'D wifi
true Christian virtue. character and moral
ity and a life devctedly true to the teach
in rs and precepts of our Saviour are to be
the measure of our future happiness, can
not expect to reach that state of bliss she 50
richly deserves.
Let the fact be used for all it is worth!
If a mans religion destroys his influence
then it is hardly freedom Of cOnsci ence.
IF ell who profess Christianity would
give all their precious time to the relief OF
the widow and orphan-would give their
substance for the care Of poor, starving
humanity all around them-there would be
no more pulling of Christian ears OF stirring
up Of strife among those who profess to FOL
low the meek and lowly Jesus "
Mr. Bland furnishes ideal Presidential
timber acc0r ding to old fashioned sunday
school books. which invariably make the
poor boy triumph over every adversely
His mother died when he was five years old
and his father when ne was twelve. Al
that age he began earning his own living
by doing farm work He received 50 G
month and his board and managed to
squeeze in some time for school work
He comes of Virginia-kentucky stock, ana
was born in the latter State He mined in
many of the far Western States in the sos.
but never struck it rich. Then he studied
law and for a while practiced with bis
brother In 1850 the Piute Indians did
some killing. and Bland went out with a
company Of volunteers to reciprocate- That
is about the extent of his soldering record
In 1872 the people of Laclede County. IN
T-E-- cit or %
WINGED that Bland was the man they wanted
in Congress. They sent him there with a
big majority and kept on sending him until
the Democratic landslide Of "a
Since then ne has heen back on the farm.
as Door as when he went away.
GRANTLAND GRIEVE-