The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-22
Presents a Lady at Houston
With a Flower
Accompanying it With Well
Turned Compliment. >
TEXAS TOWN ELATED
At Having theDemOcratic Lead
er in Her Mist.
Delivers a Lecture There On
NOn-POIiticaI Matters.

Houston, Tex, JAN 22.-William ].
Bryan's autograph adorns the register
at the Bristol.
He came in by the Southern Pacific
accompanied by his private secretary,
Mr. F. r. Rose, to fill his lecture con-
tract here.
Owing to the inc1emency of the wealth.
er the crowd at the Grand Central de-
pot was not as large as it otherwise
would have been, but the several hun
dred people there cheered Justify as the
great commoner stepped from the rear
end of the last drawing room car of the
long train.
He met their greetings with a smile
and shook with "A hearty grasp every
hand that was extended him
Mr.. COmStOck, accompanied by MesSrs.
Ellis and Bryan, together with Alder
man Cronan of the reception committee,
were present to receive the distinguish
ed visitor and under guide of detach-
ment of police headed by Deputy
OLeary and Sergeant Higgins, Mr.. Bry-
an was hurried to a carriage and i'm
mediately driven to the Bristol hotel.
where room No. % had been assigned
him
This room is next to the parlor in the
northwest corner of the building and
anticipating its occupancy by so dis
tinguiShed a guest several handsome
floral offerings had been tastefully ar
ranged about the room, one of a partic-
ularly handsome design, bearing the
compliments of Mrs. Presley K. Ewing
Quite a crowd had gathered in the rO-
tunda of the hotel, the most cOnSpicu-
Gus figure there being Mr.. c. NJ. Coop
er of Indiana, a member of the Chicago
convention that nominated Mr.. Bryan
and who in the recent election was a
Democratic candidate for congress
Mr.. Bryan Immediately recognized
Mr.. Cooper and grasped his hand with
his proverbially hearty shake
The lady guests of the hotel, headed
by Mrs. Rosine Ryan, had waited in the
parlor, where was assem- bled several
other guests and before 1dr. Bryan had
time to shake the train dust from his
garments the ladies demanded an aud
fence, Mrs. Ryan claiming the privilege
of being the first lady in Houston to
shake the hand of the honored stranger
She welcomed him most gracefully to
Houston and noticing a pretty camel
liza upon his coat lapel, she remarked
coyly:
Were a young lady. I should claim
that pretty flower as a talisman-"
Mr.. Bryan retorted gallantly:
You are certainly not too old. mad
anne, to do me the honor to accept it,
saying which he removed the flower
from his coat and gracefully presented
it to Mrs. Ryan
After a brief reception in the parlor.
Mr. Bryan repaired to his room-not to
rest, but to work
Mr. Bryan has not yet completed his
book and works upon it day and night.
He is the most interchangeable worker
ever saw remarked his secretary to a
Post reporter later in the evening He
has written four chapters on his book
while on the train from Chicago. He com
poses by dictation. 1 take it in shorthand
and transcribe it on typewriter.
Asked as to his trip, Mr.. Bryan replied:
4 had so much work to do that tray
eled incog as far as practicable. and in
coming through Texas 1 really felt guilty
in seeking to hide myself from a peopis
who treated me so kindly.
They found me out, however. and all
through the state of Tennessee, Louisiana
and Texas crowds were at the depots
wherever the train stopped
At this juncture the clerk of the hotel
brought up the register for Mr.. Bryan 20
sign After placing his familiar signature
upon the book he resumed his CONVERSE
ton about his trip.
I'VE received a great ovation at Beau
mont" said Mr.. Bryan, and everywhere
along the route, except at New Orleans.
and by some good luck 1 managed to get
through that city without my presence
being known.