The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-02-04
Bryan's Book,
''The First Battle y

to press. The book embodies a
story of the campaign of 1896, its
important events and issues, and in
cludes the most noteworthy incidents
Of Mr.. Bryan's famous tour It
also contains the principal addresses
md documents relating to the silver
movement and some Of Mr.. Bryan's
speeches. Considerable space is
given to his connection with the
silver agitation while in Congress
and prior to the Chicago Convention,
and to discussion of the election
returns and an analysis of the polit-
ical situation.
One of the interesting features of
the book is the biographical sketch
written 10y Mrs. Bryan, who thus
describes their first meeting:
"My personal knowledge of Mr..
Bryan dates from September, 1879.
He was then entering upon his
junior year. / saw him first in the
parlors of the Young Ladies' School,
which | attended in jacksonville.
He entered the room with several
other students, was taller than the
rest, and attracted my attention at
once. His face was pale and thin;
a pair of keen dark eyes looked out
beneath heavy brows; his nose was
prominent; too large to look we'll, |
thought; broad, thin-lipped mouth,
and square chin completed the
contour of his face. He was neat
Iy, though not fastidiously, dressed,
and stood firmly and with dignity
l noted particularly his hair and
his smile. The former black in
color, fine in quality, and parted
distressingly straight; the latter ex-
pansive and expensive. In later
years this smile has been the subject
Of considerable comment, but the
welI-rounded cheeks of Mr.. Bryan
now check it's onward march, anC
no one has seen the real breadth o.
the smile who did not see it in The
early days. Upon one occasion :
Aeartless observer was heard to re
mark, THAT man whispers in hi
swn ear bat this was brutal ezag
geration
AS to the criticism that Mr.. Bry
an had not distinguished himself a
a lawyer, she says: "Those Wh'
thus complain should consider tina
he entered the practice at twenty
| three and leftit at thirty, and dur
ing that period began twice, an(
twice became more than self-sup
porting. At the time of his election
to Congress his practice was in
thriving condition and fully equa
to that of any man in the city"
| She concludes the sketch thus
':To give an estimate Of his charac
ter or of the mental endowment
which he may possess would be be
vond the scope of this article.
may be justified, however, in sayin
that his life has been one Of earnes
purpose, with that sort of geniu
which has been called "a capacit
| for hard work.
"The First Battle is dedicated t
the Hon. Richard p Bland, Of Mis-
souri,; Gen. James B. Weaver, c
Iowa, and the Hon. Henry NJ. Te
Ter, of Colorado, whom the authc
considers ''the foremost champion
of himetallism in their respectiV
parties"
The early chapters are devoted
an account of Mr., Bryans conne'
ton with the silver movement an
the development Of the silver seat
ment. Then follow chapters dew
ted to the Republican and Dem
cratic National Conventions, inclu'
ing the memorable contest over Il
Chicago platform. Referring to tt
fact that the concluding sentence
his convention speech had bee
widely criticised, Mr.. Bryan says:
Il had used the idea (cross
gold and crown Of thorns) in su
stantially the same form in speec
in Congress, but did not recall t.
fact when used it in the conye
ton. A portion of the speech W
extemporaneous, and its arrang
ment entirely so, but parts of it hi
been prepared for another occasion