Kansas City journal., 1898-01-16
STRING OF REAL BRANNISMs.
THE SOMEWHAT FAMOUS TEXAN IN
ROLE OF LECTURER.
He Tells What He Would DO If
He Were President and En-.
tertains an Audience of 800
With Juggling Words.

When an infuriated Texas mob ran W. C.
Brann around the campus of the Baptist
college in Waco. beating him with canes
and bruising him with pistol butts, he said
he did not fight back because he was a
physical weakling. not built on fighting
lines.
When he walked out upon the stage Of
the Gilliss opera house last night
to lecture to an audience Of 800 peo-
pie he did not look like a weakling. He
seemed to be nearly 6 feet tall. rather
slim, it is true. but as strong looking as an
average man of his build.
Brann talks not nearly SO well as he
writes. His face in repose is strong look
ing, clear cut. and attractive. In speaking
he has habit of stretching his mouth in a
stage laugh. made-to-order grin that is
too plainly artificial to be winning.
He is not an orator and he warned his
beginning of his lecture.
The small audience was made up of Brann
eS ss him it 9y the dus eSs
evening. The audience was evidently for
the most composed of infdels, too. It
Rawas tr6s5e 9 9d a bs %hen Bran grnn PAID
lecture was filled with 'Brannisms' from
beginning to end. There was more than
istie OF Brann's writings. it bristled with
ludicrous descents from the elevated to
the mean. as when he said:
DO what thou canst and do 1t with thy
might-if it's only to shy a brick at a red
hen; and let eternity, and not a Mrs. Grun-
dy. by thy judge
Chasers." and on this thread was strung,
with great deal of incoherency, a collec-
ton OF choicest Brannisms.
Rainbow chasers, he said, were those who
mistook the shadow for the substance He
said some called him chronic kicker, but
there was need of kickers. the world was
dead. Many insisted that he should build
up and not tear down but the builder was
not the only pebble in the gravel pile. 1t
ote that he was after.
Old bachelors reminded Brann of rain
bows. he said, because they We're SO utter
~ useless for all practical purposes and
they reminded him of rainbow chasers be-
cause what they most admired was be-
yond their reach.
He berated hypocrites who sent to the
starving people IN famine stricken coun-
tries many hymn books and Bibles and lit
tie bacon and beans.
Would-be poets We're rainbow chasers be-
cause poetry was never written and could
no more be written than the laughter of
chlldhood could be painted. Most so-called
poetry was the discOrdant clamor of feath-
erleSS crows.
Uncle Sam was rainbow chasing when he
cried peace; peace at every insult offered
When the church people elect me presi- |
dent Of the United States" he said, "Tll
nave ante-mortem investigations when the |
American flag is insulted by foreign |
power. if Uncle Sam has to shuck his seer
sucker and fight all creation. They would |
nave to apologize with their noses in the !
sand or reach for their six shooters. In |
crying peace! peace. Uncle Sam |
8 chasing a rainbow with a dynamite bomb |
It each end. Uncle Sam is a Philadelphia |
enderfoot fiourishing toy pistol at a
Mexican fandango."
At another place in his lecture Brann |
;aid: When my Baptist brethren make |
ne president nothing black. yaller or
AIMED gets an office under my administra-
ion. like negro in his place. like him
Is a negro but when he goes to aspiring
or political sovereignty l reach for him
With a brick"
In speaking Of Grover Cleveland. he said
le did not want to say too much against
lin; he might wound the feelings Of those
Who thought Cleveland was bigger than
sod. ITO doodle bugs the sun did not ap-
,ear half SO big as red barn."
or Blaine he said: He was man from