The San Francisco call., 1899-09-09
BRYAN AS q SHOW.

/ | is becoming less easy to avoid seeing the hu-
morous side OF Colonel Bryan's itinerant and
oratorical chase for the Presidency In 1896,
when he in the enemy's country for the purpose
OF being told that he a nominee for the Presl-
dency, it was reported that he encountered small
company OF villagers on the banks OF the Hudson
and Immediately proceeded to make speech After
explaining who he he told them that whenever he
saw two three people gathered together the temp
tation to make speech TO them irresistible.
There is something eXqusitely funny in this desire
to decaim on all occasions. The country knows
Mr.. Bryan only as posing before an audience OF "fe
low citizens and gesticulating in time his voice
OF warning. The late Mrs Jeremiah Cruncher's
tendency to flop" nothing to Mr.. Bryans spell
binding habit. On emerging from the Yosemite the
other day his vice overlook him at Wawona. He
had not had relapse after leaving Stockton the
way up, and three days abstinence had made it
necessary for him to utter himself
The reception committee appointed to escort him
was there, acting pall-bearers. These and the
cooks, walters and chambermaids, hosters and
drivers, who are necessary the administration OF
Washburns Hotel and stage line, made a company
that brought on oratorcal fit, and Bryan had to
talk. Captain Steve Cunningham was there listening
with critics ear and reminded, by the hour and
half OF words that in selling onions foreign tour
only faker on the road.
Uncle jim Lawrence was also in the audience
blind OF an eye but able TO see the holes in ladder
Mr.. Bryan announced his subject to be The Beau
ties OF the Yosemite and Observations on Politics.
The reporters who were present have preserved
OF it. but contented themselves with intnating
that he held his audience spellbound.
The speech, therefore, seems TO have been like the
most OF those delivered by Mr.. Bryan. There was no
thought in it that sticks and stays 1t is remark
able testimony his physical endurance that he has
since 1896 been almost ceaseessy talking, and has
said nothing that is remembered, nothing that has
sunk into the public mind and memory to be readily
recalled and quoted by his followers He has given
his mind long rest and has taken an intellectual
vacation by talking The professional orator has no
Immortality unless he has message to deliver an
idea to clothe in proper verbiage The country can
recall the ideas OF Sumner, Blaine Edward Everett
Conkling. Ingersoll Wendell Phillips and Lincoln in
the phrase that expressed them They impressed a
cotemporary generation and passed into folklore
and popular tradition. Mr. Bryan is exceedingly
cotemporary with this present generation He is ex
tremey convenient and chroncaly in evidence He
has talked more and said less than any present or
past lobster oraory, and the transitory mark he
has made is evidenced by the few remains" he has
LETT in the public memory. He lacks III originality
AS an adapter he has some skill He adapted his
free silver ideas from poor Dick Bland, and by
veneerng them with some vocal soapsuds took from
Bland Presidential nomination to which he was
fairly entitled He has in like manner, adapted John
Sherman's ideas on trusts, and those OF Hoar Bout
well, Edmunds and Johnson on Imperialism and it
be confessed he has ensmalled them all to ac-
conmodate them to the caliber OF his oratory.
A close study OF Mr. Bryan reveals him as an actor
He is a born thespan. He approaches every ques-
ton with view to stage effect. His faculty OF
adaptation OF the ideas OF others and his ondness for
dramatic exits and entrances all the characters
tics Of player. His tendency to begin making
speech to any crowd he sees marks him natural
born transformer.
The impression he leaves is exactly that produced
by show In his progress through the country in
1906 the crowds that heard him were larger than had
ever listened before stump speaker but where his
audiences largest his the smallest The
people had gone to a show They wanted to hear
boy orator" aged 40 They heard him, applauded
him even, went home and voted the other ticket To
them it was a circus, a passing show The same
crowds go to 'the unparalleled aggregation of BIZ
illogical wonders and aggomeraton OF mental and
muscular masters OF magic and mystery" but they
don't remember the clowns songs take the ring
masters advice in their public domestic affairs.
SO, rising from the circus to the stage the audience
weeps over Desdemona, though it knows she is not
smothered, and it goes to the tomb in tears with
Juliet, knowing that she will be at her mutton broth
and beer when the play is over.
Mr., Bryan excites just that sort of interest and no
other.
The feeling for him in his audiences is perfectly
sincere OF its kind He is playing part, does it
fairly well, and applause and something more
substantial and gets both, and there the impression
ends
After his next defeat for the Presidency he should
follow his trend and talents and take to the stage
His age would be bar for his political career has
really been course Of study and practice for the
sock and buskin. He would get large audiences and
make the fortune OF his manager and his own.
There is some hope that the Dunham nightmare
will resolve itself into disagreeabe memory of
horrifying crime The search for the Santa Clara
murderer has sunk to the purposeess seeking for