Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1899-01-13
BRYAN AND DAVIS.
The Latter May Prove g
Dangerous Rival for the
Boy Orator.

When William Jennings Bryan lee.
| tured at the state fair at Salem year OF
so before his nomination for president
he hadn't yet given utterance to his
| famous "Crown of thorns, and cross OF
gold," and attracted little more atten-
ton than other curiosities at the exposi-
ton. In fact there was another boy
orator on the grounds who outshone
this importation from the Platte as the
paste diamond does the genuine. 1t was
Rev. Edward Davis, of Oakland, Calf,
who was proclaimed the ''Talmage of the
west" His voice was mellow as a
shepherds flute, his eye flashed like the
moons soft rays in a stagna1t pool, and
his tawny locks, shaggy as the cnb lions
name. toyed idly with the zephers that
blew from old Pacifc's shore to do him
homage. A siren charmed this modern
Ulysses and lured him from the storm
tossed waves OF the capitol to the peaceful
haven of Albany. In this city. he
lectured upon the glory of God and
mused upon the loveliness of maiden. The
representatives of the press learned OF
his infatuation and the next day the
papers of our sister city were filed with
the alteration of Rev. Davis for one of
Albany's fair daughters. Their engage
ment was announced, and when the
young devine departed for home and
mother half of Albany was out to see
him bid his charmer bye-bye.
But Oft our fondest hopes decay, and
SO it was with Albany's match makers.
Rev. Davis welded another and his
former love did likewise. Time passed
on. Oregon was startled by the news
that the daughter of former chief
justice was summoned to appear in the
police courts of New York City on q
charge of blackmailing Now Rev. Davis
appears upon the scene to add comedy to
the erstwhile somber drama. He was
lectunng in the east, accompanied by
his wife, and visited Pet-for she it was
who won his boylsh heart-in her cell in
the tombs, and wrote for the New York
World his experiences and courtship
with Fayne, beginning with their meet
ing at the state fair and his subsequent
Irritation with her from the pulpit at
Albany. He says:
''In the motley multitude of teeming,
beaming faces saw one face-two pale
blue eyes were peering into mine with
power I can never forget, and those eyes
as stars in cerulean sky, were hers
then Fayne Strahan'.s now Mrs. William
A. E. Moore's.
For one wee hour that day was the
cynosure of every eye,. but she was my
cynosure; we looked-and understood
and heard the language which the seraphs
speak.
After my cloudless flight on that hot
day stumbled back into the dusty world
safe, though bruised somewhat from my
landing. I remember the applause, the
music, hundred outstretched hands.
[ spoke but heard not; Il loeked~into the
eddying crowd for one fair face-but she
was gone.
That night the light of Venus shone
1poh my way. The daughter of chief
Justice, then lately deceased, but justly
and revered, was then
oelle of Oregon, beauty of popular
one fangless tongue hissed
laught could be said in truth against the
;hild. We met and parted; joys come
ind die like spirits of fire. On my re-
urn to the parental roof [ told of my
riumphs, and OF thls-told the secret
hat others might help me keep it. One
morning much to my puerile pleasure, a
,enile parishoner greeted me with effusive
''Much joy! see our
is to wed belle of Ore
son." The story had been told. The |
announcement was mutually |
lenied because of the regency of her
ather's decease, but a tacit tie bound us t
ogether. A twelvemonth later the bond |
vas broken-as unintentionally and as
as the ocean currents drift |
part into the great unfathomable."
He also gives an extended account of
liz interview with her in the tombs, in
which he declares her innocence. He
aid: II have read that she has given !
'ent to her grief in tears-I am glad,
hey plead her Innocence more than logic |
n rhetoric" He closes theatrically
"A handshake, glance of the eye as in
lays of yore, and I am turned away.
from the tombs passed out into the
world. The frail, fair woman waited for
he unknowable."