The courier., 1899-04-22
BRYAN'S TURN AS A STAR.
TWICE AS MANY DINERS CHEER HIM As
HAILED CROKER CHIEF.

ner OF the Chicago Platform Democrats
In the Grand Central Palace. Despite
the hostility Of the city which he was
80 eager to assert, about 5000 Of it's
inhabitants turned out and paid their
sl0O apiece to enjoy his histrionic
ability and incidentally eat the dinner.
From the first it was sufficiently OBJ
vious that the price paid was regarded
as admission to the show, and the din
ner as quite secondary mater. Pro.
badly the central figure himself so re.
garded it, for he didn't make his ap-
pearance until the feast was we'll under
way-right in the middle OF the soup
course, in point Of fact. His advent
was a serious interruption to the pro.
ceedings, a fact which apparently caused
him no grief, as he smiled blandly
throughout bis triumphal progress to
his place.
AS seen from point where the whole
great room was within the range of
vision the dinner was one OF the most
curious gatherings Of the kind on record
Before Bryan came it looked like
huge boarding house, with all the
boarders intent on getting their full
share Of the viands. Indulgence in the
usual prescribed forms OF apparel being
in the mind Of every good Chicago Plat.
form Democrat an evidence OF pluto.
cratic instincts, the great majority of
diners eschewed evening dress, but.
with laudable desire to do little more
than the ordinary, exhibited leaning
toward that curious combination of
several costumes-black cutaway coat.
a very low.cut vest, any kind Of trous.
ers and made-up white lawn tie. This
seemed to be regarded as the truly
proper thing, but many OF the guests
appe ared in their business suits. Some
few and these were suspected OF being
left-overs from the $40 dinner (orgy, the
Chicago Democrats called it)--had the
temerity to sport the dam nable spike
tail coats, which rendered them objects
Of suspicion, il not Of actual contempt
to their neighbort. Nevertheless it was
said that there would have been more
spiketails present but for the fact that
the $40 dinner had taken place only two
nights before, and many OF tho diners
there hadn't recovered sufficiently to
return the cults and get back their de-
posit. Later, when Mr.. Bryan came
and revealed himself in the garb OF the
gold bug, the spiketails in the audience
braced up and felt better, but come Of
the orators admirers felt pangs at the
unholy sight.
Six-thirty was the announced hour
for the feaat to begin. and as it was
understood that Mr.. Bryan would show
himself one OF the people by eating right
through the list from the beginning;
the crowd took pains to be there on
time. less it should miss something.
1t was not yet seven when the signal
was given. All sat down to the tables
Mr.. Bryan had not arrived, but his
picture was there, at the back Of the
stage on ono side, and on the other q
picture OF Jefferson. The dead states
man was on the right OF the living
spellbindcr, 80 that il it had been
Presidential banner the ticket would
have read Jefferson and Bryan. com.
bination to which Jefferson would prob.
ably object on account OF association
and Bryan on account OF the order.
Back OF the pictures were flags. and at
the front Of the stage was big horse
shoe Of red and white roses bearing the