Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-06
BRYAN's RISE TO POWER.


However closely the American people
have watched the rise from obscurity to
prominence of William Jennings Bryan,
they have, as o nation, known him only
since the day, four years ago, when he
walked, unnoticed, to the speakers
platform in the Chicago convention, and
within an hour became, perhaps, the
most striking figure In American politics
of a decade.
What ne has done since that hour the
world knows. What he did before Is
told by his most faithful co. worker, his
wife, 10 the following SKETCH
William Jennings Bryan was born 10
Salem, Ill.,, March 10, 1880 He was
sturdy, round-limbed boy and fond OF
play. His appetite, which has sioce
been constant companion, developed
very early. The pockets OF his first
trousers were always filled with bread,
W hich he kept for an emergency.
When a boy, it was his ambition to be
a minister, but this gave place to de.
termination to become lawyer, like
father"
His boyhood was passed on a farm
and his mother taught him until he was
ten years old. After committing bis
lessons to memory he stood upon lit.
tie table and spoke them to his mother.
This was his first recorded effort at
speech making.
He then entered the public schools at
Salem, and during his five years at
tendance was not An especially brilliant
pupil, though he never failed in an ex.
animation.
His fathers Congressional campaign,
in 1872, was his first political awaken
ing, and from that time On he always
cherished the thought of entering pub.
lie life.
At 15 he entered the preparatory de-
partment OF Illinois College, at Jackson
vile, Ill.,, and with this step changed
life began. For eight years he led the
life of student. He had a strong pref.
erence for mathematics, and especially
for geometry, and has believed that the
mental discipline acquired in his study
has since been useful In arguments.
He was, too, en- earnest student of
political economy. In his sophomore
year he won his first prize with an es-
say on Labor" An Grafton upon SIN
dividual Powers" gave him the first
prize in the junior year.
My personal knowledge of Mr.. Bryan
dates from September, 1879, when l
first saw him in the parlors of the
Young Ladies' School, which I attend
ed In Jacksonville. His notable fes-
lures were his nose and mouth. Upon
one occasion heartless observer was
heard to remark THAT man can
whisper in his own ear" But this was
cruel exaggeration.
William stood well in the law school,
taking an especial interest in constitu
tional law.
Ga July 4, 1888, Mr.. Bryan began
tue practice of his profession 10 Jack
sonville, H., and in little more than
year his income seemed large enough
to support two. During the summer
| of 1884 a modest home was planned
and built, and on October /, 1884, we
were married.
In 1887 we moved 10 Lincoln. |
might here suggest an answer to hos
tile criticism; namely, that Mr.. Bryan
did not distinguish himself as o lawyer.
| Those who thus complain should con-
! slider that he entered the practice at 23
and left it at so, and during that period
began twice and twice became more
than self-supporting.
Mr.. Bryan became actively connected
| with the democratic organization in Ne
braska Immediately after coming to the
State.
In the congressional campaign of1S9O
Mr.. Bryan was elected by plurality OF
6,71S.
| Upon bis return to Nebraska he was
able to secure reelection in new dis
trict, the State having been reappor.
| toned.
Iu the Fifty third Congress Mr.. Bryan
was reappointed upon the ways and
means committee and assisted In the
preparation of the Wilson bill.
His principal work of the term, how
ever, was in connection with monetary
legislation.
Since then Mr.. Bryan's daily--al-
| most hourly--movements have been
kept before the public by an untiring
press.
Though an advocate of an eight-hour
dag, Mr.. Bryan has during the lsst
thirteen years averaged nearly twelve
hours day at professional and literary
work.