The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-08-30
Stories About william J. Bryan.


One day while conversing with William
]. Bryan, asked him what he considers
the greatest word in the English language.
"Contentment," he said, before could
catch breath. "This world is full Of
discontented men. Even some OF the
rich are not contented. The man who
has contentment has the best gold that
is to be secured In life.
"Contentment is given to every man,
but most men drive it away in the mad
rush to gain things that are beyond their
reach. The man who can be contented
with what he has is the man who finds
all that life is worth living for"
Perhaps there are many who think
Mr.. Bryan was never contented with his
lot. and that he has gone beyond the
border lines of possibility in trying to
gain the highest Office in the land. but he
would be just as contented on his Ne
braska farm, improving his land aud
building home for his family, as in the
White House. Fame was thrust upon
him at the Chicago Convention Of 1896.
after he had proved himself to be the
most learned man on the issues that his
party was endeavoring to put forward.
When he arrived in Chicago before that
memorable convention, just two people
reporters,-lnet him at the station.
He was made the leader OF the Demo-
cracy, and because Of this he has con.
sidered it his duty to try to win. That
is why he has worked 80 hard for the
past four years.
Mr.. Bryan is a man who cannot be sep.
arated from his candor, nor from the
principles he once adopts. One only has
to talk with him a few minutes to learn
that that is his strongest characteristic.
When Bryan was nominated for Presi-
dent Of the United States in 1896, all the
money he had in the world was $106.S5.
Yet he was contented. II be had never
been nominated he would have been just
az happy. He told me that he never ex-
pected to receive the nomination, that it
was his intention, when the convention
was over, to return to Nebraska, and de.
vote HE life to his family and his farm.
"But as long as l am called to fight for
the people, that will be my main object
in life," he said.
think he is shining example Of the
saying, GRAINS will tell" Sometimes it
takes years, but the event is sure. The
satisfaction of knowing that tickle fate
has not passed him by must be worth
more to him than riches and fame.
Mr.. Bryan's early battle was hard
one. Few young men had to struggle as
hard as he and with such poor results.
But he was always contented and never
wanted more. His parents never told
him that he would some day be the presi-
dent, or the admiral of the navy, or the
comander-in .chief of the army. They
told him that he was the arbiter of his
own fate. They told him that they had
battled long and hard with the world,
and had found happiness only in seeing
the rewards OF their labors come home to
them, and that, if he wanted to make q
success Of his life, he would have to strug-
gle, save, and be honest. Wise parents
were those
So believe Mr. Bryan never expected
such honors as are being hesped on him
to-day. He worked hard, studied. start
ed out as lawyer, ives sent to congress,
bought little farm to have home for
his family, and then worked on and on,
to see how fate would treat him. He
would still be contented il he had only
his farm and was not known as one Of
the most aggressive and interesting of
living Americans. General Washington
was contented as q farmer in Virginia.
Abraham Lincoln conceived his brightest
thoughts while splitting rails. James A.
Garfield was happy working for his
mother in little log cabin. Thomas A.