The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-04
Leadsal Caroina Daies News and Cifo laton

is rarely, however, that he is allowed to
eat meal in peace. Each local commit
tee, impressed with its own Importance.
intrudes upon him to suggest the topics
which will appeal most forcibly to the
community which he is next to address,
while the county leaders lean over his
shoulder to pour into his ears the story
of their chances of success. Should he
be spared this inhiction, he will probably
notice throng at some station, waiting
to catch glimpse of him. Throwing down
his napkin, he will hurry to the rear
platform TO wave his hand to his unknown
admirers. The other day he left his din
ner to acknowledge the salute of the
waving apron of a woman who. with her
child in her arms, had climbed down
one of the West Virginia mountains to
see his train go by. Once in Kentucky,
| remember, Bryan was eating dinner
with Mrs Bryan. 1t was long after dark
and he was hungry and tired The train
stopped for moment at some water-tank
cut in the country. Through the open
windows of the private car goodly crowd
of country people could be seen. They
hurrahed for Bryan, who smiled, but did
noC move.
will" said Mrs. Bryan, quietly, "they
want you"
Without a word "Will' went out upon
the rear platform and the redoubled
cheers gave evidence of the crowds de-
light. moment later the sound OF
wills voice came floating through the
car. He was making a speech.
No one can travel with Bryan without
being impressed with the eager anxiety
everywhere manifested to see and hear
him.
1t is hardly an eXaggeration to say that
Bryan travels in one constant vortex OF
alteration. 1t is easy to understand why
o throng gathers to see an actual Presi-
dent of the United States; it is not so
easy to appreciate the devotion which
Bryan receives. He has neither place
nor power, and yet he comes very near
TO being worshiped. 1t is something more
than curiosity which leads men to travel
all night on horseback, as they did in
West Virginia, simply to see him. and
if good fortune should reach flood tide
to grasp him by the hand. In Kentucky
/ saw the glass windows of Bryans car
riage deliberately smashed by a fren-
zied crowd in it's wild desire simply to
touch Bryans clothes. In Ohio l have
seen gray-haired men climb upon the
platform of the car and be content simply
ers, as if they found some virtue in the
mere laying on of hands. In a dozen
States 1 have seen men fight like wild
beasts to get close to Bryan At Hinton
w Va, few nights ago, after Bryan
had returned to the car and the train was
being held for orders, two or three thou
sand people gathered around the Ramb-
Ter. Bryan was eating a delayed dinner.
The mountaineers saw him and forth
with began to climb through the car win
dow to get at him. Bryan left his seat
at the table, went to the window and in
cautiously put out his hand. 1t was like
throwing bone into den of ravenous
wild animals. His hand and arm were
seized and when he was enabled, through
vigorous eXertion, to release himself a
few moments later the hand was black
with coal CRIME and his arm was blue
with bruises Finally the train had to
be hurried from the station to separate
Bryan from his too admiring friends.
II the crowds would confne their noisy
and muscular tributes to Bryan's waking
hours, it would not be so bad. AS it is,
they win not even let him sleep in peace.
It was 4 o'clock in the morning when
| the Rambler reached Oil City, Pa. About
200 enthusiastic Democrats had gathered
and they shouted Justify for Bryan. Hap
PLY the object of their devotion was
asleep elsewhere, and they were forced
to be content with leaving a large bou-
quet of flowers, the correspondents on
| the car promising that the floral offering
| should reach Bryan at the earliest mo-
ment. At Covington, Va. Bryan did not
| escape so fortunately. 1t wos 1 o'clock
| in the morning, and raining heavily. but
| a crowd had gathered and awolSe Bryan
with it's vociferous hurrahs. He appear
| ed at the window in his sleeping clothes,
! and not until then did the crowd give
| evidence of its willingness to disperse.
candidate for the Presidency might well
count this incident among his annoying
experiences; but when Bryan bade the
| late-retiring correspondents a second
good night after his rather rude awaken
/ ing there was a pleasant smile upon his
! face.
| Bryan is an orator, whether he speaks
/ for five minutes or two hours. His voice
is sympathetic he has great personal
magnetism, and his sentences are as lu
cid as spring water He speaks with
great precision, and the stenographers
who report his speeches can transcribe
their notes literally. No editing or trans
position of words is necessary. Bryan
| has remarkable adaptability, also. and
| his addresses fit his audiences. He can
present his ideas so plainly and simply
that the most illiterate can understand
them, or he can indulge in eloquent pero-
rations that would arouse the admiration
| of student of rhetoric. His words come
fiuently and he has learned the art OF
! emphasizing his vowels so that his words
| carry a great distance. His voice is ad-
mirably adapted to outdoor speaking, and
| on still night ne can be heard distinct
ly on the outskirts of the largest crowd.
Much more could be written of Bryans
campaigning, but it must suffice to men
ton only one more feature. At every
stopping place he is deluged with flow
! ers-from the little handful of wild bios
SONS that child hands him. to the huge
horseshoe. six feet high. which is borne
into the car upon the shoulders of stall
wart men. Bryan carefully detaches the
cards from all these loving tributes, and
after distributing the flowers among the
occupants of the car, directs his secretary
| to return acknowledgment of the gift.
Once in a great while BRYAN will write
| an autoeraph letter OF thanks He wrote