Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-05

but most men drive It away in the
mad rush to gain things that are be-
You'd 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
that Mr.. Bryan was never contented
with his lot, and that he has gone be-
yond the border lines of possibility in
trying to gain the highest Office in the
land, but ne would be just as content
ed on his Nebraska farm, improving
his land and building a 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 the memora-
BILE convention, just two people-repor-
ters-met him at the station.
He was made the leader of the Dem
ocracy, and because of this he has
considered it his duty to try to win.
That is why he has worked so hard
for the past four years.
Mr.. Bryan is man who cannot be
separated from his candor. nor from
the principles he once adopts. One
only has to talk with him few min
utes to learn that that is his strongest
characteristic.
"
President of the United States in 1896.
all the money he had in the world was
SlO6.25. Yet he was cortented. If he
had never been nominated he would
have been just as happy. He told me
that he never expected to receive the
nomination; that it was his intention.
when the convention was over, to re-
turn to Nebraska and devote his 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.
L think ne is simply shining exam
pie of the saying, Brains will tell"
event is sure. The satisfaction of
knowing that n tickle fate has not
passed him by must be worth more to
him than riches and fame.
MIR. Bryans early battle was n hard
one. Few young men had to struggle
as hard as he and with such poor re-
suits. But he was always contented,
and never wanted more. His parents
never told him that he would some
day be the President or the admiral
of the navy, or the commander-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
success Of his life, he would have to
struggle, save and be honest. Wise
parents were these.
So 1 believe Mr.. Bryan never eX-
pected such honors as are being heap
ed on him to-day. He worked hard.
studied, started out as n lawyer, was
sent to Congress, bought little farm
to have n 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 a farmer I'm Virginia.
Abraham Lincoln conceived his bright
est thoughts while splitting rails
James a. Garfield was happy working
for his mother in n little log cabin.
Thomas a. Edison was contented with
q workshop. None of the parents of
these men ever told them that they
would live in the immortal inches of
fame.