Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-07-19

Biblical texts and constitutional law
with equal facility and at such length
as to astonish his hearers.
Jefferson and Jackson were the mod.
els whom Bryan long ago chose to set
up before HIM, and the good that was
IN them he has faithfully tried to pat
tern. 1t is somewhat unusual to wit
ness the survival of youthful ideals.
out the examples OF these early states
men seem to be as fresh before him TO.
day as when he was a young law stu
dent with his future all before him
and no dlsappointments to blur his
vision In four years Mr.. Bryan has
matured rapidly. When he made that
famous speech which swept the Chi
cago convention off its feet four years
ago, his face had almost boyish fresh
ness about it Today there are lines
about the nose and eyes, the generous
mouth Is firm and the massive jaw
seems more soidly set. But he is as
fit physically and mentally, as ever in
his life.
A friend of Mr.. Bryan who visited
him at his home recently remarked
afterward:
Il have known Bryan for ten years.
I have been with him in several of his
tours and have seen him regularly
every week since his remarkable poll
teal career was inaugurated, and I can
assert that he is IN better condition
physically, today than I have ever
known him. HIS voice has ring to
it that is surprising"
Undoubtedly this is due to the two
months of rest which he took recently.
His visit to Texas was a rechperative
outing, and while he has been at his
home in Lincoln he has gained won
derfnlly in form. About three miles
from Lincoln he has a 20-acre farm,
and on this he has taken his exercise.
He has a garden there in which he
has spent the morning hours for sew
eral weeks. He has also taken much
interest in a large flock of chickens
which he is raising. The chicken
house is one which he built himself
after his own plans, and he seems to
take much pride IN it.
There is no affectation about Mr..
Bryan's mode of living. He has al
ways been used to q simple life When
he puts on an old straw hat, sticks the
bottoms of his overalls into top boots
and goes out with a hoe into his potato
patch, he is doing nothing new. He
was brought up on farm and has
gone back to farming whenever the
opportunity has offered, not because
he has been forced to do it, but because
he takes a keen delight in physical
exertion and has a genuine love for
the country.
As for Mrs. Bryan she is an sbso-
Iutely new species of woman among
those who have ever stood a chance of
becoming mistress of the White House
She is a helpmeet to her husband in
the fullest sense of the term. His life
is her life, whether he works or plays,
whether he weeds his garden or ad-
dresses a national convention.
Ia her husbands progress she has
kept pace almost step by step. It is
well-known fact that they were
schoolmates together. When he was
graduated from Illinois college, he
was the valedictorIsn of his class.
Mrs. Bryan, who was then Miss Mary
Baird, also graduated from the same
institution, and she was valedictorian
of her class as we'll.
After they were married and Mr..
Bryan took up the law she also took
to law books. She was admitted to
the bar in 1883.
When he entered politics, she in
formed herself about things politi-
cally. She helped him polish his
speeches, Night after night they
worked together, she revising and
suggesting as the pages of manu-
script came from his pen.
But for all this Mrs. Bryan is g
home-making woman and a tender
mother. The organs have three chill
dram, the eldest of whom, Miss Ruth
Bryan, has been attending school IN
Washington. She is Is and almost q
young lady. William j. Bryan Jr.,
is IL, and Grace, the baby of the fam
lily. 9. They are bright, pretty chill