The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-22
LOTS OF WORK IN DIR. BRYAN's
FORTY-ONE YEARS.
Steady Progress from Farm Boy to
Head of Big COIIege-A Barb"
in student Days.

0Oo 49, EGDR-C ~ 49,
educational circles than William Lowe
Bryan. As boy and man he is known by
almost every citizen of Bloomington. He
was born forty-one years ago on a farm
three miles east of Bloomington. in what
is known as the Philips neighborhood.
where he lived until he was fifteen years
old. He is in every sense of the word a
self-made man. His was not an easy boy
hood, for he was In reality up with the
lark and worked in the fields or at what
ever was to be found for a boy TO do on a
farm until he was old enough to teach
school and make enough money to pay his
way as he entered upon his college course.
He attended the district school in the
country and then entered the Bloomington
High School, going and coming to his
home, three miles out, almost daily. After
graduation from the high school he sought
a district school, and his first effort was
to secure employment in Polk township,
about ten miles southeast, in the toughest
and poorest section OF the county. He
was accompanied on his trip by a neighbor
boy, and the two rode in a buggy to the
directors Of the district. He had hardly
begun a conversation. when one of the
directors informed them that what they
needed was work in that section instead
Of education. but finally the young man
who accompanied Bryan was employed TO
teach the coveted school the coming term.
Bryan returned to Bloomington greatly
disappointed, and had only entered the
house when he was handed a letter from
a friend in GRANVILLE, Ill, which notified
him OF his election as a teacher at that
place at a salary OF S45 a month, which was
more than was then paid in any of the
district schools of Monroe county.
In relating this incident DR.. Bryan said
it recalled to his mind a fact that had al
most become a superstition, and that was
that he had never got any position that he
mad sought. In a number of instances he
had applied and had used every honorable
effort 10 secure positions, but in every in
stance he had failed, but just at the fortu-
nate time something even better, and which
he had not sought and sometimes had not
known about, was offered to him. As an
example of this, the day of his graduation,
when he was out of money and something
to do was absolutely necessary, he was
wondering what would turn up. He was
walking up College avenue when the Rev.
A. d. Philput, now of indianapolis. who
has always been his personal friend. ac-
costed him and said that he was looking
for a good teacher in the high school. and
thereupon offered him the position. which
was accepted without hesitation. This rule
was even true as 10 the vice presidency Of
Indiana University. DR.. Bryan did not
even know that such an office was contem-
plated, much less that his name was being
considered, when the secretary Of the uni
versity handed him an envelope. and upon
opening it he had his notification that he
had been elected vice president of Indiana
University under DIR. Swain.
a IN i. L.
DR.. Bryan's first experience in teaching
in Indiana University was soon after DR..
Moss resigned. He was called to the home
of Prof. o.. B. Clark, then teacher Of Eng
lish, and there he met DIR. Jordan, the
president, and Professor Atwater. Upon
entering the room DIR. Jordan told him
that he wanted at once an instructor TO
take w some work that had overcrowded
the professors in the line of philosophy.
That was in 1884, and the young instructor
began his work as a teacher in the Old
college, which is now the City High School
building. Soon after the board of trustees
was in session,a and one of them, in speaking
of DR.. Bryan a few days ago, told of how
they visited him as he was teaching the
students in ph~iloSophy-he himself much
younger than many in his cIass-and the
remarkable impression that his efforts
made upon the visitors. Said the trustee:
would not be long until DR.. Bryan would be
a member of the Indiana University
faculty" and the same trustee, seventeen
years later, voted for him for president Of
the institution.
In college days DR.. Bryan was not a
member of any Greek fraternity, but he
had friends in every fraternity. He was
always so fair and honest that he had the
admiration Of the strongest partisans.
Oratory was a strong point in Indiana
University. and DR.. Bryan was a member
of the Athenian Society and appeared in
oratOrical contests on a number Of occa-
sions, and he has always been regarded
as one of the best orators that have gone
from the institution. He usually speaks
/ axfpmnOra npOuSlV and even on imnOrt1nt
occasions prepares no manuscript. A few
years ago when he gave the baccalaureat
address he could not give his manuscript
out TO the press, inasmuch as he talked
entirely from notes, and 1t was necessary
for the reporters to take what he said to
get the substance of his address.
DR.. Bryan's family is Of Scotch-Irish de-
scent, although 1t has lived in this country
since before the revolution. His mother
was a woman of remarkable culture and
high education, and one OF the most iniu-
entail women of the community, taking
much interest first in her three boys and
three girls and then in the welfare of the
young people. His father was educated
in the ministry, and was one OF the pioneer
preachers of the United Presbyterian
Church. The mother has been dead for
twenty-five years and the father for fif-
teen, but DR.. Bryan holds them as fresh
in memory as though their deaths had &C.
Cured but yesterday.
DR.. Bryan himself is a strong churchman,
being a member Of the United Presbyterian
Church. and is much interested in religious
work generally. Upon vacancies occurring
in the pulpit Of the church, he sometimes
occupies the pulpit and gives a short adj
dress, never talking more than a half hour
on any public occasion. He is also greatly
interested in Y. NJ. c. A. work, and takes
q personal part in the services, both with
the young men and women.
HIS STUDY IN EUROPE.
DR.. Bryan was graduated from Indiana
University in 1884, the year after DIR.
Swain, the retiring president. Soon after
he visited Europe. spending one year in
the study Of philosophy in the University
OF Berlin. He also took his Phi. d. degree
in Clark University, where he spent a
year and a half. The last academic year
he spent in Europe-most of the time in
Paris and in Wuerzburg. He is a fellow
Of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement OF Science, and one Of the six
governors or the American Psychological
Association He is the author of numerous
scientific publications, as we'll as many pop
ular addresses. In 1900 he was invited TO
address the International Congress Of Psy-
chology at Paris.
His whole college life has been devoted
TO teaching and study, and he lives in a
modest nome In Kenwood in the north end
or the city, where he has a pleasant study
room Ills effort is to retire at 9 O'Clock
and arise early IN the morning, as he be-
lieves 10 DO good work a man must ave
plenty or sleep. DIR. Bryan was married in
1883 10 Miss Lolita Lowe, OF Indianapolis.
4 GhA T. = - a - v.-aAEaaasA.