Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-02-28
WILLIAM !. BRYAN
Delivered Two Addresses in Alma
Although Not Billed for
this Place.


tongued orator Of the Platte, was in town
for three hours wait between trains
and that he would address "A mass meet.
ing in the college chapel aG eleven thirty
o'clock.
Although Mr.. Bryan's coming was
unexpected the news spread so rapidly
that when ll30 came an expectant
crowd of four or five hundred people,
farmers, laborers, merchants, clerks,
school children, ladies, and college stu.
dents, were assembled, most of them TO
listen to the great orator for the first
tlmo.
When Mr.. Bryan came into the room,
he was received with prolonged and
hearty applause. He was attended by a
delegation of six citizens. The three
sitting on his right on the platform hap
pen 10 begin their names with "B ;
Messrs. Bruske, Brainerd and Bahlke ;
while on his left sat the "H's' Hayt,
Hater and Hanson.
In his introduction Of Mr.. Bryan,
DR.. Bruske happily alluded 20 the pic
ture of Mr.. Bryan which was posted
high on the college tower during the
last presidential campaign, and regi cited
that the picture was not still there 50
Bruske also congratulated Mr. Bryan On
sitting for once IN the presidential
college, chair.
THE SPEECH.
People who come TO hear a political
speech may have been disappointed.
Politics was left out entirely, and the
speech was addressed more particularly
10 the students But il was speech
that would interest anybody.
The speech was short, not over twenty
minutes long, but Mr.. Bryan talked
about two separate distinct subjects. He
really made two speeches, but the tran
sition from one subject TO the other was
so skillfully made that 1t could hardly be
detected. The first half OF Mr. Bryan ;
speech was devoted TO "The Advantages
of the Small College," the last half to
Public Speaking
MIR. Bryan began by saying that he
always liked 60 talk for he Is student
himself. He Is especially interested in
small colleges, for he graduated from
one himself, IN Illinois He Is at present
trustee of the same institution. Mr..
Bryan then proceeded 10 cite three ad-
vantages of the small college.
FIRST, the advantage Of vicinity. The
small college reaches class Of poorer
but none the less worthy. young people
who would never go 10 college at all if
only large institutions existed. The
larger institutions are too far away
from home and too expensive for many
young people who desire an education.
The small college is nearer home and
cheaper.
SECOND, the democratic spirit around
the small college is AN advantage
THIRD. professors and students are
brought closer together.
After discussing these advantages in
order, Mr. Bryan made the transition TO
the second part Of his speech. He said,
Il might speak 20 please students, but
when | speak to students, / want TO be
helpful 10 them. DemOsthenes was "A
greater man than Cicero because, when
the people had heard Cicero they said,
Cicero Is great speaker but when
they heard Demosthenes, they said,
Let Us go against Philip. Mr.. Bryan
said, q do not feel gratified at hearing
my name on the peoples lips when
have made a speech ! feel gratified
when / see them gathered together in
groups discussing what l have been
talking about -
"Eloquence," he said, "is the speech
Of a man who knows what be is talking
about, and believes it. - Then he laid
down three rules for public speakers.
FIRST Fill yourself so full Of your
subject that you cannot keep still.
The only difference between a fana.
tic, an enthusiast and hero, is that the
fanatic is furthest in advance Of the
crowd. He is alone. The enthusiast
has few followers but he is still ahead
of the crowd The hero stands on the
same ground, but he has the crowd with
him"
SECOND -"Be clear. A truth can be
self evident not that IL cannot be dis
puted, for there are plenty of learned
men who would dispute the law Of grav-
itation If they were paid for it.
THIRD. Don't cover your thought
with language. Don't have too much
husk "
Brevity, conciseness, and condensation
ale essential. Mr.. Bryan quoted a story
TO illustrate the beauty of condemnation.
"A saloon. keeper who lived over his sa-
loon, had speaking tube so that he
could talk from his bedroom TO the bar
tender below. One morning the bar.
tender called up. is Mr.. Smith good for
two drinksY Has he had them. He
has He is
Mr.. Bryan's manner both on the plat
form and afterwards when he suffered
his arm to be made into pump handle,
made a very favorable impression on
everyone and nobody went away dis.
appointed. II is pretty safe to say that
William Jennings Bryan can get good
housefull TO listen to him in Alma any
time he wants TO come. At the depot
while waiting for the train several of
his admirers prevailed upon him TO de