Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-27
BRYAN ON ENGLISH SOIL
Noted Nebraskan's Method of
 Sightseeing In London.
MISSES LITTLE AND QUESTIONS ALL

| Tradesmen, Policemen and Cabbfes, POrters, as We'll as Ambassadors
 and Others of Distinction, Are
 Tho'Ssa Iy Questioned - He Ab- sorbs 4ow1edge at Every Stage
 and Meets Tipping Problem With
 out FIAnching.
 During the course of his systematic Y sightseeing in England, William Jen- nings Bryan, the noted Nebraskan, lunched at the Cheshire Cheese tav- ern, on Fleet street, London, occu- pying the seat which, according to a tablet in the wall, was the favorite seat ! of Dr. Samuel Johnson, and remarked f that he would know the portrait any where because of the family resem- blance to Tom Johnson, says Charles Nicholson in a special cable dispatch from London to the New York Ameri- can. Mir. Bryan's lunch consisted of stewed steak; but, being teetotaler, he had to forego the bitter beer which Dr. Johnson found so acceptable. He cop jed from the menu the Johnson quota ton, "No, sir, there is nothing which has been contrived by man by which so much happiness has been produced hs by a good tavern" and indorsed the sentiment. Naturally he bought book about the place, as he buys book about everything he sees and, what is more, reads them.
 Bryan is about the most conscien- tious sightseer that ever the worlds metropolis identified, and it does iden- tify Bryan. Wherever he goes he is recognized, and there is about as much curiosity about him as there is about the king of Italy, who is also in Lon- don. 1t was this king who gave Bryan his first sight of royalty. Bryan was returning from the Cheshire Cheese when procession escorting the visit ing ruler came along the Thames er11 bankment from Guildhall, and the apostle of Democracy found himself hemmed in by a crowd in front of Som- erset House. The embankment was l lined with soldiers and policemen, and Bryan soon found what was expected and waited on the sidewalk for the royal carriage to come.
 King Edward was not in the process sion, but the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught were. So MT. Bry- i an had good view of them; also of the king and queen of Italy. Their majesties looked good deal bored by the whole proceeding, and something l of the same expression was noticed on the face of the great Nebraskan.
 His only comment on the royal pa rade was that the English people seem ed to take their dignitaries philosoph- l ically.
 The next stage in his exploration of London led Bryan to Westminster ab- bey. The verger took him through and 1 pointed out the tombs of forgotten kings, murdered princes and beheaded notables in the singsong way peculiar to the tribe of exhibitors of famous places Here, as elsewhere, Bryan was thorough and systematic. First he thor oughly inspected the beautiful build ing on all sides; then he took the dec 1 orations, panels and carvings in the nave and transept, sternly averting his 1 eyes from the monuments and tombs until he had secured proper impress sion of their surroundings. Then he | l guide had new experience. Bryan did not disturb him in his recital of the | names and deeds of mere kings and I queens, but he cross questioned him 1 closely about every tomb that holds the body of a man distinguished for what he did for the people.
 He tarried at the spot from which | Cromwell's body was torn after the restoration to be hanged and spent much time in the poets corner. He would not discuss the effect of so much buried royal splendor, but there was with him all the time his son, William 1 junior, and 1t was easy from the man. ] ner in which he called the boys atten- | ton to the violence of tue death of so many great ones of English history to read his mind He was tremendously inn pressed by the beauty of the abbey it. self, but the record of murders, behead- ings and violations of the sepulcher made q stronger impression upon him than did the glory of the dukes and kings of England.
 Bryan differs from the majority of American sightseers in London. He { really wants to see and hear, and does not care who knows that he is ten derfoot in London. He questions ev rybody-tradesmen, policemen, cab- bies and porters, as well as ambassa dors and others of distinction. He pays all charges without objection and meets the tipping question without f1inching, but he asks the cabmen all about themselves, their earnings, their history, and absorbs knowledge at ev- cry stage of his iourneyings. The souvenir books, guides and catalogues which he has already collected would make q first class start for a library of London reference.
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 | Dizzy.