The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-14
BRYAN ADDRESSES
A LARGE AUDIENCE
His Theme Was The Value
of an Ideal"
A ELOQUENTi DISCUSSION
Words Of Wholesome Advice Clothed
In Language of Rare Beauty and
Force-For Benefit of Kin
deraarten Association.
"A ELOQUENTi DISCUSSION

A large audience composed of Birming-
hams representative people greeted WILL
liam Jennings Bryan at the Jefferson
theatre last night. He lectured on THE
Value Of an IDEAL
Mr. Bryan was introduced by Rabbi
Newfeld, who presented the speaker in a
few appropriate words as a man who
needs no Introduction to an American au-
dience-the great commoner" In begin
ming his address Mr.. Bryan said he had
talked so often about politics and meas
ures which had divided the country that
he was now glad to discuss subject that
appealed to all and was the keynote of
all great things, an ideal.
Starting at that point familiar to all.
he said there is an ideal in the home
which may make or mar the sons and
daughters who go out into the world to
battle for honor The choice of a right
ideal is a question of success or failure
and often of life or death. In the be-
ginning II the right ideal Is chosen all
will be easy sailing afterward, but II on
the other hand a man starts out with a
wrong conception of his mission in the
world he may join the ranks of suicides
and those, other human wrecks who have
not the courage to end a miserable ex-
istence. The ideal is the measure of a
life. AS a man chooses his ideal so he
lives and dies.
We Must Strive.
1.a l,{ oa at.at4oi, a
us to keep us always striving An ideal
that can be attained is very small ideal
and when It is overtaken Its power to
uplift has ended. Youth Is the time for
choosing Ideals, for in youth we are green,
growing and ready to absorb what is in
store. The speaker said he hoped people
could always remain green, for when
ripeness comes decay comes also and that
Is the end of all earthly hopes. The Ideal
must first be worthy one before being
accepted, for when one chooses 1t Is hard
to change.
However, II Is possible for a mans ideals
to be changed by circumstances. and Mr..
Bryan humorously cited himself as an
example. He had had three ambitions
The first was to be a preacher. the sec
ond to be a farmer, and the third to be
lawyer. In the second only would ne
admit that he was at all successful. In
a whimsical vein Mr.. Bryan also told
of moving TO Nebraska. He could not be
accused Of going there for political pur-
poses, since the State, county. township
precinct and ward in which he lived were
all republican. He said he got his first
nomination to congress by accident and
because no one thought he would be
elected. He was a sacrifice on the altar
of local democracy.
Concerning Politics.
Branching off into politics. Mr.. Bryan
proceeded to show the fallacy of teach
ing boys that they should remain out of
politics in order not to be contaminated.
The thing to do is for good men to enter
public life in the hope of purifying poll
tics instead of holding aloof.
Referring to Leo Tolstoi, Mr.. Bryan
paid a beautiful tribute to the Russian
philosopher as a man who Is the apostle
of love for all the world and the great
teacher of all peoples.
There are ideals in Christianity also,
although skeptics strive to tear down the
fabric on which they are erected. Con-
Tossing his ignorance in such matters,
| Mr.. Bryan said that there were many
strange things In the world which are
accepted without question, and why not
so in reiglon2 Although we do not under
stand the process of growth In vegetables
we eat them with great relish and ask
no questions. but when 1t comes to a
matter of religion everything must be
made clear or there is no faith. Mr.. Bry-
an said: Mystery does not bother us In
the dining room. 1t Is only in the
church, Materialistic philosophers have
never yet been able to explain the holy
mysteries satisfactorily and their efforts
to discredit them have been in vain.
There are ideals in all departments Of
life. said the speaker, in marriage ant
in the domestic life, as well as everywher;
else. In this connection he took advantag,
international marriage which called forth
much applause. He said that he could no
but blush for the custom of an American
girl bestowing fortune she had no
made on a broken down lord with a It'll
he had not earned, and IL he were a cir
he would have to be very ugly before n,
would hire anybody to marry him. Mar
rage has this advantage over horse
swapping. The man who cheats another II
a horse trade may not see the man h,
cheated again, but the man who cheat.
a woman In marrying her does not es
cape SO easily. Mr.. Bryan said he con.
templated sending a few Commoners ovei
! to Europe just to show the people there
that there are happy marriages in Amer
| lea.
Ideals In Politics.
In politics there are ideals also. and II
was his purpose to aid in unfolding these
| Il I1.x . IT, LII l..