The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-03-09

debate with ex-congressman Horr, be-
fore a Chautauqua assembly. The
debate was upon the financial issue,
and the audience was largely COM
posed of agriculturists. During his
remarks, Mr.. Horr paraded forth the
fact that he had been born upon a
farm, and then he told his little calf
story which by constant REPETITION he
had rendered tolerably familiar
throughout the country. In the course
Of his reply, Mr.. Bryan referred to his
opponents illustration, by expressing
his gratitude that his early days also
had been spent upon the farm. "And
|, too" he said, "recall an operation
l saw frequently performed during
that part of my life. l am very sure
that the time is rapidly approaching
when the same thing will have to be
done On larger scale by these United
States" 'Tn those old days." he ad-
ded, "they called it putting rings in
the noses of hogs"
Isn't that fairly good sized ring
that Kansas, the other day; set about
putting in the nose of very big hog?
Mr.. Bryan is called a great orator,
and | suppose he is. Sometimes,
however, while listening to him find
myself wondering if his gift isn't one
of plain speech, and not oratory at all
as is commonly understood by that
term. l remember at the last National
Convention, when the gentleman from
New York, who had been selected on
account of his great oratorical ability,
was placing Mr.. Parker in nomination,
l remarked to friend that if that was
oratory, then Bryan was no orator.
The Ides of November, and the
battle of Waterloo, find no place in
his vocabulary. Iridiscent periods
and glittering metaphors are rarely
employed by him. His audiences,
which are generally composed of al
classes of people, whatever their vari-
Gus intellectual attainments, have no
difficulty in following him, and are
never at loss to understand him, for
his speech is the plainest. and its
browning strength is simplicity. In
the field of forensic oratory, he is
a famous illustration Of the worth OF
The Simple Life we nave heard so
much of of late.
There never has been a more notable
instance of Mr.. Bryan's power over
his hearers than at st. Louis upon the
closing day of the convention.
1t was at half past four in the morn
ing, after an all-night session, that he
took the platform. The vast audience
Of 5000 people had sat the entire
night, while one well-known orator
after another addressed them. None
Of these gentlemen had succeeded in
making himself heard beyond his
opening sentences, owing to that indie
scribable rustic and stir, which, in an
even though slightly inattentive audi
ence of large dimensions, will inevi-
tably drown the voice of the strongest
speaker. When Mr.. Bryan at last
arose, it was evident at his first word
that one OF his charms as speaker
was completely lacking. His ordinary
mellifluous voice was badly shattered,
he had contracted a severe cold and
his utterance was hardly above that of
very hoarse whisper. Still, not one of
his sentences failed to reach the re-
hottest part of that great auditorium,
80 profound was the silence.
How did he produce such an effect?
Personal magnetism say some. Such
an explanation is trivial. Fervid