Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-11-23
Mr.. Bryan in Alexandria.


ecdOtes and Ready Floral
Tributes and Hearty ovation.
That DIR. William ]. Bryan has in
no way lost his popularity with the
masses--certsiply not in the Old Domia-
ion-wss apparent By the large and n p
resentatiye audience that filled the Opera
House last night TO welcome the great
commoDer. Many ladies were 10 the
audience, as we'll as members Of all pc
liticsl parties who had gathered, not for
curiosity to see man who has attained
world wide fame, but to be cite tanned
sad instructed. And none was dissp-
pointed, as during period Of about an
hour snd three-quaTters every one in the
assembly listened with close attention to
the speaker who was at bis bsst. His
flow of humor was almost incessant,
while his pathOs was IS animating as Of
old.
About $50 o'clock Mr.. Bryan, who
had arrived 10 this city late in the after
noon, reached The Opera House in
hack accompanied by former Senator
Cockrell aud Rev. G. ID. Bulls, at whose
residence he vas being entertained, Mr..
Bryan, accompanied by his daughter,
having previously diced at The par
sonsge. He catered from the Pitt street
side and when be walked out on the
stage the audience broke out in a spasm
of applause, while every one in the hall
rose to his feet. A large crowd had pre-
vioUsly greeted Mr.. Bryan On the out
side of the hall. TIE stage WIS crowded
az was also the main auditorium, and
Mr.. Brysp, after bowing bis ackDowl-
Judgments took his seat amidst min
listers OF the gospel, lawyers, occupants
of cfieisl positions, newspaper men and
others. La the audience and on the
stage were many besides Alexsndrisns.
Numbers of WashiDgtopisns were pres
ent, as well as spriukliog of residents
Of the surrounding country. A huge
floral tribute was placed 10 float OF Mr..
Bryan as token of the appre ia.ion Of
H. Mrs. f. j. Kramer Floral Company. |
1t bore the words, "To William j.
Bryan, the next President of the United |
States"
After few minutes had elapsed Rev.
Mr.. Bulla arose and advanced to intro
duce the speaker. This ne did in a few
appropriate remarks referring to the fact
that Mr.. Bryan's ancestors were Virgin
ians and that be was q citizen of the
world. Mr.. Bulla also announced that
the proceeds OF the lecture we're TO be de-
voted to the work to be carried on at the
George r. Hill Memorial Hall, to which
pl ICE ne invited the audit nee after the
lecture in order to meet Dir. Bryan.
Another ouiburst of applause followed IS
Mr Byan arose End advanced.
When the applause had sob,ded Mr..
Bryan began his remarks by saying that
he always experienced pleasure 10 visiting
as his early memories were in
connection with his fathers home. The
spssk er had ever found he Old Dominion
4 genial place, ard be sincerely spprecia-
tee his reception in old Alexandria.
Mr.. Bryan said he had during his life
line been connected with various
,rsncbes OF the Christian church. His
slher had been a Baptist and his
mother Methodist, aud, as compro-
Mise, the speaker had j)ined The Pres {
,yterisn Church. He had, however,
Darried BapIist, but be aud lis wife
Isd since become mem ers of the Meth Z
dist Church. Ia referring 10 the a
'res6yterisn Church he said the doctrine
# election was never clear to him, and
e told so anecdote the point of which
7as that it was necessary first to become o
car ddate, 10 which event one was
ure of being elected. Mr.. Bryan said
e was glad there was no campaign in a
rogress at presen', as he could speak 2
'ithoul bias. II was easy to make a |
bipartisan speech snd extremely [
ard to deliver a partisan address. he,
owever, touched somewhat on politics, T.
ut 10 a pleasant way which was much b
lioy6d. 10 referring to the fact that q
le republicans have OF late appropriated =
me important planks from the demo- Il
attic platform, be gOOd-humoredIy said st
lie same WAS for use, and "if we Che
amocrst') cannot get an opportunity
use the planks we should be glad il N
hers would utilize them" Mr.. Bryan az
cited come apt aud amusing anecdotes f.
illustrating this suggestion. He re- W
rred to certain serseless cartoons which az
I'VE iIom time to time portrayed him =
all sorts Of ridiculous shapes, among
EN- one 10 which he was pictured as a -
icken minus plumsge save one
ltber. Roosevelt was also represented 4
hen sitting on nest, but Mr.. (
yam vas made 10 perch upon the limb i
q tree. The President. however,
IS sitting upon his {Bryah's) feathers g
d there was possibility of the present
ecu.ive getting possession of the only
e feather the cartoOnist had left on Mr..
var. The speaker said be still had
, feathers and others were growing. G
3 said the action of nv Roosevelt in y
ting on bis eggs remiuded him of e.
eSlion discussed BY certain debating
:iety. 1t was ss to the parentaga OF
ickens where one hen lays the egg, n
d another matches them. The demo- 4
It's have been laying the eggs end the 4
'ublicans have been setting upon them
d bringing the chickens on. Of their N
Ills. The speaker, however, said he ~
! no objection to this procedure. o,
Mr.. Bryan then proceeded to the sub %
upon which his lecture had been Z
pared, the basis Of which was his re- Z
t trip around the world, aud he SEEM l
10 carry his audience with hin to the !