The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-28
He LIKES CHICKEN
w. ]. Bryan Demonstrates This
at Pythian Picnic.
Three Times He Is Helped to
Dark Meat.
MAKES SHORT SPEECH.
Also Calls the Women Present
Sisters
He Talks Politics From Hotel
Balcony.
MAKES SHORT SPEECH.

| Jay evening and incidentally Demon
strated his weakness for spring chick
| en-.
| This meeting had not been adver-
tised and there were fewer than q thou
sand people at the park to hear his
| talk on Fraternalism. Mr.. Bryan Is a
knights Pythias, it is the first order
| into which he was initiated
During his short talk he eulogized
fraternalism. THE training of the
| lodge room makes better citizenship"
| said Mr.. Bryan. There we find no
| of citizenship and q combination
| formed for the good that it may bring
| to the membership. 1 belong to a
number of fraternal organizations,
nine or ten believe, and 1 feel that
they are for the betterment Of citizen
ship -G -.
AS Mr.. Bryan left the bandstand
which served for an auditorium. and
| speakers stand combined, he was met
by an elderly matron, who grasped
| him by the hand and with ''just step
this way Brother Bryan" led the pres
| which fairly groaned" with the
spread which had been prepared in
anticipation of a presidential appetite
which was an unknown quantity to the
women having the picnic In charge.
The big good natured man who as
| pres 10 the pT0SlQeHCy OIL Tic OHltCu
States. had not taken a dozen steps
when he was surrounded by bustling
| mass of womanhood of all ages. all
anxious to feel the warm touch OF his
hand. The proudest woman or them
all was the portly matron. who intro
duced in turn SISTER Jones, Mr.. Bry-
an, one of the leading workers OF our
order "Glad to meet you, Sister
Jones'" was the happy response of Mr..
Bryan, as he apparently forget MS
identity for a moment and mingled
with the sister of the brotherhood
which seems to be his pride.
Meet Sister Smith, Mr.. Bryan and
Miss Brown and Miss Blue and Miss
Black" continued the favored matron,
| in rag time, as, she ran the scale OF
chromatic colorS as she introduced the
wives of the members of the order In
| turn. here and there bringing In the
name Of some woman pronounced In
distinctly as though she was IN doubt
as to the identity of the sister. To
each and every. one Mr.. Bryan gave
a welcome shake of the hand and
"am glad to meet you sister" saluta-
ton.
He was seated at the head of the
table and knives and forks were held
at attention when Mrs. Matron IN
charge, who was just about to- drop
| the starting flag suddenly discovered
that a sister who was to occupy po-
/
an was missing ooh, where Is Miss
Bell?', she cried, some one find Miss
Bell. we must have her here right next
| to Brother Bryan"
The crowd of sisters who were on
lockers melted away and a moment
lIater returned with Sister Bell. who
had not heard the supper bell. Meet
Brother Bryan. Sister Bell, COM
manded the matron and as the presi-
Dental possibility welcomed the tardy
sister. she exhibited sweet, girHsh
blush in Acknowledgement.
Reverend Barrett asked blessing
upon the assemblage and asked for d.
vine guidance for the guest OF nonor.
The flag fell, and Mr.. Bryan had MS
fork well poised and ready to spear an
inviting bit of dark meat which was
displayed temptingly On a platter or
spring chicken when there was cry
behind him and woman well past the
meridian of life dashed up leading a
bit of femininity in short dresses
The fork found its place beside Mr.
Bryan's plate. IT just must have my
little niece meet you. Mr.. Bryan, she
explained land we must leave right
away Ny name is Mrs. iBelated and
NV husband works at nights and Is not
able to meet you but he is one Of your
great admirers and is going to vote for
YOU though he is a Republican most OF
| the time" :
Mr. BRYAN arose from his seat and
taking one OF the little girls hands In
| his placed the other on her shoulder
and made her heart glad by his win
some smile ad glad words of welcome
| Now then, Brother Bryan. said the
matron in charge after things had
quieted down somewhat, take tnat
piece of chicken. indicating cnoice
hit of white meat Regardless of the
ass-,,orit5on the presidential possibility
turned over several pieces OF tempting
fowl and selected q thigh
The wives and daughters OF the
members hovered about the guest OF
honor and bedlam of Brother
Rran wont YOU Try some OF this"
prevailed as dish after dish OF tempt
ing edfhles were placed before him.
| Three times did M Bryan s0ccumo
70 the plea8inEs OF the sisters VINO
the Spring MES and each time he
4 1eiSurefy turned over the assortment
and made his selection nom the
thighs and legs passing up the snIte
meat much 70 the dtSsusr on tne IS
tiers who had displayed tempting Dis
at points Of easy access
The home made pickles and rel
ishesS the Jams and 1elI1es~ mereo
wzy as Mr. BRYAN satisfied an appeu-l
tits which seemed perfectly human
condiments and fruits of his boyhood
DAYS. Then came the cake OF all col
ors and kinds and the good old fash
toned pies with thumb marks or the
sisters showing on the rims
The score keeper lost out on the
count while the different kinds OF
cakes were being passed in front OF
Mr. Bryan. who seems TO nave oeen
robbed of time in which - eat Then
came the pies and with each an in
vitation of Brother Bryan, Just try
piece of this. made 1t myself and L
want you to try it, In two instances
at least the Tpresidential possibility
yielded to the entreaties of the house
wives and helped himself to liberal
wedges of the handiwork of Topeka
cooks. 1t ~as-aH over too soon.
for Mr. Bryan, was billed to speak at