Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31

traits of Washington, Jefferson, Jack
son and Lincoln. 1t is walled with
books, and it has easy chairs uphol-
stored in morocco. in one OF which the
Secretary sat in comfortable neglfge
as he chatted with me. He was dressed
in black with a coat of silk poplin and
an unbuttoned vest, which showed q
wide expanse of white shirt. His man
ners were as easy as his clothes and
his personal magnetism was such that
l came to the interview tired and went
away rested and fresh as daisy. In
deed, this was to me one OF the re-
markabl features OF the evening. L
had had q long and hard day in my
library and had been compelled to do
another big newspaper interview when
received the information that Mr..
Bryan would see me. 1 was mentally
80 fatigued that I wanted to postpone
the appointment, but dared not risk
doing So Nevertheless, that tired feel
ing seemed to disappear almost as soon
as l shook hands with Mr.. Bryan, and
after two hours conversation / came
away a new man.
The interview was not one of cut and
dried questions and answers. 1t was not
an interview at all. but rather running
chat about this thing and that. drifting
from Dan to Beersheba as the stream or
talk flowed. / did not care to discuss
schemes Of the administration Tor banks
and what-nOt; for every one knows how
the Secretary OF State stands as to them
! preferred to talk Of things personal,
moral and ethical. rather than political.
And so brought up such matters as edu-
cation, oratory. character building and
getting on in the world. We chatted or
travel in many countries, and OF strange
religions. and of Christianity as the pest
Of the lot. ! wanted to know something
about the organs and about Mr.. Bryan
himself, and how he came to be what he
is. He was little chary in discussing
such matters. Nevertheless got him to
talking and he gave me much in the
present Of a little biography-or I might
say autobiography-for it was written by
Mrs Bryan, with whom Mr.. Bryan is
one / will let his words and her manu-
script unite in giving some bits OF the
story.
The Secretary told me he was the
fourth of nine children, that he was
born in Salem. Ill. where his father
came in a wagon from the foot of the
Culpeper. Va. The organs were COM
paratively poor. and his father work
ed on the farm and taught school while
he was getting his own education. He
graduated at McKendree College and
was a member of the legislature and a
Judge before he made an unsuccessful
campaign for Congress in 1872. The
elder Bryan was thrifty. and he owned
something like six hundred acres OF
Illinois land. He believed in educa-
ton and the boy had excellent school
ing. His mother taught him to read.
and his first speeches were made stand
ing on the kitchen table where he
spoke the lessons she made him COM
NIT to memory. She brought the boy
up In the way he should go. He was
only fourteen when he Joined the
church. and he has been q good Pres
byterian from that day to this. Some
Of his lectures are excellent sermons;
and had he been called he would
have been greater as preacher, I
venture. than he has been as q politi-
cal orator.
A part Of our conversation related to
education. Mr.. Bryan took an academic
course at college and studied the classics.
He thinks his study Of Latin and Greek