The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-03

State house carpenter encounters 2
feersome animal of unknown species
in the basement.
her instruction such declamatory
pieces as You Would Scarce Expect
One of My Age The Boy Stood on
the Burning Deck. and SO on"
He Planted Ten Acres OF Corn.
The mother of Mr.. Bryan died June
27,1896. He was nominated for presa-
dent on July 10 following. Il have al
ways been glad" he told me. that
Mr.. McKinley's mother was living At
saw him inaugurated."
WAS the hay-making Of $780,"
asked. "your first serious attempt at
agriculture7'
''It was my second responsible at
tempt" Mr.. Bryan answered. "AN
my fathers election to the circuit
bench he bought a farm located a mile
from the town of Salem. We moved
into the country when / was years
old and my hoe was there until I
reached the age of %. The land was
let out to tenants. We reserved Few
acres, however. for our own use.
II spent my vacations on the farm
while a student at an academy and at
college, but did very little work for
my father. remember once that
plowed a ten acre field, planted 1t in
corn, and cultivated 1t during the sum-
mer. Though have forgotten what
disposition was made Of the proceeds.
1 have no doubt they found their way
into my own pocket. That corn crop
il what might call my other respon-
sib!e undertaking in agriculture.
My first money was earned a. .
water boy in the wheat field Of a neigh
Dor. AZ did not receive. then or later.
what was coming to me, the incident
atoms. The first real money put into
my hand from sources outside the
Bryan family was paid me by another
neighbor. who gave me 50 cents q day
for helping him with his hay crop.
After I became a student ut Whip
pie academy, In Jacksonville. which
place is about 100 miles from Salem IN
an air line. I received 10 cents an hour
for working in the garden Of the man
with whom I boarded. While at Ilh-
nois college. wtiLh Is also In Jackson
Vile, I earned 81 each Saturday by
clerking in q hat store. In Chicago,
where I took a course at the Unio3
College Of Law, I had q students
place in the ONCE Of ex-senator Lyman
Trumbull and got 81 q week for at
tending to his office"
He Also Mopped the Floor.
"Attending?'' interrupted.
Yes, sweeping the rooms every
morning and hopping the floors 0cca-
sionally. Salem. my birthplace. was q
small town. and decided to begin
room In the Office Of an important law
firm. The total Of my fees the first
six months amounted to $67. Ny first
fee was S and was paid to me for
service as a guardian ad Item"
You were married to Miss Mary
Baird q year after you came to the
bar" said. The venture seems to
indicate that you had accumulated
, some property"
II had become self supporting" Mr..
Bryan replied with a smile. THE 81
of the first six months was multiplied
more than 10 times during the year
that followed. The second year Of my
practice brought me & 900 ana the third
year 81 500. / had arranged for an Of
flee OF my own when I was sent into
the west on business for the law nrm
with which I had been associated.
stopped at Lincoln, Neb., to visit over
been my friend at college. Lincoln Il
beautiful city and the capital Of the
state. Mr.. Talbot suggested q partner
| ship between US. and was impressed
| with the idea. So I moved to Nebras-
ka. Political considerations had moth.
| ing whatever to do with my change o.
! residence. Nebraska was . Republican
state and Lincoln a Republican city. ]
| was Democrat, AZ had been my faith
er before me. The United States sen.
ate. however had been In my MIND
since boyhood. would practice law
1 had long before resolved, gain . com.
petence, and then enter politics. Blu
the time had not come YETI
| Gave Hay to Salem Ministers.
| Tell me about your father" asked
He was devout Christian man, ant
I have tried to be az near like him q
possible. Our best bedroom at hom
was reserved for politicians aud di
| vines to use his own language. Borl
IN virginia, he went to Illinois when
years old and there worked his w,
through McKendrie college. He waA
member of the constitutional conven
ton OF 1870. and wrote and spoke for
resolution that an offices be fllled b,
direct election OF the people. Any man
he often said to me. and 1 have beei
guided by his philosophy all through
IRE: can well AFFORD to be in the mi
nortty Il he is right was beaten II
Neoraska In 1893. I remembered ant
repeated the familiar saying Of m.
father. A year later the views 70
which I stood were accepted. Nebras
IA has been q leader In reforms eve
since"
rs it true that while a young mai
you thought Of becoming q Baptia
Minister" inquired.
That thought came into my heal
when I was q small boy" Mr.. Bryal
answered. LAT least there IL q tradition
In the family that often spoke OF be
ing a Baptist clergyman. A the stor
} told, the matter was never again re
lerred to after had some with M
father to baptism At the church.