South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-10
Seeing America
First
BY Fred Kelly.

More snatches from diary:
A man got off the train at Lincoln,
Neb., began to stroll up and down the
platform, and presently inquired of a
bystander:
Where does Bryan live?"
which one?" promptly asked the
native.
You see there are two of the Bryan
/ boys, William and Charlie. One works
in the state department at Washing
ton; the other runs the COmmoner
and local politics at Lincoln. The
home folks think SO we'll of Charlie
that they are quite likely TO ask when
you speak OF Bryan: Which one?'
Still, l believe William Jennings
Bryan is still regarded by Lincoln
ties as about their greatest sight, else
why would the chauffeur who drove
me about have lied TO me so pleasant
ly about the secretary OF state being
in town.
when was Secy Bryan home last?"
1 inquired by way of making CONVEX
sation.
"Oh. he's here now - out at his
farm" replied the driver. Yes, 1 saw
him on the street yesterday. And l
never saw him look more natural. He
had big felt hat on and was riding
horseback"
Now, l had seen nothing in the
papers about the secretary Of state be-
ing away from Washington just then.
If he was spending "A few days on his
farm l intended TO stay over train
and go out to the farm for a look at
him in his native habitat. 1T is not
an everyday sight to see q secretary
of state following the plough or milk
ing a kind faced COW.
So after left the chauffeur I made
Z Hrn 1
nation that Sec'y Bryan was not in
Lincoln and had not been in many
DAYS. Neither was he expected. There
was nobody in Lincoln who even
looked like him.
AS nearly as l could figure the thing
out. the chauffeur had acted on the
ass1mption that without William Jen-
nings Bryan in the city. the place
would hold little if any charm for the
visitor. He thought l would by all
means carry away much gayer' a
much more exalted impression OF LIN
/ coin if / had the satisfaction OF know
ing that I shared il for an hour with
Mr.. Bryan.
Next to telling me lies about the
presence in Lincoln of Secy Bryan.
I nv guide seemed 10 take greatest
I pride in showing the site OF recent
automobile accident.
He had already pointed out Mr..
/ Bryan's square mile OF farm on IN the
Vow" I suggested. show me
/ something really worth while-the
most interesting thing you've got.
! As if suddenly struck with an IN
/ spiration. he speeded up his machine
/ and drove TO a place where fountain
! or monument. I forget now which,
| stands in the middle of one OF the
I main streets.
fright there" he said. speaking
with the quiet assurance of one who
I has a message lis where our auto
mobile accident took place. There
we're four people in the auto and they
hit that thing going 40 miles an
\ hour"
and we're they all killed."
NO" ne replied, apologetically'
only one"
MIR. Brvan's city gives the impress
/ sion of having been built TO about its
present size a great many years ago,
and let pretty much alone ever since
/ | did not notice a single home or
! office building that looked new.
I asked the chauffeur why they
I didn't clean up the streets.
They are talking about it. he re-
Piled
One traveller. after taking last
I look at Lincoln, declared he was go
I ing 20 send a souvenir post card 20
I Sec'y Bryan, saying: Il have just
visited your city You are welcome
7 10 your city"
In Nebraska any elevation OF more
I than four feet is called a hill. AS a
matter or fact. one could stand upon
chair and get good unobstructed
view Of nearly the entire state OF
: Nebraska