Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-23
FoNDNEss ron ONIONS
NEARLY 0ET9 BRYAN IN
BAD WITH TRAVELLER

Villisca, Aug. 23.-Thursday Will
tam Jennings Bryan gave his address
at tho Clarinda chautauqua on 1.-The
Causeless War;" He reached villisca
at 8 o'clock in the evening on his way
to his next appointment, which hap
pened to be Bloomington, Ill. There
was no reception committee in evil
dence and Mr.. Bryan. accompanied by
his wife, hustled along to the hotel
near the Burlington station, and very
shortly after arriving both repaired
to the dining room where Mr.. Bryan
was seated at the head Of one of sew
eral tables with Mrs. Bryan around
the corner to the right. A travelling
man Of the typical sort occupied the
place around the corner Immediately
to Mr.. Bryans left. During the meal
something happened which impelled
every traveller who occupied place
at the table-and there were several
to hurry. out and find some friend who
would listen to new Bryan story
There was one exception and this was
the fellow who sat next to Bryan.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan were the first to
be seated. The travelling man who
got next" to the Commoner was
next. He failed to note that the Bry-
ans brought with them quart Mason
Jar filled with little white onions. This
jar was located conveniently between
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan and after the
waiter had served them Mrs. Bryan
selected few OF the onions and passed
the jar to her husband. With a long
handled spoon the great Commoner,
with considerable elaboration, doled
out a generous portion for himself.
During this process the travelling
mans face wore a hungry and wistful
look which every man around the
table covertly noted and interpreted.
It was perfectly clear that the fellow
was saying to himself:
II wonder If the damn cuss is going
to take them all"
After Mr.. Bryan had apparently sat-
isfied himself that he had properly
gagged his capacity and showed the jar
out Of his way the traveller still eyed
the jar with covetous eyes. Finally
the temptation could be resisted no
longer and with as much courtesy as
he could muster-and this was only a
veneered variety, for the follow was
hungry for onions and Bryan had sad
ly depleted the stock-he exclaimed:
"Neighbor. will you please pass the
onionsT
At this point Bryan's training as a
diplomat was brought into play. He
grasped the situation Immediately.
With one of his most amiable smiles
he explained to his friend that he and
Mrs. Bryan were greet lovers Of white
onions and that this particular brand
was just to their liking. But it was
only occasionally that they could pro-
cure supplies Of this variety and they
had therefore, adopted the plan OF
carrying a supply with them to tide
over periods between supply depots
where this particular brand was pur-
chasable.
OF course Mr.. Bryan was equal to
the occasion A man who has spent
twenty years Of his Ifs dealing with
politicians and then finished OFF with a
post graduate course in dealing with
Mextcans and warning Europeans, to
say nothing Of San Domingans. Halt
lens and Colombians, has no difficulty
in explaining to an intelligent travel
ing man that he had. no proprietary
interest in a jar Of little white onions