San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-04

until he was able to enter Montgom
cry College at Lebanon, Ill. He con
tinued to teach part of the time ant
attend college part of the time earn
ing what be could while at college, IN
til he graduated in the classical course
in 1S49 at the age of 81.
/ have met several people who knew
nv father as a student. They unit
in commencing his scholarship, hi'
department and his amiability, AM
they all agree in reporting one Incl
dent of his college course.
MARRIES PUPIL
A new teacher took occasion to ex
press himself very pointedly against
the use of tobacco. Ny father at that
time used tobacco IN three ways. Hf
smoked, chewed and took snuff. Faith
er construed the teachers remarks a;
applying to him personally, and asking
permission to reply, made a defense OF
the use of tobacco.
/ do not know what his arguments
were, but he continued the use of to.
bacco until a few months before my
birth, when he quit it entirely, being
convinced that tobacco was responsible
for an attack of dyspepsia which he
suffered just before my birth, ano
from which he was never entirely free
during the remainder OF his life.
While he studied law father be.
came superintendent of schools Of La
mon County, ILL.,, in 1852 at the age
of 30. About the same time he mar
ried Elizabeth Jennings, who had been
one of his pupils when he taught
school at Walnut Hill.
FATHER IN POLITICS.
Ny father was elected to the state
Senate and served eight years. In
1850 he was elected circuit Judge, his
Circuit including half a dozen counties
in that section Of the state. While
judge he was in 1873 chosen a member
Of the constitutional convention of
Illinois, and helped write the organic
law of the state. In 1872 he was a
candidate for Congress, but went down
in defeat by a majority of 240.
was born on the 10Th Of March,
1850, at Salem, III. The house in
which was born, standing about half
way between the public square and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad station,
had been built in 1852, my father,
then a law student, helping to hew
the timbers.
BUYS BIRTH PLACE.
Being doubly attached 10 the place
because my father had helped build it,
and because / was born there, / pur-
chased the place in later years and
gave it TO the city Of Salem, moving
the house a few feet to the west in
order to make room for the erection
Of the Bryan-Bennett Library, which
now stands on the lot.
do not know the hour OF my birth,
because that information never became
material until after the death Of my
parents.
When was first nominated for
the presidency, astrologers made their
appearance and offered TO consult my
horoscope with a view to ascertaining
whether / would be elected. ] never
had any faith in their calculations, but
gave them such information as / could
furnish.
OMISSION FATAL.
One cast my horoscope and declared
that it indicated my election. He
was very much mortified at my defes.
more than / was myself
and fastened 10 explain TO Mrs.
Bryan that his failure was due wholly
10 the fact that he did not have the
exact hour of nv birth. He said he
had cast my wife's horoscope and felt
sure that ! would yet be elected to the
Ny wife enjoyed the humor Of it,
and informed me that If would stick
10 her she would land me IN the
White House yet.
i expressed appreciation but ad-
mitted il was a little notifying Tor
a presidential candidate 10 have 10
keep his horoscope in his wife's name.
CHILDHOOD HAPPY.
did not until after the Chicago
Of 1896, hear much about
the incidents of my childhood. i
know only that l was blessed with
as happy an environment as a child
could hope for or ask. The two
older children. John and Virginia. had
died before the third child was bern.
As she was a daughter / became the
Oldest son, and had all the care that
a mother could bestow upon a child.
and all the interest that o father could
feel.
After my first nomination ] met
Salem friend who told me he had
visited our home when l was just be
ginning 10 walk. 1t was evening and
they were just getting me ready for
bed. According 10 this friend, my
father stood me up before the visitor
and boastingly remarked: He will
be President some day."
As my father never divulged 20 me
any such executions, will be par.
doned for having considered the re-
mar; apocryphal.
NAMED FOR MOTHER.
About 1921 ] met at Springfield.
No, a man little over 100 years
old who said he had visited my home
on a day when my parents were
selecting n name for me Whpther