MR BRYAN'S ESCAPE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 28 April 1914, Page 2

MR BRYAN'S ESCAPE.

"American Premier saved," "Mr Bryan rescued by his wife" —these are types of the newspaper headlines reporting; the narrow escape of the Secretary of State from drinking a glass of- champagne at a dinner given in New York recently under the auspices of the Authors' League of America. Mr Bryan is a. lifelong teetotaller, and not long ago rather staggered the Diplomatic Corps by substituting grape-juice for wine at his diplomatic dinners. A quart jug; containing his favorite beverage was before him at the Authors' League dinner, but in the midst of an eloquent peroration he stretched forth his right hand, seized ■a glass of champagne, and was lifting it to his lips. The audience noticed the mistake, and held* its breath, horror-stricken. Mrs Bryan, however, was on guard. She seized her husband's arm in the nick of time, whispered to him. and forthwith Mr Bryan smilingly replaced the glass upon the table untasted. Nearly 500 banqueters were present, and everyone near noticed the incident.