See also the Cylinders of the Month Archive.
This month: From 1908, hear the great William Jennings Bryan speak on Immortality.
| Company | Edison's National Phonograph Company |
| Cylinder # | 9923 |
| Category | Talking |
| Title | Immortality |
| Performed by | William Jennings Bryan |
| Circa | September 1908 |
| Announcement | "Immortality, by William Jennings Bryan, Edison record." |
Bryan vigorously fought against the theory of evolution being taught in schools. Appearing as a witness in the famous 1925 Scopes trial, his beliefs were in effect placed on trial and held up for high ridicule by counsel for the defense, Clarence Darrow. Bryan died in his sleep five days after the trial.
"Although the nation consistently rejected him for the presidency, it eventually adopted many of the reforms he urged – the income tax, popular election of Senators, woman suffrage, public knowledge of newspaper ownership, and prohibition." [The New Columbia Encyclopedia. Edited by William H. Harris and Judith S. Levey, New York: Columbia University Press, 1975.]
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