Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-05-04
A PATHETIC INCIDENT.
A Dying Woman's Invocation for the Demo.
cratic Leader.

~ DyhS utOldtiOu iOT tNE DSIuO'
cratic Leader.
A Phoenix, Arizona, dispatch to the
New York World: "May the Lord be
gracious to you; may your estate on
earth be the highest the people can
give; may God preserve you to be of
the greatest ser7ice to your country"
This was the invocation under which
William Jennings Bryan bowed his
head while in Phoenix and under the
stimulus OF which he made one of the
strongest speeches ever heard from
him.
The blessings came from woman
who knew she was near the grave.
She is Catholic of exceptional de-
voutness.
cit was as though word has come
from on high to one whom God had
destined for the highest service, and
think it was so acceptable by Colonel
Bryan" said one who witnessed the
| scene.
Mrs. Thomas f. Dalton, wife of a
leading Democrat, is of middle age
and was once prominent in society,
a woman of remarkably attractive
presence and OF strong mind and influ.
ence.
A year ago she was told that she
was incurably affected by an internal
cancer. During the past few weeks she
has failed rapidly till she is now little
more than shadow.
She has taken the keeuest interest
in the campaigns and travels of the
Democratic leader, and to him, when
he came to Phoenix, she sent word, re-
questing visit. The request came
while Mr.. Bryan's apartments were
thronged, but he promptly responded.
When he entered the room where
the sufferer lay she met him with a
long and puzzled look, and with the
exclamation, why, Mr.. Bryan, you
look very much like Mckinley"
The answer was quick. Madame,
/ assure you the resemblance is en-
tirely external"
Mrs. Dalton described her pleasure
in meeting one she deemed so noble
i'll purpose and so high in character
and whom she had admired for the
steadfastness of his aim. The visitor
responded briefly and with tenderest
feeling and then came the blessing
while every head was bowed.
Il will never see you again." said
she, "and | wish you to know you
have given me one of the last pleas
nres shall know. God bless you and
your work."
Bryan accepted from his stricken
hostess bouquet, from which he Sc
lected a single flower to hand back to
the donor. Then, with tear-filled eyes
he bade her adieu.
How different is this from the treat
ment accorded to the old lady in one
OF the smaller cities in California
Santa Barbara, we believe-by Presi-
dent Harrison, during his visit to this
coast few years ago. AS the process
sion passed her residence, she toddled
down the pathway to her gate, with a
bouquet of flowers poised in her hand
to throw into the carriage of the Pres
dent. Soon us his eye caught the
figure of the old lady and her pose in.
dicated her intent, Mr.. Harrison
shouted in a gruff voice Woman,
don't throw those fowersw Instantly
her look of JOY and elation changed to
the deepest expression OF dismay and
chagrin, and with face ahame and
tears flowing from her aged eyes, she
turned to re-enter her dwelling. There
were no cheers by the pogulace, and
doubtless this episode indellibly i'm
pressed upon the brain OF all specta-
tors that power and position have very
little to do with moulding the nature
of man, and that brute may fill the
highest Office in the land and wait
only some such opportunity for ex-
pOsure of his true nature.