The Washington times., 1901-09-09
ANXIETY And SUSPENSE.
The Capital Awaits Developments
in Presidents Condition.
Gloom Pcrvades the City-Prayers
for the Recovery of Mckinley
Relief Afforded by Encouraging
BuIIctins-Ncyys Read With Avidity

There was a hush over the city and
over the entire land yesterday. 1t was
the quiet of suspense and expectancy
Within the last forty eight hours the ma
ton has been torn with thousand con-
fiicting emotions, caused by the dastardly
attempt upon the life of the President.
Incredulity was the sentiment with which
the entire American people received the
news, coming like a thunderbolt from
clear sky. that the Executive had been
shot and that his life hung in the balance.
When credence became imperative the
shock was paralyzing. The people finally
were aroused from this apathy to a full
realization of the terrible fact Terror.
sympathy. love. hope, were the emotions
that followed one the other through the
breasts of Americans. For the assassin,
hatred. which might have found vent in
summary justice; horror at the principles
he alleges in Justification of his deed of
infamy. which might have been the in
spiration for a war of determination di-
rected against the votaries of anarchy;
and finally q calmer view which denoted
the resumption by the people of their
wonted equipoise as sons of liberty and
republicans. willing for the law to take
its course in dealing with the malefactor-
these were the different stages of emo
tion of Americans. To all this has sue
ceeded calm, the calm that awaits devel-
opments. for which the American dispo-
sition is remarkable.
The tensencss of suspense and expec-
fancy has been more or less relieved by
the later bulletins from the bedside of the
President. announcing the encouraging as
pect of his condition and expressing be-
lief in his ultimate recovery. The salts
faction conveyed in this representation
is. however, tempered by the knowledge
that the President is still in great danger
and that every moment may witness the
development of alarming symptoms.
In the city of Washington, where the
President is familiar figure, the distress
of its citizens has been manifested in
many ways. settled gloom has per
vaded the streets. OF the thousands who
gathered about the newspaper offices to
secure the promptest news of the Presi-
dents condition, no face but what has
worn an expression of anxiety. Conver-
sation was subdued and no topic was
spoken of but the one in all mems minds.
In the churches yesterday but one theme
was discussed, the attack upon the Presi-
dent and fervent prayers for his recov-
cry were the burden of each supplication
to heaven. Not only in the buildings of
God have prayers been uttered for the
safety of the President, but in the closet
of every devotee who has bended the knee
and bowed the head in most earnest and
sincere pleading for the extension of
Gods mercy, to both the individual and
the nation in sparing the life of the Presi-
dent
Associations of men. whether political,
religious, commercial, social, or class,
have met together and given expression
to their grief and sympathy and sense
of personal sorrow. Never was a senti-
ment more universal
Recreation has been forgotten and peo-
pie have abandoned their pleasures En-
tertainments which had been planned and
announced to take place at this time have
been postponed OF abandoned entirely in
consideration of this national calamity.
| The usual Sunday holiday attendance to
the various recreation points about the
city dwindled down yesterday to compara-
lively nothing.
The people of the city have attended
their churches to register their prayers
for the recovery of the President. They
have returned home to absorb long and
detailed accounts Of the tragedy. Their
avidity for the news, for the latest re-
ports from the bedside OF the patient was
evinced by the progress of the newsboys
selling extra editions of the daily papers.
These they carried from door to door,
with barely a single house in which they
did not dispose of a paper.
The minds of men are at the bedside of
the President. His pulse beats are meas
ured by the fingers of the people. His
respiration is watched by them and an
sion of universal alarm. He is the pa
tient of the nation.