Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-27
Mr. and Mrs. Bran and their Dau9h
tire on the Night Of 6ryan's Defeat.

A man who was In William Jen-
nIngs Bryan's house election night.
tells in the January American Maya
zine exactly how the famous Nebras-
kan took the news OF Taft's success.
]. is some thing OF a document on what
might he called the psychology OF de-
feat The writer says. in part:
AT half past eight Mr.. Bryan came
in. Instantly half dozen CorreSpon-
dents surrounded him. No one sal.
word not even Mr.. Bryan. He
held a bunch OF kilograms in one
hand. with the other he stroked his
chin. He was deeply thoughtful.
Presently he told the group that ne
had heard nothing from Chairman
Mack. nothing except the meager fig
ures from New York that told or los
SEES. losses. losses everywhere.
And hour after hour the me-
sages poured in with their burden or
d'sappnintment, A. eleven O'Clock.
when the returns showed that only
the most unprecedented results IN
many states coIld save his. ticket
Mr.. BRYAN came again 20 the sun par
Tor. For a moment ne stood alone
nv the door that led 10 the private
Tart OF the house. Every man faced
him. Il am going to bed. boys he
said. His voice was lOw-pitched. as
a man speoks when he has received
some crushing news. as he speaks OF
something that has gone out OF MS
life forever. some thing he has dream
ed about This was no more deieat:
it was the end of a great ambition
at a time In life when ambitions. I'M
realized. are locked away in the heart.
TO be looked at occasionally. per
haps. "a men look at some old Keep
sake. with keen regret
81 am going to bed he repeated.
His face was gray and drawn so that
men who had been with him long
and knew It we'll noticed it, have
nothing to say he continued. after
pause. Not a word tonight / am
verv tired and need rest.
william Jennings Bryan tlreo:
Not a man In the group ever had
heard him say that. He bowed ann
hacked away into the private hall
way Mrs. Bryan and Grace were
standing there to NEE, him. Some
one had turned the lights low with
little though OF how effectively It
would stage the drama. They stood
to-eether for . few moments. the
father. the mother and daughter. the
daughter with tears In her eyes ana
voice. Before them was the iargs
portrait OF Washington. in front OF
which Mr.. Bryan had stood. a rev
months before. and talked OF the VIC
torv he knew should BE- his in No
yember. Mrs. Bryan nut hand on
her husbands shoulder. looking up
AZ him and speaking words that no
one cared to hear.
The fill effect Of the defeat was
seen the morning sitter. II was large
" a matter Of saving good-hy to toe
men who had been with him through
st;rrtng times Os assuring Pon
friend that he had had fine night
rest Of telling the anxious ones ths'
his future was assured regardless ~
the presidency. But the old smile
vas no. there. the Cd cheerinsss and
the old hopcfulness that have charac-
teriz.d him AFTER other struggles
were lacking. Mr.. Bryan arose ear'v.
as ~ he really had slept undisturo
ed through the night.
Perhaps, Mr. Bryan one OF the
visitors said. forcing a smile. 'perhans
the next time I meet Won you will be
going 10 the United States Senate.
. "-OsRce-ho has been an Incl
don't in nv career tho defeated can
dida.e said rravely. Everyone muU
know tia. I did not Geek the nomina-
ton IN 1895, N leoo or In 1898. Each
csme 10 me- Ny plans for the future
are made. acn't talk OF them now