"ALL THE WINNERS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 10

"ALL THE WINNERS."

It was nearly midnight in the Strand. Rain had fallen for three days and night 6, almost without stopping. The street was deep in liquid slime, and, with upturned skirts and trousers, the crowds from theatres and music halls were wading home. They were wading home, but another crowd stood still. They stood from the gutter to the middle of the road, for a line of policemen in front of them kept the footpath clear. Tho rain fell upon them, the wind blow, the taxi and the motor 'bus bespattered them with mud, their clothes steamed, their boots squelched audibly, restaurants and publiehouses were beginning to shut, they were far from home, and still they stood. Their eyes were fixed upon three great windows, and, through the glass, they looked into ix large, well-lighted, wellwEivmed room, whero clerks and various boys were busy. But to the crowd there vas only one man who counted. Quite at ease in his shirt-sleeves, he sat upon a long table and devouied fragments of bread and cold bacon from a plate at his side, now and then taking p, draught froni a l?rge mug of tea. He neither smiled iior spoke, but every few minutes he seized a large square of paper handed him by a clerk, dabbed two corners with paste, and keeping it carefully folded together so that it might not be read too soon, scrutinised the windows for the moat convenient place, ran up a step-ladder, munching all tho time, and, rapidly opening the square of paper, stuck it on tho glass. Then, without a sign of emotion, he returned to his supper. He returned without a sign of emotion, but ho waa the messenger oi the country's fate, and the crowd hung on his movements in watchful expectation. As he mounted the steps there was a hush, and all at once drew in their breath. As the placard expanded, they gasped and murmured. If it announced '' no change," they were silent — rather strangely, for to one side or other "no change" always me-ant a victory. But if the word "gain" appeared, half the crowd shoulea together for joy, like thp angels at Creation. They shouted just as wildly when ihc "gnin"' was won by four or hvo votes, though the number* showed that close upon half of their hollow-countrymen entirely disagreed wi.h them. That made no difference. " Liberal Gain," " Unionist Gain " — up wens ihe placard. Tho messenger of fcite returned to his bacon, tho rain descended, the wind blew, mud was scattereo. in showers, and the political crowd sang together like the ' morning stars. — Ihe .Nation, London.