The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-01-05
OUR TOPEKA LET TER.
TOPEKA, January /, 1882.

1
New Years day opens at the State capital
with gray sky overhead, and happy throng
in the streets; Topeka is determined to cele.
brate in q variety of ways. The sanctifed
dispensers of spiritual food wend their ways
to the sanctuaries with, possibly, deeper
shade of thought than usually sits upon the
countenance for this is the day when good
resolutions for the coming year are wont to
be made; alas, only to be broken on the NOR.
row-ride old topers, smokers, and tobacco
| chewers, not to name the ten thousand other
faults to which we are all heirs, and which
We have sworn to quit every New Year.
day for a score of years back The churches
are likely to be well filed to-day, for there is
a goodly throng vending their way thither
and you would think, from the glittering
show, that every woman wears to-day all the
silks and jewels in her possession.
| l heard ga sound of revelry by night" as
passed up Topeka Avenue last evening, and
upon entering the place from whence the
sounds proceeded, l was confronted by about
two hundred Of the capitolians who were
having regular old-fashioned time. such as
was common in the palmy days previous to
prohibition. Beer and whisky flowed IN tor
rents, and each drink went by its proper
name. This was the largest and most gen.
teel billiard hall in the city, and every one
apparently patronized the bar, behind which
three aristocrats were setting 'em up with
| the greatest enthusiasm. l learn without
making the rounds--as that might be consid-
| cred injudcious, when man IL thirsty and
beer is plenty-that If you go into any place
| here that looks like saloon, and ask for any
thing but beer or whisky, they think you are
"wrong in your head
Visiting the State House His Excelency,
Gov. St. John, was discovered in the midst
of his duties, cheerful in mood and affable in
| manner. The Governor is looking well. He
10 soon to speak in Howard City and brace
up the temperance people of that place by
| infusing into them some Of his energy in his
favOrite branch of reform. He took q copy
of the ''Songs of the Southwest" remark
ing that he had heard much of the book and
was glad to see all worthy literature prosper
in this State.
Dennis, the genial and immensely popular
guardian of the literary archives OF the State,
had his shapely head bowed with care, and
his countepance was "sicklied DER with the
pale cast Of thought He had just received
an invoice Of miscellaneous books and no
the succedaneums were pulled out, and lay
pile of useless blocks but the ponderous
tones on the grooming shelves frowned in
compact array and offered no way out Of the
dilemma. There is move OH foot to con.
solidate the library Of the Historical Society
with the State library which will be = great
relief to the State Librarian, who already
erly belonging to his department. The mis-
ceIlaneous books are 4 part of the historical
library and both are owned by the State.
Here 1 met Major Inman, author Of the
"Santa Fee Trail" He informed me that his
book has met with big sale, and that he is
now engaged on new work of different
character, the title of which will be IN due
time made known. The Major was half-leg
deep in his books of reference, the we'll
stocked shelves of the State library offering
fine facilities for his work. We concluded
historical poetry for his history
In prose.
State Superintendent Spear was just begin
ming to see out from the accumulated mass OF
educational business incident to the meeting
of the State Teachers Association, which
closed its session here on Thursday last |
There was a large attendance and the in
etructors of Kansas had glorious time. All
the first-class hotels and boarding hou ses
were full, and several travelling men found |
difficulty in getting sleeping accommoda- |
tons. Topeka is noted for being one vast |
caravansary--hardly house but what takes
1t appears she can scarcely |
End room to accommodate her guests attend i
ing at the various State conventions.
Crawford's Opera House is having light
doubtless owing to the numer-
ous balls and parties, and home attractions
Incident to the holidays. Grace Garland
md John Murray have been playing here for
,hree or four days; the company is credita-
bly, strong Friday night was played the
of the beautiful Greek legend
II Galatea, the animated statue. The play
s entitled "The Worthy World" Grace
Garland is really fine emotional actress of
he Clara Morris type. The two leading gen.
lemen of the company are John Murray and
". Ii. Mitchell, both having starred 1t in the
eading cities. Mary Anderson has been
urning the heads of her admirers through
ut the cities of the East, in the impersona-
ion of the pleasing character OF Galatea, in
which there is great scope for fine, sympa-
hetic acting, and Grace Garland cannot be
ar beainA. her. Should this company visit
vichll - say depend upon seeing some.
hing; ~ a1g1. should opine the people
{ Sd I'm Kansas were about ready to i
nv lo the vast avalanche of scrub !
omr have swept down upon them !
Ike Of locusts, running, by worse
h. ny, any true dramatic stand :
I'd. 5ple Of Wichita number among .
aeu eople OF cultured taste quite =
not III e good patronage to any first