The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-03-13

THOMAS BRACKETT REED.
er strength as an orator than has here
tofora been conceded to be his. And Of
course the renewed interest displayed
over the country at large in this remark
able man has set his neighbors and
friends to telling stories Of his earlier
days.
Mr.. Reeds amusements are simple.
He is too busy a man to devote much
time to pleasure. Perhaps the recreation
that suits him most is driving about the
beautiful streets of the city seated in
comfortable phaeton. He rarely goes
a-hshing though on one occasion he
achieved a marvellous performance as an
angler He had been persuaded with
some difficulty to 60 out with a party Of
fishermen, each member Of which. save
the ex-speaker, believed himself to be a
sllllful manipulation Of lines and hooks
and Jointed rods and flies and all the
para paernalla Of modern fishing.
Mr.. Reed did not expect to be lucky
and said SO. But when luck came to no
one a gloom settled over the protested
experts of the party which even the
quaint humOr Of the one time ssezar"
could hardly dissipate just at the mo-
ment when the spirits of the entire par
was observed in the water. and Il was
noticed that Mr. Reeds line was drawn
taut. All eyes were fastened upon him
and has tackle. and advice Of excellent
quality was offered to him in super
abundant quantity rs to the best course
% pursue in landing his prize
ne lands Fine Fish.
Mr. Reed preferred, however, to man
age the matter ia his own way, and ia
due time he landed a large, handsome
fish He noticed, as did all the rest, as
soon as his captive was lifted from the
water. that there was something strange
about the fashion Of its hooking. When
Investigation was made, there was a gen
eraI chorus of groans, for the hook IN
stead Of being in the mouth of the fish.
was inserted in its belly. This method
of catching fish was unanimously de-
clared by all present to be unsportsman-
like It was agreed, however, that if
MIR. Reed would explain to his comrades
how he did it. SO that all could follow
his example. he would be freely and fully
forgiven. This he declined to do on the
ground that it was a secret method
which he proposed in due time to pro-
tect biz letters patent, when ALL his
friends and enemies alike, might make
free use Of # by paying q proper royalty
Mr.. Reed has gone a-hshing but few
times since this essay as an angler. He
says his father was q confirmed fisher
man, and so were his grandfather and
great-grandfather. and their ancestors
also. and So On indefinitely bat the fish
ing instinct has died cut ia the family.
Mr.. Reed Is quite in sympathy with
the movement for the so called enamel
patton Of women. Although he might
not approve of my making the fact pub
lie, he fully believes IN woman suffrage
but for quite different reasons from those
advanced 10y Miss Anthony. Mrs Liver
more, Mrs. Blake and their followers.
They hold that If women were to possess
the ballot she general grade of intelli-
gence would be materially raised among
the voters Mr.. Reed holds that the
possession of the ballot by women would
tend to raise their Intelligence and
broaden their mental scope.
views Ga Woman suHrags.
ssIt could not be otherwise y he said to
me one day in discussing the question.
Women have been broadened by there
eponsibi1ifies Of business How much
more would they be broadened by the re-
spunsibihties and discussions Of govern
mHntI"
Mr.. Reed IS very fond Of pointing out
to visiting friends the beauties of the sur
roundlngs Of Portland. He delights es-
pecially to speak Of the glorious grove
known as behring's Oaks, now a public
park. but Wildwood when he was boy
The poet Longfeuow. when q lad, used
to play under the shade of these noble
old trees and some now standing I'M
Coubtedlv cast grateful shade ia the
summer time then as they do now. Long