davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

ted by persons who whirl about and
twinkle their feet to the sound of the
unholy fiddle. But humanity, especially
young humanity, is very human, no
matter what its ancestry, and there
were those among the young folks
of The Hook who used to go, al
most surreptitiously, in couples and
big box sleigh loads, several times each
winter to the balls and dances given
at the county seat, some 5 miles away,
a town which the orthodox among The
Hookers held to be almost as bad as a
city and peopled mainly by persons of
most irreligious sort, persons with whom
it was we'll to avoid contact.
OF the daring festivities held at the
county seat I shall not speak in detail
here. for, though occasionally participant
ed in by young Rockers, as I have
stated, these festivities were not in any
sense a part of that villages social life.
To those who did not attend them there
remained in the place Of the DANCES
rhythmic joys the delights of the So
ciable, the applecut, the spelling school
and the donation. The singing school
had been in sense social factor, but
owing to a difference between young
William Thompson, the villages most
enterprising merchant, and two or three
of the deacons, over who should be the
singing teacher one winter, the cultiva-
ton of The Hooks vocal abilities had
been abandoned some years before the
time of which am now writing.
Notwithstanding the absence of dane
ing and the viol's music, it was gener-
ally conceded that The Hook social fes-
tivities were quite as enjoyable as those
of the county seat by such of the young
folks as attended both. Certainly the
young men could meet as many pretty
girls at The Hook gathering as anywhere
else in the world, and while the young
men themselves were not perhaps so
stylishly clad as those Of the larger
town, and were somewhat unpublished,
they were fine, stalwart fellows and
far manlier in the judgment of most
Hook girls than the slighter, more ele-
CANT youth of the county seat. And be-
sides there was much less formality at
the more rural entertainments. Hook
ers could not think of allowing dancing,
but they realized that girls were made to
kiss and be kissed, and every Hook
young woman knew full we'll that she
would fulfill her double destiny, oscula-
torily speaking, not once, twice or
thrice, but many times, whenever she
attended any festivity there.
Il was customary in those days foE
each ''church and society,"" Of which
there were three-Methodist Baptist
and Presbyterian-at The Hook, to hold
a sociable once a week all winter, and
to avoid conf1iction of dates it was tacit-
ly agreed that the Methodists should
hold theirs on Tuesday evenings, the
Baptists theirs on Wednesdays and the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
KANSAS PARAGRAPHS.

The printers of Ell Dorado have chal-
lenged all corners to spelling match.
Mr. Ketcherside of Pleasanton would
probably sketch 'em going, and coming"
too.
Mankato will assure the man who
starts a creamery there the product of
1000 cows
An order has been issued making nine
hours days work on the Leavenworth
street railway.
The closing of the saloons at Fit Scott
is likely to give the Line house new
lease of life.
Commodities are all already SO low at
PIeasanton that the doctors can hardly
reduce fracture.
The Atchison Globe thinks the women
are wearing their old clothes as they get
to church on time.
Hattie Homer Southan has written a
story called the "Painter's Model for
the Ell Dorado Republican.
Chicken pox is epidemic in Atchison
county, and Atchison is afraid some one
will start smallpox scare.
Parsons is exulting over the fact that
there is no one there to be sent to the
penitentiary this term of court.
1t is denied by Wichita county people
that those distributing provisions to
needy settlers are getting divvy.
The Pittsburg Messenger has been
sold to W. l. Yancy, a colored man, and
will be run in the interests of his race.
A Leavenworth woman claims to have
had her pocket picked. The man who
did it deserves a medal as a discoverer.
A baptestery has been placed in the
Campbellite church at Leoti so that no
amount of drouth can interfere with the
work of salvation.
An Atchison man while drawing water
out of cistern fell in. A man who has
water in his cistern this time of year
shouldn't mind that.
Prof. Blackman will lecture at Leav-
enworth on the laissez faire doctrine.
This doctrine is what Leavenworth likes
if applied to the saloon question
The proposed law preventing the
burial of bodies until seventy-two hours
after death will be made non applicable
to Atchison by general consent There's
no danger of burying alive there.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
THE SOCIAL SEASON.
HOW JEWELLERS AT THE HOOK MADE
MERRY TWENTY YEARS AGO.

Sociab1es, App1ecuts, Spelling Matches and
Donations Were All Popular. With So
ciab1es In the Lead-Those Who Wished
to Dance Had to Go Away From Home.
Twenty years ago or Whereabouts the
social season was at its height in Feb
ruary in the village called 1.-THE Hook, +"
that nestles at the foot of green hills in
the valley of pleasant memory.
The festivities INDUCED in by those
who dwelt there when 1 was boy were
not at all similar to the social functions
popular in the towns today. Of dancing
there was little or none, for, though The
Hook was not New England village,
its inhabitants were of Puritan stock
and had been taught to believe few
deadlier sins existed than that commit
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

John Q. A. Norton of Lawrence, who
was probate judge of Douglas county in
1873. He issued the marriage license to
Hillmon and his age was given as 80
years and Mrs. HiIlmon's at 26.
Mrs. NJ. c. Gilmore of North Topeka,
who lived at Lawrence in 1878, described
Walters who had stopped at their piece
nd identified the photograph of the
body.
Mr. Adam Tuttle was the next witness.
He testified that in the year 1878 he,
and F. A. Walters, were working on the
farm of Martin Metzke. Witness claim
ed that the photo of the dead body
brought to Lawrence was that of F. A.
Walters.
Martin Metzke was the next witness.
He testified that he was a cattle man and
farmer of Douglas county; that he knew
F. A. Walters from July until October in
the year 1878; that Walters worked on
his farm for some time, and slept and
boarded at his house; that he was taken
sick when staying there. He also iden-
titled the photograph.
Mr. Frank A. Bailey was the next wit
ness, who testified that in 1873 he was
partner of the firm of Bailey & Smith,
undertakers; that he remembered body
being brought to Lawrence, claimed to
be that of John W. Hillmon; that he saw
1t; that 1t was on the premises daily, and
that the public had free access to it, and
great numbers came and saw it.
Phillip Kyle stated that he was a
farmer living in Douglas county; that in
1878 he remembered F. A. Walters when
he worked on NJ. Metzke's farm. He
identified the photograph
Henry Weber knew Walters when he
worked at Metzke's. He was postmaster
and Walters had mailed letters. He was
positive Walters had perfect teeth. He
was quite sure that the photo of the body
was that of Walters
Mrs. Martin Metzke testified that Wal
ters was about five feet eleven inches IN
height and had roman nose.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

IT appears now that the bond syndicate
could easily have disposed of five times
as many bonds as they had and at fig
ure much in advance of what they con-
tracted to pay the government They
will make millions on the transaction
without investing anything. The final
purchasers, those who are buying them
as an investment at per cent advance
on the original price, will furnish the
gold The $I6,OOO.OOO in extra interest
which Mr.. Cleveland walls about, could
have been saved and other millions be-
sides, if some business sense had been
exercised. The bond issue could readily
have been f1oated at "a per cent
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
ASK FOR
THE WALTERS LETTERS.

The Defense in the HiIlmon Trial Intro
duces Printed Letter.
Seven more witnesses testified yester
day that the man killed at Lawrence was
F. a. Walters of Fort Madison, Iowa.
The "Kasten" letter, about which SO
much has been said, was introduced. 1t
was written by young Walters to his
sweetheart in March, 1879, from Wichita.
The letter was as follows:
WICHITA, March 1, 1879.
dearest ALvINA - Y our kind and
ever welcome letter was received yester-
day afternoon, about an hour before
left Emporia. / will stay here until
the fore part of next week, and then
will leave here to see part of the coun-
try that l never expected to see when l
left home, as | am going back with a
man by the name of Hillmon, who in
tends to start sheep ranch, and as he
promised me more wages than l could
make at anything else, I concluded to
take it, for a while at least, until
l strike something better. There is
80 many folks in this country that have
got the Leadville fever, and if could
not of got the situation that 1 have now,
l would have went there myself; but as
it is at present get to see the best por-
ton of Kansas, Indian Territory, Colo
RADIO and Mexico The route that we in
tend to take would cost a man to travel
from $3.50 to 5000, but it would not cost
me a cent; besides l get good wages.
will drop you letter occasionally until
get settled down; then l want you to an
swer it (you bet, honey)-don't it? So
you can see that will not get home for
a few months yet but cannot tell how
soon l will get back. I am about as
anxious to see you as you are to see me,
but do not want to get back there with
out cent of money, for that is what
left for you know.N
When l get back you will get to see
me in about the way we parted (you bet(
Ii any one asks you what / am doing,
tell them that you were not informed, for
it is none of their business; and, another
thing, don't ask me to write long letters
for l would without being told, if could
find the words when / write as l general
ly when l receive a letter from my Told
woman) sweet little girl. But you know
that without being told, so l will not waste
any more paper on the subject (at
presently. ] will have to come to close
before long or l will have to do as thai
other fellow-write two sheets and swim
die the postmaster out of three cents, land
you know that don't like to do that
| (pet). Please give compliments to in.
curing friends, and all the love that you
can embrace for yourself and nobody
else. l will close for this time, love, tc
| let you hear from me soon again.
Yours as ever, +. A WALTERS
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

ALL hope, if any has existed, of any
remedial legislation by this congress
must now be abandoned. The silver
men have given up the fight. The solu-
ton of the currency problem will now
rest with the next congress-. and inciden-
tally with the Republican party. There
will be ample time for the party to make
itself solid with the people for 1895. Let
not the party leaders be deceived by the
results of the elections which are occur
ring from time to time The voters are
showing their displeasure with the
Democratic party, and are just now in
frame of mind to vote for anybody rather
than Democrat. If the Re-
publican congress, which meets next
winter, shall SO conduct itself as to merit
the confidence and good will of the peo-
pie all will be well, but the masses are
in no humor to be trifed with.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

SENATOR TAYLoR's bill which provides
that the possession of a revenue license
shall be conclusive evidence that liquor
is sold, should pass't house. 1t would
save much time, expense and legal quib-
bling. A man who doesn't sell liquor
has no business with a revenue license
and the state shouldn't be compelled to
prove that he has it for other purposes
than ornamentation. The records of the
probate court would show whether he
had permit or not, so there would be no
necessity for a trial in many instances.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

Presbyterians theirs on Thursday.
'Snap and catch 'em" was the favorite
amusement at all sociables and most
other festive gatherings at The Hook and
Whereabouts, though 1.-THE needles eye,
Copenhagen. spot 'em out" and
''the cushion - inasmuch as there was
kissing in each, were not debarred.
OF all these games cushion" was
the simplest It was usually begun by
a young man, who would ask some one
sitting in cushioned chair to rise for a
moment. When the request was com.
piled with, the youngster would take
the cushion and kneel upon it in front
of merrymaker of the opposite sex. It
was then her duty to kneel also upon
the cushion, and then the two kissed.
The young man then retired from the
game for the time being, while the 9TH
er sought man before whom to kneel.
The kissing was repeated, and so on in
definitely. It was not the young only
who played cushion" at Hook festivi-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

GEO. ID. HALE says the STATE JOURNAL.
took Senator Sterne to task because he
introduced the poll-tax bill. This shows
how carelessly some people read The
JOURNAL did not take Mr. Sterne to task,
and has no criticism to make of him for
his action. He introduced the bill by
request as every representative of the
people in the legislature is bound to do
The JOURNAL finds fault with the bill not
with the gentlemen who are pushing it.
If Mr. Hale would be more careful in
the truth Of his own statements he might
with better grace criticise what the
newspapers say.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

NEW ORLEANS is setting an example
to the rest Of the world which is worthy
of emulation. She is moving slowly but
surely, and every little while the news Is
waited abroad that another one of her
boodling aldermen has been sent to the
penitentiary. It is now about year since
it was discovered that almost the entire
city council had been guilty of bribery
and corruption and all sorts of crimes,
and the proper authorities set about
proving it. They have been meeting
with success. A little of New Orleans
spirit would doubtless be an excellent
thing in some cities near our own homes
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

''snap and catch 'em'' rings could be
established simultaneously in all three
rooms.
Applecuts were still held in and
about The Hook in the seventies, but they
were decidedly on the Wane, for the ad-
vent of the pairing machine had made
it cheaper to hire the apples denuded of
their skins and cored for drying than
to entertain the number of people who
would be hidden to the gathering, es-
pecially as they were not likely to work
more than half the evening. Later a
chap from one of the big cities built an
"evaporator' near the village, and its
establishment ended the days of the ap-
pie cut for ever. The refreshments at
the sociables were generally of the SIM
plest possible sort, being sandwiches or
cake and coffee at the most hospitabIe
houses.
At Deacon Aliens the edibles served
were always second best apples, or
''cul1s,'' and popcorn, and there was
always plenty of water to drink, for the
deacon himself used to go about the
rooms with tin pail and a dipper,
quenching the thirst of the guests. CT
der, did you say? Never. The Hook was
"prohi bition, and its inhabitants were
all Good Templars just before 10
usually, after everybody had arrived
and before any had gone away, the hat
was passed. Every one was expected to
contribute something, 10 cents being
considered about the right thing, though
there were usually few quarters and
an occasional dollar. Whose gave more
than dollar was likely to be thought
anxious to ''put on airs" and per con-
ira any who gave less than a nickel
was set down as very 'close" or much
poverty stricken. The money collected
was generally expended upon new car
pet for the church, Bible for the pull
pit or some such thing.
If there is place on this green earth
where the social pleasures of the people
cost less than those of The Rockers, I
should like to hear about it.
L D. MARSHALL
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

E1SS. 4H1oAAG4 yOUAeS lAOA uS0Q W nA0
refuge in kneeling before white haired
deacons' wives, and mischievous girls
were won't to tempt staid pillars of the
church with cherry ripe lips. It was
most serious breach Of courtesy for any
one to refuse to join in this diversion,
and it usually fell out that every one
present, old and young, comedy and
ugly, was kissed before the evenings
close. Sometimes in the absence of a
cushion not fastened to its chair, a pill
low took its place, and then the game
was "pillow' and not Cushion
This game was as quiet as it was sim
pie, but the other of the two most popu-
lar advertisements, ''snap and catch
'em," was all activity, which some.
times became almost boisterous. It was
the liveliest young woman of the neigh
borhood usually that started ''snap and
catch EN-" She would get some young
man to ''stand up'' in the center of the
floor, and then she would go to another
youngster and challenge him by snap
ping her pretty fingers in his face to
pursue and overtake her and kiss her
pouting mouth. Of course he would ac-
cept the challenge, and of course he
times, if the girl were nimble footed, the
capture would be matter of some diff
Guilty, and after it's accomplishment both
pursuer and pursued would be tired and
breathless. After the kissing it was the
young mans turn to snap the fingers,
while the young woman took her place
in the center of the floor with the chap
about whom the wild and oircling chase
for a kiss had just been concluded.
''Snap and catch 'em, - it will be per-
ceived, is game that need have no end
so long as those who play it are not
physically exhausted, and, in fact, it's
gyrations always continued till the
breaking up of the gathering at mid
night Or Whereabouts.
'Snap and catch 'em," too. as may
readily be believed, is game best play
ed on the bare floor and IN a room with
out much movable furniture. The foot
wear of the young men of The Hook
along in the seventies, even when they
wore fine boots and not stogas, was gen.
orally heavy enough to sadly cut carpets,
and the mad circlings of the performers
could not be comfortably INDUCED in
in a small apartment. 1t was because
of these requirements that the sociables
held at the residence of Deacon Allen,
the same whose grove a little way out
of the village was often used summers
for the Sunday school picnics, were
more popular than those held elsewhere.
The deacon had devoted his whole life
to the process of 'laying up'' few
dollars and had never felt himself justi-
fed in furnishing the entire house. Con-
sequently the big ''other room" in his
residence was uncarpeted and devoid of
furniture, and there were two rooms on
the second floor in like condition, and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

COSTA RIGA has found new way to
pay old debts; it is to not pay them at all
She has been paying more than a half
million dollars yearly to her European
creditors, and become tired of it and quit
1t remains to be seen what the European
creditors will do about it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
To Avoid Seeing Stars.

Bend over rather pronouncedly in
walking down slippery hill This is
not particularly graceful, but If you are
unfortunate enough to miss your foot
ing the chances are lessened that you
will strike on that most dangerous spot,
the back of the head.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

The result of the municipal elections
throughout Pennsylvania shows that the
people ara making the most of every
opportunity, to show their thorough dig
gust with the Democratic party. He
will be a brave Democrat indeed who
will accept nomination at the hands of
his party next year. Fortunately they
will have ample time to get out of the
party before that time.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

From letter written by Rev. ]. Gun
derman, of Dimondale, Mich, we are
permitted to make this extract: 81 have
no hesitation in recommending Dr. Kings
New Discovery, as the results were al
most marvellous in the case of my wife.
While I was pastor of the Baptist church
at Rives Janction. she was brought down
with Pneumonia succeeding La Grippe.
Terrible paroxysms of coughing would
last hours with little interruption and it
seemed as if she would not survive them.
A friend recommended DR.. Kings New
Discovery; it was quick in its work and
highly satisfactory in results" Trial
bottle 10 cents at j. z Jones' Drug store.
Regular size SOC and $1.00.
Good work done by the Peerless
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
ssTHE FENCING MASTER. 81
1t viii be at the Grand Tuesday Evening
and is Good.

and is Good.
One of the best attractions of the win
ter will be at the grand next Tuesday
evening, the Goth. 1t will be Dorothy
Morton in "The Fencing Master" This
is Marie Tempest's old piece and the
eastern critics declare that Miss Morton
is superior to Miss Tempest in the part
The company is in Kansas City this week
and the Kansas City papers do not seem
able to say enough about the excellence
of Miss Morton's singing and acting.
The entire company is praised.
"Colorado," a scenic melodrama of
mining life, will be at the Grand on Sat
urday night
The war drama alabama" will be at
the Grand early in March.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

The defeat of Mr.. sherman's bill ap-
propriating 1900 for the erection of a
workshop at the reform school will be a
great disappointment to his constituents
generally as well as to himself and his
friends. 1t would have really been a
good thing to do, as well as furnishing
an excellent bit of political capital for
the author of the bill
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

THE members of the Iepislat1re who
have been trying all through the session
to help forward some legislation which
would weaken or nullify the prohibitory
law, will now have an opportunity to go
on record in a decided way. They can
support or oppose Colonel Veale's resub-
mission resolution and then 90 home and
settle the matter with their constituents.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
Bucklen's Arnfca saIve.

The best Salve in the world for Cuts
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fe-
yer Sores, letter, Chapped Hands, Chill
blains, Corns and all Skin Eruptions, and
positively cures Piles or no pay required.
1t is guaranteed to give perfect satisfac-
ton or money refunded. Price rs cents
per box. For sale by J. Z. Jones, sol
Kansas ave.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21

THERE is no better way in which the
legislature can spend a portion of its
time than in preparing and passing a bill
reforming the laws on assessment and
taxation
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
YICISSITUDES OF FORTUNE
A Once Prosperous Honolulu Merchant
ShoveIing Dirt on the Street.

ShOve1ing Dirt on the Street.
VANCOUVER, B. c., Feb. 21.-The de-
ported Hawaiian royalists, Cranstoun,
Johnston and Muller are still here. Null
Ter, who was prosperous merchant in
Honolulu, has been given work by the
city, shoveling dirt on the streets, to ena-
bic him to live. Johnston's friends have
come to his relief. The American. Gran
ston, is a guest of United States Consul
Peterson. The men fear that all their
property in Honolulu has been seized BY
the Hawaiian RoYernment
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
For tho Fire Bucket.

To prevent the evaporation of water
in fire pals it has been discovered that
Is to 20 drops of oil will form coating
sufficient to obviate the difficulty.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-21
} Ma~<MN4<s3$S,,,4~,>
Weather indications.

CHICAGO. Feb. 21.-Forecast for Kan
sas: Fair tonight; Friday fair and warm
er; Winds becoming southerly.