The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-06
DIDN'T HEAR WHEELS.
Becky Sharp Expected Their Click
in an Expert Accountant.
VISITS JOHN ENGLAND-CHALLIEOR.

He DOesn't Drop His HIS and Talks
Very AmerIcan-Ris Father in the
Confederate Service.
The one thing that has perhaps more
than anything else in his writings at
tracted me to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is
his statement that he always expected to
hear the clicking of the wheels in the
head of an expert accountant
So greatly am 1 awed, perhaps because
I cannot understand. by the excessive
mathematical faculty, that l have
q sort of curiosity about people
said to possess it. This feeling, however,
was not the one which impelled me to
hunt up and interview the recently ap-
pointed state accountant
My reason for such action being rather
to be able to talk intelIigently, if possi-
Bile, on a subject which it seems to me
great many people have discussed "right
out in meetin'," whether they knew any
thing about it or not.
l had some trouble to find Mr.. John
England ChAllinor (be sure you spell it
with an "i" and give it the hyphenated
form, for so me owner of the name in
forms me it is to be written.)
Mr. England Challinor is not in Topeka
very much, or at least has not been lately.
He has been at the state penitentiary
most of this week at work on the books
but was here on Thursday, and found
him in the big room at the left of the
east entrance to the state house, whore
the governors clerks work. Mr.. Hill
said: "Mr. Challinor, allow me to intro
duce Miss Becky Sharp, and the gov
ernor said you were to entertain her for
while" perhaps Mr.. Hill did not know
he should have said Mr.. England Chal-
liAor.)
found myself shaking hands with
slender man, about five feet and nine
inches in height
Mr.. Bristow accorded US the privilege
Of sitting down for chat at Miss Adams
desk, as she was absent just then. As he
led the way, half retrospective frown
knit his brow, but suddenly it cleared
and he smiled and said: E'Now, that's
odd; was just trying to think whore
had heard your name, and it didn't occur
to me for moment that it came from
my favorite writer, Thackeray."
Mr.. England Challinor's voice ia Eng
lish, that is English as | know it, though,
perhaps, l have not known enough Eng
lish people to say that Understandings;
but his voice is soft and slig htly drawl-
ing, though withal pleasant, with 3
pleasantness born of a personal magnet
ism that holds, if it does not charm tho
listener, In addition to this quality he
ness that is also pleasing. His hearer
cannot complain of ennui by hypnotic
suggestion at least
He has dark, not very black, hair;
smooth and shining, parted decidedly on
the left side.
His complexion is medium dark, his
face thin.
He wears a mustache and small, short
whiskers, just in front of the base of
each ear Owe never known what such
whiskers were called,) which are both
dark, a few gray hairs showing in the
mustache.
A girl might envy him the fresh red
ness of his lips, and his eyes. if they be-
longed to girl, would De described as
more than interesting, as they are indeed
the chief charm of his face They are
greenish grey, with glints of brown in
their clear depth that give them the ap-
pearance of agates and they look straight
at one as he talks.
l said, "Mr. Ch&llinor, where were you
born?"
'In Liverpool, and I am turned forty,
am married and have five children,
though the majority of the ran
dom newspaper paragraphs relative
to me aud my appointment seem
to convey a different impression.
You might mention that I am married,
80 that the girls, at least, will not take an
interest in me, even though politicians
do"
"YOu are a politician thsn?" I sug-
gested.
80 yes, l like politics, have always
been interested in that sort of thing.
Was always an enthusiastic admirer and
follower of Gladstone.
81 was educated at Queens college,
Liverpool, and Liverpool university.
My education was chiefly of a com
mercial nature, though I mastered both
German and French.
"F0r fifteen years l was with Morris
Ranger, at Liverpool, the largest cotton
Importer in the world. NV father was
interested in America and American at
fairs before me''
"Having heard that Mr. Challinor had
openly boasted of his father having been
a rebel soldier, asked about it.
''He replied: MY father was in Amer
ica before the war, and interested in the
south; naturally he was with them
81 don't know that 1 exactly under
stand if he was a rebel or not, he was a
captain of blockaders, I believe they
called it."
"You are fond of America and Ameri
can institutional" / asked
40, yes; | went before the American
consul at Liverpool and declared my in
teution to become an American citizen
before l sailed, and when l arrived here
again declared such intention and ap.
piled for naturalization papers. Thai
was five years ago and 1 received then
at the earliest period prescribed by law
II was brought up with Americans, al
most in an American colony in Liver
pool you might say"
"Doss that explain why you do not say
hi was brought hup and that things ha
hodd?"
mo indeed, dropping and picking VI
his belong to the cockney accent o
London You won't find it in the prov
inces or among educated people. l fee
to all intents and purposes, thoroug hi,
Anarican- and heliava the chief Chi &c