The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-30
MIR. PECK LEAVES US.
s'Becky Sharp Talks With the
Celebrated Kansan
WHO WILL MEYER BE INTERVIEWED"

IN topeka he was largely sought by MS
many friends who comprise people from
all walks of life.
For spontaneously genial jovial man,
who is courtesy and kindness itself to
newspaper people, and never refuses to
talk to them. Mr.. Peck is strangely averse
TO formal interview. So talked to BIZ.
Peck, but I didn't interview" him. In
answer to an expressed regret that Kan
sas had lost him, he said, why this is not
a bad thing it is a good thing. 1 can
still love Kansas and every body in it; or
nearly everybody; and do"
1t is said to be the inalienable and IN
challenged right of the members of the
Topeka club to celebrate when Mr. Peck
comes to the city, and Tuesday evening
he was informally entertained there,
after which he spent the night at the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. G. b. Smith.
Wednesday he visited Mr. GuilfOrd
Dudley's farm and called on numerous
friends, lunching hastily again, this time
at the club.
In the evening he called at the club for
night with Mr. Smith. Early yesterday
he telegraphed to have berths for him
self and Mr.. Nettels, his private secre-
tary reserved on train No. f.
1t is said that Mr. Peck prefers not to
have a special car, that a Pullman car
pass is as good thing as he wants.
When train No was ready to leave
yesterday it was discovered that Mr.
Peck was not on board, so Mr.. Nettels
telephoned up town and found that he
intended going on what is called the
o'clock train instead of on No. f.
Judge J. B. Johnson, Dir. Chas. Blood
Smith, Mr.. George Findlay, Dir Dave
Mulvane, and number of other friends
and acquaintance stood around Mr.,
Peck, some of whom he had not seen
before, shaking hands with "Our
George"
In this crowd. as well as prominent
citizens, there were new5boys and boot
blacks, and for each Mr. Peck had a
kind word and smile of recognition.
As came up he turned aside with his
characteristic manner and said: 81 was
afraid 1 would not see you again, and
have left a sorrOwing apology for you
that l could not talk for publication.
81 will join you a little later in your
car. but you must not interview me-"
Mr Peck was talking to Mr.. Devlin,
who was on the train, and as l passed on
with a Topeka gentleman and MI Net
tells, Mr. Peck's private secretary, the
first named, remarked, ''that's the last
you will see OF Mr.. Peck"
"Oh, no, it isn't" said Mr. Nettels,
with air of conscious pride at being
associated with a man of his word, "if he
says he'll come, that means he'll come
even if he expects to meet disaster"
Sure enough in a very short time Mr..
Peck came into the chair car where Mr.
Nettels sat next to me and laying his
hand on his shoulder said, young man.
yield your seat to your superior officer
AS Mr.. Nettels rose Mr.. Peck did not
relinquish his hold of him, as he said
j9kingly, "This young man thinks he is
going to get married soon if he gets my
consent. He hasn't got it yet. but sup
pose I'll have to give it. OF course, he's
coming to Kansas for his wife"
Then he said, "NOw Pm sorry, and l
know you must feel disappointed, but
really would rather raise your salary
myself than consent to an interview"
"But Mr.. Peck the public and espe-
cially the Kansas public would be inter =
ested in anything you might say"
Il was never interviewed in my life,
and yet there is too much in the papers
about me. My little daughter said the
other day, 4 should think Chicago peo-
pie would be tired of seeing your name
in the papers,
Have you nothing to say of the men
ton that has been made of you for the
presidency"
"Oh, no, that is nonsense.
"BIy speech before that Virginia
school? 1 am glad you liked it. will
send you copy. 1t has been printed in
pamphlet FORM" We talked of other
matters for a moment and drifted around
TO literary subjects. 1 said: "Mr Peck,
although l am not interviewing you,
know your favorite poem"
Turning qickley he said: Eyes?
fIntimations of Immortality 1t is a
beautiful thing; isn't it? Full of wonder
ful thoughts"
Mr.. Peck has an edroit style of him
self becoming an interviewer, but he
finally said:
slow have enjoyed this brief outing
in my beloved and beautiful Kansas. Il
has been in q sense an outing, and
though the time was filled with things &c
do, it has done me world of good, and
l feel, if possible, more fond than ever OF
my dear old home"
81 feel as if 1 had been the hardest
worked man in the world, during the
last year, but lots of people think the
same thing about their work, of course.
This change is great thing for me, great
financially, and in every way.
"COmpared with what I've had to do
lately, my work will be easy.
Nothing to do but look wise and dig
nifed," and he laughed, as be put up his
hand to his necktie and said: "Why I'll
have to begin to wear high standing
collars"
Il suppose looking wise sounds easy
30 you, but of course I'm only joking.
"My new Office will be in the Old Col
Ony building on the corner of Van Buren,
and Dearborn streets, diAgonally across
the corner from the Monadnock where
it now is; and l presume I'll find work
enough to do"
Then Mr.. Peck talked to me about my
affairs and how l liked my work and a
lot of things personal to myself that
wouldn't be at all interesting to rrint
and it was quite little while before I
could head him around to talking about
himself, again; for Mr.. Peck is very