The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-02
KINDLY HEARTS.
How Stray Visitor a a New Years Recap
ton Was Treated.

| ton Was Treated.
Soon after the sound of revelry by
day had begun at Library hall yesterday
an old man dressed in farmers clothes
entered the library building. He did
not realize that private New Years
festivities were in progress there. He
| looked obviously at the canvased floor.
Strains of music from above hoated
down the stairs and gIancing up their
! canVased length the old man saw a
white stairway dotted on each side with
waving palms, the landing set with cush-
Toned sofas, shaded lamps and graceful
tables. and heard as an under current to
the music hum of voices.
Glaucing casually at the Pictured
Romance bills which spoke of "a fine
exhibit" and then for moment down at
his muddied shoes and gray jeans suit
without an overcCat, the old man slowly
j assembled the stairs. Arriving at the top,
he hesitated a moment and gazed in on
what he doubtless thought a vision of
fairy land
! He looked about, a trifle apprehensive-
! IL now, for doorkeeper, but there was
none, and no one seemed to be taking
tickets or selling programmes, so he
wandered in. and after stopping to smell
the big bowl of hyacinths on the stand
near the entrance, began to closely scruti-
nize the pictures, alternating this occu-
PASAOA Win OF the
noral decorations, pausing for some time
before the electric light HAPPY New
Year" design.
But again he went on looking at the
pictures and statuary, pausing only when
the Lotus quartette began TO sing Ten
nyson's "Bugle Song" when he sat down
with a look OF rapt attention, looking as
if he would like TO applaud
Then he kept on watching the stage
as if he were waiting for the next act.
His trousers of jeans were not very
full, and one leg was caught up over the
flap on the back of his heavy shoes.
His hat which he carried with him
under his arm was nsed rather to cover
his scant grey locks than for ornament,
and his general makeup was i'll direct
contrast to the faultless attire of the
club members who were receiving, and
the handsome robes and wraps of the
ladies.
"Who is the distinguished visitor?"
SAID one gay young man to another; and
then some good natured badinage, half
ralilery went around the circle, but no
one disturbed him
When the attention of the president of
the club was drawn to him, MIR. Burgess
said: HE evidently thinks this is some
kind of a public entertainment, and it
would be cruel to undeceive him"
SO MIR. Burgess went up to the old
SObtA0ndA dHQ dShSQ 10 nave re-
1reshments, which were being served
continuously.
Then it was that he began TO sus-
pect his mistake, but Mr. Burgess
assured him with kind hearted polite
ness that it was all right, that he was
most welcome, and showed him around
the little rooms at each side of the stage
with their beautiful decorations. the re-
freshment and music room, everything,
and the old man. after being helped to
something to ea AMI drink, went away
without know ng tn t he had tntruded
on festal occt.--~-- of the Sans Pareil
club.
No one among the ladies and gentle
men present laughed at the unusual
figure made by the countryman among
such society finery, and it was proven, in
spite of popular notion to the contrary,
that hearts beat as warmly under silk
and velvet as under a cheaper material