The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-12
IN GOV. LEEDY'S ARMS.
An Incident of Last Nights In
augnral Reception.
A Little Boy Was the Most Pop
ular Guest
To Call on the Governor Who Stops
Handshaking for Five Minutes to
Talk to the Childish Thous-
and People Call on the
State Officers

The state of Kansas was in the hands |
of receivers for several hours last |
night.
There were 16 principal receivers and |
scores of assistants, but the assistants |
simply sat in comfortable chairs be- |
hind rows of palms, wore white ribbons |
and gazed at the principals. This line
of perpetual motion commenced with |
Governor John w. Leedy and ended |
with superintendent of Public InStruc-
ton William B.Stryker. From 1880 un-
til 10 o'clock they stood in row in
front of the speakers stand in the SEN
ate chamber While thousands of Kan
sans passed in review before them,
shook each one by the hand and to
each one reiterated the sentence, 4 am
pleased to meet you"
The senate chamber, or possibly more
properly speaking the receiving hail."
was decked in holiday attire to do
honor to the occasion. Under the di-
rection of Mr.. George NJ. Stone COM
missioner of decorations, the speakers
stand and desk had been transformed
into banks of flowers, and the chande-
liers into pyramids of American flags,
while from the colOnnades supporting
| the balconies at either side of the hall,
| crossing and recroSSing the room, hung
| strands of bunting and festoOns of
! evergreen. Under the American flags
| on the center chadelier hung a repre-
sentation of the Liberty bell worked in
| flowers.
Extending from the west door of the
chamber to a point at the south side OF
the speakers stand, was formed pas
sage way lined on either side with
palms Through this strobe the file of
callers who were presented to the of1-
GERS of the new administration and
their ladies.
Promptly at 7:9O O'Clock Governor
Leedy and the other state officials, ar
! ranged themselves in front of the
speakers stand in the positions in
which they were destined to spend owe"
two wearisome hours. Long before
that time, however, the lobby at the
west entrance of the senate chamber
was packed with humanity, While down
the whole length of the stairs ard out
into the big hall in the east wing of the
capitol hundreds of people formed
fully 5000 persons forced themselves up
the stairs and into the senate chamber
and shook hands with the state Off
GERS.
Up to $50 o'clock it was a continual
jam on the stairs. At the entrance to
the lobby stood two of the largest
members of the Free Silver Flambeau
club, who with clasped hands across
the passage way, kept the mass of hui
manity from rolling into the reception
room and overwhelming the receivers.
AS space was cleared by persons gain
ing entrance into the chamber, march
ing in single file through the passage
way and making their exit by the east
| entrance, the two sturdy torch carriers
would do the London bridge" act by
| raising their arms and allowing doz-
EN- or more of the callers to duck their
heads and scramble into the lobby. The
arms would then fall. to remain as an
effectual barrier until the lobby clear
ed again. 1t was effective but funny.
Senator John Martin, as chairman of
the reception committee, met each man.
woman and child as they passed into
the hall and presented them first to
Governor and Mrs. Leedy. In turn they
were presented to the other state Off
GERS 1t was the same thing over again
for two hours and a half, with but one
incident to vary it, and this occurred
about $3.50 o'clock.
little boy. probably four years old,
toddled into the hall and up to the chief
executive holding his fathers hand.
Governor Leedy Immediately noticed
the little fellow, and q. moment after
wards had him in his arms. Perhaps
the governor is partial to children, or
possibly he wished to gain a short re-
spite from Misunderstanding, but in any
! event he continued talking to the child
+ for fully five minutes, holding him all
the time in his arms, and when he
placed him on the floor bid him good
bye and put a nickel in his chubby
, hand.
! 1t was arranged that at the end of
the reception the state officers should
| remove to Representative hall and
l make ten minute speeches each after
/. | the musical programme From the
, fact that the reception lasted until 10
l o'clock and that Representative hall
was so densely packed as to make en-
trance at any point impossible, this part
| of the evening programme was declar-
| ed off After the reception the officials
3 sought their respective rooms. chatted
with personal friends for while, anc
then went home.
a In Representative hall MarshalPs
4 band Steinberg's orchestra, which had
: furnished the music from z 80 until 9:3l
during the reception in the senate
8 chamber, the Modocs and Turner's com
r bined to furnish musical programme
Z which delighted the hundreds who were
, fortunate to gain admittance into thu
l, hall. The ModOc club was called bacl
:, three times after the first selection
l. 1.-The Nun of NidOraS' was rendered.
n The musical programme in Represen
1t tative hall was concluded shortly afte
If the reception was over in the senat
chamber, and the people left the CAPT
tor had departed. and Is minutes late
all the lights were out and the recep
O. ton rendered by the citizens of Tope
3 ka Gin honor of the newly elected stat