The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-13
SATURDAY SKETCHES.
Some Things Reporters Write
When They're Not Busy.
Floating Stories That Are
Caught on the Wing.
All Founded on Fact, But Sometimes
Fancifully Told

IeSenLaIlVe Newt Try OF Fort Scott drop
ped into his office to say ''howdy'' yester-
day, how did a good looking, intelligent
man like you ever go to the 1egislature?''
Twas kind of a foolish thing to do,
wasn't it?'' said Try, apparently not sur
prised at the question, as he drew him
self up table and commenced to
swing his feet boy fashion. Now, you
went there about seventeen times your
self, didn't you, Gene?" he asked.
Pretty near that many times" replied
the Kansas poet. I was there twice, and
it almost ruined me. Did ever tell you
how got out of going back there again?"
Try shook his head and simply answer
ed, Never did"
''Well, I want to tell you about that,
Newt, because I regard it as one of the
bright strokes of my career said Ware,
he moved to the center of the room
to be better able to accompany his recital
with the usual calisthenic exhibitions he
is noted for. you knew Bawden-Wil
Bawden-who went to the legislature
from Fort Scott, and died a few year ago.
Wen, he succeeded me, and I'll tell you
how it happened"
Try stopped swinging his feet and lean
ed over with one elbow on the table in
attitude of comfort Dave Palmer and
Clad Hamilton, who fool with law in the
office of Gleed, Ware & Gleed, stopped
playing checkers in the next room and
came in and sat on "IronquiIrs'' desk to
listen.
You know was first sent up here from
Fort Scott to sit out an unexpired term
continued Ware, as he thrust his thumbs
well into the arm-holes of his vest and
threw back his shoulders. q was swelled
up enough to think it was pretty nice
that time, but when came back to To-
peka and started to pay Cope Gordon's
feed bills the second time, I saw very
clearly that posing as a lawmaker wasn't
a valuable job. By the end of the ses-
sion 1 had surrendered all my cash, and
started home with but one object in life,
and that was to successfully dodge polit-
zeal fame in the legislative line. About
the first man I struck after getting off
the train was VIII Bawden, and he
was a good man and stood well politi-
cally it suddenly occurred to me that he
was the man to save my life by succeed
ing me.
'Bawden.' said I, 7 want you to do
something that will leave your name in
delibIy stamped on the right side of the
recording angels time-book in heaven.
VIII you do it?
8" What is it?' he asked.
CT want you to step in and take my
place as representative, said I. You
as a candidate for awhile. I'll help you
all I can. and along toward the last Wen
let the thing slide
well, Bawden was young and unso-
phisticated, and the idea rather pleased
him, and he started out to make the run
Along about that time political talk
started to wax strong. People commenced
to come to me and say:
90 Look here, Ware, I want to give you
A4-xr
to beat you for the legislature. What do
you think of that%
And then I'd put on a half surprised,
half aggrieved air I had stereotyped for
the occasion. and look at them and say:
q Now. who would have thought that
of VIII Bawden? To think that he would
go back on a friend that way. But say
Bawden is a young man, and like to see
get up in a young man along any line,
and suppose we let him alone and let him
root. If he can get it. let him have it
Things went along this way until about
the time of the convention, and then
suddenly dropped out and threw my sup
port to Bawden. He was nominated and
served two terms, and. poor fellow, it
pretty nearly ruined him, too. I didn't
want to announce at the start that I
wouldn't be a candidate, because I was
afraid my friends would get around me
up. You know humanity is frail when
brought face to face with fame. But by
dropping out at the eleventh hour didn't
give them chance to talk, and saved
my neck at the right time"
There is a young man in Topeka in a
judicial position who recently escaped
from a most humiiiating situation, but
not until he had promised himself never
again to try a practical joke
The young man and a gentleman friend
had called at a house on Topeka avenue
where there were two young ladies. The
young folks enjoyed themselves in con-
versation. during which the animation of
the young man in question was most
marked. He was in excellent spirits.
1t was nearly 10 O'Clock when his friend
said he would sing. The friend may be
an excellent young man in every particu-
lar, but he has not the voice of a night
ingale The members of the party stood
his outburst as well as they could for
some time. Then the leader in the sport
of the evening went to the telephone and
called up the police station.
Send the patrol wagon to No. - To-
peka avenue said he
He may have thought that the police
would enter into the spirit of the occa-
sion, but they did not imbibe any of the
spirit of raiIlery of the young joker
through the telephone and in a few min
utes the patrol wagon and two policemen
stopped in front of the house.
One of the bluecoats jumped from the
wagon and ran up to the door. He was
met by the lady of the house. who
about to demand an explanation. But
before she could give expression to her
indignant feelings the policeman said
firmly I'VE are here with the wagon.
What is wanted?'
There must be some mistake stam-