The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-23
YOUNG Topeka.
It Has Sprung From What Was
Old Topeka.
A New Force in the Life of the
Kansas Capital.
PUSHINGTOTHEFRONT
Topeka Young Men Who We're
Boys 15 Years Ago
Now Active in Civic and Public
Affairs.
Energies and Enthusiasm That
Should Be Combined
And Turned i'm the Direction
For Upbuilding the City.
A CONCERT OF ACTION
All That is Necessary Now to
Make Topeka
The Finest City Of Its Size In
the World.
A CONCERT OF ACTION
All That is Necessary Now to
Make Topeka
The Finest City Of Its Size In
the World.

tt NAV not have daWned on the people
who now live in Topeka that the capt.
tai city of Kansas is not the same city
1t was Is years ago, neither in the COM
position of it's population, the spirit that
moves in their activities, or in theT
ideals, ideas, projects, hopes or FEELINGS
It is not the same. The younger men
are coming to the front Men who were
Topeka boys Is years ago are now full
grown with mems ideas, and with the
active. pushing physical and mental
vigor that characterizes each genera
ton at its prime.
The old men who were the life OF To-
peka in it's early days are passing away;
many are gone. They did much for rope
ka, but those who are living now are con-
tent to rest on their laurels and receive
the need of praise which they well de-
serve and which no one begrudges
them. But a new generation has arisen
AS the passing generation performed its
work well, with much labor and per-
sistence, so the new genera ton is com
ing forward to it's task with hearts
beating high and with the enthusiasm
and energy characteristic of the young
Every thirty or thirty-five years new
actors come upon the stage in every
community, strong in the consciousness
of their power, and determined 10 carve
shall make them immortal as those
who have gone before them. Every city's
history as it lengthens out through the
decades and eventually into the centur-
les is punctuated with the names OF pub
lie spirited citizens who have done
much for the community in which they
lived. Topeka will not be lacking in
this particular
After a sleep of years it last summer
sprang into a wonderful and magnificent
awakening in the Fall Festival It
opened its gates to ali Kansas and all
Kansas responded. While older men
superintendent the arrangement of To-
peka'S grand reception to Kansas, young
men did the hard work; the enthusi-
aSm of young men, full of life, full of
virility, of nervous energy and the be-
lief in success, rolled the chariot along
and made that revival of public spirit
the overwhelming demonstra ton that it
was That was no spasmOdic exhibit
ton of force; it was q regeneration; it
was not the galvanizing of a dead body;
1t was the reflOrescence of the tree of
life; the return of the vital fluid to the
temporarily benumbed limbs 1t was
the resurrection of hope, and the restor-
alton of confidence in ourselves. The
Kansas people who chose a. their mot
10 al aStra per aSpera can not be crib
bed. cabined and confined. No man
acles of hard times" can keep down
the leapfng eXuberant Kansas spirit.
Kansas people deSpiSe dull time; they
won't be kept quiet; so in Topeka last
summer they burst their letters and let
their feelings and their energies have
full play; and they are at it yet-and
they are never going to stop again. No
sooner was the Fall Festival over than
the great Food Exposition was under
way, and 1900 people signified their be-
lief in the merit of it by lending their
presence to il. The doors of this expo
sition had not closed before the busy
flood of Topeka activity was turned in
the direction of building a mighty aud
ttor1um where the people of Topeka and
Kansas could meet in aSSemblage to
express their views on various subjects
and to listen to inspiring music or ora
tory.
The dynamo that is at the bottom of
all this activity is Young Topeka
Young Topeka has determined to live
while 1t lives, for it will be a long time
There are 5000 young men in Topeka
perhaps 500O,-between the ages of u
ana 4l-and besides we must and shall
include all those, no matter what a e
whose hearts are young though their
locks may be snow white who are with
the young men heart and soul-these
are the old men who will never be old
Life runs in too strong a current in
Sheir veins to place them in the ranks
of those who have sat down to rest
they would rather wear out than to
rust out. All these young men mo
matter what their age) have walked IN
Think of what it is when 5 900 men are
thoroughly alert, moved by a common
impulse to build up their city and com
munity Such body of men if proper
" generated can do more than a CITY
Of 100000 people where each Individual
is looking after his own selfish interest:
IS merely seeking to get the dollar of
some other man. and seeking to get it
IN such way as to hinder that man
from getting more dollars 1t is the
solidarity of Topeka that will eventual
ly accomplish wonders.
Never before in the history of the city
was there such fellowship of feeling;
such a desire to do something for the
good of the city as a whole.
Everyone can be sure that when he
works for his town together with his
feilowmen, the result will be of untold
benefit in the end. While we have our
smaller organizations to take charge of
matters of public concern, we should
all help in our individual capacity. 1t
is in mum bers that a small city like To-
peka will find it's strength We ought