The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-19
QUAKER CITY CRITICISM.

A newspaper of Wichita, Kansas, in re-
porting a party which was given by a
woman of that city tells whom the
knives and spoons were borrowed from.
It might have been supposed that some
thing would have been said as to forks
and napkins; but then it must be remem-
bered that there is not much use for the
two latter things in Kansas society. If
a guest cannot get along with a knife and
make it serve the purpose of a fork and
use the tablecloth for a napkin, he is not
worthy of associating with the Popuhst
party.-Philadelphia Inquirer.
Shades of the just made perfect, here is
our old maid friend Philadelphia actually
having the temerity to offer opinions about
Kansas! Rip Van Wrinkles judgment
Thomas Edison is now in order. But if
our Philadelphia friends manners are no
better than his English, our ancient sister
should have selected some other past
master of her four hundred. Respect for
age and ofttime infirmities gives US pause,
but we are compelled to call ouroId friends
attention to the fact that he should not
close a sentence with a proposition. He
should have said from whom the knives
were borrowed" We deprecate, too, the
use of would have been said" in 1T
might have been supposed that something
would have been said" 1T might be sup
posed that something was said is better
form. The use of then in ''but then it
must be remembered" is at least re-
dundant and pueriIe. If he were ex-
tremely anxious to use another word he
should have said. but now it must be
remembered You remember things
now; you do not remember things
then" 1t is not quite clear, either, as to
what he refers when he speaks of the
two latter things" Did he mean two o.
the napkins, or was it his guileless Phila-
delphian intention to refer to forks and
napkins? We were astonished, too, that
even a Philadelphia should say: IF
guest cannot get along with knife"
You dear old fossil, a knife is never a
means of IocomOtion. A man might get
along with a bicycle or q horse or an
engine, but never with a knife-or a
Philadelphia.
In the editorial paragraph which imme~
diately follows. this branch of the Biddle
family tree says: ''If Andrew Jackson
had been alive he would never have per>
mitted such liberties to be taken with
him as Mr.. Bryan did" This clipper
Quaker evidently meant, 'as Mr. Bryan
took" Whatever liberties Mr.. Bryan took
with Andrew jackson, they could not have
equaled the liberties this Philadelphia
Ward McAlIister takes with the English
language.
In his next editorial paragraph be
makes the amusing blunder of saying:
s'lGr. Letter has succeeded in making the
greatest advertised wheat deal on earth"
He means, of course, the best advertised
wheat deal on record" But life is too
short in busy state like Kansas to
spend much time educating the sleepy
people Of Philadelphia. We take pleasure
in noting that the editorial department is
actually able to answer the question OF
'sR E. k as to the meaning of the let
ters 'eR. S. V. P" Doubtless there are
on the Philadelphia Inquirer, editorial
writer's who have good manners and can
write good English, but this fellow seems
TO think that because he has learned not
70 wine his nose on his napkin that he
has been admitted to polite society.