davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
EMPTY SEATS EMBARRASSING.

Topeka vocalists who are ambitious
to make a name on the operatic stage
might do well to slight their native
city until they become at least semi
professionals. Disappointment is al
ways injurious to ambition, and disap-
pointment invariably accompanies
amateur operate efforts in this city
Topeka has probably as great a share
of vocal talent as any city of the same
size in the United States. Some of it
is talent of which the public generally
feels proud. On display in church
choirs and church concerts it is re-
ceived with great favor. But let the
display be on the stage in an operatic
effort and the talent is shamefuly
neglected. The handy phrase of small
but appreciative audience" fits the case
on nearly every occasion.
There is no partisanship as regards
the class of opera in this neglect ANA
teur grand opera is as shabbily treated
as amateur light opera, and vice versa
| Topeka simply doesn't care for amateur
| opera of any kind.
A notable demonstration of this was
the recent production of La Fiesta de
San Xavier The receipts of the two
performances did not pay the expense
of putting on the opera. A year or
more ago an amateur production of
I'll Trovatore" met with a cool recep-
ton from the standpoint of finance.
Before that an amateur production of
''Tannhauser" was given and the chorus
on the stage was larger than the au-
| dience in the auditorium
This record seems almost sufficient
to deter further attempts in this di-
rection. The fact that many voices
heard in amateur opera here are the
| equal of voices heard in professional
/ productions is not taken into account.
| The fact that the people are amateurs
| and not professionals is the one taken
/ into consideration. 1t is also the fact
| that makes empty seats the only GER
| tain feature of every production
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

# he have not that implement of noise,
he stamps his feet. greatly endangering
his patent feathers but never clapping
his hands. That would be undignified.
IF he have the chance he occupies from
two to three seats If he sits behind you
he keeps up a conversation during the
performance. If he has seen the play
before he viii kindly inform you of just
what viii happen during the next act.
If he sits in front of you he is the hus-
band Of the woman who wears a large
leghorn hat which obstructs the view
of the stage. If you meet him the next
day he will spend a half hour disagree
ing with you on the merits of the per-
Torrance.
If you ride home with him on the
street car he is the man who has several
bundles which are placed on the seat
where you would like to be seated if he
would move them He is the same man
who expectorates on the floor or stands
on the platform hindering you when you
wish to leave the car. He is the same
man who at a baseball game sits in
front of you when nothing exciting is
going on but when home run is knock
ed he has to stand up and 'holler''
whether you see or not. You meet him
at noon at the restaurant. He is the
man who has a barrier of pepper, salt
vinegar, catsup and sauce bottles in
front of him while you are hunting for
them and wishing he would allow you
to dip into the sugar bowl. But he no
tees you not. He keeps on playing with
the sugar bowl and talking in a loud
tone Of voice. He is the same man who
keeps the elevator waiting while he dis
eusses house rents with his landlord
If you are hurrying to the bank in
hopes of reaching the counter before
the doors close he will call to you from
across the street. You have to talk with
him. You wait for him and he wishes
only to borrow a dollar till pay day
Have you met him? If not you are of
the chosen few and your temper shall
be spared and you still have a chance of
an unbroken record of good words and
pure thoughts. But if you have met him
you can hope for nothing better than a
PERKS crown for he win surely exasper-
ate you until you fall from grace.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
THE BEASTS OF ELAaARA1us.

The beasts Of Elagabalus, emperor of
Rome, have passed through the trans
migration, according to the rules of
Theosophy, and are on earth today in
the form of human beings who prey
upon the public. They were tigers and
bears 1885 years ago when ElagabaIus
bade his friends to feast and then OPP
ened the doors of the banquet room and
allowed a drove of tigers and bears
to rush in and devour them. Today, the
doors of public places are opened and
in rush the trahsmigrated souls of the
beasts. They prey upon the unfortu-
mates thrown in their company
Have you met them? They appear in
many forms. The man at the theater
sits beside you. hears something he
thinks particularly funny. writhes with
pent up mirth. leans over and shakes
his head in front of you You try to
look unconcerned; he slaps you on the
back He borrows your opera glasses
just for a minute and is married to
them for half an hour. You bring di-
vorce proceedings before you can re-
cover your binoculars. His hands must
be very dainty: he is afraid to use them
to applaud with but pounds the floor
with his. or may be your own umbrella.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
BRIGHTER FAIRGROUNDS

There can surely be no difference of
opinion as to the desirability of well
kept playground for the children of To-
peka. Beyond all question and all
means this should be attended to by
those in authority. And these same
Fairgrounds should be endowed with an
abundance of grass. flowers and trees.
That there is an absence of such plats
around our school houses cannot but be
noticeable to those who have given the
matter the least bit of attention. Deny
the children the beauty of flowers and
shade of trees and you rob them of an
inspiration towards the good and the
beautiful. There seems no good reason
for this state of affairs nor should there
be further delay in remedying the evil
An extremely small expenditure for
seeds or bulbs and little time spent in
watering and otherwise caring for the
flowers and grass in the dry seasons are
all that is necessary to carry forward to
success this commendabIe need. The
trees and shrubs that would thrive IN
der almost no human effort are plentf-
full and easy to be secured. Topeka is a
cleanly city and one in which plant life
thrives vigorously. SCOT, gas, dust and
other impurities are not prevalent to
the detriment of this experiment.
The housing of hundreds of children
inclose rooms is often necessary but let
them be given a bright playground to
romp over during recess times. 1t is to
be remembered, of course, upon the or
binary Fairgrounds, with hundreds of
children charging up and down it could
hardly be expected to have much of a
grass plot but this does not prevent
flowers and trees with grass borders
There is the complaint that the school
boards have no authority to act in this
matter. This would seem a mistake It
is a matter that really concerns the
whole body civic. Everyone should be
interested in the development of the
mind and health Of the children and all
citizens are intimately concerned in
their betterment.
Private benevolence in some cities
has purchased adjoining grounds to
school houses and made amends for
municipal failure to provide CHEEKY
breathing places for the children. But
while private benevolence is not to be
discouraged it is not well to leave so
important a matter to such an uncer-
tain fate here in Topeka.
Let every parent and tax payer turn
back to their childhood and school days
and recall the pleasure that the shade
of trees and the grass to loll upon gave
them at incoming or how their absence
was mourned Let the teacher encour-
age this movement by illustrating to
the little ones that the plants belong to
them and there will be no marring OF
the trees or depredations in this direc-
ton.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
PREACHERS SCHOOL.
Episcopal Kansas Theological School
in Session in Topeka.

The Easter term of the Kansas Theo-
logical school commenced on Tuesday OF
this week. The lectures or most
of them at least, are given in the
old Bethany building on Topeka avenue,
between Eighth avenue and Ninth street.
which belongs to the school, where the
students also live during the session of
the school.
The OFFICIALS of the school are Rev. DR..
Beatty, dean; Right Rev. Frank r. Mills
paugh, d. D., Right, Rev. Francis Key
Brooke, S. T D., the Very Rev. John w.
Sykes, Rev. W. W. Ayers, Rev. Irving z.
Baxter and Rev. Canon Bywater, secre-
tary of the faculty.
There are in attendance at this session
of the school twelve theological students,
five of whom are now in deacons' orders.
The scope of this institution is to finish
the education of men for the work of the
ministry of the church in the dioceses of
Kansas. Oklahoma and the Indian Terri
tory Many of the alumni of the school
now occupy prominent pulpits in the
church both in Kansas and elsewhere,
and their success is in a great measure
due to the impetus given them in the
school located here in Topeka
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
WOMAN AND HER MISSIONS.

The woman in politics, in business, in
literature, and in the various other
invaded fields is kept constantly before
the public by the newspapers and the
magazines of the day, while the woman
in the home receives less publicity and
promotion.
Many fail to realize that the home
keeper has a mission to fulfill, more i'm
portant than any profession she can en-
ter. A woman chooses the mission of
home-keeper for life, while the business
woman may expect to give up her pro-
fessionaI or business duties in a few
years for those of a wife and mother.
Some women unfit themselves for
home life as others are untitled for
a business life. The question is often
asked, rs a woman who has spent a
number of years in the business world
as bread winner, united for domestic
life?" Various. answers are given but
the true one is the woman herself. While
one woman in a business life may ex-
pand mentally and morally, and gain
a deeper insight into the every day life
of her fellow beings, another may be-
come hard and narrow, slack in morals,
slovenly in manner
The former is apt to make an ideal
wife and mother for she knows with
what her husband and sons and daugh-
ters have to contend and governs her
home accordingly; therefore her in
f1uence is felt equally in the social and
business world. But the latter is apt to
make a failure, both in business and as
home-keeper.
The girl who enters society before she
! is old enough to be out of the school
room, and spends the best years of her
life in the giddy whirI, with not a
thought beyond the enjoyment of the
present moment, is seldom successful
/ when thrown upon her own resources
1 If by caprice of Fate she be compelled
/ to earn her own living, she is often help
less. for there is no one thing she can
/ do we'll She may have "smatterfng'
| of music or French but lack practical
/ knowledge, education and experience
/ Or if she marries and has a home, and
children they are left to the care OF
servants, while she goes more thar
ever into society and her husband be-
comes an habitue Of the club.
When women come to look upon the
life of a home-keeper more as a profess
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
SANTA FE HISTORY.
Much Material and Data Received by
Mr.. Wilder.

AS a result of the circular letter recent
" sent out by Mr.. Edward Wilder. ask
ing for data for a history of the Santa
IFe, much material is being received at his
office in this city. The material consists
of reminiscent letters and relics of var
ious kinds.
Among the former. received today. is q
letter from John Seaton of Atchison. Mr.
Seaton says he filled the first foundry or
der issued by the Santa Fe management
1t was in 1872. when George H. Nettleton
was general superintendent, and consist
ed of four old style switch stands. He
recalls the fact that the general shops OF
the company were at that time repre-
scented by a small frame building located
near a portion of the present freight de-
pot This portion was In those days the
general offices of the road.
Another letter received today is from W.
A Conant who was the first agent ap-
pointed at Pueblo.
The material is arriving in such guam
THY that it will require much time to edit
and arrange for the history
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL-3O cents
per month, by mail.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
BOSSES AND THE PATH BEATER

BOSSES AN d The PATH BEATEN
The independence Of the American
people is evident in their acts and the
unpopularity of the so-called political
bosses is simply the result Of the spirit
of Americanism.
Any free American born citizen nat
urally resents any effort to drive him.
While a few men often control the poll
tics of a county or state the voter al
ways is of the opinion that he is having
his own way and when he comes to the
conclusion that he has been worked"
something is pretty sure to drop"
Knowing this it is not difficult to un-
derstand why the life of a political
boss" is not happy one. So long as
he can remain incognito he is all right
but once let the voters understand that
he is boss his doom is sealed.
There are some good men in Topeka
today who are unpopular because the
people have concluded that they are
bosses" The voters may have follow
ed their leader unconsciously for years
but some one raises the cry of boss"
and the leader becomes an object Of
popular disfavor.
The political boss is short lived He
may flourish FOR few years in the clo-
yer field of politics but the time viii
come when the bars viii be let down,
he will be turned out and some one in
stalled in his place in the pasture.
This spirit of independence is nowhere
more manifest than it is in Kansas.
Kansans are the most independent peo-
pie on earth as well as among the most
enlightened. Kansans can think for
themselves. The political boss is not
necessary to their existence. They. read
the newspapers and keep themselvs in
formed and are not ready to jump at ev-
cry bait that is held temptingly before
their eyes.
Kansas people are not afraid to break
established traditions if they think that
it is right to do so. They smart under
the party lash and will paralyze the
man who Yields it once he has him
marked.
Much has been written about the va
carries of Kansas but it is in Kansas
that great questions are solved. The
very thing that eastern paper complain
about in Kansas is an evidence of its
greatness. It is sometimes a good plan
to step outside the beaten path to find
out what is in the world of knowledge
and Kansas has done that She beats
the paths toward reform and progress.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
RFpUoTNa s1NEouREs.

In the State Journal today Governor
Stanley outlines, in an interview, his
plan to have nearly one hundred places
under the state administration abol-
ished, substituting therefor a small
number Of positions, perfecting an ar
rangement which would greatly reduce
the annual expenses of maintaining the
states government.
The governors plan is a commendable
one. 1t will not altogether receive the
appreciation of office seekers, nor will
it be encouraged by the political man
ayers, but it will be endorsed by the
people of the state because of q. reduc-
tion in expenses which are now ex-
travagant.
The people of Kansas are just now
very sensitive to things which will re-
duce the cost of owning property and
depreciate the rates of taxation, which
in many instances are such as to be-
come really burdensome.
In the list OF boards which the gov
ernOr wishes to abolish, considered in
connection with the plan which he sug-
gests, there are none which really
could be defended in. all respects. No
one disputes the value and necessity of
a state board of charities, but the gov
ernor's idea that three men can do
the work as we'll as five cannot be sue
cessfully contradicted. People do not,
as a rule, believe in the state board OF
health, because the members simply
o. K. the work Of the governor and
officially endorse his suggestions and
the work which he does. The governor
has not yet made up his mind, but he
is inclined to the opinion that the state
horticultural society could be combined
with the state board Of agriculture and
placed under Mr.. Coburn's control The
military board IS not a necessity. and
the general public will agree with the
executive in his plan to reduce the size
Of the boards Of regents for the state
educational Institutions.
These are but additional steps on the
road to a general reform which the
governor has in mind and which the
people win generally. regardless OF
party hope to see put into successful
operation.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

IFrom the Philadelphia Record.1
Many a call up on the telephone is really
a call down
1t doesn't require a musical education
to play the races.
It's, the fast young man who is gener-
ally loose in his morals.
Every man can have a will Of his own
by consulting a lawyer
One bad tooth in a mans mouth will
usually feel as big as an acre.
One way to keep the wolf from the door
is not to have any door.
1t takes a pretty lively sprinter to catch
up with his running expenses.
Women may not be expert accountants,
but they know lot about figures
No, Maude, dear. you can't purchase ice
cream soda with the coign of vantage.
It doesn't require trust to make UNI
brellas go up. An April shower will do
that
What I can't understand" growls the
to their children as young. hopefuls,
when them seem so hopeless"
Hoax-4Hardup is in financial difficul-
ties again" Joax-''Why doesn't he take
the gold cure?'' Hoax-"The gold cure?''
Joax-"Certainly; marry an heiress-
Bobbs-"That girls face. is her fortune,
sure" SlobbsL7'Why, she's a slght;
vitriol over her features and she got $25,-
900 damages"
They wondered why she married him,
For he was neither rich nor young,
Nor was he in the social swim;
And so they talked it o er among
Themselves, and though she was above
him,
They never thought that she might love
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

Congress could not put the same
amount Of money to a better use than to
appropriate the s5,0OO,OOO asked by St.
Louis, in aid of her proposed exposition
in commemoration of the Louisiana pur-
chase. It is a matter in which the en-
tire Mississippi valley IS Interested. It
is the first attempt to hold fair of the
magnitude so far west. The people of
this part of the country have been taxed
for affairs of a similar nature in Phila-
delphia, Chicago and other eastern cities
and it is time for reciprocity.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

mans disposition may. learn a great deal.
but the cost of tuition is apt to be rather
high.
The man who is learning to play the
cornet is his own tutor.
A girl loses her self-possession when she
puts on a wedding ring.
Usually the more money a man has the
more selfish his children are.
A woman talks until things get serious,
then she gives the man a chance
When young rooster gets comb he
reaches the top notch of his ambition.
1t is easy enough to find a seat in a
crowded street car, but it is always occu-
pied.
Every man knows how mean his ac-
quaintances are, but he is never abso-
lutely sure about himself.
A St. Louis spinster was recently kissed
in a dark hail. and she hasn't had a light
in her house since.
A railway brakeman does both the
coupling and the switching, while cler-
gynan does only the coupling. and the
coupled ones do the switching later
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

Admirers of Senator Hanna are dis
posed to give him credit for the defeat
of Quay. but it is difficult to discover
how the vote of the boss counts any
more than that of any other Republic
can senator who voted the same. If
it is Mr.. Hanna's influence that is al
luded to. why, that's different.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

The return movement of the troops
who have served two years in the Phil
ippines has begun, a battalion of the
Fourteenth infantry reaching San Fran
cisco yesterday. 1t is the plan of the
war department to continue the work Of
exchanging fresh troops from home for
those on the other side as fast as the
latter's terms of service entitle them to
,-at1r,.r,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
Homeseekers' Excursion Via Santa Fe
Route.

On May / and is. will sell tickets to
Territory, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Texas and points in Colorado east of
Rocky Ford, at rate. Of one fare plus
$500. for the round trip. Tickets linn
tied q days. Stop-overs on going trip.
See T. L. king, agent, for particulars.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

The almost unanimous vote of the
senate in favor OF permitting Senator
Scott Of West Virginia to retain his
seat viii go far toward justifying the
political methods in vogue in Ken
fl1clrNr
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
&c Fooled the SURGEONS

All doctors told Renick Hamilton, of
west Jefferson. O., after suffering eigh-
teen months from Rectal Fistula, he
would die unless a costly operation was
r,erformed; but he cured himself with
Ruckleri's Arnica Salve, the best in the
world Surest Pile cure on earth. Csc a
box at all drug stores.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

If the net which Roberts is spreading
for the Beers and the net which the
Beers are spreading for Roberts should
become crossed there might be serious
consequences.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

sion, and fit themselves accordingly, then
win there be more happy homes, and
fewer discouraged and unhappy men
and women.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

Closely following upon the latest an
nouncement that the war in the Philip
pines is over comes another that 800
Filipinos have been killed in battle.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

No cannon crackers are to be fired in
Washington on the Fourth of July. This
calls for a protest on the part Of the res
ident physicians.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

That affliction do not come singly is
again verified in India. when to the
plague and famine has been added hel
old enemy, cholera.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

1t appears to be as hard for Uncle
Sam to get money out of Turkey as it is
for Mark Hanna to collect that $780, 900
from Philadelphia.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

Paducah has given Dewey a dozen
quarts Of whisky and st. Louis will give
him a big bowl to mix it in.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

Queen Victoria has been to Ireland,
made a long visit and escaped harm or
annoyance. England can now take a
long breath.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

become the subject of discussion. and
all these humble searchers after truth
contribute each his own radical and de-
nominational treatment of the themes
debated. This book is well written and
presents many new thoughts
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

The cyclone has opened the season in
Texas. but is playing small towns only
at first
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

The sultan's idea of the way to settle
a debt appears to be to make it bigger.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

When a man dies, his widows friend
begin to say that the bank he dealt will
cheated her out of some of his money.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28

1t is an indication that the women mem
berS of the family have been buying
some new underwear when the wash Is
hung in the front yard