The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-04

TFrcm the N. o. Times Democrat
said a man who most decidedly does not.
would be greatly astonished to know
how little is seen by those who are near
sighted even in a moderate degree. The
average shOrtsighted man. of whom there
are hundreds in every large city, sees
nothing distinctly more than a foot away
from his nose. Beyond that distance the
outline of objects becomes hay and in
distinct, growing rapidly more and more
one general blur The faces of 7eopIe
across the street are mere pink blotches.
their figures are destitute Of detail. signs
are indecipherable 30 feet avav and the
whole movement Of traffic and passing
show Of the thOrcughfare is a misty pam
Drama in which nothing much smaller
than cab can be definitely distinguished.
OF course q uearSi ghted person can see as
we'll as anybody through properly fitted
glasses. but great many folks regard
them as such a Disagreement that they
prefer to do without their aid. That kind
II causes one to miss at least nine-tenths
OF what is going on. to say nothing of be-
oddly enough. j know of case in which
It actually saved a mans life and laid the
episode was a lawyer in a city in Ohio,
where spent my boyhOod- He was be-
straight as an arrow and decidedly
handsome soldierly looking parsonage
point. and although he was extremely
nearsighted he was vain enough to deny
intrmity a secret. The consequence of
this folly was a ride reputation for
body on the street and it undoubtedly
damaged him in his practice. At any rate
ne had never made anything more than
very modest living when the curious incl
dent I have in mind occurred
The city government had been for 4
long time under ring rule continued the
story teller and it finally became so bad
that the decent people revolted and or
ganized a reform movement. The good
looking lawyer-Call him Colonel Jones
Tor conVenlence-was one Of the reformers
anu among other Things, he made himself
acINe IN securing indictments against a
plumber of gambling house keepers. The
boSs rlngster OF the place was a typical
bully and ward politician named Harding
who was financially interested in several
OF the games and naturally was furious al
cally. he would light at the drop of a hat
and the personal fear he insDfred was
really the secret of his influence. After
the gambling indictments We're found he
proceeded to use his pull to have them
pigeonhOled. and. learning what was going
on. Colonel Jones was rash enough to
write a newspa per card in which he
scored the authorities for allowing such
q ruthan to defeat the ends OF justice.
The colonel looked like 8. soldier. but
bic man. and he never dreamed that his
little effusiOn would get him into personal
dlEnculty On the morning the card APP
peateu ne was walking calmly to his Of
flee when Harding rushed out of a bar
name, ana at the same time leveled a six
shooter at his head At that distance all
f9Il l 90 allhe 70 the nearslghted
lawyer. and turning in the direction OF
the voice. he made out the vague figure
OF z man with outstretched arm. appar-
SntiS Deckonlng TO MIN to come over. A
little surprised, but still perfectly placid
ne started across. the street. Harding
Biared at MIN in amazement. and once OF
twice was on the point Of pulling thu
trigger: but the spectacle of that serene
and dignified figure. calmly advancino
straight on the muzzle of the gun was
too much Tor his nerves. and before the
colonel traversed half the distance ne
cropped the weapon and ignominouslv
fed Needless to say. the episode made
tremendous sensation, and Jones. who