The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-12
A KANSAN ABROAD
How Col. w. L. Parkinson Was Nv
ShOwered With HOnOrs.
The P0mp and Ceremony We're
Humorous to Him.
:::: 8: :: :: G.: !: O.
Thought Him the Special Envoy
of the President.
How Col. w. L. Parkinson Was
ShOwered With HOnOrs.
The Pomp and Ceremony We're
Humorous to Him.
SAT WITH WILHELMINA
HOllanders Could Not Read His
Unintelligible Credentials.
Thought Him the Special Envoy
of the President.

Col. W. l.. Parkinson is one of the few
plain, simple Kansans who have been en-
tertainej abroad by a person of royalty
This Kansan was not after the honors and
the manner in which they happened 10
be thrust upon HIM have been partly told.
Now Col. Parkinson tells follows his
actual experience and how it felt 70 be on
the platform with royal parsonage.
Some sincautious gossip vending friend
has lately sired upon me a Dutch joke,
says Col. Parkinson, mot for the jokes or
my sake, but to exploit the embarrassm ent
of a Kansan abroad whose home distilled
gall regurgitated upon the distiller. I'm
charged with having fired the gun that
shot a rod and kicked a mile Even SO,
but the shot-a kick cuts no ice with
Kansan-introduced me to and sat
the platform with Hollands much beloved
queen, whom I am still Dutchman enough
to sincerely pity and highly honor. In
some respects 1 was as one having eyes
saw not. Tor many of the ceremonies s-s.d
obeisances to royalty were to me quite
uninteliigible. Having ears 1 heard, but
a5',e from the boom of cannon and biar..
of trumpets. it was all Dutch to me and
as intangible Chinese or Choctaw.
AS for my embarrassment-seldo fatalin
these parts-at fetching up in a pen plump
up against the throne, all SO unexpected,
that is simply an incident to a Dutch over
rating of Kansas documents and men,
personal to myself.
ut came about in this way: I had been
in Amsterdam some weeks, troubled less
with Dutch talk I heard to no purpose
than with la grippe which persstently
appealed to me in the universal language
of pain and torment. For several days
preparations had been in progress for
great dojngs-among other things, mill
tary parade and royal procession.
These could easily see from my hotel
window. But the great popular event
was, as duly announced, ''Bizoek van
Hare Majesteit de Koningin Regentes
Notwithstanding door H. M de
jiugdige Koningin Wilhelmina, op het ter
rein van het in aanbonnzinde Nieuwe
Buiten-G asthuis tie Amsterdam, That is
plain suppose, and that's what it was. I
put myself in the crowded public
way; the thronging coed natured Dutch
crowd dio the rest. 1t is not strange
ly, that a Kansan who had boldly stood
up in the procession should want to see
the whole show. 1t looks enough like
mass convention-why not be a delegate?
From the first three or four stations to
which I made application for admission
from one quite unceremoniously-I was
dismissed with a grunt and an English
nit spraken." Finally I found official,
dapper young fellow in baggy trousers,
who spoke fairly good book English, and
who kindly took my letters, listened to
my tale of woe'' and departed. I had
among others letter from Senator Plumb
may the good Lord ever keep his mem
ory green-in his own hand write-which
probably means that it was never read;
whereat these good people never knew
what a good, cordial, whole-souled letter
Plumb could write. All, Plumb was a.
friend worth having, at home or abroad.
and a senator whose place for Kansas
work and Kansas interests may never
again be quite filled chuck up to the brim
But the letter had the picture of the Ma
tional Capitol and a signature homely as
its authors face, but distinctly American
and good wherever writ.
Another letter, really readable, there
from the governor of my state and
with a picture of the then-to-be finished
Kansas capitol, etc, etc. Presently my
friend of precious English speech, for
little home talk now was to go great
ways, returned with courtesies and
demeanor that filled me with sudden and
serious apprehension. The machine had
evidently jumped cog and l was to be
boosted out of the respectable middle of
the road ground my ambition had
hankered after. l was ushered into the
presence of cooked hats brass buttons,
gold laced ushers and church, military
and royal diorama, all to me mix fusta
several times over. Evidently my friendly
Introductory letters on linen paper and
with senatorial and governorship headings
had missed the mark and shot too high.
Perhaps being from Kansas ranked me as
a statesman. OF course l had no pur-
pose to deceive. but the show was on.
Apologizing as best I could for my unex-
pScteu presence anu consequent WdHl VI
preparation for so distinguished a recog-
milton, I took the place assigned me in
the official procession and bowed my
prettiest and best in all sorts of Dutch and
Kansas American. Perfectly willing to
kiss the pretty little queen and her dear
mamma, the queen regent if etiquette re-
Quired-nay, even permitted-I graciousiy
told the dear girl, and spoke the most
solemn truth, when presented to her royal
Majesty, that the American people wished