The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-20

tainment of the things which will adorn
the city, make it a healthful place to
live in, and conduce to the moral up
lifting of the whole community 1t has
been said that the poets are silent to-
day, because in this material age their
voices would be unheard. We cannot
pick up a newspaper or a magazine
without reading some jeremiad against
the sordid materialism of the times But
this is nothing new. The spirit which
begets the trust and the merger is in
cident TO the play of our free institu-
lions and invites a danger which always
menaceS.
In conclusion, let me put on my
dreaming cap and dream with you. l
seem to see a splendid vision which 1
hope will not in the phrase of Lord
Byron, Come like truth and disappear
like Dreams
we are in the year of grace 1915.
There arises as from a mist a city set
upon a hill. not like Ilion. all towers,
but with charming skyline which be-
tokens an alI-prevading devotion on the
part of the inha bitants to the grace and
beauty of the higher forms of archi-
lecture. Let US. walking as in dream,
enter this city. Its streets are cleaL
and are thronged with people. These
people seem to be of various estates in
life, but by their looks and dress they
appear contented and happy In this
| city the fine natural drainage has been
used to the best advantage by the estah-
lishment of a perfect sanitary system OF
\
/ port the healthfulest in all the land. No
man in the city builds a house to live
in or trade in for himself alone, but has
in mind always the pleasure and insp.-
| ration of the people who are to pass 1t
every day, and the part it is to have in
the general adornment of the city. 1t is
a maxim of universal acceptance in this
city that the same labor and the same
materials may be used either to produce
a thing of grace and beauty or a blot
upon the landscape.
In this city are many open walks and
greens for the pleasure of the people and
a general system of parks easily attain
BILE contributed to the happiness of all.
We are informed that the Toms the
| Dicks, the Dams and the Mikes have
permanently retired from the govern
ment OF the city and in their turn the
merchants, the bankers. the professional
men and the householders who pay taxes
have undertaken to see to the exDendi-
ture or all public moneys. It is the rule
that this money is spent unsparingly for
the best kind of the things which arc
needful, but not penny of it is wasted
on Jobs or looted by dishonest con-
tracts AS consequence, nothing is
wanting to the health, pleasure, comfort
and safety of the people. And curiousiy
enough, the taxes are low and the bur-
dens cheerfuly borne.
The public conveyances of all sorts
are first of all used and operated SO as
to convenience and accommodate the
people. and the money that is made
anu enough Is maze OUT OF Inen-lS
merely incidental. The best citizens of
the community stand ready at all times
to serve in any public office where they
may be useful when called upon
Again in my vision I was surprised
not to be offended by the fog and fulig
nous vapors that usually overhang q
great manufacturing city. The sky that
bent over me was as clear and blue as
| in the south of Italy. The law rightly
required that appliances should be used
| to consume all the smoke and every one
cheerfully obeyed the law. because all
were proud and happy to live in this
spotless city and to have part in its pro-
lection and adornment.
Finally. all the evils, some of them
unmentionable. which seem to be in
eradicable in AZ great city, had been by
judlcious and honest police surveillance
reduced to a minimum, and in the places
where they existed they were not in evil
dence to offend or to serve as a pitfali
for the weak and the unwary. Theaters,
i academies of music, art galleries. mu-
seums of art and natural history &c
olcgical and botanical gardens were
conveniently placed throughout the city
for the amusement and instruction of
the people, and besides an admirab BILE
system of public graded schools there
were numerous industrial schools for
both sexes wherein the brain and the
hands " ere trained together And ali
these wonders had been brought about
in a few years by the cooperation OF
the best and busiest citizens of the city
moved not alone by civic pride and the
altruiStic spirit, but actuated well by
enlightened self-interest. Most of these
active citizens were members of what Is
known as the Commercial club. This
city of my dreams. then nearly 100000
people, for the most part prosperous,
happy and contented, was in the way OF
increasing its population by $4,000 a
year
Finally in my dreams there was
brought to my attention a proclamation
of the president of the United States IN
furtheTance of certain acts of the legis>
lature of the states of Missouri and
Kansas and an act of congress. The
purpose of this proclamation was to re-
verse an ancient injustice, resulting
from the caprice of thoughtless sur
veyor, whereby this city of my dreams
instead of the state of Kansas, where 1t
belonged. 1t was now declared to be Il
part of the state of Kansas, whose vast
resources have largely created and made
it the splendid municipality it was. May
the dream come true''
"A MESSAGE TO GARCIA
"A Message to Garcia" was responded
to by Captain A. S. Rowan, U. S. A,
who said:
Mr.. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
This subject has been assigned to me,
but it would appear passing strange
that in this great city, and before this
club, such a subject should be discussed
at all. To carry messages of no i'm
port to men of small worth is no func-
ton of this club, and the people who
make up this great city. To foresee and
forestall the future; to rise to the re-
quirements of the occasion; to accept
responsibilities; to grapple with ans
overcome attendant difficulties, and to
attain the desired object are steps on
the road to success, but steps so ia
miliar to you all that to recall them
must pail upon your patience.
IF there be one spot-one people-in
the round world today that has set a
high-the highest-ideal for itself and
has gone steadfastly forward to the
goal, that spot is your city-that people
yourselves. I need not cite statistics
For here faith backed by skill and en-
ergy has removed mountains, turned