The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-04


This Fourth of July may result in
many things. Fingers may be lost and
political destinieS may change
In fact one Fourth of July came
near defeating the political aspirations
of Shawnee county politician. This
politician wished to carry a country
precinct some Is miles from town. One
day during the heat of the campaign
he journeyed to the country precinct
There was one man there who was abb
solutely necessary to his success. He
must have that mans influence ana
support. He bought lemonade for the
man and handed him cigars as fast as
he could smoke them, but someway this
man wasn't coming his way. He was
Indifferent to his cause.
The politician could not find out cx-
actly what was the trouble and he Sc
cured an emissary to make the dis
sary returned with his report
DO you remember a Fourth of July
eleven years ago when you fired a
bunch of firecrackers off under the
sitting on?" asked the emissary.
Yes" said the politician. But the
firecrackers didn't hurt him.
No. but the fellows who were stand
ing round laughed at him, and that
hurt his feelings. He hasn't forgotten
you, and he won't vote for you.''
The politician lost that precinct on
account of the man and the fire.
crackers.
There is a man in Topeka and a
school teacher. The man is IS years old
and the school teacher must be As
years OF age: She is single; the man
is married. But the marital conditions
of the principals in this gossip have
nothing to with the case.
This man went to school to this teach
er 20 years ago. He has not forgotten
it. Neither has the school teacher. While
/ 70 laar. t. I,r,
was of course a boy then, hated her.
Now the school teacher hates him.
When the man was a boy, a score of
years ago, he was boy all over. and
he hasn't fully outgrown that condition
either. The teacher taught a summer
school. The boy was so much of a boy
that he didn't have time to keep up
with his studies and his parents sent
him to the summer school. A few days
before the Fourth the boy began cele-
bratiOns in the school house yard The
teacher didn't like the noise.
She ordered the boy to '.desist" That
word "desist" always stuck in his craw.
He never liked it. He >desisted, after a
while and the teacher kept him in after
school for an hour and then made him
I do some extra work at the blackboard
every day for a week.
! The boy told the teacher he would
get even with her If it took him all his
\ life" Then the teacher kept him in an
\ hour after school for another week.
/ Ten years after that the boy was Is
years old and on the Fourth of July he
/ had his revenge. He had two wheeled
cart loaded with giant firecrackers and
| bombs. He got a small boy to help
him. He took the ordnance department
I to the street in front of the house where
the school teacher lived. He began ex-
actly at midnight and he kept up the
noise until long after daylight He had
his revenge. The teacher saw him trun-
n 10 aVf hon
empty and it was time for breakfast
There is another man in Topeka who,
up to last year had not outgrown his
youthfulness. Before the Fourth he
was talking with the children of "A
friend He proposed that he bring his
fireworks to their house and that they
join forces in celebrating. The chill
dren agreed.
The father laughed at the proposition
but urged his friend to spend the day
with them. The father laid in a good
supply Of cigars and lemonade.
! About noon of the Fourth the man
arrived. He had a small one horse ex-
press wagon half full of fire crackers
and fireworks. He unloaded the supply
and put it on the porch.
He took off his coat and methodically
began. He refused cigars and lemon
ade and kept firing crackers singly and
by the bunch. He would hardly wait
for supper to be over and was at it
| again.
During the night the visitor fired
rockets and sent UP balloons by the
dozens. His hands, his face and his
clothing were burned. He refused to
sit on the porch and smoke.
The father expoStulated with him
Look here, you are firing yourself out
trying to entertain the children. Come
and rest
NO" said the visitor. when I was
a boy my parents didn't have money
enough to buy me a five cent bunch or
crackers. Stree 1 have gotten old
er and have money enough l have been
making I'D for the fun I lost This is a
selfish deal. / am not doing this to
entertain your children but am embrac-
ing an opportunity to have all the fun
and noise / want