The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-03

There was another boy who came TO
Topeka. Somehow, he didn't even earn
the respectful appellation of boyle
was always spoken of in that dialect,
which gathers unto itself those of it's
tongue-he was and is known as The
Kid.
There are lots of kids. There was
Billy the Kid who terrorized New Mex
leo. There is Kid Lavigne of prize ring
fame There is-but why enumerate
Indefinitely? About the worst thing that
can happen to a boy. is to be given the
name of Kid
When he was at school. he was the
one who planned the game of crack-the-
whip and who was always No. l. who
did the cracking, and was never at the
end to be cracked. He was rather in
clined to be a bully, but he was deferred
from being a real thirty second degree
terror. on account of the rods that his
father, and the school teacher, always
had handy
The Kid ran away from home a few
times, but he was always mighty glad
to wander back in a very short time.
He had an idea that the town where he
was born. was too small for him. he
wanted to go to a city. He preferred
| New York. His mother wanted him to
stay at home and the compromise was
effected when The Kid and his father,
4 v
The Kid should spread his wings and
soar toward the triumph he was after.
Just what the triumph was, or how he
should succeed, he did not know. but he
did know, that he was not built for farm
work, or any other calling where real
work was required. He had an idea
that an important position, where he
could dictate to others as he lolled in a
leather covered office chair, would about
suit him. He did not wish to begin as
section hand IN hGCnnnp railroad
president, nor as an Office boy. to be-
come the head of big mercantile house.
The Kid came to Topeka to avoid
work He brought some homemade
clothes. and a Bible his mother had
given him. He discarded all the nome
made socks. for f1ashy store bought
hosiery, with lots of green. yellow, red,
blue and purple in them. The only use
he had for the Bible. was as a recepta-
Gle for postage stamps.
He secured position that paid him
$50 a month. That was about three
years ago. He is still receiving $50 a
month and he is not. nor never was,
worth more than $2650, just a little less
than he is being paid instead of a little
more. He is always afraid of doing too
much work for the pay he gets.
He doesn't pay his laundry bills He
owes all the clothing stores that will
credit him. He is often behind in his
board bill and his landlady has to file
cashier who pays The Kid, in order to
get anything at all.
The Kid writes home occasionally
generally about two weeks in advance
of the time he intends to ask father for
a little ready change. He writes glow
ing accounts of how he is pros pering,
and what a swath he is cutting: tells
how he is in society. The truth Is: the
closest he can get to society is to hear
the fringe of society, sort of swish, as il
passes him.
But the father and mother off there
in the country town. have the mistaken
idea that to succeed in the city young
man must be in society, and they be
sionaI letters they receive from The
Kid.
If the truth were known THE Kid mas
aan inclination toward faro and roulette
He has that mistaken idea that to be
somebody. one must be high roller, a
sport He thinks he is making a mark he
is, to use a slang expression, making "a
mark of himself. He likes to wave his
hand and give an imperious order for
Now and then 1.-THE Kid" receives a let
ter from his mother, or his father, ask
ing him to write home occasionally. TO
most fearful appeals and the humble
question: Have you forgotten your father
and your mother?" would. to one less
Nof a So H. with I'6e Kid" He goes right
on. He is here in Topeka, in real life, and
not fictitious parsonage There are many
more like him How much different from
The Boy who wears the socks his
mother knit for him and reads his Bible
NOTED and now holds responsible posi-
ton. His salary is increased occasionally
He is not afraid to work Where will he
be in % years if he lives. and where win
if he survives the pace?