The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-06

"Well, I forgot the theater," said
Burrows I'VE go to the theater, too,
now and then-Unc1e Toms Cabin
once year or so, and the circus. Chill
dren just love the circus. You ought
to have children, Bill. It would cheer
you up
why, I'm all right. What are you
talking about?"
tell you. you look bad. You're bili-
ouS.''
''Oh, your grandmother" I said.
We'll, now, Bill, look at your eyes.
They aren't right, I tell you. They
children
That's right, Bill; you ought to-
well suppose I had children would
I be less bilious? Good heavens Bur
rows if I were married down here in
New York wouldn't dare to have chill
dren on my lncome!
''Pshaw," said he. you don't tell
me- Have to keep 'em dressed up 1
suppose-and nurses"
''Of course" said.
''Pshawl" he muttered. That's too
bad, isn't it? Now children" said he,
ARE the light and life of Kansas
HIM" said 1.
Yes. SIR he went on. chewing a
toothpick. You take children run
ming around all over the place, like
chickens, I tell you it's nice, Bill. You
can't help loving the little scanps, al
ways up to some mischief or other.
Why, III tell you what it's like, Bill,
when there aren't any children. You
know the best bedroom that's kept shut
up and only slept in now and then
when there's company; you know how
1t smells-close and dead, especially If
there's mating Now that's what
home is, without children to keep the
air alive. Why, say, the whole blamed
farm of mine-outdoors and in-seems
dead to me when my kids go a-visit-
ing
said I. That's very new to me-and
interesting
well" said Burrows. his eyes twink
ling. I'm from Kansas-eh. Bill?'
And he nudged me. Now if there
anything I don't like, it's a man who
nudges; but they all do it, 1 suppose.
in Kansas.
Oh, as 1 say, I enjoyed Burrows
enjoyed seeing him again, and hearing
him talk, and all that, you know, but
think of the nerve, think of the sublime
impudence of a man coming all the
way from Kansas to beard a New
Yorker. and joke him, and lecture him,
and pity him, mind you! Fancy being
pitied by an old hayseed from Kansas!
understand at ali. You don't grasp the
situation. Once get you down here,
and acquainted a little, and getting on,
why the longer you stayed the harder
it would be to tear yourself away"
For fear I'd miss something
know" said Burrows. Same way
with people in insane asylums: the
longer they stay, the loonier they"
He waved his hand.
saBin'' said he, squirting one eye at
his nickel watch; "Bin, it's just forty
five minutes past nine, now. in Kan
sas."
Now what can you say to a man like
that! What can you talk about!
1r7l 4r al
York, to compare with Kansas? What
do you do with a man who is always
preac hing, and wanting to argue? what
does the government do with Kansas?
Bill" said id he end gT o%re Of course Ms@
but an adopted orphan, like most New
Workers that amount to shucks. take
it that you're fair sample"
"Well, yes-if you want to put 1t
that way" I muttered. I was getting
"A fair sample repeated Burrows,
"of a loyal New Yorker"
.sWeii, ever been to the Aquarium.
Bill?"
mo. not that I remembeE."
srYol1'd be-likely to remember tt
if you had, wouldn't you?" said ne'
more softly.
Might I said.
mo: can't say have"
Been to Grants tomb, suppose?"
"Been by it,
went inside, of course?"
''N-no: but"
Been over to Governors Island, no
doubt, to see the soldiers
mo. I haven't; but what the devil has
that to do with my being New YORK
err? Those are the show places, OF
you tourists visit, but
sOf course, Bill, you've climbed the
Statue of Liberty? All loyal New
Workers."
fernal statue for"
stSay. Bill, you're not a New Yorker.
You're not living in New York-really
living here, you know. You're just
stopping awhile. like l am, only a little
longer, that's all. And when you've
made your pile, you'll be coming back
to Kansas.
srWhy, Bill, in Kansas, there isn't
place where man was hung or shot, |
DR. any other historic spot, that our |
folks don't decorate, some time or other;
with a picnic. Why, Bill. we hve-all
over the blamed place-in Kansas!
Now I'm not urging a man to stay
IN Kansas if he don't like Kansas: I've
nothing to say when born and bred
Kansan packs up his duds, and leaves,
and laughs at his old mother state over
his shoulder He has a right to laugh
Il he wants to- If he can find it in his
heart to do such a miserable, contempt
ible turn-coat trick, I've nothing to say,
to say, t all
but, Bill, just let me catch the suck
er who'll laugh at Kansas when he's
living right on her soil, eating her
bread and butter, and drinking her
waters, and breathing her air! Don't
you ever let that kind of a Kansas
grasshopper come nigh me-or I'll brain
him with an ax-helve! I WILL so help
me.
'.Just as I feel about this here going
abroad If an American doesn't like
the United States, let him live where he
darned pleases, I say; but the kind of
that stays right here, and
drinks his country's pap, and gets club
by on it. Bill, and whines-don't you
ever let that kind Of an American come
nigh lin Rl1rrows If he wants to keep