The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-29
HISTORY OF THE ELkS.
Pick Smiths Amusing Story of Its
Rise to Power.

In the programme distributed at
| the Elks minstrel show on Monday
night appeared a sketch of the Topeka
Elks under the following caption:
History of Topeka lodge of Elks. Con-
tanning numerous secrets of the order
not before coughed up Corrected and
revised to date by the lodge officers,
with the assistance of a blacksmith.
Copy'rit by Pick Smith. Illustrations
by A. Fawn.
Topeka Lodge No. 2a4 of the Be
nevolent Order of Elks was boosted
into existence-as the village of Law
renee in early Kansas days was mighty
nearly boosted out-by a gang of
Pukes from Missouri; but as that state
ton, we will freely forgive them.
Isn't it a shame that Robert Ingersoll
went hence SO early in the game as he
often said he would become Christian
wh 1ea Missouri went Republican?
Topeka lodge was instituted in April,
1891, and is therefore something over
3 years of age. Notwithstanding this
is the 18th year of our existence, it has
been one of the most prosperous. in
many ways. The 10 part of it don't
bother us a little bit, as we are not
the least bit Suspicious Some years
ago one of the judges of the supreme
court OF Ohio went a-f1shing. He
stopped at a hotel at the fishing
grounds, took a room, and engaged a
boat. He fished several days, and, al
though other men and women and
nSn1nS all around MIN caught
big strings of nice large fish, his catch
was always very few measly little
fellows. One day one of the guides
said; Judge. do you know why you
said: NO; why is it?'' The guide re-
piled: Because you have boat No.
IS" The judge turned about and
went to the hotel. He soon returned,
with a grin on his face, and said:
There may be something in that 10
business after all, for not only is my
boat numbered 10, but so is my room,
and I see by the register that I got
here on the 18th day of the month.
1 have just ordered my room changed,
and after this I will use another boat.
If there is anything in this 1 business
L want to know it." After these
larger ones, than he. This is no fairy
tale.
Our lodge has had a good many ups
and downs, good deal of sunshine and
some shadow, some little prose and a
good deal of poetry-but, speaking of
poetry, do any of you realize what an
all round poet Isaac Watts, the hymn
writer, was? As he started for work
handed him a list of groceries and
things she wanted him to bring with
him when he came home to tea. Mer-
chants did not deliver goods in those
days. AS this list included a bushel of
potatoes, a half bushel of apples, sack
of flour, some turnipS and onions a
live chicken, salt mackerel, a bunch
of celery. a gallon of maple syrup, and
also a lot of canned goods, as well as
other groceries, Friend Watts, after
reading the list, said to himself: "She
must take me for a dray." He returned
that evening later than usual, even for
Saturday night, and after he had laid
the part of his Toad" consisting of a
loaf of rye bread, two pounds of Swiss
cheese a can of caviare, a bottle of
French mustard and four bottles of
beer on the kitchen table, his wife step
ped up and said: Whats all this?''
He replied: 1.-The things you ordered. !"