The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-18
THEIR FIRST BOW.
Governors Mansion Formally
Opened by the New Host.
Editors rendered Reception by
Koch Family.
4 PLEASANT EVENING.
Kansas Writers sMade Them
selves at HOme."
Allowed to Wander Up Into the
Billiard Room.

Governor and Mrs. Hoch made their
first bow to the public as host and
hostess at the commodious Governors
mansion last evening upon the occa-
sion of the reception rendered to the
members of the Kansas State Edi-
torial association who have been at
tending the meetings of that organiza-
ton in the city this week.
| Mrs. Noble Prentis met the guests
at the door to hand them over to Gov
ernor Hoch. who stood at the head
of the receiving line with Mrs. Hoch,
Miss Hoch, Miss Anna Hoch and Mas
ter Wallace Hoch. The guests were
received in the drawing room and the
doors stood open between that room
and the music room where the orch es-
ira was stationed.
Refreshments were served in the
dining room and Miss Josephine Kizer
and Miss Lora Neil presided over the
punch bowl.
Mrs. Hoch wore a gown of cham
payne coIored crepe. Miss Hoch wore
a simple dress Of white wool and Miss
Anna Hoch a dainty blue dress Of the
same material. Governor Hoch wore
Tuxedo.
The reception was a. pronounced
like a big party. Everyone who at
tended, or practically every one who
was there. has been friend of Gov
ernor Hoch for years. Almost with
out exception the guests were editors,
or newspaper people in some capacity.
Most of the Topeka people who at
tended are identified with newspaper
work. and all have read 1.-The
Thoughts I Have Been Thinking as
long as they have known Mr.. Hoch.
All the guests made themselves per-
fectly at home. A number of the edi-
tors who had left their wives at home,
OF who had no wife or sweetheart, ar
rived early in the evening. Without
the ladies to talk to they found it
somewhat dull for the time and they
all hurried on to the library where
they organized a bachelors society.
Homer Clark got the governors big
easy chair, and the rest of the
recluses settled themselves in posi-
lions of comfort in other easy chairs
and on the big leather couch.
Ewing Herbert was there, but he
set bad example. The late president
of the Editorial association committed
properly clad for an occasion of that
kind. His many friends were sorely
perplexed to find a cause for it. For
Herbert, the immaculate, attended
the reception in a business suit
But it was a successful reception
regardless. Editors have a faculty of
getting together and talking shop"
when there is nothing else to do, and
even sometimes when there are other
things that might be done.
Some of the editors came from the
short grass country and were unac-
quafnted with the mysteries of the
great and impressive governors man
sion, but to their credit, it must be
said they acted with great dignity and
good grace. thereby proving their
right to be "moulders of public
opinion"
The governors mansion is a credit to
the state and Governor Hoch called the
attention of many of his guests to the
expensive furniture, and furnishings of
the building. He explained that the
house was originally built by a wealthy
cattleman who went broke" and the
state bought his residence and the fur
nishings at about one-third their origi-
nal cost
Many of the editors took a trip up
to the third floor and visited the bill
lizard and pool rooms and the ball room.
Many speculations were made as to
whether these rooms on the third floor
would be used much during the coming
two years.
Governor Hoch is a member in good
standing of the Methodist church. Gov
ernor Stanley was also a member of
the Methodist church. Considerable
wonder was expressed when Governor
Stanley came to Topeka whether the
ball room and the billiard rooms would
come into use, but all doubts were soon
Q1Sp6llGQ. Inc governor mansion De
came quite a popular place with the
young people of Topeka and frequently
the third floor was the scene of gay
parties.
And the editors are wondering if his
tory will repeat itself.
The house was lighted from top to
bottom last night and the pretty rooms
were never shown to better advantage.
Although Governor Hoch has only been
an occupant of the mansion a week,
they have becom quite settled and
Governor Hoch, himself an editor, min
gled with the crowd, quite as much at
home as though he had lived there a
lifetime and had entertained all his
editorial friends dozens of times be-
fore.
Governor Hoch was personally ac-
quafnted with nearly all of his guests
and he had a word for every one; per-
haps it was to RECAP an incident of the
campaign. of the measures before the
legislature, or of a hundred different
topics of interest to the editors from
their respective localities.
The mansion was decorated with car
nations and smilax and about 200 or
more guests called during the evening.