The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-24
James Manusos, Well to Do Greek
Candy Merchant, Who Has
Disappeared.

Without any previous announcement
or the least intimation his part,
Manusos last January, suddenly made
up his mind to close up his store here
and make a visit to his old home in
Lacone, Greece. near Athens. The first
knowledge the public had of his pur-
pose was the notice posted on the
front door of his esta blishment jan
uary Is. On this date he left Topeka
to make q visit to his old home and
was accompanied by his little terrier
"Bobbie." Since that time not a word
has been heard from Manusos and
seven weeks have rolled by since he
expected to returne
A great deal of surprise was mani
Tested by his contemporaries in bust
ness that Manusos should leave To-
peka at that time. as it was a particu-
larly prosperous time for the confec-
tionery business with the Legislature
in session. But Jimmie wanted to go
back for some reason and nothing
could stop him.
Why he left is a matter of much
speculation. Not even the Greeks in
Topeka have ever had any definite in
timation as to his reasons for leaving,
scenes of his childhood. He was a
man who had but few acquaintance
and these were mostly fellow country
men, and even among them he was
considered somewhat of a recluse. He
lived all by himself in little room in
the rear of his candy store, where he
and his little dog Bobbie enjoyed the
silent companionship of each other.
When he left there were several rea-
sons suggested for his leaving. A story
was advanced to the effect that he was
going back to Greece to visit his moth
er who is now about ninety years of
age. Another is that he was tired of a
bachelors life and wished to forsake
the single blessedness for a better half
to share his savings with him.
In talking about his case, Con Chu-
ha1 ia haS
back home to get married. 1t takes
month to get there and it generally
takes several days to find a suitable
girl to marry and then a few weeks
more to present your case. Then you
have to spend several weeks in taking
g honeymoon trip through Greece.
After that it takes a month to get back
to America. No. l am not worried in
the least about Jimmie. and 1 think
he will be home again in a short time"
Manusos is a naturalized American
citizen, but even then he may have
encountered trouble with, the Greek
government when he arrived on the
shores of his native land. Whenever
a Greek leaves Greece before the age
of twenty-one if he ever comes back
he is compelled to serve either one or
two years in the Grecian army. The
length of time is decided by lot. Con-
stantine Chumos, another Greek went
back to Greece a couple of years ago,
and after lengthy negotiations with
the Grecian authorities only escaped
military service by paying a sum of
money to the government. This alter
native is now, however, abolished and
Jimmy may have been impressed into
service under the flag of his native
land which he has since renowned in
favor of the stars and stripes. If such
is the case, the little store on Kansas
avenue will probably remain closed for
several months longer.
The story of Manusos' life is an in
teresting one. 1t was sixteen years ago