The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-21
Glimpse at Home Life of New
Governor.
Boys Object to Coming to TOpe-
ka to Live.
IND NO WONDER.
Have Ponies, Grand House and
''All Out Doors.
Executive Elect Refuses to Talk
of Appointments.

There has been a good deal of talk
in Kansas here of late because the
Stubbs boys don't want to come to To-
peka next January when their faith
erS administration as governor of
Kansas begins, and live in the Big
House at the corner of Eighth and
Buchanan streets. But nobody who
has visited the Stubs home in Law
renee and seen the little ''Stubbles'' on
their native heath could wonder at
their reluctance. to abandon it for the
executive residence. Most of us think
the Governors House is mighty grand,
and even if it didn't suit US in every
respect, there are few who would turn
down a proposition to pick for our
own a perfectly good room with south
east exposure out at M1z Hoch 8
Leave it to a boy, however, to sniff at
political prominence and turn up his
nose at social success The StubbS
boys would rather have their SIX pom
les, their five dogs, and their thlrty
acres of playground at Lawrence than
q Cycle of Cathay or four years on
Governors Square.
rs there a barn out there at the
Governors House. Paul, the young
er of the two Stubs boys asked Wis
itor from Topeka who was trying to
make him enthusc over his prospective
change of residence. Yes" the wish
tor told him, mice. new, red brick
stables" He reflected a moment, and
then demanded, "How many stalls ?"
The question was perth ent because
the Stubs family are all lovers of
horses and keep fourteen at their
place in Lawrence. The children have
six ponies including a wee spotted
Shetland colt, the pride and pet of the
family. which they call "Tfddelde-
winks.'' Every member of the family
rides and drives. Mrs. Stubs and
Miss Lenora Stubs are skilled horse
women and have high school saddle
horses, and, by the way, the boss of
the house, the 'Littlest Girl Margar-
ct who is only seven, has a pony and
rides and drives daily. When you have
seen the Stubs children, the two boys
Roscoe and Paul, who are 2 and 10
years old, and the little girl, Margaret,
racing their ponies through the Stubs
estate and the adjoining lanes follow
ed by a pack of mongrel dogs, you can
perfectly understand, unless you are
so old that you have clean forgotten
what a good time really is, that they
don't want to leave all that for six lots
bounded by brick pavements, even If
there is a fountain in the front yard
and livery barn across the street.
Stubbs House Model.
And, at that. when it comes to a
question of grandeur, the executive
residence has no advantages over the
Stubs house which is one of the most
notable residences in Kansas. The
Stubs house is bigger than the Gov
only been occupied since May, it is
more modern and much more attrac-
tive. It is a modified Colonial of six
teen rooms, not counting halls, closets,
baths, storerooms, pantrieS, and a big
third story room which would be a
ball room if it were moth the home of
q devout Quaker with conscientious
ScrupleS against certain forms of fri
Is no hal
room at the Governors House is to re-
main in a state of limo cuous desuetude
during the next administration, and it
is not likely that those billiard tables
will be brought up out of the base
ment during the next four years. The
Stubs family, like the Hoch's, do not
dance nor play cards and to be a
strict and orthodox Quaker it seems
just as bad. Chat is, of course, to say,
just as good) as to be a Methodist
Hospitality. of a generous and whole
souled. if simple and democratic char
acter will be fully dispensed by the
family of the next governor. There is
almost always company at the Stubs
table and the guest room is rarely I'M
occupied. Since the election and before
a steady stream of visitors has been
defying the law of nature, in regard
to streams. and pouring up the hill on
top of which the Stubs house is sit
uated. Everybody who comes receives
a cordial welcome, whether his errand
ne business OF pleasure, out the app1-
cantS for pie are given the common or
garden variety instead of the political
plums to which they aspire.
Not Considering Appointments
Every day and often two or three
times day a carriage tolls up the hill
to the next governors with a passenger
looking for job. Mr.. Stubs receives
him cordially. greets him kindly. listens
to him politely but-turns him down.
His invariable reply to all offceseekers
at this stage is Nothing doing. I'm
not ready to make any appointments
and am not even considering them
No, no use to send endorsements
wouldn't look at 'em now and they
wouldn't have any weight with me- I'll
take care of all that when 1 get to it.