The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-02
FROM OTHER PENS
HOT WEATHER MUSINGS.

During the first three months of the
present year 125,000,000 gallons of milk
were shipped into the city of New
York. Heaven only knows how many
gallons were sold at retail, but it Is
presumable that the consumption was
largely in excess of that amount, re-
Numbering what the local government
usually is and the freedom with which
Croton water flows from the taps In
the milk depots. What a mighty cata-
ract it is that falls night and morning
into the milkpails of the Empire state!
Let the business man who began life
on the farm picture in his mind the
long pull and the strong pull and the
pulling altogether that is required to
bring down the tactical deluge. Poured
out on excavated ground it would
fill lake a mile long, 500 feet wide
and deep enough to drown SO per cent
of the consumers who Tapped it up so
greedily. To the man who was born
and bred in the city all this means
little; to the man who was a country
boy 1t signifies much. Those who have
sided up to a nervous heifer in the
dewy morn to extract 10 quarts OF
foaming fluid by main strength, and
have ended by being kicked out of the
barn, pail and all, have some apprecia-
ton. Likewise, the youth, attired In
overalls and rubber boots, who has
grasped the hypertrophied tactical ap-
pendages of old Brindle in an INSULT
cient grasp. She was the sort which
wear d wicked leer in the corner of
their right eye, and which hold up
their milk just for a joke on the boys.
In exasperated but misguided moments
what farmer boy has not risen in his
wrath. all forgetful of the flexibility
of a rubber boot, to hand old Brindle
a swift kick where the solar plexus
ought to be, and has been crippled for
in nf his indiScra-
tion?-Detroit News.
BLIGHTING THE BUD OF GENIUS.
Rudyard Kipling has called atten-
ton to the undeniable handicaps
which burden young literary genius in
its dash for honors and money. In a
talk at the annual banquet of the
royal literary fund in London he pic
tured a competition which death has
no power to stop. 1.-THE dead hand,
with a pen in it, lies heavy on the
calling of letters" said Mr.. Kipling.
When the budding young author takes
I'D his typewriter to write in these
DAYS he enters into competition not only
with the Indiana school, the New Eng
land school the Southern school and
the other subdivisions of activities in
the American word of letters, but he
pits himself against the deal of all
ages, all races and all countries.
Such a tremendous handicap is
known to no other profession or field
of activity, not even in the other
artistic callings. Time has its meas
urable effect on painting and
sculpture, but the written word Is
defiant. James Jeffries retires from
the ring even while alive. but Will
liam Shakespeare is as active as ever.
Military genius passes away and
makes room for the next generation.
Literary genius remains and plants
obstacles in the way of its successors.
Statesmen, jurists, merchant princes.
leaders of men and bakers of bread
have their day. but the maker of books
never withdraws from the competi-
ton. I'm certain notorious cases, "
says Mr. Kipling, "the longer he has
been dead the more alive he is and
the more acute is his competition
against the ving."-Chicago Tribune.