davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
REFORMS THAT SEEM DISTANT

One of the certain and almost self
evident laws of physics is that large
bodies move slowly. Hence, there can
be no doubt that the national monetary
commission, composed of national leg
isIators with Senator Nelson w. Aid
rich. of Rhode Island, at its head, is a
most ponderous affair. For he has
made it known that it is his idea that
it will be at least two years before the
commission will have bill ready to re-
port to congress which it is hoped will
give America the most complete and
satisfactory banking system in the
world.
Two years is quite a while to wait
for a remedying of the conditions under
which the banking of the country is
transacted and which it is admitted on
all hands are faulty in many particu-
lars and to great degrees. When this
monetary commission was created and
sent on, it's fine junket to Europe for
the purpose of investigating the bank
ing and money systems in the coun-
tries of the old world, the natural ex-
pectation among the people probably
was that banking and currency legisla-
ton of some satisfactory sort would be
ready for consideration at the coming
session of congress. There is no ques-
ton so close to the important inter-
ests of all classes Of people in this
country today, than the problem of es-
tablishing a satisfactory currency sys-
tenn and for necessary changes in the
administrative features of the banking
laws. It is a question which should be
settled as soon as possible. Haste in
the premises is not desirable. to be sure,
result. But it does seem that two years
is considerably more time than is act
ually necessary toward the shaping up
of legislation to this end. And it also
seems that this national monetary com
mission might stir itself a bit and get
in it's report before all that time has
elapsed. The presentation of this re-
port with such proposed legislative
measures as will go with 1t, will in re-
atty be but the opening gun of the
campaign for legislation towards the
ends in view. The matter will then
have to be threshed out in the halls of
congress. There is not the slightest
possibility that the recommendations of
the monetary commission, no matter
what they may be, will be acceptable
to many of the prominent national
solons who have a lot of ideas and
theories of their particular own on cur
rency and banking as we'll as on every
other conceivable public question. Just
the mere fact that Mr.. Aldrich will be
sponsor for the measures in a way will
be quite sufficient to make some of the
strong men in the senate antagonize
them. So it is quite evident that there
win be long struggle after the none
tary commissions report is put in be-
fore any legislation win be enacted and
the chances are that when such bills
are finally put through they will have
about as much semblance to the form
in which they were drafted by Mr.. Aid
rich and the other members of the
monetary commission as a jackrabbit
has to a gold fish. In reality, therefore,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
THE SPEAKER

1t is very generally conceded that the
rules of the house of representatives
should be changed and the procedure
made more democratic
1t should be borne in mind that the
house and not the speaker makes the
rules. The speaker enforces them-oth-
erwise he would fail of his duty.
Uncle joe has enforced them so well
and with such impartiality and fair
ness that some of the insurgent mem
bers have WINGED. Hence the injustice
of bowling at the speaker because he
tries to work under the very rules i'm
posed upon him and the other members
by all the howlers themselves.
The speaker himself doubtless wants
the rules changed. The members could
not then cowardly, on occasion, as they
do now, blame the speaker for what
they themselves are to blame, but
which they find they can shift to the
speaker with little chance of being
caught, when they desire to evade re-
sponsibility.
If a man has a deceased foot needing
amputation it is advisable to sever it
at the ankle rather than cut it off just
below the worthy mans chin.
The Hutchinson News has this sensi-
Die statement:
THE best observers among the
Washington correspondents seem to be
of the opinion that Mr.. Cannon will be
the speaker of the next congress, in
spite of the loud noise being made just
now by those who are opposed to him.
As the discussion goes on the astute
observers are coming to the conclusion
that by the time March next rolls
around there will be no serious attempt
to beat Uncle joe The belief is be-
coming prevalent that the fight has for
its object not the defeat of Mr.. Can
practically the whole country believes
desirable. The warfare on the speaker
is doubtless with a view to paving the
way for this reform. When it comes
to a showdown the net result is likely
to be a rules committee, much larger,
than the present, elected possibly by
the house rather than appointed by
the speaker, and a different practice
resentative by the speaker, which will
make unnecessary the little visit to the
speakers room in advance to be as
sured of that privilege.
Perhaps even the radical opponents
of the speaker are not hoping for his
defeat, but are merely using their fierce
opposition for advertising purposes. If
in the end the rules are changed. SO
that the speakership is minimized and
the Individual members power cores
pondingly magnified, they can claim
credit for the result, quite as much as
can the congressman who are honest
to admit that the fault lies
with the rules and not with the speak
er and are not seeking to make Uncle
joe the scapegoat of their own fail
ure to adopt proper rules. Congress-
man Madison of this district is one of
those who believe that it is not so i'm
portant to change the speaker as it
is to change the rules. He frankly
admits where the; fault lies and as
frankly states his purpose to join in
the effort to change the rules what
ever may be done about the speaker
ship"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
THE MINING TALENT.

His manners are rude, his fiber is coarse; ;
He lacks all the traits that are splendid.
He takes what he can by the use of brute
force.
And considers the argument ended;
His face is repulsiVe, his language I'M
clean:
His hair hides the filth of his collar;
He is foul. he is selfish. and sordid, and
But he knows how to cling to a dollar.
He is merely body deprived of a soul;
He SCOTS at the artist as worthless:
From all who deal with him he claims
heavy toll;
:, voice is nerve-rasping and mirth-
less:
His ways are the ways of boor. and he
Sneers
At gently bred people and scholars,
But the world deems him worthy and
wise-it appears
He knows how to pile up the dollars.
Chicago Record-Herald.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

now / can loosen up so you'll have q
yin for me-"
"A yin?'' repeated Maude uncer-
tainly. This was a word not in JIM
"A yin-a yearning,y explained Cor
don. Il want you to think that I'm
the whole works, and you won't even
let me be the second hand. Fly me
up so can come into the big tent and
pc part OF the programme I'm the
what Is It., out in the freak tent, and
don't like the job. 1 may not be
quite your style, but can learn. I'm
the star pupil in the little red school
mouse, and I'll always be at the head
OF the class if you'll be the teacher. I
rove 10 love my teacher"
blazing
o M Gordon;" she said. coldly. ct will
not prolong this interview. do not know
know. but you must go, please. I cannot
hsten to you when you talk this way"
Maude rose. and now he smiled down into
the flushed. angry face.
my latest effort is no more siicces srfal
than the earlier attempts. They say that
terry, and yet you are not pleased .
u, what DO you mean?" gasped Maude
You learned slang for my benefit" he
reminded. When I do the same thing
you you object; OF course. my slang is more
only have Jimmie. while have the valu-
aDle assistance of several elevator boys
my office boy and the janitor's son, who
qualities as an expert. You use slang to
q disgust ~ sine. me.with yourself. I am using
II 70 disgust you-with slang"
AND you kmow?'' Easped Maude. Jim
BE it said to his credit that the temp
tation was great said Gordon gently
DO not blame the lad. He meant well
IN giving me my last chance to win you.
he saw beneath the surface, and was
sorry Tor his part. foolishly imagined
mat II could excel you in the use OF
slang. l might Startle you into an in
tterSst that see now you never can
1eeIr, 1t was a foolish experiment Miss
IolilVer. and ask your pardon for hav-
ing bored and then frightened you. 1t
was my last chance. and hoped that 1t
II gather from Jimmie's remarks that
you rear paternal pressure will be brought
70 pear on YOU. 1 beg to assure you that
1 VIII so contrive the situation as not to
chance-failed."
The little pauses in his speech were
Gordons only evidences of emotion. They
were only little halts in the evenness of
MS sort. even voice. but they showed the
strength of feeling. and it touched Maude
with 2 sudden emotion.
Dont go" she said softly, laying a
the last chance has not-I mean But
she could say no more Gordon's arms
were outstretched and in his face-no
longer expressionless-there was a look of
such appeal that she suffered herself to
be drawn within their protecting circle.
The last chance had won.-(Copyrighted
1908. by Associated Literary Press)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
GLOBE SIGHTS.
IFrom the Atchison Globe.l


If you can't write down a date without
remarking that time flies, quit writing it.
You get what you cry for when you are
young. and cry for what you get when
you are old.
You will never see anything in a love
letter that is worth ten thousand dollars,
unless you wrote the letter.
The man who has done something that
has made him the subject of gossip, can't
complain that the people don't take any
interest him.
always eat last. But then. women don't
care as much for eating men, And as
result they live longer than men.
The man who doesn't bring a story of
where he has been to his wife, and some
thing IN his pockets for the children, is
unsatisfactory in two relations
that draws crowd of women together
Browning or Bridge. they will decide be-
fore adiourning that some man is guilty.
The women are paying out good deal
TO improve their complexions What is the
matter with the old-fashioned womans
method Of getting steam bath over the
If you begin to feel every noon as if
you Were tired out and needed a nap. it
man passes a certain age, he doesn't see
ANYTHING on his journey but old age
signs.
Give little boy dime to spend on
himself and before he has gone a block.
a procession of larger boys have caught
up with him, A large boy scents a nickel
in a smaller boys pocket in the same way
a dog scents a bone in smaller dogs
mouth.
A man from the country went into a
music store the other day and said he was
a fine piano player. and wanted to try
an Instrument with view of purchasing.
and he sat down and began hammering
the keyboard The proprietor of the store
thought the man was crazy. and sent for
a police officer. 1t developed afterwards
that the man was simply an ordinary
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
Purple Americans.

Americas Purple" recently pro-
1ected by an English-American COM
pany, aims to be an American Alma
mach de Gotha; a royal book of Amer
lean royal citizens. Are the imperial
istic high jinks of the byzantine court
of Washington to find no echo in the
breasts of humble but aspiring inhab-
itantS of this kingdom in embryo? We
may deride the wearer of coronets,
and even sneer, though ever so gently,
at the amiable weakness of the new
rich who emboss their motor cars with
coats of arms. But when a prospec-
tus from across the waters tells US that
with the view of obtaining for Amer
leans travelling abroad the recognition
to which they are entitled at home"
the Blank Company asks you to en-
roll your name and the name of your
wife and the name of her grandmoth-
er within the paper walls of its purple
book, then we succumb. Passports to
social emfnence are not to be scorned-
Naturally you must plank down
few inconseQuential dollars, as
printers ink and paper cost money.
Yet what a meager sacrificed How
enthusiastically small is the outlay
when compared to the results. AS
purple American ariStocrat, with your
name printed in the magic book, you
may say with Pistol, slightly altered;
1.-The world is my social oyster
In your car you may knock at the
doors of palaces and haughtily send in
royal person will dare refuse you rec
ignition? That every one, that the
world and his wife will be included
in reckless mish-mash of indiscrim-
mate housing under one roof. we are
assured by the prospectus, will not be
the case. A keen discretion in the Sc
lection of names will be exercised. You
will be in it, the other fellow will not
although we confess that we are puz-
zled as to the methods of the ma
chinery to be set in motion. Fancy
meeting your dearest friends, book in
hand on the chase for a Saturday till
Monday house party in England! But
why anticipate such hateful happen
ings? Does not the book solemnly
promise that 1.-The registration between
its covers will be proof of social eligi-
bility?" What a smoothening of diff
ficult social ways. Send your money
and you will be in the social Arcadia.
Snobbish? Not bit of it, A young
French philosopher, Jules Gaultier, |
has evolved the ingenious theory that
snob biShness is the most natural of
traits; nay, the most necessary, a sign
that we are only fulfilling our destiny; |
mankind always seeks to seem other
than it is. Darwinism applied to So
cia1 climbers.
Welcome, then, the Book of Purple. |
Welcome the Social Baedeker. We'll |
come the new Peerage of the imperial |
reign. Seven dollars and fifty cents!-I
New York Sun.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
Origin of OxtafI Soup.

The now familiar oxtail soup is said
to have had its origin during the Reign
of Terror in Paris in 1898, when many
of the nobility were reduced to starVa-
ton and beggary. The abattoirs sent
their hides fresh to the tanners with
out removing the tails, and in cleaning
them the tails were thrown away. One
day one of the noble beggars, while
happening to pass a tannery, noticed a
pile of discarded tails, and asking for
one it was willingly given to him. He
took it to his lodgings and made what
is now famous-the first dish of oxtail
soup. He Immediately told his friends
of the good luck he had had, with the
natural result that the tanners We're
soon annoyed to such an extent by the
demand for oxtails that a price was put
unon them.-New England Grocer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

''Bar drinking on all trains" is the
headline over a story in a recent issue
of a Kansas paper. This must not be
construed as meaning that all the trains
in the state have bars where drinks
are served. Far from it. 1t calls atten-
ton to possible action on the part of
the board of railroad commissioners in
the way of prohibiting the drinking of
liquor and beer by passengers on rail-
road trains. This is a practice which
should be stopped and it is to be hoped
that the railroad commissioners will
find a way to do it. 1t will be no easy
task however.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

A giant stride in the right direction
has been made by civil service reform
through the order of the president
placing in the classified service all
fourth class postmasters in the states
east of the Mississippi river and north
of the Ohio river. 1t will mean that
in the future candidates for these
positions will at least have the quail
f1cations and intelligence that are
needed by an ordinary clerk. And the
promise is made that the same condi-
lions will prevail in the postal service
all over the country before a great
time has elapsed.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

Members of the streets and walks
committee of the city council are to be
congratulated for their decision to Gre
ate a new park in the southeastern
section of the city. A city cannot have
too many parks and they can be estab-
lished in Topeka more cheaply now
than they can in the years to come af-
ter the city has grown and developed
and tracts of land such as are desir-
able for parks have enhanced greatly
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

About the best advice concerning
advertising that has been given
around these parts is that which was
delivered to the members of the To-
peka Ad club at its recent session by
Mr.. L. Roy Curtis, of Kansas City, Mo.
He told the advertisers that the best
campaign for them to wage was one
with facts as a basis. That is really
the only kind of advertising that pays
in the long run. OF course, the peo-
pie, the buying public, can be fooled
once in awhile but as Lincoln remark
ed it is impossible to fool all OF the
people all the time.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
HUNOR or THE Day

II Dret3% you USED to be fond of
still does We're married now."-Loniss
vile Courier-Journai.
I'm sure" said the interviewer. "the
public would be interested to know the
man. replied the captain of industry, the
secret of my success has been my ability
to keep it a secret. The Catholic Stand
ard and Times.
Where do you work ny coed ma17.,
hazardous occupatioil'' 20 no num- I
seldom meets any automobiles on my way
1T fancy our family doctor is the least
aio TGae or Well hes
mostly apathetic." = Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Jinmie-7My mas gone downtown to pay
some bills Tommie-Pooh! The man
The automobile Is rapidly dividing the
or the dead. "-Puck.
Miss Rambo--so de wedding was a great
so. We. wired to town for hundred
all safety razors.-Brooklyn Eagle.
Jimmie (admirinE tattoing on chum's
arm)-Say. OATS great; did It hurt much?
Chicago News.
Mother-Cynthia. 1 wish that you
wouldn't go out and play golf so much
with that young Phoebe. Cynthia-Why,
mother. If didn't do that he'd come here
and talk it all the time.-Brooklyn Eagle.
Eminent Advocate-welI. my little man.
what are you going to be when you grow
up7 Little Man-Father thinks l should
become a LAWYER. Eminent Advocate
(hghly flattered)-Why does he think
that? Is 1t because you are so cleVerH
Little Man-Oh. no. It's because I ask
so many silly questionsi-London Opinion.
As nearly as can be differentiated, Job
is where man does most of the work
and somebody else gets most of the pay,
and a position is where a man gets most
of the pay and somebody else does most
of the work.-Puck.
Stranger-My friend. why are you
swearing so? Cussity-Why? Because of a
blank fool of a doctor. got some pills
for a pain in my back: and the directions
read "Take one a half hour before you
feel the pain coming on."-Judge.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
A New Postoffice Device.

A new electrical apparatus, which
is designed to facilitate the dlspatch
of nostal letters, has just been in
stalled in a Paris postoffice. 1t con-
sists of an endless roll of linoleum,
200 feet in length. This. in revolving,
rubs against 32 electric bobbins, op-
when the current is switched on the
1inoIeum roll descends into the letter
box. the contents of which are at
tracted to the linoleum by the cleo
tricity and communicated by the Dop-
bins. The letters are thrown into a
truck and carried by means of mini
allure railway through the public
room to the Sorting office. The saving
in time is said to be considerable, and
the apparatus is almost nofseless.-
London Globe.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

After much digging and delving at
the Standard Oil hearing in New York
the attorneys have finally wrung from
John D. Archbold the reasons as to
why the oil trust was formed. He de-
clared that it was done as a protec-
tive measure to the vast property in
terests involved. This definite infor-
nation from a high Standard Oil Off
cial is just what the average person
would think that the trust was created
for. 1t is merely valuable in discount
ing any possible opinions that the trust
was formed for charitable purposes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

''T've had enough of politics." says
Jerry D. Botkin, who-let's see-Oh,
yes-he was the Democratic candidate
for governor during the late cam
paign. Now it would hardly be fair
to call Mr.. Botkin a gutter although
the precedent in Democratic politics
of these times is for a man to be con-
tinuously a candidate until defeated
three times at least. 1t may be said
of him, however, that he is entitled to
be classed among those who are wise
in their own generation.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
rFrom the New York Press.J

Women seem to regard charity work as
a stepping stone into society.
The reason the average man can be so
satisfied with his brains is he hasn't any.
The kind of photograph a woman thinks
is good of her is one her own mother
couldn't guess who 1t was.
When girls hair is a golden halo in
stead OF being Just plain red. it's a sign
it's her mother describing it.
One of the habits a man acquires by
being married is lying to his friends
downtown about ali the good things his
wife gives him to eat at home so that he
can't stand the ones in the expensive
restaurants any more.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

was about six times greater than the
increase in the receipts. This is pill
ing up deficit at a rate that would
make an ordinary business man turn
gray with worry if he had a proper
Tomato one in his business. Surely
halt in the spending of governmental
money must be called somewhere and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

They evidently do things sub rosa.
as it were, in Hayti. OF course, the en-
bers of a revolution of some sort are
always blazing up there with more or
less strength, but it was not generally
known that real revolution was in
progress there and so the news that
the army of the revolutionists was on
the warpath and only a few miles from
Port au Prince is rather unexpected.
But then the average revolutionary
army in Hayti is so small that it might
easily hide under a good-sized rose leaf.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

Among the revolters against the
present rules under which the affairs
Of the house of representatives are
administered is Congressman Card
ner, of sachusetts. He is handi-
capped in any fight that he may make
on any proposition because his front
name is "Gussie."
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

Gratifying, indeed, are the increases
Of the government receipts from Gus
tom, internal revenue and other
sources for the month of November
as compared with the corresponding
period of last year, but-and here
comes a disturbing rub-the increase
In the expenditures during the month
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03

It is reported that the latest batch
of revolutionists in Hayti are sweep
ing all before them. The universal
hope probably is that they make an
exceedingly clean sweep this time so
that peace will prevail in the negro
republic for q week or two.