davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
THE GAS SUPPLY.

Now that the Topeka gas company
is doing quite well during this pre-
vailing cold spell, It may not be out of
place to say word in praise of this
city's natural gas supply, even if it
was not recently adequate in all parts
of the city during the period when the
weather was the coolest. It is with
some trepidation that this word is
being said, for it has been a general
custom among the people all over the
country, and the newspapers are in
cluded in the category of people not to
say anything about any service that
may be rendered by a gas company or
any other .quasi-public corporation,
which has the management of a
utility that is almost a necessity with
the people. unless it is in the nature
of criticism. A corporation of this sort
may go on serving the public in a most
efficient manner month in and month
out and not a word of commentator
does it receive. 1t is doing what was
expected of it and the public pays no
attention to it. But let the service of
such company become inefficient for
a moment or two because of an acct
dent or an error of judgment of one
of its officers and the public, the news
papers included. open UP TRADE of
criticism on it which often develops
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

| into little less than thoughtless abuse.
This is not a fair way for the pub
| lie to do business with the public
| service corporations. Tt is not the way
that men treat men. They are quite
| as ready to praise each others good
work as they are to find fault with
each others shortcomings. The words
of praise are great encourageme for
better efforts and the criticism that is
honest and thoughtful is welcome and
helpful. In all probability the same
rule of things would work as well in
the treatment by the people of COM
panies having control of public utiI
ties. 1t would certainly be doing jus
tice to them, doing to others as every
one would like to be done by and
there is really no reason why a word
of praise should be withheld from the
gas company or from any other public
company when it has been put to a
severe test and not found entirely
wanting.
Some such appreciation as this is due
to the gas company for it's services
during the unusually cold weather.
Perhaps the gas supply was not entire
~ adequate on the coolest day in every
part of the city but it was a good deal
better than might have been expected
under the circumstances. The local
gas company is handicapped because
1t has not been provided with facili-
ties, chiefly of the piping order, to
furnish such tremendous amount of
gas as the people of this city demand
when the weather gets excessively
cold. There is plenty of gas in the
fields from which it is drawn but there
is not the means of getting it here and
for h &c 7aff 11a rNf he
local gas company, who has proved
his efficiency and his desire to do the
right thing in many instances, nor the
local gas company itself are to blame.
It is the result of a pardonab1e error
of judgment of those who provided for
the piping of a natural gas supply to
Topeka. Before the advent of natural
gas the manufactured gas supply was
between three and five hundred thous-
and cubic feet per day. It was never
more than six hundred thousand feet
for that was the maximum capacity of
the gas plant. OF course it was an
ticipated that the natural gas would
be used much more extensively for
heating and cooking than was the
artificial gas, but was it reasonable to
suppose that right at the jump, almost,
the people of the city would go after
natural gas to the extent of ten mil
lion feet a day during the coolest of
weather? Taking everything into con-
sideration the gas supply served To-
pekans fairly well and the few hours
of Inconvenience that it caused them is
certainly more than made up by the
many advantages that. natural gas has
conferred upon the people of this city
and with which everyone of them is
familiar on a moments contemplation.
Natural gas is a luxury and a money
saver, but it is not yet absolutely to
be depended on during all cold snaps.
Neither were the coal heating systems
of Topeka. It must be remembered
too that the gas people have urged
their customers to be prepared for
with other fuel.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

1t was late. and beneath the duh gray
clouds in the west was the line of
deep orange where the sun had set.
Far down the street she could see
the light in Oswa1d's Office. and to-
ward that light, when she had slipped
on her raincoat and hat. she made
her way.
Her fimid knock brought her lover
to the door.
"Penelope!" he stammered when he
saw her.
'.Yes'-she fitted past him and drop
ped into the big chair in front of the
fire-"Pve come to make up"
She was smiling up at him, but there
came no answering smile.
II want you to forgive me-" she fall
tered.
Far calling me a coward?" There
was a bitter note in his voice.
II understand now that 1t was be-
cause of your mother-that you didn't
You had to be told that?'' he asked,
sternIy; mo belief in me brought you
here until you had proof. oh, Penelope!"
You should have told me, Oswald"
AFTER your distrust-no."
There was so much of fnality in his
tone that she stood up trembling.
Then there's nothing else to say" she
murmured and went to the door, little
forlorn figure IN her gray raincoat and
soft felt hat.
Then, suddenly, she wheeled and came
back.
Oswald" she said. and stood in front
of him, confessing like a child, Il love
you'll ask you to forgive me"
He was very white. NO" he said.
"Oh," she reproached him, "a brave
soldier forgives his enemy"
you have told me that am not a
brave soldier"
you are the man I want to marry"
she said.
'.I ann" His lips were set in grim
line. He came up to her and caught her
hands almost roughly in his. Then if
you marry me you shall vow allegiance
to your husband"
what do you mean?" TREMENDOUSLY.
Say what 1 tell. YOU" he command
ed. IT love you, Oswald, more than
home or friends-or, country
And with white lips she repeated it.
And then he took her in his arms, ten
Derby. Little girl, little GIRL he whis-
pered, forgive me for hurting you, but
a man has his pride
II know" she whispered back. her
eyes shining, "a man has his pride, es-
pecially a brave man-like you, Os-
wald. &C Copyrighted. 1909, by Associa-
ted Literary Press.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
QUAKER NfEDTrATIoNs.

IFrom the Philadelphia Record
A pair of spectacles are also looking
glasses.
Even the seamy side of life may not
be all that it seems.
Do the people who never have a doc
tor always live well?
Most of us believe in eternal punish
mentor our enemies.
The man who makes his money jg1
yeast doesn't always rise in the sociSI1
world.
You don't have to go to a Turkish
bath to see the plunger develop into a
sponger.
When a woman says no she may give
a negative answer in a positive man
ner.
The only time some people look pleas
ant is when the photographer tells
them to.
It's hard for a girl to cultivate her
her neighbors.
Sunday School Teacher-"what is
your idea of heaven, Tommy?' Tommy
"A place where there's always a sec
ond piece of pie"
Captain. did you ever see a sea SER
pent?' asked the ocean voyager. NO"
replied the captain of the liner, II never
drank a drop in my life"
Its always the bold and reckless
swimmer who is drowned observed
the Wise Guy. Yes, especially in the
sea of matrimony.'' added the Simple
Mug.
She-"You can say what you will
about the summer girl, but she is never
mean" He-"No, 1 never saw one who
wanted to keep hammock all to her
SELF"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
JOURNAL ENTRIES

Most men take married life like
they do medicine, according to direc-
lions.
A Spanish proverb declares that the
best throw of the dice is to throw
them away.
= X
There's not much chance for a mar
ried couple to become distant if they
live in a fat.
An exceptionally good card player
is not apt to be very popular with
other card players.
x X =
The incompetent chauffeur is one
who gets arrested. not for speeding,
but for blockading traffic.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
JAYHAWKER JOTS

The Plainville Gazette rightly thinks
that ''the fellows who kicked open
the jail door the other night must
have had a queer jag of BOOZE
The Kansas City Star takes the al
most unnecessary trouble to call at
tention to the fact that Colonel "BflP'
Speak, of Axtell, is an auctioneer.
A Cawker City paper does not be-
lieve there will be much opposition to
a skating rink being operated in the
town if it Is conducted decentIy. Why
should there be any?
Tom Thompson has discovered that
babies are a lot of trouble when they
are little and young but the babies
of twenty years and over are the ones
who wear the life out of a person.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

CFrom the Chicago News
Some men make speciality of getting
into trouble.
Many a man has lost his grip by
clinging to one idea.
A fast young mani is usually slow
about coming to the front.
A man may feel his oats and still lack
horse sense.
If you must lie about anybody. pick
out some one a thousand miles away.
A mother always expects her son to
turn out better than his father did.
The average man will go through
anything for his wife-including her
fortune.
Some women can lace themselves al
most as tight as some men can drink
themselves.
At the age of 16 a girl isn't quite
certain whether it is love or merely
a bilious attack.
some of them overdo the thing and get
left at the post.
In most cases a man doesn't realize
how lucky he is when a woman re-
fuses to marry him.
And it sometimes comes to pass that
after man has made money the
money gets busy and unmakes him.
An ounce of pluck will accomplish
more in the long run than a hundred
pounds of the average mans brand of
luck.
The man who is aware of his ignor-
ance knows a whole lot more than some
people, and he stands a better chance
of making good
The leap-year girl who lost out is
convinced that the lobster supply is
grower smaller year by year.
Few of us are interested in those
famous pavements made of good inten-
lions. as we don't expect to go there,
anyhow.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

That rebuke given to President
Roosevelt by the house Of representa-
tives because of the messages he sent
to it concerning the secret service
was an awful slap on the wrist. now
wasn't it? 1t has refused to officially
accept these messages and presum-
ably they will not now become a part
OF the congressional record. Mr..
Roosevelt had the fun writing them
and the public has had the fun Of
reading them and the members of the
house of representatives have had the
distress of feeling them, and that's
about all there is to the matter. any
how. 1t is unfortunate for the con-
gresham that on the main ques-
at issue, the development of an ade-
auate secret service bureau for the
federal government, the president has
the right and only side of the contro-
versy.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

The Usefulness Of ;. M !eey ~ To-
missed the things that do."-Boston
Transcript
''It used to be the height of my ambition
to own a motor car said the worried d.
ITO sell it. ''-PhiladelDhia Inquirer.
Il trust we shall make you feel quite at
home" remarked the hotel proprietor.
Don't you try it," expostulatted the mar
I joify eood time MBy IVY 0 10 nave
Papa. what is a nature faker?" ANY
ordinary facts of nature" rs God one?"
Life.
"On what ground asked the lawyer
docs your wife want divorce? Incom-
patibility?" Something of that sort, l
isn't Compatible with her ideas of COM
fort."-Chicago Tribune, u SOS u e-e
last week that offended her and she hasn't
spoken to me since Henpeck-Great Scott,
can you?-Puck.
Reporter--Now. what was the worst
money panic YOU ever saw? Great Finan-
cier-Last week. when 10-cent-piece roll
ed to the floor. of a street car and five wo-
81 hear yer frien' Tamsen's married
again. Aye. SO he is He's been dear
frien' tae me. He's cost me three waddin
presents an twa wreaths. '-Dundas Ad-
vertiser.
Kilby-I did a very absent-minded thing
this morning. Street-What was 1t? XII,
by-Offered a tip to the man who shaved
my note.-BoSton Transcript.
Hardup-I'H never go to that restaurant
again. The last time 1 was there a man
NV OVerCOat, and left his in its place.
Welloff-But the proprietor wasn't to
blame. was he? HarduD-No; but might
meet the other man!-Stray Stories.
Her-Why on earth did you ever marry
me? Him-Oh. don't be so bromide!
That's what everybody asks.-Cleveland
Leader.
Patient-Doctor. what do you call this
fever of mine? Doctor docking at clinical
thermometer)-Well I'd call it a bargain
1O3 reduced to 9S.-The Wasp.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

1t is to be hoped that Wichita and
Hutchinson will get behind the bill
which has been prepared by the To-
peka committee providing for an ap-
preparation of 100000 as a starter for
the establishment of state fair This
Is the first step in the state fair move
ment. After an appropriation is as
sured there can then be a friendly
fight between Wichita, Hutchinson
and Topeka as to the most desirable
place for the location of the fair.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

If those might riders in Tennessee
who have been convicted of a bastard
~ murder had only been lucky enough
to have committed this and other
crimes in Kansas they would not be
going to the gibbet on February 10
as has been ordered. Instead they
would be on their way to prison with
sentences for life" but with the fond
hopes in their bosoms that they would
be pardoned sooner. or later
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

Financial and commercial reviews
for the past week report that the busi-
ness throughout the country is a little
quiet. This was to have been expect
ed after the unprecedented business
activity during the holiday season.
Preparations for a big spring business
are under way. however, in all of the
business centers, and this is another
bit Of evidence of the good prosperity
which is to come.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
a UNIQUE spectaele Is presented hu

A unique spectacle is presented by
George l. Lilley, the new governor
of Connecticut. He still holds on to
his position as a Representatives.
large from that state in congress.
There does not seem to be any law or
statute, federal or state, which pro-
hibits this. From the great expenses
of his gubernatorial campaign it is
reasonable to draw one conclusion. He
is holding both Jobs because he needs
fIa money
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

Distressing news from New York:
Harry Thaw is to have, another trial
by jury as to whether or not he is
insane. The chances are that Anna
Gould, her husbands past and present,
Harry Thaw and few other notorious
notables will occupy undue positions of
prominence in the newspapers even
until eternity, if newspapers are print
ed whenever that time may be.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

Governor Hanly. of Indiana, express
es the belief that alcohol. the indis-
criminate and promiscuous use of it, is
responsible for nearly all the crime and
poverty in the world. While this state
ment is a pretty broad one there are
many who will agree with it and with
good reasons
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
LFrom the New York Press.l

IFrom the New York Press.I
An enjoyable thing about grand
opera is the season for it is short.
The thing that makes a man
ashamed to tell a lie is to get caught
in it.
Angels are all right to admire at a
distance, but not very exciting to live
with
The more indignant a woman can
grow over a scandal the more she
seems to enjoy it,
When a girl is interested in a man
it's sign she could make him think
SO IL she wasn't
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

There is talk of forming another
baseball league in the central section
of the state. If baseball affairs keep
developing in this way Kansas will
soon have as many baseball leagues as
she has chautauquas. But the base
ball institutions have the advantage in
that their patronage is greater.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
FULL LEASED WIRE REPORT
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRFSS

The State Journal Is a member of the
Associated Press and receives the fun day
telegraph report of that great news or
ganfzs ton for the exclusive afternoon
publication in Topeka.
The news IS received IN The state Jour-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

The chamber of commerce of New
York, one of the most powerful or
CARNATIONS of its kind in the world,
has declared itself in favor of empow-
ering the president of the United
States to negotiate a reciprocity treaty
with Canada. This ought to give mo-
mentum to an excellent move in the
right direction.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

A natural query goes up. Will the
proposed tariff on coffee, if it is adopt
ed, mean an increase in the price of a
cup of the many limitations of this
drink which is foisted on a long-suffer-
ing public? Surely not. That would
be rubbing it in.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

One of the mysteries of the admin
istration of Governor Hoch, which has
just drawn to a close, is as to why he
did not pardon Jessie Morrison.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
cities in the Shadow.

Comes now an appeal for the cities
that never have been known. Great
they may be, driving a roaring trade,
important in their own eyes, perhaps
even beautiful. But unknown. 1t has
been their misfortune to be over
Swallowed by some monster neighbor
which has absorbed the attention of
the country, says the Kansas City
Times.
The list has never been completed.
But it should include Brooklyn. Jer-
sey City, Newark, Rochester, Syracuse,
Buffalo, Worcester, Lynn, and
heaven only knows how many more.
Each of these cities has a population
of at least 100000, and Brooklyn has
considerable more than 100000. But
to the outside world they are mere
names and nothing more. New York
and Boston obscure them so that they
are lost to view.
A man from Atlanta, travelling for
the first time in New York and New
England, came back dazed. when I
left home" he conffded, "I supposed
Atlanta was one of the big cities of
the country. But I've found a dozen
cities bigger than Atlanta that I'd
never heard of before. New York
Globe.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11

If any lads in these parts got sleds
for Christmas presents they are
doubtless quite keen to exchange them
for roller skates or wagons
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
KANSAS COMMENT

1
| THE LEGISLATURE'S EASY JOB.
The JOB of legislating ought to be
very easy thing at the approaching
session, judging from the late news
| emanat1ng from Topeka. Already, be-
fore that body has convened, most of
its work has been parceled out and
done Tor 1t in advance. The educa-
tlonaI commission has whole batch
OF laws ready made for the legisla-
lures approval. The oil inspector has
Dill prepared to cover some matters
in his department. The insurance
suPEerin1enoent has message for
mulated providing for needed re-
forms in the mana cement of that Of
fee, the creation of a rate bureau,
etc. The tax commission has amend
mentS prepared to make that law
more effective. A bill has been pre-
pared which Senator Brady will be
permitted to introduce Changing the
law relating to commission form of
government in cities Of the second
class. The attorney generals Office
IS SAID 70 nave ready some amend
real estate men have prepared
measure putting the Torrens land title
system into effect in this state. The
pure food authorities nave amend
mentS ready for that law, and for the
law relating to weights and measures,
and a number of other organizations
and societies have bills ready for the
consideration of the legislature.
1t was the original purpose of the
constitution that the men making up
the legislative bodies should do the
legislating for the people. 1t was as
sumed that the men elected by the
people should study the needs of the
state and people. determine what
laws were necessary, prepare and in
troduce bills. amend and whip them
into shape and be the actual law-mak-
ing power. But that was In the old
days when people were so foolish as
to attach some importance to the
provisions of the constitution and be-
fore the days of associations and or
CARNATIONS that do this work for the
members in advance. In these latter
days the procedure is for any organt-
cation that needs laws for its real or
fancied benefit to get up measures
and send delegations-not lobbyists,
that term is under the ban at pres
ent-but delegations to urge the pas
sage of particular measures. Thus
the work of the regularly elected sem
ators and representatives becomes
easy and the session need be no more
than a nice, protracted ratification
meeting.
1t used to be the duty and the priv
ilege of the members of these bodies
to elect their own officers and even
to elect United States senators, but
now the choice of a senator is made
by a majority of votes of the party
that wins at the polls and even the
selection of the officers of the two
houses is arranged for in advance.
If the legislators but take advantage
of the opportunities afforded by these
changes of customs their work need
not be arduous and they may look
upon their sojourn at Topeka as be-
ing merely a little visit and tenn
porary vacation from their usual en-
ployment and business cares.-Hutch-
inson News.