davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
A MILLION CHILDREN AT PLAY.

Mr.. Littell McC1urg, writing in the
Progress Magazine for August, says in
regard to the work of the Playground
association:
"a million children at play-all at
one time!
eff one could rise in a balloon to a
sufficient height, and with glasses
powerful enough to see from the mid
die of the United States to the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, he would behold on
any afternoon this summer a million
or more girls and boys getting in
systematic manner the best there is to
be got out of life. He would see chill
dren ranging from the kindergarten to
the baseball age playing fifty different
games on acknowledgement play
grounds in more than 800 cities.
''The significance of such a specta-
Gle could, however, only be conjec-
tured, for the Fairgrounds movement
has just begun. Though 1t has already
reached tremendous proportions and is
vitality affecting thousands of young
lives, 1t seems destined to double itself
in the next five years. In cold figures
its growth in the last half a decade
has been almost startling, considering
that it has only just recently been on a
firm and definitely defined basis.
at has become not only national.
but worldwide, changing the social
and moral condition Of children
throughout this continent and Europe.
In America it is today, with the excep-
ton of the schools, the greatest single
agency for the spread of enjoyment,
increase in healthfulness. decrease in
delinquency and crime, and the general
mprovement-moral, mental and
physical-of the youth of our land. It
is revolutionary in the best sense of
the word. It marks a new era in the
development of child-life, and those
who are in close touch with it declare
that its work will be felt on the com
ing generations, who will control the
uncertain destinies of our country
What has become of the movement
for the establishment of some of these
Fairgrounds in Topeka?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
AYHAWKER JOTS

The Olathe Mirror is fifty-three years
old, and is casting more brilliant re-
Elections all the time.
To do your friend the greatest possible
injustice and injury, advises the King
man Journal, uphold him when he Is
wrong or goes wrong.
The percentage Of men who know
more than the president of the United
States would surprise you, says Deacon
Walker, if you could see the table as
prepared by them.
Noting that a big lot of money is
paid out each week at the cream sta
tons in Tribune, the Hutchinson News
calls attention to the fact that time
was when Tribune didn't know what a
milk COW was, for 1t was the center of
a cattle instead of a dairy country
The Smith County Pioneer relates
this joke on the Mothers club: At its
regular meeting at the home of one of
it's members last week while the ques-
ton, THE Perfect Child and How 10
Raise Him." was being holly discussed
by the visiting members. one of their
rascally kids slipped out and poured
a can of paint into the hostess cistern.
Anybody wanting a fine assortment
of fancy vests can learn something to
his advantage by communicating with
Ralph Tennal, editor of the Winfield
Free Press. Mr.. Tennal printed this
paragraph recently: THE editor has
lived in a town where fancy vests
marked the highest degree of evening
dress. He has a splendid stock of
vests, but finds they are dead timber
in Winfield, which he learns is the
regular conventional dress suit class"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

In the prime of an eventful and par
ticularly useful life, with future CIV
ing promise of larger and greater ac-
complishments, James E. Hurley has
been stricken with the heavy hand of
death. No news probably ever has
given a more profound shock to the
people who knew him and liked him,
and they were legion, than did that
cablegram from Karlsbad telling of his
sudden end. The Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railway company has lost
an unusually efficient official Topeka
and Kansas have lost q tried and val
ued friend.
Mr. Hurley's life was one of the
stirring romances of railroading. He
started at the bottom rung Of the lad
der. Through doggedness and perse-
verance. working little longer and a
little harder than the man alongside
him. constantly preparing himself for
the places a little higher up, Mr.. Hur-
ley rose in q really few years from
section hand to the general manager
ship of one of the greatest railroad
systems that has been created. 1t took
great ability to climb the ladder to
success as rapidly as he did, but 1t was
an ability he developed. There was
nothing of the genius about Jim Hur-
ley. 1t was hard work, and lots Of it,
that permitted him to reach the top.
When he got there he worked harder
than ever. That he would have gone
much higher in the railroad world had
his life been spared him there can be
no doubt. There is no limit to the
progress and the successes of a man
built in the mold of James E. Hurley.
What a pity that death should call him
away so soon.
Being a human being, Mr.. Hurley
had his faults, but those
who knew him and knew him well
were not even distantly acquainted
with them. He seemed to approach
the man ideal, temperate and sober in
his living, as genial of disposition as
he was stern when the occasion de-
a friend indeed at every turn.
He was generous to fault, kindly to a
degree. There may be some bigger
hearts in the world than he had. but
they are difficult to find Men always
got a square deal from J. z. Hurley,
sometimes squarer than they deserved.
But that appeared to be the only way
ne knew to play the game of life. It's
too bad that there are not more men
like him.
There will be sincere mourning
wherever Mr.. Hurley was known and
3 dubious shaking of heads as refiec-
lions are made on the inexplicable
mysteries of life and death. Here was
4 sturdy man, living life to the full, |
doing the kind of work in the world |
that counts, and he is cut down. 1t
must be true as Byron wrote that:
Heaven gives its favorites-early |
DEATH |
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
JOURNAL ENTRIES

Duty-dodgers have an unpleasant
day of reckoning ahead of them.
\ X
When some men simply pay their
debts they think they've done some
thing to brag over.
y y
You hear many people complain Of
being overworked but it is mostly in
their imaginations.
y
Were more persons to do their very
best there would be many more sue
cesses in the world
\ ::
If there is any particularly choice
place in heaven 1t is probably set aside
for those folk who willingly entertain
their relatives during the summer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
Took JOY Ride on Porpoise.

ride on the back of a big porpoise,
according to Charlie Penny, of Fland-
ers, Long Island, is just bit more ex-
citing than selling pink lemonade at a
Sunday school picnic. He said so to-
day
Penny jumped astride of the biggest
porpolse ever seen in these waters and
the bay and back, and a joy ride
around Peconic Bay for nearly a mile,
while, the porpoise bucked like a
proncho trying to shake off its captor.
1t was no use, for Penny hung on as a
western cowboy does to the horse he is
trying to subdue. Penny and his
brothers work for Capt. George A. Vail.
OF Riverhead and Peconic as CONNER
cal pursuers of the bluefish OF late
Capt Vail and his men have been an
noyeo ny a school of fifteen or twenty
immense porpoises, headed by a
feroclous bull porpoise, which dived
into the hungry school of bl1efish and
filled them with such panic that they
refused to take bait.
In two powerboats, armed with shot
guns, Capt. Vail and his fishermen
started out to round up the porpoises
Several were killed, but the hide of the
Dull porpoise was so tough that the
charges fired at him had little effect
TWO loads of buckshot were fired into
his nose and along his side The fish
jumped at least feet from the water
turned on his side, and darted away,
but soon came to the surface near the
boat to blow again.
None of the fishermen had boat
hooks, and while the fish was badly
wounded, he still had much fight left
in him. Blubber and oil were oozing
from the shot holes, making him as
slippery as a creased pig at a country
fair. The men reached over the boat
but the fish was alive enough to strug-
gle and slip away from Them even
when the fishermen got a slip moose
over him. Penny then produced a big
bluefish hook and tried to jab this in
the thick hide. without result.
wait a minute, boys; I'm going to
have that fellow" said Charlie Penny
as the others were about to give up the
prize Without waiting to remove
shoes, clothes, or hat, he leaped over
board. landed astride of the broad back
of the fish, twisted his feet around it's
belly and his arms around its neck and
hung on The fish found new spark
of life when his enemy landed on his
upper deck. He gave a snort, dived,
and shot away. with rapidity that
pedoes in full flight look like Long
Island freight train.
Penny knew that the fish would have
to come to the surface very quickly to
blow. for he was three-quarters dead
before the excursion started. So he
held on. A minute or two later Penny
was a long way from his boats. He
calmly reached around the porpoise's
head with one arm and jammed the big |
bluefish hook down his blowhole. The |
fish was then fast. He made another |
feeble effort to get away. but 1t was no
use.
Hey, you fellows, come over here |
and get your fish," shouted Penny to |
his fellow huntsmen. |
The boats came over The combined |
strength of the men couldn't lift the |
fish in the power sharpe, so he was |
towed to Riverhead, and it took seven |
men to pull him out on the dock to |
have his picture taken.-New York dis |
patch to Philadelphia Record.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

tive to his gaze. Her clear blue eyes
met his dark ones and wavered away,
while veritable wave of rosy blush
submerged her face. His pulse beat
hard and fast-oh, she did care, she
did. she must! He forgot his doubts
as to the right manner, and sudden
ly said:
moment they were both in the water,
struggling to keep above the surface.
The girl was a swimmer, but she let
him keep an arm about her. She
the current drag back her hair, and
gave him mischievous look.
What were you saying when I in
terrupted by tipping you out?''
was just going to ask you to
marry me- he sputtered. but If you
der to hearing me out" He stopped
for breath, and then finished right
ing the canoe. Now" he said, 81
shall have to get you ashore somehow.
stream. You're pretty good swim
mer, and If you'll keep beside me, I
can get the canoe to land and impro-
wise paddle to get back with. Shall
we start %
She hesitated, then laughed a little,
blushing again.
IT forbid you to mention-what you
were going tom land" He inter
rupted her with masculine rudeness.
'All right-then I'll have it out
here. I love you and want you to
marry me. Will you?" He put an arm
about her. drawing her closer to him.
She did not answer, and he shook
her little.
Tina little scared, and pretty
wet. but If you don't mind taking me
like this, why 1 suppose" Again
he interrupted her. but not by mere
words.
ITS rather wet" she said demure-
ly beneath her breath, 1.-The kiss.
mean"
Then. without warning, she broke
from his hold and swan swiftly
away from him to the shore He fol-
lowed more slowly with the canoe,
and finally clambered out upon the
sand, where she stood wringing the
water from her long hair.
sAnd this one is wet, too-and this,
and this" he said in dry tone.
She laughed, but she denied neither
the sentiment nor the fact-(Copy-
righted 1910 by Associated Literary
Press.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
CFrom the Chicago News,

NrfOiH the OAiCdEO NeWb-J
Most women find money almost as
difficult to keep as secret.
When the harnessmaker is strapped
he buckles down to business.
Give a man with a fad plenty of
rope and he'll soon become a nuisance.
Farmers are compelled to get in
their hay before It begins to rain
pitchforks.
Perhaps a spinster has refused more
than one opportunity TO make herself
unhappy.
"A man may be able to suffer in
silence as long as he has no occasion to
visit dentist.
No woman cares to play second 6d-
ole; nothing less than the title of first
assistant violinist will satisfy her.
isn't 1t queer how much better look
ing some women get to be shortly after
they break into the widow class?
1t sometimes happens that the man
VINO IS tmbued with the idea that he is
himself. Aeeh
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
QUAKER MEDITATTONs.
fFrom the Philadelphia RECORD.

(From the Philadelphia Record.)
The closer we get to some people
the smaller they seem.
1t is hard to pay as you go II you
are always going broke.
The successful liar must have per-
feet confidence in his own Imagination
No man is ever quite so conceited
after he has attended his own we'd
ding.
Some boys are like drums You
can't get much out of them unless you
use stick on them.
Hoax-Don't you think profanity
gets to be a habit? Joax-Yes, or,
rather, a cussed-em.
The proof of the pudding is in the
eating. The same rule applies to
mushrooms and toadstools.
The man who is the architect OF his
own fortune can't always draw up
plans and specifications for others.
Some men are bent under a weight
of woe. and others get stoop shout
dered from carrying their own self
conceit-
wigg-It's hard work to get a gov
eminent job. isn't it? Wagg-Yes;
but you have a long rest afterward.
You can't believe all you hear. At
las, who supported the world on his
shoulders. may have been supported
by his wife.
"You say you are 20" Numbered
the attorney for the prosecution.
Madam, do you know what perjury
means? Do you know what you are
about % ST guess I'm about 49," re-
piled the witness. meekly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

gether and decided to increase their
freight rates. This was nothing more
tnan increasing the price Of the COM
modify. or the service, they have for
SALE The announcement was not many
hours old before the federal authori-
ties brought suit against them for
violation of the antitrust law in COM
o1ning to raise their rates. This was
proper action and resulted in the
railroads agreeing to withdraw their
proposed increases in rates until their
equity could be passed upon. as COM
ing from the roads individually, by
the interstate commerce commission.
Then the government suit was with
drawn. its end having been accom-
plished.
There was nothing in this suit as TO
the fairness of the rates in question
or as to the right of railroads to in
crease their rates. 1t merely revolved
about the method employed by the
railroads in deciding on these rate in
creases. That same question would
seem to be involved in the recent ac-
ton of the carriage manufacturers
If 1t is not pressed in the courts by the
governmental authorities it viii he
pSrdonable to surmise that there is
one law to deal with railroads and an
other with other industrial concerns
and activities.
If all industries of nation wide rami-
fcations we're given the same atten-
ton as to their proper regulation and
control as is given to the railroads by
public officials and politicians, it is
reasonable to assume the conditions
existing in the entire world of business
would be improved materially, and to
the benefit Of the consumers.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

A man was taken into custody at
Beverly, Mass. the other day because
he had been insisting on seeing Presi-
dent Taft without good and sufficient
reason. It is believed he is insane
and this belief appears to be founded
on the mere fact that he thinks he is
a politician. If all men who think
they are politicians were declared to
be insane, a few more, yes, many,
many new asylums would have to be
built in each and every section of the
country
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
AT NIGHT.

sometimes. while am lying fast asleep
seem to hear Something softly Green
About my bed
A little rustic of gauzy train,
A little whisper, like q drop of rain
Sings through my head.
l wonder il God sends an Angel down
TO visit tired children in our town
Most every night,
For though really sleep and dream of
things
often hear the flutter of the wings
In airy flight.
Or do you 'spose that Mother, coming
by
And seeing such little boy as
So lonely there,
Just naturally steals in to kiss my face
And tuck the blanket in its proper place
And breathe a prayer?
-Melicent Emo Humason, in the Hartford
Courant.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
HUAOR OF THE DAY

did she marry the man who rescued
her?" Yes, and now she's discovered
that her life was the only thine he ever
saved."-Detroit Free Press
Farmer Ito the lady who has taken
rooms at the farm for the summer
Tidy crop of hay. mum. Lady-Beauti-
f,Ii1y iiy-aad-er-let me see-wheu
do you thresh it?-Purch.
Miss Olcgirl-Here are some new pic
lures 1 had taken, but they are perfect
rights. The photographer l went to is
no fiatterer Miss Pert-No; but he Is
Observation-Disclosures American.
THAT magazine writer says he is go
ing to print an absolutely truthful and
impartial analysis of your career"
absolutely truthful and impartial"
echoed Senator Sorghum. "Great Scott!
wonder what I have done to offend
mi"-Washingtor Star. \
Prosperous Publisher-Do you write
before or after eating? Poet (faintly)-
Always before. unless have something
to eat.-Judge.
Guest-Whcre's Mrs Frost tonight?
Hostess-Oh, she's at home. trying to
hush things up. Husband, scandal or
children ?"-Life.
Does Winks take any maya zines?"
"All he can get don't dare to leave
one lying around. Age
Herald.
mobile for much as you laid when
you bought It? Greening-Well, sold
it for as much as 1t was worth when
I bought it.-Chicago Daily News.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Rhode Island also seems to have two
sets of laws, one for ordinary folk and
the other for Society people. Sew
eral of the latter, men and women,
who were caught while gambling in a
raid made recently on a gambling
house are not going to be compelled
to appear in court, even as witnesses.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
FULL LEASED WIRE REPORT
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOME NEWS WHILE AWAY.

Subscribers OF the State Journal
away during the summer may have
the paper mailed regularly each day
TO any address at the rate OF ten cents
a week or thirty cents a month Thy
mail onIy.) Address changed as often
as desired. While out OF town the
State journal will be to you like q
daily letter from home.
Advance payment IS requested on
these short time subscriptions, to save
bookkeeping expenses.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
[Fron. the New York Press.l

CFron. the New York Press.l
A woman can excuse a poet even for
eating raw onions.
The thing that scares every girl is
what If she ! ad been born ugly.
is to have him travel with his family.
The COW most of US hoe is when
what's in it is going to be somebody
else's afterward.
An extra cautious man 1854 days out
CT the year usually does something
wildly reckless On the 565th to make a
fair average.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Some people certainly never know
when they are we'll off. Take those of
Louisiana. for instance. They are
figuring on taxing themselves to the
extent of several million dollars to
promote a worlds fair to celebrate the
completion of the Panama canal.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Directors Of the Standard Oil COM
pany are getting altogether too care
less. Not a quorum of them were
present at the regular meeting time in
New York the other day to declare the
quarterly dividend of $6,0OO,0OO. But,
then, what is 100000 to the Stand
ard OIL company and its stockholders
A mere bagatelle, a mere bagatelle.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Something novel in the way of a
strike is in progress at Auburn, Maine.
The inmates of the county Jail there
are out with a demand for a return of
baked beans to their bill of fare. They
ought to win. 1t smacks of a violation
of the federal constitution, which
places the ban on cruel and inhuman
punishment, to deprive Yankees of
their beans, even if they are criminals
in the eyes of the law.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Think of the fix that several of the
more prominent congressional insur-
gents will be in If Uncle Joe Cannon
is put down and out. Their one topic
for conversation and fault finding
would be taken from them. What
would they find to harangue about and
thereby keep themselves in the lime
light3
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Another vindication for the horse.
An advertisement is appearing in the
local papers to the effect that motor
car is for sale at half its cost, and
that a horse or team will be taken as
mart DaVment
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Among the good news that has come
along recently is the announcement of
Jack Johnson that he has no intention
of indulging in another prize fight for
a year. If he'd only said ten years
there would have been more applause.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Massachusetts has a preacher who
is of the opinion that there will be
baseball in heaven. Maybe so, but it
won't be much like happy land IN
less things are so fixed that the home
team will win every game.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

Modern athletes are said to excel
the old timers. 1t is to be wondered,
though, how many of the prize fight
ers of today could be coaxed into the
ring II they had to wear the cestus
which was used in the boxing contests
INDUCED in by the ancient Romans.
These gloves were made of heavy
hide and bound with hoops of iron.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

"Save the BIRDS is a conservation
cry that is going up from the National
Audubon society. It should be heard
and needed by every one. But it
probably won't be until state legisla-
lures get busy and pass the most strin-
gent kind of laws to protect the birds
It's funny thing. But people as a
rule do not do the things they ought to
do except under compulsion.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

The country is discovering that
there are a lot of grafters in public
Office, remarks the Duluth News-Trib-
une, but by the same evidence the
honest officials are still in the ma
AOrffxy
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17

An assassin's shot has convinced the
whole world on how shining a mark
is Mayor Gaynor, is the way the New
York World puts it,