The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-10
FRON OTHER PENS
GOING TO EITROPE


A century ago man who had crossed
the Atlantic would be pointed out on
the thoroughfares of an American
town, and people who knew him would
say, There goes man who has been
10 Europe. Nowadays it is no partic-
ular distinction even to have been
around the world, and it requires a vow
age very much out of the ordinary to
excite more than passing comment
Some travellers are unobseryant. and
though they may have been in inter-
esting places, they have nothing inter-
eSt1ng to say as to where thew have
been. Others have the quick sense and
shreWd fancy of Gilbert White of Sell
borne, and could weave a fascinating
narrative about What goes on in their
own gardens.
Within the last few years the lowered
price of transportation has made a hoI-
iday soJoUrn in Europe possible for
thousands who previously had not al
lowed themselves even to think of the
voyage, except in the light of a luxury
exclusively reserved for the enjoyment
of the wealthy and privileged classes,
unless one was willing to be exposed
TO the comparative hardships of the
steering, with rough and possibly vi
cjous travelling companions.
Travel has often been called a liberal
education in itself, and if the traveller
improves mis- opportunities, he augments
intellectually his mental and spiritual
he beholds his country and his country
men as others view them, and he re-
turns TO these shores conscious of
Americas shortcomings and of her
points of superiority as we'll, and is
better qualified than ever to be an
American patriot and a good Citizen
Philadelphia Ledger
UNEARTHING THE "IIAS-BEENS y
The census enumerator is a person
who attends strictly to his business.
although as it happens this business
is to pry into the intimate affairs of
other people. Under the law the census
employees are bound to secrecy, but if
the enumerators could tell the things
they hear-if they should reveal the
romances, tragedies and comedies that
oevelop under their observation, what
wonderful revelations there would be,
From time to time, however hints
trickle out from the offices of the CEN
sus officials that excite interest For in
stance, it is told Dy a New York news
paper that man who was once one of
the foremost diplomats of the United
states is now hidden away in a Bowery
boarding house, where his identity has
been sue ceSsfully concealed for years. But
this diplomat was not the only inter
esting find of a single days enumer-
alton. Tucked securely away from the
world in these East side boarding
houses are scores of men who once oc-
cupltu DlBn places IN Off1C1af lie, in lit
erature, finance and science In fact.
the lower East side of New York seems
to be the Sargossa sea, where the au-
man derelicts drift to find a secure
resting place far from the activities of
a forgetful world.-Kansas CITY Jour
nal.
POSTAL DEFICIT VANISHING
It is announced by the postmaster
general that within a day or two he
| VIII be able to turn back to the treas
| ury some, $4,000, 600 transferred to his
| department, which it has not been
| necessary to use, because of a large in
crease in postal revenues, affecting
nearly every office in the United States.
| Apparently the time is near at hand
! when, in spite Of the vast sums paid to
railroad cOmpanieS-SuTnS which many
| critics hold to be far in excess of mar
ket rates for services rendered-the
postal deficit will disappear, and that
| without any radical change with refer
ence to the much-mooted second class
matter rates.
The people of the United States will
| be glad to get rid of that traditional
| deficit 1t has not been a burden that
| could be felt. in these days of tremend-
| Gus expenditures and tremendous taxa
| ton. because it has been SO small a
| percentage of the whole But it has
| been an annoyance as rejecting doubt
| on the question whether Uncle Sam
| We're capable of doing business in such
a way as to show a profit.-Brooklyn