The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-22

!
him at the time were his son and
daughter and the wife of the narrator
Two of the quartette took the Other
two to hear George Conan in the Lit
tie Millionaire After the play ths
other two took the first two to Shan
leys which is one of the larges
restaurants in the world, and was
crowded with those who had just beer
theater- goers and who were ther
dropping in for a supper or refresh
ment. There were music, vaudeville
performance, and stuff to eat-and
also to drink for those who cared, OF
could partake of such liquids as ginger
ale. white rock, apollinaris, butter
milk, lemonade or stronger concoc-
lions, any of which were on tap. Cap
tain William could hardly get through
| the throng; nearly everybody seemed
to know and accost him as the party
| edged itself between the tables to find
unoccupied chairs.
Wnen Theodore Roosevelt was presi-
dent of the New York Police Board,
fifteen years ago, Hodgins was on the
Central Park Police Force; the two
knew each ether, forming an acquaint-
ance which extends TO the present time.
It is said that when Colonel Roosevelt
returned from Africa year ago last
summer that Captain Bill" was one
of the fl st citizens Of New York greet
ed by the returned traveller as he left
the Battery on that triumphal march
up Broadway ana Fifth avenue.
The Captain was asked if he would
not give iirst-hand some of the unusual
stories which are told as incidents
in the life Of our ex-president when he
was police commissioner.
Here is one 7 know about" said
Captain w H: zone morning about
o'clock Commissioner Roosevelt went
into a saloon over on the East side. He
had a habit of pro6ling around at all
hours of tie night or day, trying to
find out from personal inspection just
what the patromen were doing Or not
doing: whether they were on tnelr
beats attending to their duties. or
whether they were off their duties at
tending to something else.
HE held a suspicion that police
man was in this particular saloon
where he had no business to be. Pass
ing through the entry, the head of
the police department. dressed as an
ordinary citizen, saw an officer in uni
form drinking at the bar.
+. What is your nance said the
commissioned
What the blank difference is it
to you what my name is, said the
officer.
II should like to know your name.
again said the man who afterwards
became president.
Well, said the other I don't
know that it makes any difference to
you what my name is
. Well. my name is Roosevelt, and
I am the police commissioner
8 Wei, in that event. said the sub
dued patrolman, my name is Den
nic. -
A week ago this afternoon the wri-
ter, who had been invited to go to
the Outlook office. toIG this story to
the Colonel who smiled, laughed and
showed his interest and his teeth, say
ing: Yes. I remember the incident"
The Colonel seemed to enjoy the story
50 well that two other "reminiscences,
similar in character bearing on the |
same subjects and concerning the same |
police commissioner, We're repeated ard !
apparently well received. The writer
did not spring another one because it
was getting late ana there had been |
only about five hundred people trying |
to get the colonel's attention that day |
by Letter, telegraph, telephone or in
person. These other two stories were |
pretty good ard involved an under |
taker and a carpenter.
The next time the reader visits New !
York don't fail to call on Captain Will
liam Hodgins. He likes Topeka people |
and often meets them He will tell
you these stories first-hand, if you ask
county and you will be all right. You
viii not need letter of Introduction.
for Big b.. used to live in this
county, out near Valencia. and he has
four brothers living here now: SadIer
J. Hodgins. president of the Centra:-
Topeka Paper company; Arthur Hold
gins, travelling representative for the
Same company; Richard Hodgins, vice
pres ident and general manager of the
Topeka Ice and Cold Storage company
and contracting representative of the
Rock Island icing stations; Hugh Hold
gins. secretary of the same company;
Fred Hcdgins, connected with the kan
sas City branch of the Ice company
and T. s. Hodgins of Philadelphia on
the advertising staff of the New York
Sun.
Colonel Roosevelt Seemed TO be in
terested in these seven brothers and
when he was told that they were a
wholesome. Industrious lot of citizens.
he said: THAT is the sort worth
while
After failing to see our esteemed
morning contemporary for about ten
days, the writer could hardly believe
that he was looking over the same
paper when. between bites at break