The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-19
RY THE WAY
By HARVEY PARSONS.

For nearly eleven years writer of
TINS bunk has been more or less in
teresled IN the big murder or suicide
stories first printed in this town. VII
Ter mas observed human brains adher-
ing to ceiling, and assisted policemen
and undertakers in removing various
graces and classifications of remains
from rivers, cellars and other places.
Writer has written a large number OF
the local murder stories of the past de-
cade, and up to a late hour this after
noon has never attempted to biacken
the character of a dead woman or girl
Tor the purpose of adding zip to the
story or adding something new to a
story fully covered by rival paper
we nave, at various times, resorted TO
an assortment of methods for the ex-
traction Of information concerning muir
Ger or suicide stories. There is one man
in Topeka who still carries his head
at a slight angle because he knew al
about it but had no use for report
ers- Butt is nearly press time, and
neither this writer nor any reporter
who ever listened to his advice has
ever writ en- a dead one" story calcll-
lated to slam dead female of any
age. BY adding scandal to story
which has been previously published IN
full, reporter can get a new top head
line-but take it from an old timer,
it isn't worth it.
A careful observer might observe
if he be outside the jurisdiction of Boss
Nelson and his police force-that, al
though the Kansas City neWsboys'
Star, every boy arrested and treated
worse than a highwaynan, was carry
ing a bundle of Other Papers when the
police got him.
one might also observe that no
definite description of the crime COM
Initted by said newshoys has been
printed.
Any one who ever tried pistol prac-
tice from a moving train will not Won
der at the craftsmanship OF the bandlt
who shot cigar from the mouth of
shooting at the cigar will be
admitted without question.
Missouri has state song that
Missouri paid $500 for, either The an
swer is: as soon as Kansas locates a
song which contains no such words as
Kansas" ''sunf1owers, shining
sunny beautiful or dear" it will |
take.
one might in view of the Missouri !
success, suggest "Old Dog Tray as a }
Kansas anthem.
It is reported from Atlantic City
that a fisherman recently caught "a :
pound lobster while trolling for cod. 2
Outside of the fact that Holsters are
not caught on hooks and that no sane
fisherman would ever troll for cod, |
the story is a good one. A first-class !
might take it up and ele-
waite a squeak of mirth by asking Hon |
Lillian Russell the weight of her fifth |
prospective.
The news and editorial end of a |
newspaper has but little respect for
the advertising and of the same sheet;
maybe that is the reason a member OF
rhe aforementioned division can see no
f11n in paying for a vaudeville ticket
waiting for the moving pictures-ad-
ertised as n number on the program
and seeing an advertisement
And. as for the man who could. but
lon't sleep in a graveyard, his failure
o do so does not indicate tifnidlty- 1t
merely indicates common sense IN
a comfortable bed.
Ben Kerns' book. 1.-THE Grafters."
which was delayed two weeks on ac-
.ount of printing ard binding Difficult
les is now on the market. AS a novel,
t isn't I'D TO the standard set by the
Ob-souad who produce the six best
ellers: as a story with a purpose, II
vin hold the attention of anyone who
ackles it. It ought to save a lot Of
Kansas money by its exposure of petty
raft methods The grafters may
hange their methods, but after read
ng the book, a man of ordinary in
diligence will recognize the ear marks,
nd shy off The pictures in the book
re rotten. Outside Of that. it is all
light.