The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-01
it -F
HAMMOCKS!
Old Time Swing Losing in
Popular Favor.
Leisure Hours Now Spent in
Porch Swings.
SALES ARE FALLING OFF
Dealers in Topeka Desert Sum-
mer Stock.
Rah-RahS Must Make Love in
the Open.
SALES ARE FALLING OFF

The lammock-tnat unsteady, I'M
comfortable. unconventional twisted
colored bunch of rags and ropes--is
doomed. After frantic efforts to dis
pose of heir stock, dealers in Topeka
nave removed the hamnocks from
| as supe"1uous stock. The hammock
is a back number and has lost its
popularity in Topeka-and all over
the country, for ttat matter In its
| place is hung the mission or wicker
swinging porch seat-comfortable,
Sanitary end practical.
Not until this season ave Topeka
dealrs realized fully that the hammock
was on the wane. Until this season
| they hal faith in the old reputation
of the red, green and yellow outdoor
convenience that swung between the
trees o. on the hooks in the porch
Shade But customer after customer
turned up his nose at the hammock
and ordered the seat that hangs on the
log chains.
Many a love affair has been termi-
| mated i. the folds o. a tricky ham
mock. Many a young man has made a
run for the last car only to find after
he was confronted by the little glass
pay-as ~y~Cu-enter box that his change
had slipped from his pocket into the
drag net hammock hat he left behind.
Many a white linen dress and faultleSS
creased trousers have been d~iSh-ragged
by the hot, pressing, Cupidlike ham,
mock weave.
But lie more.
The people have lost faith in
them" groaned a dealer today as he
told {. clerk to store the hammock
stock in the warehouse. "The new
porch swings have taken their place.
Once in a while we sell one for a
party going camping-and sometimes
we nave inquiries for cheap ones, but
the trade has fallen off until we are
disguised with the stock"
1t is a wonder to most people that
hammocks ever kept in public favor.
Not one person in d hundred can find
comfort in the things. They either slip
to one side or the other. No matter
where they are or what they are made
of they are hot. If you try to read.
your eyes are facing the glare of the
blue sky or the light overhead. They
collect dust and germs and are a
lodging place for June bugs, thousand
legged worms and other insects that
crawl down open neck dresses and
stiff collars.
The porch chairs overcome all the
disadvantages of the hammock-they
are sanitary, healthful and cool. And
when a caller steps on the porch you
are not reclining in the embarrassing
position of having your feet higher
than your head.
OF course there is a certain
connected with a hammock. Young
rah-rah boys of the high school G
believe they are essential to an even
ing's entertainment out at her"
house. To them, the hammock is the
My excuse for the youthful polly
foxing'' that seems to enter the aver
age young fellows mind. But there
are other ways to take the starch out
of your shirt on Il no summer evening
and the high school lads are not slow
in their customs.
Despite the protests from the noon
light edition of the family, however,
the hammock IL gradually edEing to-
ward the trees in the back yard-deal-
ers in Topeka will prove it to you by
their sales this year
The small boy who has included in
his evening schedule the cutting of
the hammock rope-allowing sister
and her IMAM" to tumble in a heap
mus find new pursuits-it isn't very
handy to cut a log chain with a wood-
en- handled Jack knife.