The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-22

MS lips as ne came TO a MATT
And his name isis
Woman. YOU are a dolt! The man
who will lead the world to peace is
named Bowser and he stands before
you-Samuel Bowser, Yes, by thun-
der, 1 am the man, and 1 shall begin |
my peace campaign within half an /
hour
But how are you going to work
it? was asked.
las easy as grease. Heretofore, the |
peace movement has been nothing but |
to beg of the powers at war to throw |
away their rifles and cannon and go |
home and be good fellows. l said the |
people had begged this; now let them |
demand it. Let them declare that if |
this demand is not complied with they |
will rise in their might and sweep the
warrilg powers into a sea red with
their vile blood We don't want any
more begging or pleading, Mrs. Bow
ser. We want a demand and we want
it in such tones will ring twice
around the earth before their echoes
are lost. We want a leader who will
incite the people to make such a de-
mand. It is beyond my comprehension
why the step was not taken weeks and
months ago"
But it is to be taken at last?"
queried Mrs. Bowser.
1T is. l am going out this evening
for signers to a paper demanding that
the war at all points shall cease with
in week 1 will get signers by the
thousands. Tomorrow my new move
will be talegraphed to every nook and
corner of the land and the sounds of
a million people rushing to sign their
names will be like the Tapping winds
of a tornado
Mrs. Bowser could have found fault
with Mr.. Bowser's phraseoIogy, but
| she could not pick single flaw in
his oratory. When he had closed, he
gave her stiff bow and walked out
into the hall and put on his overcoat
| mr. IA nd inf he
sounds of his footsteps crushing the
snow had died away, a woman and a
cat exchanged smiles and mods. They
did not speak but they understood
each other. They also understood Mr..
Bowser. They had passed through
such scenes. scores if not hundreds of
times, and had lived to see him return
to normal condition. That he would
do 50 now in a day or two was not to
be doubted.
Mr.. BowSerS first call in the interest
of peace was on his family druggist.
A paper demanding that all armies
be disbanded right off quick was pro-
duced and laid before the man of
drugs. He perused it with a sad
smile and handed it back with a long
sigh and the remark:
'Bowser. you ought to have an oper-
alton performed on your head-you
really had. Bring in the paper de-
handing that Mars quit Dragging at us
on clear nights and I will sign it twice
overt" Without a protest and with a
dignity that was beautiful to behold
Mr. Bowser walked out, and his next
stop was at his grocer's. The rush of
trade was over for the day and the
grocer had fingered behind to past
fresh labels on his last years fly
specked fruit cans. He took the pa
per in a careless way and read fey
lines of it and handed it back
"Sir, will you sign it?'' asked Nj
Bowser.
81 think not was the reply.
can't afford to do anything to furthe
hurt my trade
But. man, this is demand on the
part of the people that war cease at
once
''Yes.I see it is
and yet you hesitate to sfgni''
But you see my prices are all fixe6
and peace would knock them all t.
pieces. OF course, war is a horrible
thing. but so is selling goods at less
than thirty per cent profit
Sir, you are a scoundrel of tn
deepest dyeH exclaimed Mr.. BowseT
as he walked out and made cal
upon the undertaken on the corner
The solemn-faced man came forwar,
with look of sympathy on his fac
and there were tears in his voice a..
he asked:
MIR. Bowser. has Mrs. Bowser
passed away?"
Not by a darned sighti'' was the
reply. Mrs. Bowser will probably live
for forty years yet
But you didn't come in here to tn
and sell me a piece of real estate :?
was the reproachful inquiry.
mo, 1 didn't. l have a paper here
for you to sign. 1t is a demand that
the war cease at once and it is a de-
mand that must be granted or there
will be such a row in this old world
that mountains will fall into valleys"
Il can't sign no sucn paperl" said
the undertaken with a shake of the
head.
But why? You don't want the kill
ing to go on, do you?''
Well-er-you see, Mr. BowSer,
my business is associated with death
no matter in what form it comes I
don't rejoice at the slaughter in Eu-
rope but you see it has given the I'M
dertekers over there a great boom and
l shouldn't want to interfere 1t is
the ethics of our profession not to
interfere with each other. Your de-
mand for peace is all right coming
from you. Mr.. Bowser. but it would
surely get me into trouble if it was
known that took an active part in
the affair. I am sorry that Mrs. Bow
ser has not passed away-that is, 1
am SORRY am sOrry--
Mr.. Bowser crossed the street to a
| pool room. There were three tables
going at once and about twenty peo-
pie present. The bartender came for
ward and asked what Mr.. Bowser
would take for his. In reply the de-
mand for peace was produced and laid
on the bar. It was read and what was
said and done about a minute after
ward was apparent to Mrs Bowser
when Mr.. Bowser reached home with
a black eye and mis- coat collar hang
ing by ono end.
Did you end The war;" she softly
asked, without a sarcastic note in her
voice.
In reply he pointed to his black eye.
Are not the people ready to de-
mand peace?"
Mr. Bowser pointed to his hanging
coat collar
"Are you not the leader for the
! or