The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-20
A KANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER xXXV,
Why anu How These Chapters We're
Written.

CHAPTER AAhF-
why anu How These Chapters Were
Written.
Under the Table of Contents. this
chapter was scheduled to be the next
seem to be of interest relating why
these chapters happened to be written
and how they were written.
In The tirst place. it may be noted
that when the writer was in New
York the last week in April. he had no
thoughts of writing anything about
the visit, which was for eigh: days.
extending from Sunday. April p. to
Sunday. April 2S; second visit of
two days. May IS and 10.
On the last night of that first one to
New York the writer was invited
to attend, as a spectator, a wonderful
dance gi-yen at the Fourteenth street
armory where 900 young soldiers and
sailors danced on an immense floor
with as many selected. known young
women from society. educational and
business circles. Two army bands
played. This entertainment was free
to the soldiers and under the auspices of
the New York War Camp Community
Service, in charge of a former society
woman. Mrs. James Madison Bass, as
sisted by $50 hostesses and ESQ chap
erons, each with ten young ladies per-
sonally known to the chaperon. avail
able for the various dances.
Arriving home a few days later, the
Rota club. a women's organization of
Topeka, had begun preparations for a
Sunday afternoon entertainment of the
visiting army men from Camp Fun
ston. Learning that he had attended
this New York entertainment the
! ladies of the club asked Mr.. MacLen-
nan if he would talk to the club on the
New York War Camp Community Serv-
/ ice, how it was given and to make any
suggestions that might seem to bear
upon the subject with relations to
what Topeka might do along similar
lines.
Accordingly, Monday noon, such a
talk was made before the club and
that evening the stenographer's notes
l
State Journal.
| There seemed to be demand for
similar articles covering the Topekans
visit to New York. so the following
Saturday there appeared, under Chap
ter II, an article entitled "A Visit
With T. r." Chapter III. printed the
following Monday, May 10, was con-
| tinuation of Chapter II
| After starting these chapters there
seemed no consistent way of discon-
tinuing them without impairing an in
terest which readers of the paper had
developed.
At the same time, If this sort OF
thing were continued. it was apparent
chapter must appear every day
Meanwhile. the writer, who had beer
named delegate to the Philadelphia
Win-the WARRIOR Permanent Peace
convention, Wednesday. Thursday and
Friday of that week, was compelled te
leave Topeka Monday evening, May
IS. and there was no chapter writer
for the following day or tn. day.
thereafter.
The writer took his secretary, q
stenographer. on the train with hin
en- route east, engaging a drawing
room on the car as far as Kansas Cit!
for that period. On the train between
o'clock and o'clock, before tn,
Santa Fe left Kansas City, Chapter
~. v, and VI were dictated. Thes,
were respectively "A Table of Con
tents" to appear in the State Journa
the next day, Tuesday. May IA; Foo,
Without Wheat" for Wednesday, Ma,
Is; Great Britain and Her Forces Of
Sea and Land" for Thursday, May 16
These three chapters were dictate,
and never read or seen, until the
appeared in print. It was remarkabl
, that there were no errors in any on
, Of the three. There was likewis
, no chance to correct any little slip
e OF the tongue. any irregularities @
grammar or tautology. But much G
the matter written for daily newspa
n pers must necessarily be written hur
n riedly, altho there is generally chanc
for little revision.
8 These three chapters then prepare
= ahead for three days. gave a chanc
O to plan to write another chapter o
= the train en- route to New York an
: thereafter write one each day abor
e two or three days in advance, 50 this
: the chapters could appear daily an
consecutively. without missing nun
II Der.
d The Table of Contents provided thu
= Chapter VII, to appear Friday. Ma
r IT, should be "a Dinner With Dean
z but Tuesday night wher the train ws
nearing Pittsburgh. an evening papt
purchased by the passenger announce
S the death of James Gordon Bennett
s This was such an important even
not only in newspaper circles but
the public generally: the passing of