The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-26
ON MARTINS HILL
Fred Vandegrift Recalls an Oc-
casiOn at t/Cedarcrest.
Ingalls, and Peck Quote Sonnet
ON the View.
TOOK A RIDE TO POINT IN 1889
Scene Always Inspired the Tru-
ly Great KanSan.
1t Was His Friend Before Rail-
OOK A RIDE TO POINT IN 1889
It Was His Friend Before Rail.
roads Entered State.

Fred Vandegrift, who knows the
legend OF Kansas so well. and the his
tory of our common country so intelli-
gently. always is ready with a story in
point. An example of this recently
was on the occasion of a visit to
Cedarcrest. one Sunday afternoon, ac-
companied by Frank p. MacLennan,
n. P. Abercrombie, and E. D. Nc
Keever. They had come to the crest
of the hill. overlooking the Kaw VAL
ley beyond; the automobile halting.
while they viewed the scene. 1t Is
an attra ctive scene the year round,
more especially, of course, in spring,
summer, and autumn, of which the
story hereinafter is somewhat descrip-
! tive 1t was the first time Mr.. Vande-
beyond this hill, and he was INSPIRED
by it, as all are whenever they come
to 1t, be 1t the first time, or a repeu-
| ton of many former visits.
Afterward, in the cabin for bite
of supper, Mr.. Vandegrift, recalling
the scene he had just left, related an
incident of visit to this Martins Hill
| five miles west of Topeka. thirty
years ago by John James ingalls, and
| George Record Peck, which, since In
| gals and Peck were prominent In the
affairs Of Kansas during the period
i y
toric, as well as passing. interest.
Peck and Ingans View 1t.
"Some years ago, 1t happened to
be my good fortune to hear this scene
described by George r. Peck, follow
| ing a recital by him of a sonnet oil
I Shakespeare apropos Of 1t, began
Mr.. Vandegrift. The occasion was a
luncheon given by Peck at the Chi
| cago club, in celebration of the birth
day of his old friend and comrade in
Kansas politics. George w. Findlay.
1t was small affair, impromptu and
! quite informal. but beginning at l
| p. m. and continuing until after other
/ guests had begun to assemble for din
ner. Peck did most of the talking.
prodded occasionally by old George.
| The topics of course were Kansas.
"In due course, the late John James
ingalls,, the brilliant United States
senator, of whom Kansans are so
proud, became a subject of the con-
versation. And whoever has sat in
Kansas reminiscehce and failed 70
! hear stories OF ingalls,? First came
| up the sensational election of ingalls,
to be United States senator in 1873
and then ingalls, once in stayed in.
Next came the close election OF
1879, when ingalls, was so badly in
need of votes that Peck consented TO
give up the office of United States
]
promised to ]. R. Hallowell. a state
senator. We'll, we reelected ingalls,
by Just that one vote continued Peck.
| Soon afterward. Halloweli drew on
ingalls, for the job. and ingalls, In turn
drew on me for my resignation.
Promptly I sent it in. and. writing
ingalls, a letter full of tradelasts, sat
back for him to reply in kind. His
letter was a long time coming. and
when. finally, 1t came. II contained
neither jolly nor compliment: only
grim humor. can repeat it word for
word to this day:
Resignation a Virtue.
Hon. George r. Peek.
! Tinted States District Attorney.
| Ny Dear Sir:
Resignation is q Christian virtue.
Yours Truly.
J. J. Ingalls,.
Then the laugh went round fol-
lowed by the others narrating anec-
dotes of ingalls,, until Peck began to
speak of his personal relations with
him." continued Mr.. Yandegrift
Soon he led up to the incident which