The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-18

ernor Allen told, with a simplicity
that was the most eloquent I'd ever
| heard, about that terrible battle, and
| the way our boys fought, the spirit
they showed. the hardships they en-
dured.
1t was a great speech. He took the
hide often SOMEBODY, whoever was
responsible for the failure to send
across airplanes a plenty, and to fur
nish enough horses to carry the artil-
lery forward. And some of US mothers
know that our boys tried to haul the
big guns forward themselves, because
they wasn't horses to do it, and be-
cause their hearts burned to hurry
| forward-ALWAYS,- hurry for
ward into the thick o. the fightin'.
Governor Allen also took a crack at
the censorship, and that was popu-
lar note, too.
We didn't get to hear all he Had to
| say, tho. We mothers, from our OBJ
scure corner, was leanin' forward
strainin' our ears SOS not to miss a
on. He couldn't NEVER talk too
much or too long to suit us, particu-
| Iarly when he was tellin US about our
boys-he. who'd been with EN-
clasped their hands-seen 'em face to
face such a little while ago-oh, it
| again
/ That Topeka Audience.
But you know Topeky, don't you
And I'm fearin' Governor Allen knows
! her, too, by now-she amt what you d
call hard to get acquainted with.
Now. she's thrifty soul. this here
Topeky, and aNterrible busy one. She's
allus a little late gettin' places. be-
cause she's got to set the bread to
raise and lock up the pup before she
! leaves home, or attend a committee
meeting or something.
oh nd l1yy f.
| ties down in her seat, she listens with
a rapt attention for a little while, and
you thinD she's really interested for
once and is goin' to set it thru. But
beans she'd left cookin' on the stove
and is afraid they'll boil dry, or she
thinks that she may be late to another
committee meeting, or she recOlects
that she has an appointment to have
| her nails manicured and up she gets,
right in the middle of speech or a
, row of seats, squeezes by folks and
| goes out, slamming the door behind
! her.
1 was terrible afraid the other day
that Governor Allen would think he
wasn't holdin' Topeky'S attention, or
that he was talkin' too long, him not
KNOWN about the beans and the COM
<mittee meeting or the manicurist. But
| that's just one of Topeky's pleasant
! little ways.
others, would have sat and listened
just as long as he'd a talked. Topeky
don't mean to be ignorant or i'll bred,
and she'd throw a fit if you'd suggest
| that she was, but I'm awful scared
| that Governor Allen will think she
was one or t'other or both of these
things.
We mothers and wives of the boys
and men who've been fighting over
there are goin' to try to get Governor
Allen to talk just to us sometimes.
There Won't be no reserved seats, ex-
cept for him. Mrs. Sweller and Mrs.
Chantrey and Mrs. Salamander J.
Jones won't be there, for this meetin'
amt goin' to be for the mothers or
wives of no desk heroes, or those who
hadn't no sons to go, even if they
wished they had.
| Governor Allen will just set there
and talk, for this is~to be a settin'
down meeting, and we women who've
been the ''Wistful, watchful walters" in
| this war, will set around and listen.
We can promise him that there
won't be no slamming down of seats.
or squeezing past folks to get out, or
trampin' down the aisle.
Well just sit and listen-and If we
wipe away the tears, as he talks about
our boys-we know that he won't
mind, for he will understand.
MA JIMKINS.