The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-12
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger,

"whaddayamean they are no poll
tics in the East?'" writes P. ]. Here
in Pennsylvania we have gone along
for a good many years on the assump-
ton that we invented politics. We
originated the trick of carrying an ex-
ira Joker in the sleeve, and we are
supposed to play 'em little closer
to the vest than any other state
Elueidate."
Possibly the difference will be best
illustrated by a story. 1t is an old
story, but authentic. To be exact; the
incident was an outcropping of the
campaign of 1895. 1t was along in
August of that year that a good man
living in the Puckett's Run neighbor-
hood, in Lyon county. Kansas, was
gathered to his fathers. The funeral
was held in the little country church
which nestles in the valley of the Neo-
sho, few miles below the point of its
confluence with the Cottonwood.
Everybody in the community turned
out to mourn the loss of a loving hus-
band, a kind father and good citizen,
and to get the particulars The GUS
tomary simple services were con-
, Quoted, which is to say the congre-
gation Joined in a couple of mournful
hymns, the minister offered prayer
hour and half to eulogy of the de-
ceased.
The hushed moment which falls up
on every funeral service ensued as the
minister ceased. The undertaken
his place at the foot of the casket and
announcing that those who wish to
view the remains will come forward
and pass to the left" AS the pail of
silence settled upon those assembled a
tall, Ianliy man, with two weeks
growth of stubble upon his face and
the marks of a close and personal APP
plication to agriculture upon his cloth
ing and person arose to his feet in
rear pew. Friends" he said. "if
there is nothing further before the
meeting, would like to make few
remarks on the free coinage OF silver
at the ratio of sixteen to one and to
county clerk"
| Out there politics is a rite. Here 1t
is business, conducted by close cor
| poration.
In the recent election the Prohibi.
| ton party of Massa ehusetts cast ], 81
votes. On the face of it that would
seem a sorry showing. But very
| few dead issues are able to muster
/ 1875 friends who are not only wtlling
| to sit up with the corpse, but who
volunteer to do.
/ ''Her witticisms," says an esteemed
contemporary in speaking of Lady
! Astor, made two continents chuckle.' .
| So that was it? We had been wonder
| ing. having sensed the general hilarity,
what the joke was.
Wishing to contribute our share to
| the general gayety, we quote here
with Lady Astors latest bon mot
! Although I cannot say" said Lady
| Astor, as she tailed the returns from
the remote rural precincts with one
| hand the while she tucked in a stray
! lock of hair with the other, that
the best man won, I can say the best
| policy won."
Renewing the customary Injunction
to go ahead and laugh your heads
off, we pass once more to the field OF
serious discussion.
| It is, We take occasion to say. with
| extreme regret that we chronicle the
result of another explosion The
| Democratic administration in Wash
| ington has blown up, fixing an ire
| parable injury upon the party and do
| ing considerable damage to the coun-
| tiy az lhS SC.
The appearance of Joseph Cawt horr
at local palace of pleasure impels III
to turn back the leaves OF memory
Does Joseph remember the snow-bitter
| day in early February. 1885, wher
"wildcatting' on the kerosene circui
in support of Gladys Wallis HI
drought his concertina to the "oper1
| house" in Mount Sterling. Ill? w,
ask for the reason that it is one of tbs
most pungent of our memories. Tha
was the day we fell in love with Mis-!
Wallis.
It may be the recognition is not nu
tual. 1t may be mere mention of th'
incident will not identify us to Mr.
| Cawthorn. We take the liberty of in
Producing ourself We were the gen
who wore a red necktie and sat be
hind the round oak stove in the hote
office.
Them, we wish to add, was the day