The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-22
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE.
(From Philadelphia Public Ledgsr.l


We referred not long ago to the
weak and co1orless Mr.. Harding and
his apparent intention to make the
government of this country a copart-
;nership. We deprecated his lily conceal
ed disposition to hide behind the skirts
of the people, and frankly said so. Our
Idenunciation of the president-elec
greatly grieyed a valued subscriber,
and he took occasion to write to the
editor about it. In line with our poll
icy of presenting all of the various
angles of public controversy, we re-
produce the letter.
THE inclosed. taken from the Pub
lie Ledger he writes, has shocked
myself and family. 1t is uncalled for
and not a bit funny. As subscriber
to the Public Ledger. think your at
tention should be called to this para
graph. We can't think you could read
it without being displeased with the
writer. Better cut out the whole col
amn in future
The longer we live the more firmly
we are convinced of our utter futility.
The chances are always as to 2 that
they won't get it.
In the connection we have one re-
quest to make. 1t is that aggrieved
readers who write in criticism or abuse
of the column observe the simple cour-
tesy of sending the letters direct to
this desk. 1t would relieve the editor
of a certain amount of detail work
and save much wear and tear on the
office boy. It is, roughly speaking. a
distance of forty-seven steps from the
editors room to this desk. The route
is barred by four doors and one office
gate. The office boy, who frequently
is called upon to make the round trip
and he frequently is called upon to
a
of the week and, because of such phys
icaI exhaustion, ceases to be of value
to the paper. There is no danger that
knowledge of such letters of criticism
and complaint will be withheld from
the editor. We always print them.
The death in the last year of twenty
two Philadelphia policemen at the
hands of the banditti is noted in
the news columns. Considering the
chances he takes. we sometimes feel
the policeman's SIS a day is no more
than he deserves.
We are fully aware that the fore
going is a bold and, possibly, an un-
warranted utterance. To speak well
of the police is one offense this coun-
try never forgets and rarely forgives.
1t is, we go on to say. an offense
comparable in the public mind only
mother.
The Well Known Limbo of Memory.
Sir-Noting your ability to answer
all manner of questions relating to the
long, long ago, can you tell me what
became OF the mud-scraper that used
to stand by SO many doorsteps; also
Of the "busybodies'' which some years
ago were noticed at the second-story
windows of So many Philadelphia
houses? And where is the Swiss mu
sic box and the famous dime novels
in which the exploits of Deadwood
and Diamond Dick were noted
Again. let me ask, what became of
the waltz quadrille, the glide lancers,
polka, Loomis lancers and caledonia?
r. F. S.
Noting the columns attitude of hes
itancy, A. L. M. who seems to know
all about it,, writes to say that going
dry, in Scotland is a Fictitious phrase,
meaning local option"
Still, when the Scotch concede the
point to be debatable, something has
slipped. And, while we cease to
pause, we still are far from convinced
Henry Ford's inability to climb a
tree when challenged to do so by
John Burroughs has been the subject
of considerable newspaper comment.
II ID To HOIe. III In0 COnnGG-
ton that of 1881 gentlemen who
sought to weave a jape from the in
icident, 2,723 superimposed it upon the
fact that Henry didn't have his car.
1t is only when one is beset by the
temptation to write something about
Mr.. Ford that he realizes how heav-
lily this country leans upon the '-fliv-
YER"
It can at least be said for society
that it has better manners than its
critics.
Buck Kilby says the chief defect of
the home is that it does not take the
place of the saloon.
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands is
to receive $4,000 a year for giving
baseball a reputation. And, at that,
it is going to tax his utmost resources.
Baseball is a fine game. IT has no
more earnest adE1irer than the cob
umn. If it were not for those who
run it ana those who play, it CONNER
cially it would be the ideal outdoor
sport.
Q. Where is the largest peach orchard
in the county Nv. L. II.
that the largest single peach orchard of
which they have record is one located in
southwestern. Arkansas. This orchard
consists of over 1900 unbroken acres AMI
an additional tract of land covering 1000
acres nearby, all under the same manage