The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-16
ODeraH Opening In
Topeka Begins Today
Telegraph Editor of State Journal Braves the Elements
and Comes to Work in His Denms- Eats
at Society Restaurant.

office trying to beat Dutch" Shultz to
the water cooler.
II bought these overalls yesterday.
first intending to wear them while
washing the car, ct cetera, ct cetera'
but when I started to dress this morn
ing, stuck my foot thru the most inn
portant part of the last presentable
pair of trousers in my wardrobe. The
closet held only coats and vests and
dress suit, I purchased in Manhattan
five years ago. For a minute L was
almost certain that I was going to at
tend work formally but prospects of
the jeers of the gang changed my
mind The only thing left was this
suit or overalls-and there you are.
Ever since I came back from
France have been trying to get some
one to start something in the way of
formality that will give me chance
to get my $40 worth out of that dress
suit. When the Press club gave the
party at the governors 1 thought I
was fixed, but Charley Mitchell spoiled
all that by putting a cold water pen
atty on wearing evening clothes.
Since these overall clubs have been
organized in all parts of the country 1
have been hoping that the live ones
would do something like it in Topeka,
but no, there seems no chance. I have
only this one joy. Charles Mitchell put
the kibosh on the dress suits-guess
he hain't none-all right. Mitchell
generally gets the publicity on this
sort of stunts but this time I have
beat him to it. I can stand the rest
of the town off now.
But gosh, you should have seen the
folks on Kansas avenue when L went
out for my noon lunch today. You
would have thought 1 had forgotten
to put any of 'em on at all, or that 1
was wearing new sort of silk hose
and was lifting my skirts too high.
BY GLIB"
Overalls made their debut in Topeka
society today noon. when Keilmann
lunched at a restaurant freQuented by
the upper set" The writer sneaked
along -timidly and shame -facedly. He
was not sure what kind of a reception
Keilmanns jeans were going to re-
ceive at the hands of society, but he
was getting his lunch free, so he had
to trail along.
AS he seated himself, Keilmann
spread a napkin carefully across his
legs. He didn't tuck it in his collar:
the overall bib served that purpose.
All went well thru the meal. Keil-
mann's coat served as covering for the
bib and the table-cloth was a good
camouflage for the loud. striped ex-
ltremeties. Hence, the writer did not
! choke on fish bones. When the finger
bowls had come and gone, without
Keilmann drinking from his, the
awful moment arrived. By this time
the cafe was we'll filled and the
writer's knees quivered at running
that naughty gauntlet with his be-
denimed companion. He made up his
mind to follow Kielmann out to view
the effect of the jeans, but at the last
moment his nerve failed him and he
went out first, hurriedly, SO Society
| would not associate him with the over
! alls. From under his downcast eye
| lids however, he could see the startled
| expressions on the faces of the lunch
ers. Were disdain and contempt not
also written on their faces? He hur-
ried on. not mindful of the fact that
| his companion had the check and was
paying the bill.
! When Keilmann walked up to the
I cashier to pay his bill, that lady-o1
| a stoutish. austere type, she was
| coldly looked him over. Her glance
fairly shouted, 81 do wish these me-
chanics wouldn't come here"
| At last the ordeal was over. but the
writer wondered if his reputation
would survive the blow dealt by the
overalls. 1t will no doubt when the
governor. the mayor and the leading
bankers of the city don denim as theii
> business dress.