The Topeka state journal., 1920-04-08
ON SECOND THOUGHT
The Rise and FAN OF Geddes Burgess.
BY JAY z. HOUSE.
(rron Philadeiphia Public Ledger.)

The Rise and Fall OF Geddes Burgess.
In the period of which this narra-
tive processes to be, in part, a vera
cious chronicle Geddes Burgess was
the smartest boy in Grigsby City. He
knew more than any, OF the other boys
and told it better. More than that,
Geddes Burgess was a clean. manly
boy. Doing the right thing seemed in
stinctive with him. He was careful as
| to his associates, acquired no bad hab-
its and was the bosom friend of indus
| try and thrift. While the other boys
gathered upon the lee side of the liv-
cry stable and submitted themselves
| to the painful process of learning TO
smoke. Geddes read history. The va
| cations they wasted in acquiring the
fundamentals of profane speech, and
| in learning TO differentiate between a
curve" and a fast ball Geddes de-
voted to getting in touch with the dry
| goods business in the emporium OF
Gage & Bro. Geddes easily was the
best student in his class and the most
! effective orator to appear in the de-
bates staged by his literary society. By
the time he was twelve years old peo-
Iple had begun to say there was a boy
who would make his mark.
When Geddes finished high school
he went away to college. 1t was some
] thing OF an event. for, IN that day and
\ generation. not many of the Grigsby
City boys went away to the university
town. To complete the high school
course was esteemed liberal educa-
ton and a somewhat questionable ac-
cessory to the business OF life. But
everybody wished Geddes well. 1t is
probable that this unworthy chroni-
cleer, who watched from his vantage
post beside a window in the office OF
the Gigsby City Clarion. where he,
tperched upon a high stool. ostensibly
setting type, was the only one who
envied Geddes the distinction that was
his as he drove away to the railwas
station and the 4:3S train.
Geddes made a fine record in col
Ilege, and was big man in his class
but it seemed not to affect him II
the least. He came home on his va
cations without any Of the swagger OF
undue cranlal development which no
infrequently is the sign manual of the
college student from the "small-time'
. circuit So far as his clothes were
concerned, it was not apparent tina
, he had gone to the university at all
And during his vacations he turned
his hand to any odd job of work tina
beckoned him to its performance. H'
was graduated with honor, but re
, turned home the same, simple, unaf
. fected lad the town had known from
, childhood. People looked up to him
i treated him with great Difference. ant
5 it was freely predicte he would Gu
t a wide swath in affairs. 1t was con
> ceded he woudd be a United state
t senator or a federal judge, success il
/ Grigsby City being measured largel.
) by the yardstick of political achieve
ment Many, thought the presidenc.
/ well within his possibilities.
Geddes decided to take up the law
: and went into the office of the bes
firm in town. About the time of hi
; induction into the legal profession
this chronicleer took out a travelini
card and went away for a look at IN
country beyond. But all the wore
that came from Geddes and Grigsb.
City in the two or three years tina
elapsed was that Geddes was fulfillin,
every promise his brilliant youth ha'
made and was fast developing into
fine attorney. But when the chron
2 icleer finally returned to the parenta
rooftree he learned Geddes had Qui
r the law and was doing newspape
e work in a neighboring city. 1t wa
Z I said of him that he was one OF tn
most brilliant Of the reporters on IN
= staff of the great newspaper by whicl
S he was temporarily employed, and no
body doubted 1t.
|. time, dropped completely out of sigh
( of the town of which he had been tn
5 chief distinction. In some indefinabl
= way It was learned that he no longe
y was with the great newspaper Wit
i which he had allied himself but n
+ had left no forwarding address. Whe
e the town next heard of him. thre
e years later, he was in the support c
S Kern, the great tragedian, and tn
: critics said he was the best youn
I actor seen in the middle west in man
e years It was freely predicted that tn
n great school of tragedians, then
| passant, would not entirely die out S
n long as Geddes Burgess lived. BIZ
e Geddes quit the drama as he had gu
0 both the law and literature. and IL
. aforesaid chronicleer returned
!. Grigsby City one autumn to find hiT
!. running for state senator. with ever
= prospect of success. People sal
- Geddes had struck his gait at last, an
= would land high. But, as a matter {