The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-28
ON SECOND THOUGHT
by JAY e. HOUSE.
(From Philadelphia Public Ledgsr.)


In a story couched in the reminis-
cent vein and written for the column
about year ago we made the state
ment that President Garfield was as
sassinated on July 8, 1881. 1t is hui
initiating to admit the column may
have fallen into error in making the
statment' but our passion for accuracy
impels US to do it. c. J. NJ. writes in
to say he remembers the incident very
well and to express the opinion that
we were absolutely erroneous" He
says President Garfield was shot on
uJly 2. 1881.
While it is humiliating to do so, we
are willing to concede that C. ]. NJ
is right about it. Frankly to admit
the accuracy of his contention enables
us to avoid possible argument and
saves us a trip to the library which
is some three or four doors distant
We are the type of writing gent who
would rather spell word wrong than
look it up in the dictionary. Wed
rather plead guilty to historical mac
curacy than to take the trouble to
verify an impression. While we blush
with shame in admitting our absolute
erroneousness. hereinafter and so far
as the column is concerned President
Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881.
Doubtless you wonder at c. J. MS
delay in directing attention to the very
palpable error in question. He says
he has been out of town on short
vacation. Otherwise, we take it, his
correction would have been filed in
late winter or early spring.
You doubtless read the remarks of
Mr.. McComb concerning President
F, Wilson? Pretty nearly everybody did.
To identify him further, Mr. McComb
is the gentleman into the epidermis of
whom President Wilson once rubbed a
handful of nettles.
We take it that Mr.. McComb's hide
still burns. but the pain and annoy
ance to which it apparently subjects
him seems to interfere very little if
at all, with his genius for accurate
statement.
1t is entirely possible, as certain
newspapers have suggested. that Mr.
Harding is colorless. But we note,
quite incidentally. that none of them
has been able to suggest Democrat
drabness of the situation.
Sc. unless some better reason for
boiling the ticket can be advanced. we
shall vote for the Republican candi-
date on the ground that he has no
children to be photogra phed.
A. c. writes in to say he doesn't
know whether Adelaide is a flesh-and-
blood woman or a name used for
publicity purposes. That, of course,
is our secret and we prefer not to
reveal 1t. But we don't mind saying
to A. c. that the most potent artifice
of the columnist is the ability to keep
em guessing.
Local sports writer's in comment
upon the Philadelphia = Cincinnati
game of Monday note that Ruether
seemed disappointed because of his
inability to hold the rampaging Pills.
1t seems. to us the sports writers have
understated the case.
If we are any judge of the human
emotions. and we claim to be, Ruether
was annoyed-positively annoyed.
mo one will deny" writes our
favorite political expert. Mr. Arthur
Brisbane, that Johnson's election
would have been an absolute GER
tainty; yet johnson never had the
silghtest chance of nomination before
the Republican convention"
Mr.. Brisbane's calm moment of
retrospect is interesting, but it will
bring him no renown. Mr.. Brisbane's
niche in fame is definitely fixed He
err who so late as Friday afternoon,
confidently predicted Johnsons nonTf-
nation.
1t may interest those who followed
him thru the last one to know that
Mr.. Frank II. Simonds already is
fighting the next war.
Knowing San Francisco somewhat
casually as we do, we predict that
such of those as go there in search
OF 2.75 beer will not have to fight
for it.
The speculative always intrigues us.
We are curious as to the amount of
space that would have been devoted
to the Eiwell case had the late Mr.. FL
we'll never written a textbook on
bridge-whi
However. despite the literary at
mosphere which enfolds it, the Elwell
tragedy has been a most unsatisfac-
tory one to the column and to the