The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-28
BY MA JIMKINs.


Seems as if you can't allus tell about
the nature of a person or-an object
by what they're called. The jokistS
are everiastin'ly connectin' the name
Of Hiram up with Kick, as if all the
Hiram's was what they call Hicks, or
else the Hicks was all named Hiram.
But the only man / ever knowad
named Hiram was a city man, and a
polished gentleman an scholar to
boot.
And oncet saw a man whose folks
had give him the name of Algernon.
La, I'd alius supposed that they want
no Algernon's outside OF Bertha NJ.
Clay'S novels. But this we're Algernon
was what they call a broncho buster.
or somethin' of that nature. least
ways, he was a burro guide on the
Pixies Peak trail, and ulster come
thru our property with parties. His
nickname was Red-eyed Mike, but his
real name was Algernon.
Ponderin' Over Silent Drama.
What started me to thinkin' about
this yere name business was because
I've been ponderin' on this yere So
called Silent Drama which the same
it amt. There amt nothin' silent
about 'em, SO fer's 1 kin see. The folks
that allus sets behind me sees to that.
They amt amin that no one within
the sound of their voice should re-
main in ignorance about what's goin'
on, and what's throwed on the screen
in plain printing and left on long
enough SOS that even folks like ne
and Pa Jimkins and Mirandy Wat
kins, what has to labor long and pain
full like to ketch the meaning, can
have time to spell it out.
But these yere folks that allus sets
behind me takes pity on every one N
front. and kindly reads it out loud for
'en. And that amt all. They allus
predicates what's comm, SOS they
won't be no surprise for you.
Now he's goin' to slip out an steal
pretendin' to believe him, but she real
ly don't at ALL" or, 'She's hurrying
along to tell the news"
Told at "Way Down East"
This yere last was told me an all
| the folks in my row o. seats at Way
Down East" one day last week, after il
had been showed that the village gos-
sip was on her way to spread poison,
See" they told US, only mebbe they
| thought they was just tellin' each 9TH
| er, shes hurrying to tell the news u
1t was all I could do to keep from
turnin' around and sayin', That's per-
fectly obvious" only I knowed they'd
look blank an say. "Huh?" not never
havin' mebbe heard that word obvious
before.
| They was too young women as sat
| alongside of the folks that read all the
titles out loud. and toId all about the
play; these yere young women KEEP a
talkin' an a talkin' till I was plumb
wore out.
The music was so sweet at that
j there show that I'd a liked to listen to
it, only instead all I could hear was
He says" an Il says" an "She
says"
| Oncet-when the orchestra was
playin' real soft, that dear old classic
| Home, Sweet Home" one of these
women said, I'VE never spend an eve
| ming at home"
I was kinder cross by that time
what with the two behind that was
reading the titles out loud an tellin
about the play. an them two shallow
| critters a chatterin' like magpies, an
I come mighty near turnin' around
and sayin', "Anybody'd know it.
| ma am, without your tellin'." but /
didn't.
Never spend an evening at home.
poor souli
L tried to be mad at her, but I Jest
felt sorry; not to know the joy of
pulling down the blinds come night
time, shuttin' out the world an all
its discord, and shuttin' in love and
peace; settin' around a fireplace,
mebbe, with little folks sprawled on