The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-11
ON SECOND THOUGHT
By JAY e. HOUSE.
lEren PhiladsipAis Psbise LsdsAs.l

Albert G.. Field, the minstrel man.
who died the other day, was a gentle
man of parts and consequences. He
was farmer, banker and business man,
and he had the ability to express his
great fund of human experience in the
symbols of the printed page. Every
year he led his band of japers and
ballad singers on grand transconti-l
mental tour. But, after all, his fame
will rest upon one imperishable Quip.
He sprung it one night after the pat
ter and laughter of his audience had
died away-after the aged custodian
of the show shop had devised its last
glim. In the seclusion of the club he
loved best we had foregathered over
foaming beakers of ginger ale How
come" we asked. that a gent of your
intellectual equipment, and standing
traipses about the country at the head
OF a minstrel troupe?'' WELL" he
replied, as he worked his voice in and
out of the nuances of the tenor cIef,
Il started a minstrel show because it's
the only way married man gets a
chance to talk uninterruptedly.'
Good old All We still do a column
every day, but, his monologue forever
hushed, he wanders idly in green
fields and beside the still waters
A gentleman in an adjacent depart
ment believes there is food for
thought in the fact that the warden
of the Eastern penitentiary will ad-
dress the taxicab drivers at q dinner
in Philadelphia tonight.
We don't get the connection. but
those who are more mentally alert
more intellectually perspicuous, may
be able to do so.
A bill permitting local option in the
matter of legalizing Sunday baseball
and football died of hamilton in the
PENNSYLVANIA House on Monday night
or III members present and voting
thirty had the courage to go on rec
ord in favor of the bill. The others
followed conscience on the course of
least resistance.
The incident does not affect us in
any way We are too old and too
obese to play either baseball or foot
ball. We CITE it for the benefit OF
those credufous souls who believe
congress is going to do something
about prohibition.
'"The labor leader" we quote
from the esteemed Associated Press,
stepped smilingly from the Tombs,
but appeared downcast when he ar
rived at Sing Sing"
What is it, we wonder that causes
man before whom a penitentiary
sentence looms imminent toNappear
doWncast? A great majority of those
who are sentenced to the penitentiary
seem to dread it.
All of which reminds us of a letter
from Convict 1871 of Dannemora
prison which responses upon our dask
Primarily. Convict 1914 wrote to ex-
press his good wishes upon the occa-
sion of our natal anniversary; but he
added few well-chosen words which
we have the impulse to reproduce. To
do so We must violate rule No. 8,
which reads as follows: mo kindly
or complimentary word in reference
to the reporter who writes the column
may be reprinted in the column, ex-
sufficiently violent and abusive to
neutralize his words Of praise"
If we have your kind permission.
we shall make an exception in the of
Convict 1871 of Dannemora.
Thank you. He writes d. in part:
when the judge gave us a sentence
he gave US plenty of time to do it in.
Albeit, we deserved it.. This is not a
wish to emphasize the fact, inasmuch
as your column means SO much to our
intelligence and state of cheerfulness.
The curtailment of your column would
quite naturally upset and ruffle the
tranquility and the cheerful course of
the service of our sentence-of aLFour
time. And aitho some subscriber has
deemed It a necessity to write to the
editor admonishing him for permit
ting your delightful and highly enter
tanning column to be printed daily, we
desire to state that it is an invaluable
n and helm in
of reformation. We feel sure that the
editor will not wish to inflict addi-
tional punishment on US. Should your
column be discontinued, it would mean
additional punishment inflicted"
We thank Convict 1871 for his
kindly message. Wen take the mat
ter up with the chap who wanted US
"fired." Maybe we can talk him out
of it.
Our own amazement in the case of
New York women who disappeared
in a crowded street is not SO great as