The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-08
ON SECOND THOUGHT
By JAY e. HOUSE
(From Philadeiphia Pzbiie Ledssf.)
Washington, March 4

when left Philadelphia. Due to Ade-
laide, I had to recast my plot and re-
write most of my lines. But I think
1 got good story out of it anyway,
and if it isn't a good story my alibi is
that the woman Grabbed it for me.
That was Adams alibi, and it is good
enough for me.
1t all started at a most unearthly
hour this morning. 1t couldn't have
been later than 8 or $40 O'Clock when
Adelaide shook me out OLA sound
siumber and told me it was Time to get
up. When I demurred and asked a
reason for the unseemly haste, she
merely reiterated the order and
obeyed it. AS soon as we had eaten
breakfast she said to me: run along
I now and get shaved SO we won't miss
the parade
| But I told her, 'I don't want to
| get shaved now. 1 am down here in
competition with some Of the bright
est and SWEETEST reporters in the world
particularly some of the SWEETEST.
Unless I can do this thing in my own
way they'll show me up. Maybe they'll
show me up as it is, but the only story
I've got is to be in the barber shop
getting shaved when the parade
passes. If I can't write that story
| there is nothing here for me, and the
clever boys, such as Mark Sullivan and
David Lawrence, will make me look
like a nine-high straight in a game
of seven-card piquet with deuces
Wild
But the woman was obdurate. She
said she wasn't going to stand around
alone on the streets waiting for the
parade to pass, and there was nothing
for me to de but sacrifice the great
story of Mr.. Harding's inaugural 1 had
planned to write.
But, as have said, due to my re-
Isourcefulness, / think I got a grand
story. 1t is entitled '@tHow a Plain
Citizen Sees His President 1naugur-
ated, With Side Comment on Statuary
Hall" If it is not q grand story, I
don't want a word of it printed and
can depend on the managing editor
to see to that.
Meanwhile, there is one explanation
wish to make. Practically speak
ing, I have to make it. Our room did
not look out on the route traversed
by the inaugural parade; it looked out
on a court. Me pretending to have
that sort of room was all a bluff and
I am sorry I threw it. Another thing
L wish to do is to compliment the
Washington barber shops. They not
only permit q customer to hang up his
own hat and handle his own collar
and crava&; they do not superintend
any detail of his sartorial investiture.
In a Washington barber shop no por
hand trying to hand him his hat be-
fore he gets his waisteoast buttoned.
That is a boon I have long sought
and, it having been vouchsafed me in
a Washington barber shop, I desire to
make public acknowledgment of the
fact
Readers having gathered the fact
that 1 finally got shaved, 1 shall now
proceed with the detail of my great
story of Mr.. Harding's Inauguration.
During the hour we had to wait for
the parade to start 1 sat in an easy
chair in the lobby of the hotel while
Adelaide froze to death on the walk
in front. After a long time 1 saw the
crowd out in front ''rubbering'' up the
street, and L knew the supreme
moment which was to test my ability
as reporter was at hand. So L made
my way to the sidewalk, and had no
DIFFICULTY in obtaining a good positio
beside Adelaide. There were, in point
OF fact, only sixteen other persons in
front of the hotel. When. I am re-
porting I am a hound for detail and
/ took the trouble to count them.
While the weathe, was sharp. only
one regrettable incident marked The
long wait to which I have alluded.
Ahe motel management had been at
some trouble and an expense of
PROBABLY 81 or IS to place temporary
seats IN all of the windows looking out
upon the route traversed by the
parade. They had gone to some pains
20 take Whatever their guests had
upon them. They didn't sell a seat.
II was one of the saddest incidents n
the history of Inauguration day.
But to return to the story of Mr..
f1arolng inaugural. L left myself on
the sidewalk in front of the hotel
Look1ng up the street 1 saw a detach-
lHehl Oh three or four troops of cav
airy approaching. They were led by
colonel. One SO seldom sees a colo
nei .nat the presence of one in an in
GuSural parade takes on Significance
one sees great many lieutenants. nu-
fherouS captains and more majors than
any Iayman would deem necessary:
put colonel is a rare bird, and 1 make
note OF the presence of one in an in
aug aug uraI parade. He was, may add,
the second colonel 1 had ever seen.
1 saw my first colonel at Garden
city, L. l., in October, 1917. The cav
airy passed in extended order and at
swinging trot. I thought L saw a
motor car or two, but that may have
peen an optical illusion. All 1 am
sure of is that L saw detachment of
cavalry; would swear to that. But
all the time Adelaide was beating me
on the back and asking, Did you see
tnem DID you see them?" did
see whom 1 asked rather coldly, al
ready framing the words and phrases
Of my great story in mind why"
she replied, MIR. and Mrs. Harding
and Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson; did you see
them 20
NO replied. still cold and formal.
IT didn't see them; have they gone
by?''
''Of course they've gone by. you
ninny.' Adelaide replied. Mrs. Hard
ing had on a fur coat and a navy blue
hat and Mrs. Wilson wore a hat of
Harding blue Mr.. Harding had new
top hat and Mr.. Wilson looked very
sick and tired"
I suggested to Adelaide that we
might as we'll walk up to the capitol
to hear the inaugural speech. She was
agreeable and we sauntered over to the
grounds. When We got there they
were packed and we couldn't see much
of ANYTHING Finally we found a nice