The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-24
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE.
tFrom Philadelphia Public Ledger)

ST arise to ask why it is essential
that Mr.. Wilson possess a certain HUI
man quality" writes Jay c. 1t isn't.
Jay c. is another who went away In
such a hurry that he forgot his hat.
The point we made is that partisan
comment upon the man endowed with
it is less vitriolic and biting.
And that being all there is to this
controversy, we hereby dismiss it.
Unconsidered rifles in the news
often illuminate our twilight way. We
learn from one # them that the late
Sir Ernest Shackleton's estate
will furnish US with a talking point
at home for years to come.
'Tf," we shall say when the dis.
-cussion upon thrift and economy
grows warm, "Sir Ernest ShackIeton
could save only $4,000, how can an
ordinary columnist be expected to do
better?"
We, in common with our fellow citi-
zens, have just had our biennial night
off. Twice every four years. on pri-
mary and election nights, the Ameri-
can citizen becomes a free moral
agent. He can come downtown right
after dinner, stay as long as he chooses
and nothing much is said about it.
Not only that, but in the ordinary
course of events he is not called upon
to insert a hand in the pockets of his
trousers. Election and primary nights
are the only free events on the calen-
dar of the American householder.
Everything else costs him money or
trouble.
Naturally enough, we spent the
evening in the office, sitting the great
err part of the time beside the desk at
which we spend our working hours.
diversion outside their narrow groove.
A newspaperman goes to his office
and stays there. On his days off he is
around the office most of the time.
Take the office in which he works
away from a newspaperman and you
have wrecked his life.
One reason we like to be around a
newspaper office on election night is
that it is the only place in which
serenity and calm is maintained. Out
side there is noise and confusion and
foolish talk. There is a tradition of
much hustle and confusion-mucl1'
racing to and from a newspaper Of
We never saw any of it. If there
were such hustle and confusion, they'd
never get the paper out.
In order to forestan those who find
their greatest delight in exposing the
columns ignorance, we are frank to
say we are no longer sure whether
the Harrington book to which we yes
terday referred was 1.-THE Turmoil
or 1.-The City" 1t may have been either
or neither. The more we null it over
in mind the less certain we are. What
we do remember is that it was tale
of Chicago, hailed at the moment as
the great American novel, and that
we found it dull and uncOnVincing.
We could look it up, of course. AS
the crow flies. the library is exactly
thirty-seven feet eight inches from
and returning, we should have to open
two doors and one gate. If we leave
it lay somebody will do it for US.
In the current number of Heafst's,
Gouverneur Morris propounds in fic-
tional form the initial number of his
serial inquiry Can a Bad Woman
Make a Good Wife," 1t all depends
the word bad" If the lady merely
is unvirtuous. providing there is such
a word, she can and frequently does.
If. on the other hand, the lady is
sIatternly, inept. inefficient. thriftless
and lazy-if she nags her husband and
finds fault with her lot in life-it is
impossible for her to be a good wife,
no matter how virtuous she may be.
The flight of Comptroller Craig. of
New York, must be a-serious one. His
attorneys are talking of applying for
a writ of certIorari.
Generally speaking, a prominent
citizen is a combination of an ordi-
nary man and an extraordinary press
agent.
And a public hero is one who has
been elected to office, but who has not
vet gone into effect.
MISE K