The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-10
ON SECOND THOUGHT
By JAY y. HOUSE.
(Fronn Philadelphia Public Ledser.l

We were going to suggest that SEN
ator McCumber, who still is exhibit
ing his bruises and contusions to the
public, is q poor sport. But perhaps
that is harsh judgment 1t were hap
pier to say his perspective is out of
line. The man who chooses the pub
lie service as his meter should be
prepared to take it. The chances are
There is no especial distinction in
the holding Of public office and it is
no disgrace to be beaten in an election.
Anybody can hold office. But it takes
genius to make money selling groceries
at retail.
Possibly our viewpoint is a narrow
Cunliffe, who has written a stirring
poem in which she thanks God for
girls. has engaged in supererogation.
We have always felt that way about it.
We believe the sentiment is very gem
eral in male persons between the ages
of twelve and sixty-five, inclusive.
We have no gift of versification and
are unable properly to express our
own appreciation of girls, butewe want
them to understand they frequently
make" the day for US.
The Trivial and Unimportant.
Sir-Isn't it unimportant enough to
deserve comment that a renowned edi-
torial writer should, perhaps, r1isouote
that Chicago Fair songf The line,
with q hundred empty buildings run
up of shingles and glue" used to be
sung, as I recall it, With ten thou
sand empty buildings built up out of
lath and glue"
Anyway, this line sings better. It is
hard to get over the "hundreds' and
shingles in Miss Repplier's version.
Men who must sing liked the After
the-Ball" tune because it made a good
noise and their singing didn't disturb
the close harmony artists. You will
appreciate this. Imagine a line wrong
from Browning, say. in the stuff ema-
mating from a lowbrow sports or SOL
umn writeri The postman couldn't
carry in your mail. In contrast, there
fore, an editorial by an author no mat
to take liberties with a good old Vic
torian parody. J. A,
The matter is unimportant, but
scarcely unimportant enough to be
permitted to take up space in the COL
umn were it not for one thing: 1t is
hardly possible that J. AS criticism
will sting Miss Repplier to acerbetic
retort. A publicly conducted row be-
tween the two would just about estab-
lish this column in the heart and at
fections Of Philadelphia.
AS for us, we didn't sing the After
the-Balr' tune because it made a good
noise. We sang it because it fitted
exactly our mood. That was the sum-
mer the. hardware merchants daugh-
ter tossed us. We were very low" in
mind and spirit turnout the months Of
July. August and September. The pos
sibilities for melancholy moaning
which After the BALI provided saved
US from distraction.
Give g stricken male a chance to
moan melodiously in a melancholy
key and he needs no other doctor.
President Harding having vowed his
fealty to the Eighteenth Amendment,
We trust Senator Capper of Kansas,
will calm himself. Senator Capper,
you will recall, almost lost control of
his emotions when Secretary Weeks
expressed his belief that law per-
hitting the sale of beer and light wines
would be preferable TO the present ar
rangement.
The reason we express faith in Sem
ator Capper's ability to calm himself
IL because we know he can do it. He
has been calm. almost serene, in the
face of the distressing violation of the
Volstead law in his own city and state.
Anyhow, we claim the real test of a
public mans public Indignation rests
in the chance he takes in expressing 1t.
Personal and Social
Sir-I note in your letter to Bill Dye
you signed yourself "Dodd." Why
"Dodd"? Is it a nickname? If it is, L
think many OF your readers would be
interested to learn its original and
Significance. c. B. h
We don't share the opinion ex-
pressed by c. B. H. We don't believe
readers of the column care two
whoops in Gehenna about it, but we
strive to please. Years ago, before
our lucubrations achieved the signifi-
canoe OF by" line, we had the habit
OF dropping an occasional chunk OF
dynamite upon the reading public. TO
relieve the paper of the odium OF
casting the dynamite, we fell into the
practice OF inscribing 1t with the name
Dodd CASTOR, The insignia stuck.