The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-12
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY e. HOUSE. -
(From Phiiadelphia Public Ledgsr)

The whole country. says the more
or less esteemed New York American,
| sis shocked by the disposal of William
Rockefeller's millions" We doubt it,
There was the usual grumbiing. There
is always grumbling over rich mans
will, no matter how he devises his
stake. But nobody was shocked and
nobody really cares anything about it
one way or another.
There are three forms of intoxica-
ton: One is induced by rum, another
by love and a third by the giving away
of money. The late William Rookie
Teller was a temperate man. and that,
perhaps, is the worst that may be said
of him.
Well, come TO think of it. we used
occasionally to ride a mule to town,
too but, socially speaking. it was an
error, and was so considered. None
of the swells in our neighbors en-
ployed mules as saddle animals.
At least one incident in President
Hardingss -boyhood remains unreveal-
ed and we frankly confess our curl
osity concerning it: We'd like to know
where he learned to play seven-up.
ANY work can be started now"
writes John Blake in the New York
Evening World, IF the man who has
it to do is really interested in getting
it over" And we say, lykell it can!
! We are tremendously interested in
the matter of getting out this column.
The sooner we shoot the cop" at the
editorial censor the sooner we shall be
able to get away from the office. we
have the impulse to work. But we've
been trying for two hours, and we
can't think of anything to say.
With the idea of forthcoming this
column of space we lay another para
graph alongside the foregoing. We
have performed about all the differ
ent sorts of humdrum and exhausting
toll but there is no drudgery compar-
able to that of writing for publication
in moments when the world assumes
the aspect of one vast wilderness.
OF course, we were not compelled
to take 1t up. We could have gone on
setting type for Carter Wild. And we
had one excellent opportunity to learn
the BARRIERS trade.
And just to show you how dull it
is, We note that somebody is demand
ing new national anthem. Thought.
such as it is and may be. runs in
cycles. There are moments when it
is gripping-when any person of nor
NAL intelligence can hurl an intel
lectuai dorniek or heave a mental har-
poon., And there are other moments
when it is flaccid, purposeless and
| fatuous.
We can always detect a fatuous,
purposeless moment in popular
thought. 1t is when somebody de-
mands a new national anthem, the
election of president by popular vote
or starts a controversy as to whether
the constitution follows the flag.
Getting a new national anthem is
like naming a baseball team by popu-
lar vote: The name can't be grated
on; 1t must burst naturally from the
parent stem. Wen get a new ma
tional anthem when some majestic.
nationally significant and 'melodious
composition of words and music
marches into the hearts of the people
and sets fire to them.
If we may express preference in
the matter. it is that it may be some
thing everybody can sing. The plight
of the average citizen who tries to.
sing THE Star Spangled Banner is
pitiful, his experience narrowing.
THE value of the estate" says the
New York World, was never made
public" THE amount of the be-
quest says the New York American,
was nearly $3,OO0,O00." It's a little
thing, of course, but we'd Ike to have
it Strengthened out. VIII the World
and American kindly get together?
At any rate. the theory advanced by
Arthur Dcugherty Rees that. after the
year 1000, nobody will die, is nothing
for US to worry about.
If, however, Mr.. Dougherty Rees is
trying toHoutdo Prof. Einstein in the
promotion of ffddle-faddle, he should
realize in the beginning that he is en-
gaging in a very strenuous compe-
tition.
We. the people, are always disap-
pointed when the worst is avoided.
Possibly you are interested in our
reaction to the fact that Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge on Tuesday celebrated !
his fiftieth birthday anniversary Well,
we think he is still a young man.
The Boss Barber was complaining