The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE
BY PICK" SMITH.

The story in recent paper of a
Mennonite and a Quaker being mar
ried in o Serbian village by a Greek
church pope, where the B. and G.
were the only ones who could speak
English, reminds me:
IN the summer of 1895. when took
a vacation trip to Alaska. on the
steamer "City OF Topeka" just be-
fore we left the boat at Sitka, the
captain told us that all the passengers
were invited to attend q wedding the
next evening at the Greek church;
that half the church pews would be
reserved for usI and that the boat
would be held until 1880 p. m.
If anybody on that steamer missed
that wedding, they didn't tell me about
It.
The bride, a beautiful little Russian
Iassie, was ''totin' more sparkling or
naments, jimcracks, gewgaws. ETC.,
than some big department stores have
in stock" one lady passenger said to
me next day; and she insisted that she
knew what she was talking about
when she declared that the brides
jewelry was "the real thing" And
with a sweet smile she asked If 1
didn't think so, too But had to
admit that hadn't noticed the brides
trinkets overly much. for looking at
her sweet face. Then she snorted:
Now isn't that just like a man? And
I've heard at least half a dozen of
you say the same thing this morning."
Anyhow, that sweet little Russian
bridelet was sure easy to look at!
The Bridegroom regular U. s. A.
chap, who was manager Tor big
commercial concern in Sitka-and his
bride took our steamer that night on
their honeymoon down in THE
States" shortly after the ceremony.
Now, travel just at that time was
so heavy that twenty-five of us mem
folk left Seattle on the "up" trip as
20. T." or ''U. IT, passengers-bedded
= I, ~ infn
saloon tables, y'understand and the
truly wise man was he who planned
ahead. This bridegroom, being a bust
ness man, probably under ordinary
But he did not Never thought Of it, 8
he later grinningly- admitted, until
we were hustling to catch the boat!
Not only was the steamer full and
running over" with regular passengers,
but there were added some seventy
five unsuccessful prospectors whom
our Uncle Samuel was seeing back
to Gods Country" to keep them alive
thru the following winter. This was
the year before the Klondike rush.
So. you see. the boat was quite full.
One fall evening q hunting party
of us were told by Salt Lake City
hotel clerk that they were so full
they couldn't even furnish US nails be-
hind doors upon which to hang US
yet they fixed us nicely. The clerk of
our steamer told the bridegroom
practically the same thing, and yet
the newly-weds were ftxed--after
a fashion Three kind and sympa-
thetic ladies, who occupied state
room with one double and one single
berth in it, rugged up q ''shakedown
On the floor of their crowded quarters
for the bride. while, the u. is made
room for the happy bridegroom on
the floor, under one of the tables
For a couple of days the 80. It's"
and ~. T.'s' voted the bridegroom
"a Good or Sport" "A Corker, "A
room-mates declared
the bride "just too sweet for any
thingi"
And time wore on
On the up trip of our boat, among
the many new and valued friends &C
CURED were an Episcopalian clergy-
man, OF Nashville, Tennessee.-my ~.
T." bunkie; R., "a retired Chicago
brewer, and p, saloonkeeper from
Butte, Montana The last two, with
New Hampshire schooImaster, occu- |
pied stateroom "23."
Merely to show the goodfellowshlp |
ana brotherly-love that existed |
aboardship, I'll mention that on the |
three. sunday afternoons we were on
that boat my D. d. bunHie permitted |
himself to be coaxed by the ladies into |
holding service" in the dlining-sa- |
loon. at each of which gatherings he |
insisted that R., p and yours truly !
should occupy front seats and lead /
the Moody and Sanky- Gospel-Songsl
choir, even tho 1 could only sing 'em
from memory and l''by ear" But the /
most remarkable thing about it was
that but one brother-a jealous gent
from Frisco-who spoke disparag;ngly /
OF our trio He said with an idiotic /
grin: zone heluva bunch to lead q
choiri"
Along in the afternoon of the Sec
ond day from Sitka, we three bell |
wethers OF the rector's choir sat s1nok
ing on deck and watching the passing
aInrrrr v,1a /