The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-29
BY V. e. RuNDY.

n1nd. PernapS, IN accQruance WIN
that precept, the following idle specu-
lations indicate a mental equipment
which is pronouncedly beneath the
Edison-test standard.
Be that as it may, it is difficult TO
find other excuse for automobile rid
ing than business. if something of in
terest is not observed in the course of
the ride. The ritter played hockey
one day this week. and feeling deli
ciously devilish and conscience strick
en-, spent some hours ranging the high.
ways near Topeka, with no object in
view except to ride. And certain in
teresting things-again judging in ac-
cordance with the axiom quoted, were
encountered
For instance:
There is a farm house a few miles
south of Topeka, on the Capital
Route, which has the Characters
ticalIy out-at-elbow appearance of the
Kansas farm house. 1t is small, un-
painted for some time, and situated
in a weed-grown yard. 1t is thanked
with farm machinery, parked in jun
giles of weeds and rusting in the open.
Beside the front Coor there is the
traditional tin basin on a box, and the
roller towel hanging beside it, where
with the owner of the farm and his
brawny assistants are wont to perform
their ablutions and efface the traces
of their toll. 1t is all very old FASH
toned. But also beside the tin wash
basin, on the opposite side from the
roller towel, there glitters the glass
and brass of a new tangled patented
container, sanitary and modern, of
liquid soap. 1t strikes an odd note of
incongruity with its rickety surround
-ings.
Five and a half miles south of To-
peka, was encountered a small motor
truck. blazoned with. the saffron of a
well known Topeka taxicab and bag
gage company. The truck was buZzing
cheerily southwark, its driver intent
on his job. The body of the vehicle
carried a good sized load of pale red
boulders, popularity known as ''nigger-
heads" Speculation as to who would
haul boulders five miles into the
country from the CITY,. was bootless.
Speculation f2stered and sizzled when
returning, at exactly the same point,
we, again passed the same truck. This
time it was headed toward Topeka,
it's driver just as intent on getting
north with his load OF boulders, as an
hour before, he had been intent on
getting south with them. Was the
driver crazy? Had he been sent on a
wild goose chase? Was he doing it
on bet, or testing his truck? Write
your own answer.
There is a vast difference in the
manner in which the farm dogs handle !
the automobile traffic along. their
beats. One pugnacious, prognathous
''buII' rushed out from the farm house
which he guarded, and barkedl saw
agely at our flying wheels. He chased |
US fifty yards down the road. Be |
side the road there sat cotton tail |
rabbit, one-third grown, calmly sur
automobile to within ten feet OF the
rabbit. and then abandoned it, but [
not to pursue the rabbit. He glanced |
contemptuously at that animal, turned /
and trotted back to the house.
Another dog raced madIy beside the
car for a hundred yards. He was put /
to his utmost to keep pace. Every /
ounce of muscle and every breath of |
air was employed in the task. He |
wanted to ba:k, oh so badly. But he /
couldn't keep up and bark too. His
doggish face registered anguish and
thwarted ambition in a manner to re-
joice the heart of a motion picture di- |
losing out. He made one spasmodic,
heartrending effort, emitted the one
short bark which was overlooking his
system, and turned, satisfied with
to return to his house.
In the good old days when going
to town meant taking a full day off
from the field work, when farmer met
farmer, both teams were pulled to a
standstill in the road, and drowsed
with nedQS Wnlle their
ers interchanged opinions about the
crops and news about their families.
When stranger met stranger, the same
procedure was followed. Hi, Neigh
bOr." was the greeting called from one
spring seat to, the other, and when
the strangers parted they knew more
or less Of each other. Nowadays, when
farmer meets farmer the only greet
ing is a creScendo ''who-o-o-o-sh" as
the staccato exhausts angrily vie with
zach nthnr and the dust UhirlS I'll
each farmer is driving at twenty-five
miles an hour, it is easy mathematics
to see that they pass each other at
fifty miles an hour. And but little
gossip can be interchanged at fifty
miles an hour.
A New York, Michigan. or Florida
license tag on a whirling motor car
hardly ripples the interest of the
Kansas automobile driver now, when
it passes him On the road. Twenty |
years ago, the man blowing in this
field would pull up his team and gawk
horses behini and a cavalry screen
of dogs ahead and on the TANKS.
which numbered drowsily along the
roads. Then. it was quite au fait to
and where they were goin-. If they
were from Iowa or Oklahoma, and /
bound to "Coloraydo," or some other
state, they were travelled persons,
and entitled to respectful considera-
ton. They found shelter wherever
they were stormbound. They were
pursuing the end of a
invisible to ordinary eyes
Now the farmer tooling the gas trac-
tor across his fields barely glances at
the cars bearing inhabitants of places
which in his youth were as remote and
mysterious and vague, as Fairyland or
the New Jerusalem
But there are still movers" and
they still travel the roads of Kansas.
in covered wagons, with feed boxes
nailed to the sides, and led horses,
usually with CALLED shoulders or
trailing behind. Oh the Vic
tory highMaX west of Tnnela two such