The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-09
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY z. HOUSE
+ tFrom Philadelphia Public Ledger)

1t was only yesterday that we put
in kindly word for the home revel,
as contrasted with the public orgy, or
cafe riot. As we pointed out, the
home reve1 may be indefinitely con-
tinued.- Its hfesnever depends from
the hand of authority; the bar does
not close at midnight. Another point
in its favor is that the incapacitated
may be removed from the lap of the
festivities, as it were, and put COM
fortably to bed. Too often in the res
taurant orgy or cafe riot the inca
pacitated gum the scene and slow
up the party. And when they do, in
variably there is talk"
At the time we carelessly and un-
skillfully projected the thought We
had no idea it was SO soon to be sub
stantiated in our own experience. we
could not foresee that on that very
evening we should be a vicarious wit
ness to a home revel. which was a. mas
terpiece of continuity and a miracle
of endurance. Around IL o'clock it
was borne upon us that the folks on
the fourth floor were giving a party.
When we retired at midnight it was in
full cry. Thence on to 4:30 o'clock,
when the revel dissolved and melted
away. we heard every jape that was
sprung, every song that was sung.
Once or twice we sank temporarily
into dreamland, to be awakened by a
new quip or the strains of haunting
melody.
Now, It was a high-class revel. No
b1ow-brows those who made up its per-
sonnet. The conversation purled and
ripuled thru green and uncontami-
mated fields. The japery was clearly.
| the melodies reflected sentiments of
[ the heart and hearthstone. The mar
vel of it was that nobody quit, nobody
dropped out of ranks. The revelry
I was continuous and everybody was go
ing as strong at the end as in the be-
ginning. And that brings in line the
thought with which we wish 20 crown
| this dissertation Is the home reVel
| producing a stronger and more endur-
ing race? Are we, under the benefit
cent influence of the Volstead act, be-
coming physically more rugged? Has
| wood alcohol increased our powers of
resistance? We have witnessed many
of the restaurant orgies of the good
old days. We never saw one in which
the merriment was continuously sus-
tanned for more than five hours nor
one in which some bright star of the
presenting company was not suhdued
long before the final curtain.
We hope the landlord will not con.
strue these remarks as in the nature
of an objection. Far be it >from US
to complain. We may wish to hold Il
home reve1 some time. When we do.
we hope the folks on the fourth floor
will be equally amiable about it.
Word comes from Washington that
the 'drys." deeming it a pernicious in
fluence, seek to have-the name of
Rum" river changed to one more in
keeping with the statutes. We thank
the "drys'' for the laugh. 1t was al
most the first we have enjoyed this
year.
The word rum persists in the
vocabulary because the "drys'' keep it
there. So far as the drinkers are con-
cerned, it was obsolete three genera
tons back.
Men have their illusions. but they
concern one thing and another. On
the other hand, every woman believes
she could make a great deal of money
running a tearoom.
We don't know whether it made
sense or not. but we leave it to you if
! our whimple about 1921 having dis
appeared over the brow of time into
the ages wasn't pretty classy bit of
columning.
1.-THE fact that buying alcoholic bev-
erages is a violation of the law con-
tends the esteemed New York Trib. SIS
no defense for the man who sells wood
alcohol The Trib has the column
| convinced. All that remains to be
done is to convert the dealer to its
way of thinking