The Pink Rag from Topeka, Kansas • 4

THE PINK RAG--By CHAS. H. TRAPP "Characters" are not necessarily eccentrics; sometimes they are odd geniuses; ofttimes they combine quaintness with the power to think. A strong character is Frank Curry, of the Curry Brothers who conduct a smoke house that has a deserved reputation for moral and physical cleanliness. Frank has many workable ideas.

For years he was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, and occasionally now he takes out a stack of whites in civic affairs. Always he is a dominant factor. He has interests on the "East As everyone knows who knows, the East Side is built on the flat bottom of the Shunganunga creek. That festive and erratic stream takes many foolish notions, viewed from the standpoint of a human being. Sometimes it is as docile as a lamb; then it goes on a rampage.

Houses and lowlands are inundated, folks flee as from a gunman. Curry wanted a drainage system and a sewer. Folks out there earn their money and are charry about letting go, SO Frank's first task was to educate the East Side populace to the need. Then the balance of the town must be brought to recognize the need of the improvement. The spillway and the sewers are a fact.

The Chamber of Commerce needed members. Curry was appointed chairman of the membership committee, and thru his persistence made the later drives possible. A lot of kindly adjectives can be rightfully applied to Frank Curry. Will Stadler, of Eudora, has been appointed postmaster, and wants to dispose of his paper. Jay House.

is up to his old tricks. He says he received over a thousand letters in response to one of his spasms. He used to pull that stuff while on the Capital. Meantime he took a single letter out of his mail box, and it was personal. Times have changed somewhat.

Whether it is because of 85- cent wheat, 125-cent oil or the shopmen's or printers' aborted strikes, I don't know- care. During the war, and thereafter, thru 1921, editors in Kansas cried frantically for help thru the Pink Rag. Many answered; practically none came. Two weeks ago John Redmond of the Burlington Republican ran an ad for a printer. A printer in a Redmond office has opportunities for advancement galore.

In towns of that size everybody knows everybody and everybody doesn't think he is better than somebody. A stranger dropping in is received as a man among men. He is accepted at par until he proves himself discounted. Even discounted he is treated with charity. The town's his'n just so he doesn't take it away.

Redmond wrote me to stop his ad. He had seven or eight applications from all over the state, and has selected a man that will qualify. The point is that he had a selection this year, while a year ago he had no choice. Proving that when you are willing and able to pay a salary you have no material difficulty in filing the job. Rag about it.

For Sale or Lease--A Kansas weekly newspaper. Owner also owns picture show of the town, and will sell one or both propositions. Write The Pink A bargain for immediate sale. The Satanta Chief, a live newspaper in a rapidly growing town, for twelve hundred and fifty dollars cash. A good little newspaper in WestCentral Kansas, Prouty cylinder press, Pearl jobber, cutter, mailer, 24 fonts job and ad type including 2 weight fonts, three cases body type, in town with water works and electric light, circulation 300, nets $100 a month.

Price $750.00. This paper has been conducted by present owner 10 years. Failing eyesight compels change of work. Terms on $300. Gas engine power.

1 Vaughn Hand Cylinder, 5-column quarto, with chases and roller frame. 2 6-column wrought chases. 1 7x11 Pearl on iron stand (will trade for 8x12 Peerless or Gordon.) 1 19-inch Challenge paper cutter. PRINTING Rushed Practice Makes Perfect. "I've been in -the penitentiary 20 years, mum.

What good would it do me to get out?" "You could begin life over again," said the sympathetic prison visitor. "Could a piano player quit tickling the ivories for 20 years and begin right where he left off, mum?" "I suppose not." "Neither could a burglar. His Trip Back. "Your husband is quite enthusiastic over this back to the soil idea," remarked the neighbor woman. "Yes," snapped his wife, "but the only chance John ever will have of getting back to the soil will be when the undertaker takes him there." Caged.

Mrs. Crawford--I don't see how she's going to benefit by having her husband sent to jail. Mrs. Crabshaw-She admits that she won't get any money out of him, but she'll have the satisfaction of knowing where he is nights. All Born Somewhere.

"Papa, where were you born?" Willie asked his father one evening. "In Manchester, darling." "Where was mamma born?" "In London, darling." "Where was I born?" "In Leeds, dearest." "Queer how we three people came together, isn't it?" Gloom. The camper huddled in his tent, Was gloomy as could be, He sang this song of discontent, "It's raining rain on me.".