Military ‘Shindigs' Brightened Social Life on the Frontier The presence of military per sonnel on the Nebraska fron tier gave the settlers a sense of security and the military ‘Wnndigs" brightened their so cial life, according to James C. Olson, superintendent of the Nebraska State Historical So ciety, in his “Out of Old Ne braska" press release last week. Of the military forts in the state, he said that one of the best preserved is old Ft. Hart suff, on the North Loup river between Ord and Burwell. Ne braska's other forts have disap peared, but Hartsuff stands to day about as it did in the late 70’s, when it served as a bar rier against the Indians for the settlers of the North Loup val ley. The post was established in 1874,, after the settlers of the valley, who had been there for Bill Jordan Valentine, Nebraska Boys’ Saddles N. Porter Saddles Bridles of all Kinds Full Line of Traps and Stretchers Beaded Belts of all sizes Navy Blankets Ladies' Fur Coats and Fur Rugs Bone Meal, Mineral and Salt We Buy Hides, Furs, Horsehair about tnree years, peuuoneu the government for military ! protection against the Indians. The early settlers had both the Pawnee and the Sioyx to contend with. The Loup val ley was an ancestral home of the Pawnee, and though they were established on an agency in Nance county, the young men of the tribe roamed the valley at will, and often plund ered the homes and fields of the whites. The Sioux, who came into the valley from the north to harass the Pawnees and to hunt and trap, were not content with mere plunder, but often burned the settlers out. Twice—at Sioux creek in Octo ber. 1873, and at Pebble creek in January, 1874—there were armed encounters between the whites and the Sioux. By the time the fort was built, the Indians had been fairly well pacified, and the soldiers stationed there were called upon for little fighting. Then, too, the construction of the fort was the valley’s sal vation economically. The sum j mers of ’73 and ’74 had been hard ones. What hadn’t been dried out, flooded out, or burn j ed out by prairie fires had been devoured by huge swarms of grasshoppers, with the result that there was no food and no money to buy food. Had they not been given jobs at good wages to help build the fort, many of the settlers undoubt edly would have given up the struggle and deserted the North DANCE Af SUMMERLAND Ewing Sunday, Dec. 15 Music by VERNE WILSON \ and His Orchestra $1 - $1.49 The tie* your man prefers are the kind we have right now I Quality rayons, silks and wools in consereatiTe or splashy patterns in bluet, greens and reds to blend with all his suits. # While our selection is still complete — our stock brand new — select the gilts for the men on your list .. . here . . . nowl McCarvilles CLOTHING : READY-TO-WEAR : SHOES Loup valley. By 1881, all possible need for the post had passed, and the War Department ordered it abandoned. The land went to private ownership, and the buildings have had many years of service as headquarters for a ranch. Some of their former glory passed away. The com manding officer’s residence, for example, was removed for use as a silo Nevertheless, most of the buildings, With their stur dy grout walls and red cedar frames, have withstood the rav ages of time fairly well, and ei ther are in a fairly good state of preservation, or could be made that way in short order. The residents of the North Loup valley are greatly inter ested in having the fort turned into an historical park for the use of the public, and a short time ago the Fort Hartsuff Park Association was organized for that purpose. They point out that not only do they have buildings of historic signifi cance, but also a plot of ground which easily could be develop ed into an excellent recreation al area. PRAIRIELAND «&>« JL SAUNDERS TAT R Route 5 ... ATKINSON The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.—Matt. 8:20. A slip of a girl clung to the arm of her companion, a blond young fellow who bore himself with still a bit of orderly step of the military consciousness. Snow crunched under their feet as they moved along the wind swept street with eyes fasten ed on the endless rows of hous es on either side, hoping that there would be somewhere in a window an almost forgotten sign, "Rooms for Rent.” Nowhere to lay their heads, they Were just a fragment of the new thing in America, a procession of house hunters. “O look,” the girl exclaims as they come to a house with the curtains removed from win dows, “I believe these people are moving; let’s see.” And with hopes revived knock at the door. But the curtains were down only to be laundered. Still no place to lay weary heads they plod on. America, that has whipped most of the world and is now feeding it, must surely find a way to whip the house famine. • • • A strange group winds down the narrow Calilean road that runs south to the rugged hill where open the gates to the Holy City and some distance beyond. The figure of a wo man, muffled in the garb of her Hebrew ancestors, sits upon a donkey and a man of middle age, staff in hand, leads the way. Caesar Augustus, from his guilded throne over in proud Rome, had ordered that “all the world should be taxed.” The strange group we have seen are on their way to Beth lehem to comply with this de cree. The road leads on past the plain of Esdraelon, through Sampria, where centuries be fore Jeroboam had diverted the caravans of worshipers on their way to the temple at Jer usalem by setting up a pagan shrine to the worship of Baal, : on thorugh Sychem, and doubt- , less paused at Jacob’s well for a rest and refreshing drink from its cool depths. Bethel, Jerusalem and ethany are left to the north. At last this strange group are at Bethlehem. The woman, a direct descendant of Hebrew royalty, had been high ly favored of Jehovah. Her time is fulfilled. “And she brought forth her first borfc sor>, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was NO ROOM IN THE INN.” • • t To heart burdened house NOTICE: * Dr. Edw. J. Norwood, O. D., I Optometrist, from Crawford, Neb., will be in O’Neill De cember 21 at the Golden Ho tel. 30-31 Eyes Exam'd-Glasses Fitted : POIN SETTI AS for ■ CHRISTMAS YES ! We are taking orders for Poin setlias for Christmas. Will have samples on hand for you to see. For sizes and prices come and see for yourself. Place your order on or before December 19 as we will order from greenhouse so as to arrive in O'Neill on December 21. New shipment of Ivies, Violets and Cyclamens for this weekend. O’Neill Flower Shop 4'i blocks eas; and 3 blocks south of First National Bank corner in O'Neill. Phone 197 J FYee Delivery in City* - — — -*< - ' ' ^ For Christmas GIVE a CAMERA WE HAVE A FEW CAMERAS NOW AND AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF FILM O’Neill Photo Co. M2,000 RICHER Jack Hoffman (above), a 4-H club member from Ida Grove, la., is richer by $42,000 follow ing the sale of his 1,200-pound grand champion steer, T. O. Pride. The champ was purch ased by a Kansas City packer. hunters, to the smug and well fed, to all who have an ear to hear there sounds above the decrees of Caesar, above the refusal of some heartless land lords, the angelic message: “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all peo ple. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Sav iour, which is Christ the Lord.” Money to Loan ON AUTOMOBILES TRUCKS TRACTORS EQUIPMENT FURNITURE Central Finance Co. C. E. Jones, Manager O'NEILL t NEBRASKA / I'M SOLD OU GOOCH’S/ GOOCHS BEST Laying Feeds Help Us Lay Up fo 225 Eggs a Year .■* | 0 Think what this kind of egg production would mean to you. And GOOCH'S BEST Laying Feed* are what vour Lins need to help them bring yon big egg money. See us today. We can supply you with GOOCW£ BEST Laying Feeds, now, in attractive dress print bags./^ 1 Vz CARS 32% CATTLE CUBES* j ^E FEW TONS HIGH MOLASSES CATTLE NUGGETS JPer Ton COMPLETE LINE of Poultry v and Livestock Feeds O'NEILL GRAIN CO. Phone 57 O’Neill Scroll Design & Dresser Set An ideal Christmas gift! Mag nifying mirror. Nylon bristle hair brush. Doctor & Nurse Sets For boys and girls. Eleven miniature articles in each clever set. 49C __ American Log Set 200-piece set; embossed wood in natural colors. 35c ► ___ Here’s what they’re asking Santa to bring them this year: Cuddly DOLLS . . fascinating BOOKS ... GAMES for fun ... Goodlooking BILLFOLDS ... all kinds of TOYS ... luxurious leather BELTS . . . glamorous gift TOILETRIES . . . handsome GLOVES . . . and lots of other things that you’ll find at BOWEN’S — the big variety store! Jurgen's and Fitch's — HOLIDAY rr_ Cl GIFT SET ...DOOJI Exquisite toiletries for men! Talcum powder, after-shave lo tion. and luxurious hair dressing. PLASTIC ja aa TEA SET ... 49c - 98c Fun for her tea party! 9-pieces, all colors. LIFE-LIKE aa NOMA ANIMALS ..9oC Jaunty Duck or Dog! Action toys that walk when pulled. Well made. Striking bright colors. GAY BOOKS * a