Prairieland Talk — Oldtime Holt Printer Coined Word Blizzard’ Now Used World Over * By ROMAINE SAUNDER* /fit LINCOLN— There are a few patriots left in Holt county who will recall the terrible day 64 years back on the scroll of time this coming Saturday. To memorialize a weather event i s something out of the ordi nary but Ne braska has at least one Janu ary 12 blizzard club, function ing in Lincoln. Though I per sonally escaped Romaine by a hair’s Saunders breadth from being a silent victim of that raging day, I have not been identified with a club in whose gatherings the stories of suffering and death are retold. I think it was that storm which inspired O. C. Bates, an oldtime printer around O'Neill and Atkinson, to coin a word as he sat on a stool at a case of type and from his own fertile brain without the customary "copy" spiked up the type for a classic story of the storm in which for the first time appear ed the word "bliziard." The story has been forgotten, covered with the rubbish of such literature as “Prairieland Talk,” but the one word lives on. And who witnessed or became envel- . oped in that avalanche of snow apd wind and lived to tell the ‘ story could have come up with a ‘ better combination of letters to name it than “blizzard”? Bates lies in an unknown, un marked grave in Atkinson or Stu art but his word lives on to tell the story of snow and winds the world over. • • • Under a camouflage of alluring public service, while there is a thin dime in the public store I house, the busybodies will be af j ter it. A group of dentists are I pushing for a program to dope | the water supply in Lincoln with an organic poison known as flour - j ine, a byproduct of aluminum that tests have proven to be death to living things in the Gulf of Mex ico and one inland small body of water. Without producing any evi dence the knights of the tooth ache say the fluorine added to drinking water is beneficial to kids’ teeth, promoting the growth of healthy, even and shining white mouth equipment. A standard medical work says the opposite of the dentists’ claims is the result. The waters of Ne braska, pure nectar of the sands, are the best to be found any where. The program for doping Lincoln waters meets with plenty of opposition. Whether the brewers and soft drink production centers have a hand in this move to encourage more consumption of their pro duct has not been disclosed. That dentists are promoting a thing that would put their business on the rocks is a new thing in hu manitarian endeavor. Well, why not add a little DDT to put the mosquitos out of busi less and a liberal does of whisky to protect us from snake bite? * • • For strangling his wife, and tilling his 3 daughters by burn ng the trailer house they called >ome, a 27-year-old Nebraskan >aid the penalty for his fourfold rime on the gallows at the Kan sas state prison. . . Mr. Griswold, oack from a winter visit to Mex ico, is getting steamed up for a vigorous campaign for the U.S. senate short term. . . Holt county democrats are alloted 5 delegates to get in on the state convention ! in Omaha February 5. The county 1 convention to name these 5 dele gates is called by the state chair man for January 26. Come on, fellows, it’s a little discouraging, but make a showing at your con vention. . . Senator Butler has re turned to Washington to he on band for the second session of the 32d congress. His candidacy for •enomination is "in the hands of lis friends.” • • • This morning there lay upon prairieland a robe of celestial white. Trees and bushes and hedge rows were dusted with the purity of fallen snow unmarred by the hand of man, a winter scene of transcending beauty giv en only to those who live where snow and frost and ice are na ture’s contribution for the welfare of mankind. What the heavens drop upon the earth in the winter season does more to renew fertil ity of the soil than the conserva tionists can accomplish in a hun dred years. Oh yes, it requires some back-bendinr snow shovel ing, but why let that mar the charm of a lovely landscape? • • • Julius Caesar led the Roman legions in 500 battles, took over 1,000 cities and was responsible for the slaughter of 1,192,000 killed in battle. He himself was cut down by the daggers of treachery. Caesar's nephew, Caesar Augustus, took over trouble Rome and gave the world sovereigns lessons in tax gathering. A new breed of Au gustus Caesar has sprung up that makes the ancient tax col lectors appear as pikers. • • * Anything Homer S. Cummins j accomplished as a member of the Roosevelt cabinet may have been forgotten, but not what he said when state’s attorney in New York in a case wherein a defense less fellow was charged with J shooting a priest who was walk ing on the street in his parish town. “It is just as irqportent,” Cummings said, “for a state’s at torney to use the great powers of his office to protect the innocent as it is to convict the guilty.” His investigation in the trial of the ac cused resulted asking for the dis missal of the charges. The record of that trial is now required study in law schools. • * • Coaches making up the swank passenger train now take on their human freight through side op enings like cattle cars. And we’ll not be surprised if a 20-thousand dollar aristocrat from one of those stock shows, curried and groomed and the red hair cover ing an ample hide waved and curled like a lady stepping out of a beauty parlor, would be led by a silver-trimmed halter and put aboard one of these new creations that travel the rails. * • • Now it turns up that it was a Jewish rabbi that ousted the Pen dergast crowd down at Kansas City in the notorious 30’s. That was not the first instance of a Jew turning over the established order of society. It was a Jew o\ he tribe of Benjamin who turned he Greek and Roman worlds “up- 1 ?ide down.” And was it not a : Jewess of the tribe of Judah who : tave birth to the babe whose ad- , vent so recently has been ob served. a babe destined to change the thinking of mankind? Are there any newspaper guys out of a job? Maybe Governor Val has something for you. Another editor has just been corraled for service in and out of the state house. And Nebraskans now have the assurance of the protection of a guardian agency with an able newspaper man to head the civil defense setup. The next best qualified to an editor for such a job I would say try an army brass. * * • Flour is put up in 10-pound bags now and sells at the rate of $10 per 100 pounds, which Holt county bread makers once got at Bill Nollkamper’s mill out on the Eagle for $2. INMAN NEWS Nels Christensen, of Ewing, was a visitor in Inman Monday. Mrs. James Coventry entertain ed a group of girls Thursday eve ning a. ta birthday supper in hon or of her daughter, Kay. who was 13-years-old on that day. Games furnished the entertainment and Kay received many gifts. The WSCS met Thursday after noon with Mrs. Floyd Keyes. Mrs. James Coventry had charge of the devotionals. Lunch was served at the close of the afternoon. Mrs. Anna M. Clark has return ed to her home here after spend ing a few weeks visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Clark at Burwell. I" Cloyd Docks with Navy Rocket Ship EWING—Word has been re j ceived in Ewing of the recent ar | rival of 3 of the navy’s small but mighty rocket ships in the harbor of San Diego, Calif., and an item of special interest to folks in the old home town con cerns David Cloyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Cloyd, who is aboard the USS LSMR 409. The vessel just completed 7 months of almost continuous action in Korean waters. In a telephone call to his parents, he said he expected to be home within a few weeks. Billy Sisson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robley Sison, sr., is also home ward bound after 4 years in the Far East. He is expected to be home on leave some time in Feb ruary. _ Other Ewing News New officers of the Women’s Missionary Society of the United Presbyterian church in Ewing are; Mrs. Lee Fink, president; Mrs. pale Napier, vice-president, with Mrs. Carl Christon as alternate; Mrs. DeWitt Hoke, secretary; Mrs. Wilbur Bennett, treasurer; Mrs. Archie Johnston, thank offering secretary; Mrs. Willie Shrader, president of the junior missionary with Mrs. Fred Colfack, assistant. Donald Clark, of Ewing, is among those from Holt county se lective service resigstrants who will report for induction on Thursday, January 17. Evelyn Snyder celebrated her 5th birthday anniversary on Sun day. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerald Snyder, served a dinner honoring the anniversary. Mrs. Eula Eppenbach, Evelyn’s grand mother, was a guest. Mrs. Wayne FYy and daughters, who have been guests of her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. Alivin Gibson, for the past 10 days, returned to their country home on Saturday. On the evening of January 3, ! the Band Mothers club met at the Ewing public school for the reg ular meeting. Due to weather and [ road conditions the attendance was small. At the business ses sion, plans were discussed for raising money for new band uni forms. The following band mem bers presented vocal solos: “My Hero,” by Volanda Biddlecome; “The Big Brown Bear,” by Joel lyn Eacker; “Friend of Mine,” by ’udy Jelferies, Miss Marcia Gib son was pianist for all the num bers. The club plans to meet the first Thursday of each month at 1 o’clock. Gerald Chapula, music lirector, will make arrangements ' :or a program of musical numbers 'or each gathering. Mr. and Mrs. Allan Pollock ttAKA m i 4 o Citn/lntr rt ♦ 4Via k/xma of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Huffman and daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Goulding, of Til aen, aiwe to owing 10 spcua a day visiting at the home of their daughter, and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Brennaimen. Maj. and Mrs. E. D. McDonald and son, Douglas, have returned to their home in St. Louis, Mo., after visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Funk and Rosalie Spittler returned home on Sunday from Omaha where they spent a few days - visiting rela tives. They called on Mrs. Fred Decker, Mr. Funk’s sister, who is a patient in an Omaha hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Spittler and son, of Omaha, came Saturday to spend a few days visiting at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Spittler. They returned on Tuesday, accompanied by Mr. Spittler’s brother, Richard, who is a student at Creighton univer sity. A family party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Funk and daughters on New Year’s day. Those in attendance were her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Spitt ler and Rosalie, Mrs. Nellie Ko mer, J. B. Spittler, of Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Regan, of Inman. Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Harris, Betty and Billy, of Fremont, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Merchant, of Elgin, were guests on New Year’s day at the Harold Haris home. A New Year’s 0 o’clock dinner was enjoyed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Harris. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilson, James Wilson and Leonard Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sanders had as their guests on New Year’i his mother, Mrs. Caroline Sanders Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Sanders anc 'children, ail of Ewing. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hawk and family moved into their new , home during the holidays. The home of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Rockey was the scene of a happy Christmas party. Dinner was served at noon to the 26 guests in the recreation room where a long table was set, decorated in a holi day scheme. Those in attendance 1 were: Mrs. Frank MacNeil, of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Buford Carlson and Danny, of Orchard; Mr. and Mrs. Willis Rockey, Ver non Rockey, all the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rockey. Others were Mrs. Leota Butler, Mrs. Vera An son and son, Lyle, Miss Vina Wood, K. R. Porter, Donald Ru roede, Gene Fields, all of Ewing; Mr. and Mrs. Will Staples, Mr. and Mrs. Vance Butler and fam ily, all of Neligh, and Mr. and Mrs. Coe Butler, of Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Rockey, Mrs. Leota Butler, Mrs. Vera An son, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Tuttle and daughter were guests on New Year’s uay at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vance Butler at Neligh. Mr. and Mrs. Willis Rockey drove to Omaha New Year’s day to visit at the home of Willis’ sis ter, Mrs. Frank MacNeil. The Women’s Society of Chris tian Service, of the Ewing Metho dist church met at the church par lors Wednesday afternoon, Jan uasy 3. Mrs. Henry Fleming had charge of the devotionals and she also presented the lesson, “Be cause We Have Been Greatly Blessed.” Mrs. W'llliam Spence, president, presided at the business session at which routine business was dicussed. Mrs. Charles Chap pell and Mrs. Maden Funk were the hostesses for the afternoon. On adjournment, they served a luncheon from tables which were decorated in a New Year scheme. Miniature snowmen made a clev er centerpiece. Mx\ and Mrs. cietus Muff and family, of Clearwater, Mr. and I Mrs. Mark Muff anu Carolyn, of O’Neill, were dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Jef feries on Sunday. Other callers the same day were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Maulding and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bumgardner, all of El gin, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kurp geweit and son, Donald. Mr. and Mrs. George Jefferies, accompanied by their daughter, Mrs. Wilma Daniels, were O’Neill visitors on Wednesday, January 2. , * i* Mr. and Mrs. Fred Maben, of Clearwater, were guests at the George Jefferies home on Wed nesday, January 2. i Mrs. Henry Wegner, a longtime resident of Ewing, is now a resi dent of Orchard where she has just completed building a new home. Her property in Ewing has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John Shiffbauer, of Madison, former residents of Ewing. They rpppntiy mpvp