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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1952)
Prairieland Talk . . . ‘Chips’ Something to Pickup By ROMAINE SAUNDERS LINCOLN—Editor James C. Lawrence of the Lincoln Star seems to have been a lucky kid, as he writes about picking apples on pioneer Ne braska farms. The engineer of this department wras a pioneer kid on the wide open prairie but I never saw such a thing as an apple to be picked. Pat Hagerty would slip east at apple time and bring backback a wagonbox load to dispense to settlers when they found their way to his trading post where the Golden hotel now stands. Probably the first apple to hang from a tree in Holt county was down near Chambers after pioneering had begun to fade and this honor be longed to Rev. Coppoc or Doc- baunaer* tor Norval. These two men did much to encour age horticulture in the grass country. My father, like a lot of other homesteaders, planted apple, plum and cherry trees and guard ed them with great care but never saw a blossom and where they stood in the long ago bunch grass has its native domain restored, with mild-eyed steers looking at you when you pass that way maybe once in a blue moon. But venturesome souls on prairieland were not totally bereft of something to pick up even though there were no apples. “Buffalo chips” were gathered to keep the home fires burning and spuds to accompany a roast of prairie chicken, in lieu of apple sauce a bowl of sandcherry jelly. * * * And now down the highway of time comes Christmas, observed thoughtlessly by multitudes as merely one of many yearly holidays, lpy other multitudes as the natal day that marked the turn ing point in human history, and ignored by other multitudes of earth now crowded with vast throngs of frustrated mankind. We of favored prairieland regard the day with joyous reverence as the birthday of a Babe in a manger whose subsequent life of 33 years was cut short by wicked hands, but left to the world the heritage of a pure life and exalted teachings, to “love God with all the mind, might and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves.” We miss the mark a long way, and yet as year by year we come to Christ mas there is a softening of harsher impulses and a feeling of good will even toward the fellow who disagrees with us. Out of the storm of words coming from the thunders of the late presidential campaign I like what Governor Stevenson said: “In my public life I have tried always to follow the rule laid down 2,500 years ago by the pro phet, Micah, ‘to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.’ ” That is not on ly the exalted privilege of “public life” but for every day living. The Christmas spirit brings us a little nearer that goal. * * * A bus load of students and teachers took off for a point in northern Mexico and were stalled on highway 81 down in Kansas along with some 500 cars and trucks, some standing, some upset in the snow. The teachers and students, with other travelers, numbering in all 150, found ref uge for the night in a Kansas farm home. The school party was equipped with sleeping bags and made out admirably in the basement of that home. They got to Mexico and back to Lincoln with nothing worse than the experiences of snow bound travelers. A number of instances of storm bound motorists being given shelter, food and rest have been reported across the snow, remind ing the old timers of blizzard swept nights on the open prairie in the long ago when they found refuge in a settler’s cabin. The helping hand, un selfish ministry, the milk of human kindness, human decency lives on. * * ♦ The pony express is to live on, thanks to ef forts on the part of officials of the State Histor ical society in behalf of the memory of an insti tution that functioned in the long ago. The soci ety is providing markers to be erected along the Nebraska trail of the hardy men wrho carried the mail as their ponies loped from one station to another. Last month exercises were held in Jef ferson and Dawson counties and markers placed in school yards of district schools. These things will remind a smug generation of that romantic and formative period on prairieland when a wil derness was opening to the toil of brave men and courageous women to establish homes and build towns. m » w The ancients consulted the moon and stars to ascertain the favorable moment to pounce up on a neighboring king. Now a psychiatrist of a noted university tells us our emotional food may be moored in the moon. In other words, if we feel a bit crazy lay it on the moon. Now when your emotional status seems a little upset look out into the heavens and if there is no moon that celestial ball is in the dark; cheer up—your cere bration functions OK. * * * A lady who does not have to work to con tribute to the family funds took a job during the Christmas rush for a few weeks. She says that sort of grinding toil has taught her the value of a dollar. American Legion boys have been asked to check up on what has been reported to them to be subversive teaching involving a Nebraska university professor. At once a cry of “smear” is raised, seeing the ominous shadow of Wisconsin’s fighting U.S. senator in the background. That higher institutions of learning the country over have been tainted with teachings of questionable loyalty to American ideals is no secret. That some theological schools promulgate that which denies the only excuse for the study of theology, so there crops up in universities here and there a wise guy who knows more than our forefathers who sacrificed, fought and bled that government of the people and by the people and for the peo ple should be the heritage of coming generations. Those engaged in the teaching profession are probably no worse or no better in this respect than those in other professions but they have the far-reaching influence of molding the thought of young America. A kid will worship his teacher. As a group, teachers are honored and respected. A common claim is that they are underpaid; so are most of us; but the pioneer teacher who got 20 a month and the pioneer preacher who got timer, too, did not experience the thrill of draw nothing much didn’t bellyache about it. The old ing a year’s salary for nine months actually on the job. If there is a disloyal prof on the univer sity campus McCarthy will get him if he doesn’t watch out. * ♦ * Blackwater, Okla., has started something that might well be adopted in other towns. At the stroke of 11 a.m. each working day there comes a momentary pause in the activities of life and heads are bowed in prayer. . . Texas has been hit by drought until cow feed became scarce, but we did not know it was that bad. A calf grabbed up and downed a roll of currency totaling $150. . . . A gent from Los Angeles, Calif., proposes to cross the English Channel by walking on the bottom —if somebody will stake him with $14,0'00. . . . An Iowa patriot had a novel way of demonstrat ing it. When President Truman’s whistle stop in cluded the Iowan’s town he presented Mr. Tru man with a peck of apples, saying this was what he had left from a bushel of apples, the other three pecks were taken by the tax collectors. . . Elizabth Kenny, known internationally for her methods of treating polio, died at her home in Australia. * * * They learn tricks early. A 10-year-old over at Omaha tried his hand at cashing a forged check and got caught. . . About one and a half million citizens visit Yellowstone National park in the course of a year. . . Texas has a towri known as Dime Box. . . Eighty-eight and three tenths million Americans are members of some church group. . . A Nebraska boy, Stanley Sidow of Lyons, refused to report for military service in Korea because congress had not declared war. He is in jail and a Tennessee lawyer is going to find out what the supreme court says about it. . . There is a surplus of “experts.” Maybe with noth ing else to do to make a show of earning salaries they plan to invade the farm homes in Nebraska to show the way to “better living.” The ladies are doing a pretty good job of it in their club work. * * * The First National bank down at Fairbury put on an exhibit of hybrids and thoroughbreds from the corn fields where cornstalks reach up into the upper strata. An ear of corn grown in the vicinity of Washington, Kans., was the larg est specimen shown and among 80 some farmers a Kansas farm woman made them all take a back seat when it comes to raising com. * * * The political philosophers have told us the Eisenhower landslide indicates American pa triots voted for internationalism. They didn't vote for Ike for what he stands for but because they had a belly full of what the other fellows have been doing. * * * A class in home managegmegnt in one of Lincoln’s numerous seats of learning has it fig ured out that balanced meals for one week per individual can be supplied at a cost of $3.60. Trouble is, class room discoveries don’t work so well after graduation. * a An O'Neill couple was entertaining guests from out-of-town. The news gatherer in writ ing it up had it that the householders "drove them to Omaha." Shabby way to treat your guests unless the feeling was mutual. But we take it what the reporter was trying to say was that the host took the steering wheel and accompanied his friends to Omaha. * * * Nebraska City approaches its lO’Oth anniver sary and a stir is being made to properly cele brate the event. We have it upon the word of J. Hyde Sweet of the News-Press that Nebraska City is “the best town on earth.” Well, if a town can’t make a creditable showing in 100 years it better quit. * * * Where the highway and a cattle crossing meet down in Hooker county travelers are warn ed to “drive carefully—the life you save may be i next year’s T-bone steak.” And a fire warning 1 sign: “Step on your butt, don’t flip it.” Editorial . Something to Think About Ever consider what could happen in America today if the Societ Union stopped its incessant saber-rattling and a true world peace settled around us? It is permisable to contemplate such a wonderful turn of events at this Christmas sea son. However, there’s little prospect of such a situation in view so let’s get on with the dream. More would be involved if the Soviets should do an about-face than mere peace of mind. The new republican administration will have to think of these things, and they’d better make a few plans in the event that our defense mobil ization efforts could be curtailed in the future. To begin with, at least a couple of million men would be returned to their civilian status. On top of that, thousands throughout the land would find themselves at least temporarily un employed while industries now geared to de fense production retooled for peacetime manufac turing. Then the real lest would start. American industry and labor, boasting the highest pay and the highest standard of living the world has ever seen, would be called upon to compete with foreign industry in both domestic and for eign markets. The old question of high or low or no tariff would be with us again—and we would be con stantly affected by international, not domestic, economic conditions. On top of all this (thanks to the extravagance of recent democratic admin istrations) taxes could not go down a great deal because that bogey man, the national debt, still must be paid. America has been basking in a war-born and maintained economy for so long it would be ex tremely difficult to get our thinking back to the myriad problems of peacetime. Debts incurred in the past few years would have to be paid, and American industry would have to successfully compete with productive areas where both labor and raw materials are a great deal cheaper. Wnether our vastly superior mass production methods would be enough or not is highly ques tionable, for what was done here can also be done eisewnere. The republicans cannot afford to “stub their toe” during the next four years. Many voters who supported them this year did so witn reservation, if tnis congress and this new administration can not maintain a fairly prosperous America the next repuoiican dry spell will be even longer man the last. Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St. CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher Established in 1880—Published Each Thursday Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa tion, National Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska $2.50 per year; eisewnere in the United States, $3 per year; abroad, rates provided on request. Ail subscriptions are strictly paid-in-advance. 0 Eagle Creekers Elect Projects for '53— Eagle Creek 4-H club held its November meeting at the Loyal Hull home. We chose our projects for the coming year and the following subjects were chosen: “Cooking and Preserving Vegetables,” “Be ginning Baking,” “Helping Moth er and Dad,” “School Clothes,” “Gardening,” “Yard Beautifica tion,” “Potatoes” and “Stocker Feeder.” The money we earned for our work last year was given us at this meeting. Potluck luncheon was served at noon. We drew names for our Christ mas party which was to be held December 14 at the Francis Wabbs home.—By Rosalie Wabs, reporter. Bowens Head Star— The Order of the Eastern Star chapter met Thursday night, De cember 11, in the IOOF hall. The officers were elected for the coming year as follows: Mrs. A. E. Bowen, worthy matron; A. E. Bowen, worthy patron; Mrs. Clarence Hansen of Inman, asso ciate matron; C. W. Porter, asso ciate patron; Mrs. D. C. Schaffer, conductress; Mrs. H. E. Asher, as sociate conductres; Mrs. Esther Harris, treasurer; Mrs. J. D. Osen baugh, secretary, and Mrs. H. J. Kruse, reelected to succeed her self for the next three years as trustee. Following the meeting the committee served lunch. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS WD— Glen Butterfield to Nio brara Valley Elec Membership Corp 12-4-52 $225- .74 acres in NWy4NEy4 4-29-14 WD—D D Parsons to Charlotte Olivia Barnes & Dale Barnes 11 17-52 $1- West 65 ft lots 6 & 7 Blk 29- Bitney’s Add- Atkinson WD— Irven Parsons to Char lotte Olivia & Dale Barnes 11 17-52 $1- East 15 ft lots 5 & 4 Blk 29- Bitney’s Add- Atk WD—Emil Heeb et al to John Babl 10-23-52 $12,8(10- S% 19 30- 12 WD—Elva E Leidy to Clinton G Shellhase & wf 12-10-52 $6, 000- Lots 1 & 2 Blk L- Fahy’s Park Add- O’Neill The Frontier Want Ads. . bring results! State Capitol News . . . Pressures Great for Increased State Budget, Crosby Explains LINCOLN — Governor - Elect Robert B. Crosby and Governor Val Peterson were to hear the last oi a long series of budget re quests by tne various state agen cies this week. The next step will be for each to go his own way and prepare an over-all budget for consider ation by the 1953 legislature. Crosby gave some indication that he expects to apply the pruning shears when he told re porters: “My impression is that the pressures for increased spending are as great or greater than for several bienniums. Notwith standing this, it continues to be my considered conclusion that this is the time when spending by state government should level off, at the least, and preferably should begin to decline some what.” To Tax Commissioner Phillip K. Johnson will fall the job of actually preparing the figures the two men will present to the legislature. He has conducted the hearings on every agency and has probed deftly into the re quets the departments and bu reaus have submited for the ; 1953-55 biennium. There is little question that Goveror Peterson’s recommenda tions will be far below the total asked by all agencies. The Uni versity of Nebraska, for instance, is given little chance of winning the 31 per cent boost in tax funds it’s seeking. * * * Trouble— Howard Britt, a legislator elect from Lincoln who upset the veteran Thomas Adams, ran into a buzz-saw of opposition to his first legislative proposal. Britt has said he intends to introduce a bill which would take away a penny of the counties’ 2.35 cents on each nickel of gas tttax and give it to the state highway de partment. To help plug the Jiole in the county’s road funds, he would place only a half cent in stead of a penny into the Schroe der rural mail route improve ment program. County commissioners were al most unanimously opposed to the suggeston and Sen. K. W. Peterson of Sargent reminded Britt that 33 of the legislature’s 43 members came from out in the state and would snow under any plan to change the amount of money counties get for their roads. * * * Draft— State Selective Service di rector Brig. Gen. Guy N. Hen ninger had some good news for Nebraskans this week. He said the drain on Nebraska manpower has been halted and the state’s young men are being released from service at a faster rate than they are being inducted. The general said the leveling off is ’’due to the fact that 24 months have passed since the first men were called by select ive service following the Korean incident (he didn’t call it a war) and any selectees and reservists called to active duty have com pleted their 24 months service.” * * * The Women — The fair sex may be holding down some of the top-drawer jobs at the statehouse next year. Governor-Elect Crosby said that he was considering appointment of women to such posts. He noted that one of the three positions on the board of control has traditionally gone to a wo man and he indicated that he would not change this. The term of Mrs. Mary Prince, now the chairman of the board, will ex pire next May. Crosby did not indicate wheth er he has any applications for jobs from women nor did he say in what posts they might fit. * * * Hands Off — Governor Peterson has taken a hands-off policy in the current controversy over the liquor com mission’s rule 46 which restricts the amount of discount a whole saler may give a retailer. But the governor told news men he does think the commis sion should have c onducted a public hearing on the matter be fore adopting the hot-potato rule. Last week, the commission re leased a lengthy statement ex plaining the rule was intended to prevent the granting of dis counts by wholesalers “as a fa vor or inducement to encourage the sale of certain brands.” State law forbids giving favors or free merchandise to retailers. • e To Decorale Tree — The chapters of the Eastern Star and Rebekah each will fur nish and decorate a Christmas tree to be placed in the St. An thony hospital this week. n • # * I ................................. j a American Legion Ballroom - 0 Neill SATURDAY. DECEMBER 20TH Admission: $1 Per Person i The Price Sensation of the Year1. | Motordom’s Greatest Value ... Made Possible by Widespread Public Acceptance of the One Car in America that Is Completely New U 50 Aero-Lark 2-Door Sedan LIST PRICE F.O.B. TOLEDO, OHIO. 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