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 •
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*
I ................................. j a
American Legion Ballroom - 0 Neill
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 20TH
Admission: $1 Per Person
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