Prairieland Talk . .
Kids Not Saintly in Grandad’s Day
LINCOLN—Neither grandma nor grandpa
have any illusions. They don’t plan to set the
screwy world straight in a day but hope some
thing can be done about it. They know that con
ditions have never been ideal but even the Jesse
James and Doc Middleton type
of citizens had certain codes of
Ijonor. If they shot it was to
save their own neck, if. they
stole they were not robbing
widows and orphans. Young
mothers in grandma’s maiden
days didn’t toss their little
children in a furnace or a pool
of water to dispose of them.
Or women didn’t travel over
the country working confidence
games or become embezzlers
while serving in public office. Romaine
Saunders
Fellows in granddad’s youthful days were
not all saintly but they wouldn’t knock you over
for a nickel or stand before high tribunals and
lie as fast as a horse can run or gents from the
great institutions of learning appear before con
gress, turn up their scholarly snoots and refuse
tb answer questions germane to a declaration of
loyalty to the country under whose flag they live
Q in peace and plenty.
A New Testament writer speaks of a time
when “evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse.” And grandma and grandpa are old
fashioned enough to accept that, so they have no
illusions.
• * *
It was on a bright day in May long ago, the
prairie fragrant with early summer’s bloom, we
pulled up behind a pair of ponies to a lone house
in a vast expanse of open county and another
family of settlers was casting anchor in Holt
county. In four-column 48-point headlines The
Frontiei tells us that where that house stood one
mile north and four miles east of O’Neill has
ben selected by a group of scientists as the ideal
spot in all America for their investigations and
tests in wind profile experiments.
Now if it were possible for father and moth
er to know that their homestead land of the long
ago is to be an international focus of scientific
interest the graves might open and they come
forth, even as at the trumpet call of eternity. Where
these scientists will work sister and I were care
iree homestead kids and father and mother had
visions of the future, visions brought to an end
by the remorseless hand of death. If the scientists
were in search of a spot void of buildings and
trees in a sweep of open country in all directions
they have it out there where Prairieland Talker
once lived, and we wish them luck. Soil is pro
ductive out there and we had watermelons as
big as a wash boiler and I don’t know why that
section of the empire of Holt has so long been
left unpopulated except for the growing steers
unless biding a time like this.
• * *
The offica of state tax commissioner is a
superfluous adjunct to the taxation system.
County assessors know the property values in
their countier and no man sitting in the stale
house after 10 - minute stops at countyseat
towns can possibly be informed on values that
are to be applied to all communities.
♦ * *
Plans are being developed by old settlers
at Indianola for the observance of the 80th an
niversary of the organization of Red Willow as
a county. It is to be held on August 20 and 21 in
connection with {he old settlers’ annual get to
gether. Among the features will be a pageant
play, “The Old Sod Shanty On the Claim.” This
idea may have been borrowed from the poem
written by Joseph Raymond, a homesteader
down by Inman which first came to public notice
when it was published in the Inman Index in
1883.
* * *
A guy* out at Gering goes to the pen for
three years—if not sooner released—for taking a
shot at his wife as he announced, “I’m going to
kill you!” Not a very good shot so the bullet did
no more damage than to pass through the collar
of the woman's dress. Apparently the law takes
account of what you have done and not your
intentions.
The Nebraska legislature 50 years ago was
regulating the railroads; now it is just roads. . .
The outstanding social event in O’Neill in 1903
was the party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.
F. Harrington, 40 of the town’s elite making up
the group of guests. . . St. Patrick is reputed to
be the patron saint of the Irish. It was about a
tossup 50 years ago in O’Neill among the citizens
whose ancesters’ roots had been anchored in the
Emerald Isle whether it was Pat or Robert Em
met. There was the Robert Emmet Literary soci
ety that kept alive the Irish melodies, thrilled
their audiences with oratory and entertained
with comedy and drama. . . A pugilistic encoun
ter that had been proposed was dealt with offi
cially when Mayor Pfund scored the knockout
blow by decreeing that there would be no such
doin’s in town and the council members sustain
ed the mayor’s decree.
* » *
The town of Minden has organized a Jun
ior Historical society. Since the death of the
late John J. McCafferty there seems to be no
active interest in promoting a history of Holt
county.
• • •
A cynical gent has defined an expert as one
who twists what you already knew into a con
fused mass. . . Trouble with these folks that
start out to give us the “truth about it all” also
leave us pretty much confused. . . A lower court
of an Indiana town was in recess for 15 days—
his honor lying out a jail sentence for driving
while intoxicated. . . The wife of a government
worker got her husband fired and herself in jail
on a charge of “drunk driving.” ... He loaded
all 10 members of his family into the new car
for a ride. A crackup on the highway and there
were 10 less living in an Eastern state.
* • •
Omaha, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth and one
or two other communities are laying plans for
celebrating the territorial centennial, Nebraska
being organized as a territory in 1854, admitted
as a state in 1867. Governor Crosby has been au
thorized by act of the legislature to appoint a
committee of not less than 12 nor more than 20
to arrange for our 100th anniversary in a state
wide observance of the event. The State Histor
ical society is now taking an active part in such
a promotion.
• ♦ *
An oldtimer writes to Prairieland Talker to
get off of his chest some observations on modern
trends in education, saying: “I don’t know the
professional side of education, but I do know
tomfoolery when I see it.”'And as to “tomfool
ery”, television introduced in schools he regards
as such. And he discovers that in the parlor sit
ing room of many homes never a word is spoken
since TV has come in, inviting “eye breakdown
and sedentary corns.”
• * *
He was from Chicago, 111. A self-important
gent stepped with a swagger into the street to
cross to the other side just as the green light
flickered to the red. A blue-coated cop told him
to stop. “I’m from Chicago and can take care of
myself,” snapped the gent from the Windy City.
“You’re in Lincoln now; step back.” He did. A
scene on O street caught in passing.
* * *
I hope I shall not lose
Appreciation of simple things,
Bright colors from which to choose—
A butterfly adorned with gaudy wings.
The blue of the summer sky,
And trembling velvet leaf
On branches high—
Little birds that hop about underneath.
* * *
Children meet for the first time and are
friends, join together in play and spend the night
together. Grownups meet, look with suspicion at
each other as much as to say, “What are you
wanting to get out of me?”
* * «
A heart of gold and diamond-studded brain
may be alright for the financial wizard, but the
heart throbbing with sympathy for the suffering
and unfortunate lays up for its possessor celes
tial treasure.
Editorial . . .
Anyway, It’s Good Publicity
Nebraska’s streamlined legislature is set •
forth as a model for all states in an article by
Lester Velie in May Reader’s Digest, which ap
peared Wednesday on newstands.
With its single-house legislature, Nebraska
has slashed its number of lawmakers from 133
to 43.
Says Mr. Velie: “With fewer lawmakers to
support, Nebraska has been able to raise legislat
ors’ pay, attract lawmakers who are free of lob
byists’ handouts—and still save money.”
Nebraska’s success contrasts sharply with
conditions in other states, notably in New York
and New Hampshire. In New Hampshire the 423
members of the two house legislature drew pay
at the last session, whereas Nebraska pays only
43.
In New York the state’s lawmaking costs
more than doubled between 1924 and 1944. Prob
ing New York’s lawmaking machinery not long
ago, a grand jury found the state-senate payroll
inflated with 407 employees—eight per senator—
including a “principal doorkeeper,” a “doorkeep
er” and seven “assistant doorkeepers.” The lower
house had hired 424 employees, including two
matrons, a nurse, 35 messengers, 35 pages and 11
doorkeepers.
A multiplication of committees in two
house legislatures largely duplicating their
work accounts for a vast amount of legislative
delay and waste in many states, it is noted.
New Jersey, for example, boasts of 90 legis
lative committees; Florida 95.
As an illustration of the savings that could
be accomplished, Mr. Velie advances the opin
ion that were New York to follow Nebraska’s
example, it could save one million dollars in
committee costs alone.
The advances made in these and other in
stances are convincing evidence, he says, that
any state, if it will, can have much better state
government. But first, there must be a revision
of antiquated state constitutions which makes
possible an overhauling of legislative machinery.
After that, the citizens can prod and encourage
its forward-looking political leaders until results
are achieved.
Says Mr. Veiie: “The stakes in the fight for
modern and orderly state government couldn’t
be higher: They involve the preservation of the
citizen’s voice in his government—and even our
democracy as we now know it.”
The Reader’s Digest article sounds good as
far as it goes. But it doesn’t delve into the glar
ing shortcomings of the one-house legislature. It
fails to point up. as the current session does,
that a partisan governor finds 43 socalled inde
pendents formidable on certain issues. Gov. Rob
ert Crosby recently pleaded for a reversal on the
tax assessment issue, but the legislature soundly
rebuffed him. It is possible if there were partisan
> leadership in the legislature the lawmakers
would go along with the governor on laws in
which he is specially interested, make his job
easier and make or break him more quickly. As
is, he has no party control. The principle has
been encountered frequently before. Currently,
the party in power is republican (Governor Cros
by), yet the two-party legislative system as such
is non-existent. The republicans, however, are
nominally responsible.
Mr. Velie glosses over the matter of rais
ing legislators' pay. Actually the pay is a pit
tance. The district which embraces Holt. Boyd.'
Rock and Keva Paha counties is fortunate in
that it is served by O'Neill's Sen. Frank Nel
son. whose hobby is good government—a man
who is not dependent upon the relatively
small pay which hardly covers expenses, a man
who wholly and completely lets his conscience
be his guide.
Perhaps if Mr. Velie had dug deeper into
the composition of the unicameral and rightly
told of the character and grassroots background
of men like Senator Nelson, and some of his
colleagues, he would have put his finger on the
real answer to the success of the one-house
body.
In our book the one-house group appears to
be more sensitive to the will of the people than
the unwieldy larger lawmaking groups where a
single votes does not carry the same importance.
And when men of Mr. Nelson’s calibre abandon
their plowshares to devote time and personal
expense in the interest of good government the
result is good.
We wonder if Mr. Velie’s effort wasn’t de
signed to point up shortcomings of the legisla
tures in more heavily populated states rather
than to praise Nebraska’s rather young and
unique unicameral legislature.
Anyway, it’s good publicity.
Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St.
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
Established inv 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.
Term* of Subscription: In Nebraska $2.50 pei
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per
year; abroad, rates provided on request. All
subscriptions are strictly paid-in-advance.
When You and I Were Young . .. i
Golden House on
‘Kid Hill’ Sold
Saunders to Return
from California
50 Years Ago
Romaine Saunders will return
from Oakland, Calif., soon to
resume his job as associate editor
of The Frontier. . . Indications
are that there will be a building
boom here as several citizens are
figuring on erecting residences
this season. . . The Knights of
Columbus organized with a new.'
membership of 78. Arthur Mul
len was elected grand knight
and James Donohoe, deputy
knight. . . As a general rule
people are poorer this month
than an any other during the
year. The assessor is making his
annual rounds. . . T. V. Golden
sold his residence on “Kid Hill”
to Michael Gallagher. Mr.
Golden will erect a modern res
idence one block south of that
property. . . Mr. and Mrs. W. N.
Coats are the parents of a son
born on April 4. . . Miss Lula
Eidmann and Thomas Howard
were married April 15 in her
home by Reverend Carpenter.
20 Years Ago
The United States swung
away from the gold standard. . .
J. A. Donohoe’s appointment for
U.S. judge for the Nebraska dis
trict court was confirmed by
President Roosevelt. . . Cham
bers was threatened with de
struction when a raging prairie
fire burned several thousand
acres south of there and stop
ped within a short distance of
the town. . . Some persons en
tered the Abe Saunto store by
breaking the glass panes in the
skylight and dropping to the
floor. He apparently hurt him
self in the fall as there was
blood on the floor and on some
papers on the desk. He left
through the rear door which
was wide open in the morning.
No merchandise seemed to be
missing. . . Mrs. Lizzie Schune
man, 63, received a broken hip
when she fell after being attack
ed by a rooster. The rooster flew
into her face and she fell back
ward.
10 Years Ago
John Etherton and Robert
Thomas were promoted to the
degree of state farmers at the
state FFA convention at Lincoln.
. . . The American Legion post
here invested $450 in war bonds.
. . . Miss Lydia Halva, who has
been employed in Washington,
D.C., has been transferred by
the civil service commission to
Ainsworth. . . Gene McKenna
and Warren Burgess went to
Omaha and enlisted in the army
air force. . . Six hundred con
testants participated in the mu
sic competition festival. O’Neill
rated nine superiors.
One Year Ago
Several men from this area
volunteered to fight the Mis
souri river on rampage near De
catur. . . Robert Carroll will
represent O’Neill at boys’ state.
. . . Miss Helen Harty will rep
resent O’Neill at girls’ state. . .
Sgt. Harold Winkler left for duty
in the Far East. . . The O’Neill
drive-in theater is under con
struction.
Bine Streeter and Mrs. Hilda
and Gordon Smith of Brunswick
recently visited in the Clyde and
Dean Streeter and Clyde Mc
Kenzie, jr., homes.
"LETS SUE MOTHER
i PORTRAIT
FOR MOTHER'S DIF”
A portrait of her youngest is the
nicest gift idea for the nicest
person you know... and, here in
OUT studio, we will do every
thing in our power to see that
you get a portrait that will
please both you and her.
No Appointment Necessary
O’NEILL PHOTO CO.
» Phone 1
Eyes of Love’
Senior Play Title
The O’Neill hign school senior
class will present “Eyes of
Love,” a comedy-drama, at the
school auditorium on Tuesday,
April 28. Curtain time is 8 o’
clock.
Setting for the play is the
Hudson river country.
The play portrays the family
life of the Judge Barry’s and
some of the problems of modern
living. Comedy is provided by
the butler-maid romance; loyal
ty, by the Negoro mammy; pa
thos and suspense, by the man
acled man.
The cast in the order of their
appearance:
Carolina, a Negro servant, by
Elizabeth Schaffer.
Gailya, an adopted daughter,
by Mary Lou Conard.
Reeta, a two - faced friend,
l
by Marlene Waring.
Burt Wade, her brother, by
Leslie McKim.
Mrs. Barry, Gailya’s foster
mother, by Joan Binkerd.
Lora, a lively housemaid, by
Margaret Redd.
Clark, a busy butler, by Galen
Hull.
Judge Barry, Gailya’s foster
father, by Eddie Price.
Royal Manton, Burt’s rival,
by Larry Fox.
Jim Rankin, the manacled
man, by Robert Carroll.
O'NEILL LOCALS
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kirk
patrick entertained a group of
guests at a birthday dinner on
Sunday evening in honor of
their son, Jerry Wheeler, who
was 15-years-old last Thursday
Mr. and Mrs. James Kelly
went to Omaha Wednesday to
visit William P. Kelly, who un
derwent surgery on Monday.
Venetian blinds, prompt clelir
ery, made to measure, metal or
wood, all colors.—J. M. McDon
ald's.
Phones 316 and 304
DR. H. L. BENNETT
VETERINARIAN
— O'NEILL —
Mrs. John Pinnt and daugh
ter, Dorothy, and son, Duane,
drove from Chadron Tuesday,
April 14, to Omaha where Duane
received medical care. They re
turned to O’Neill on Saturday
and spent the weekend with rel
atives.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lawrence
went to Norfolk Saturday to at
tend the saddle horse show.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Kirkpat
rick of Roseland spent the
weekend here with relatives.
O'NEILLJ)RIVE IN
FrL-SaL April 24-25
“Tke Gunfighter”
Gregory Peck and Jean
Parker in a mighty good
Western.
With Heaps of Good Shorts.
Sun.-Mon. April 26-27
“Ruby Gentry”
Jennifer Jones and Charles
Heston with an all-star cast.
Some ladies get violent
when in love and might
wreck the town. You men
better see this.
News and Shorts.
Tues.-Wed. April 28-29
“Thunderhead”
Mary O’Hara’s story of a
man’s love for horses and
open spaces.
Added Cartoons and Shorts.
Thursday April 30
“Great Guns”
Laurel and Hardy in a com
edy that will make the
whole family howl.
Also
Carnival of Shorts
EAR RING SPECIAL
. . . During DOLLAR DAYS at . . .
I McIntosh jewelry
II .._.I
TURKISH TOWELS
Absorbent quality. Full bodied in handsome plain
'colors. Yellow, peach, aqua, and blue. 20”x40v
bath size.
2 for.. §
WOMEN’S SHOES
A large selection of early spring shoes.
Calfs, suedes and patents. Not all sizes in
every style, but you are sure to find a choice,
Values up to 7.95. K
| Pair.. _
WASH CLOTHS
Big 12x12 size. Firm absorbent quality. Aqua,
pink and gold. Hurry for these!
12 for. 8
| PERCALE APRONS- j
a Pretty 80-square prints. Fast color. Your
■ choice of several wanted styles and pat- __
terns. Special! H
| 2 for. 8 I
FABRICS
One group of assorted fabrics, cottons and rayons.
Fill your summer sewing needs at this big sav
ing. Hurry for best pick!
3 Yds. for. 8
HOUSE FROCKS
Imagine! Prettily styled cotton dresses at
this special price. 80-square percales that .
are fast color and pre-shrunk. Sizes 12 to 20.
Each. I*
RAYON PANES
Celanese rayon marquisette panels in wanted
eggshell color. 42x81 with wide bottom hems. __
Ready to hang. Give your windows new beauty.
Panel. 8
| WORK SHIRTS- |
Men’s blue or gray ehatnbray shirts. Full
cut and Sanforized for lasting fit. Sizes 14 j|
8 to 17. This sale only!
| Each... 2 1
BOYS’ SHIRTS
Cotton plisse shirts. Easy to wash and no-ironing
required. Gay prints. Seconds of a good quality.
Sizes 6 to 18. Hurry! TkJ
Each... 2
RAYON DRESSES
Clareance of our better spring dresses. Hur
ry for best selection. Plain crepes and print- .
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- to 22%. Values to 10.95.
Each. J
WORK GLOVES
Men’s sturdy leather palm gloves with tough
canvas back and gauntlet cuff. Stock up at this
price. Usually 1.19 pr. il
Each Pair. 2
LADIES’ SUITS
One group of rayon gabardines and
sharkskins. Lined and unlined styles.
New Spring colors Values up to 19.95.
Broken sizes 10 to 18. Hurry! ■■
Each. IU
MEN’S T-SHIRTS
Combed cotton knit. Sizes S-M-L. Stock up for
those summer days ahead.
2 for. g
| MEN’S SUITS- |
8 All wool, smartly tailored dress suits. £ —^
H Our famous DONFIELD Suits, offer- B
8 ed to you for this sale only. Your fa
vorite models and colors. Sizes 36 to n
44. Hurry for this big saving! H
| SUIT |
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