Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1955)
Prairieland Talk ... » Word ‘Blizzard’ Coined in O’Neill By ROMAWE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier MARION, IND.—A little snow felt today on the 67th anniversary of Nebraska’s greatest and most tragic winter’s visitation, the day that word “bliz zard” was coined by an inspired pagan, O. C. Bates, when he stood at the case and hand-set the type that told the story of O’Neill cit izens and school children hud dled in the Mann and Sullivan stores not daring to venture out into the whirling cloud of snow. O’Neill’s four weekly papers told the story of a community over whelmed in mountains of snow, but none of those stories touched the quick of vivid reality like that which came from the dis cerning mind and accurate fin gers of the white-headed old gent 'setting type at the case in the Romaine basement of the First National Saunders bank where the O’Neill Tribune was printed. The snow fall in northern Indiana today as this paragraph comes from the typewriter brings with it a slice off the Arctic circle. Workers with shovels, hammers and saws have taken their tools and gone home. * * * A small body of land in Lake Erie is known as Rattlesnake island. A caretaker and his family live on the island. Fifteen miles out from shore is a larger island with a sizeable population known as South Bass island. Both are under the jurisdic tion of the state of Ohio. There are three boys in the family on Rattlesnake who go to school on the other island, getting to and from school by air plane that carries supplies from inland points to the islands. The air “school bus” service is paid for by the state and the South Bass school district. In early days, Denny Cronin and other young fellows hoofed it in from the “Michigan settlement” and sat the day out under the tutelage of John Bland and, still earlier, D. P. O’Sullivan, in a one-room school in West O’Neill about where the Outlaw food market now operates. Karvey Bently rode a horse in from four miles east of town and Mark Murphy from three miles out to attend school in the first school of parts that stood at the present public school site. * * V A group of 30 young men from old Mexico composes a choir that is making a tour of our country, giving concerts and plans to go abroad. A college auditorium somewhere up in Michigan is the nearest I have been to them. * * * There is a spirit of cooperation, an attitude of help the other fellow among business concerns in this Indiana city not manifest in may towns. We went to four business places yesterday before ob taining the four-bit item of merchandise wanted. The first place visited did not have the thing wanted, but the gracious young lady who waited on us suggested a store in a similar line of business where it might be obtained. This place did not have it either, but again a courteous suggestion was made of another store where the article might be found. One more fruitless stop but directed to an other store just around the corner, there we got it. Each expressed regrets that they did not have the thing wanted but were glad to pass on a helpful word and maybe be the means of sending a cus tomer to a fellow merchant of the town. * * * Seventy-three years in darkness, deaf ears closed to the music and sounds of earth, now, at 75, Helen Keller prepares to take off for the Far East on one more and what she says will be her last mission in behalf of the multitudes in the Or ient who, like herself, are blind. Miss Keller is one of the most remarkable persons of modern times. Overcoming what would tie the hands of many, her life has been a striking example of achievements that carry an inspiration to others. A call comes from military circles for “mule skinners” to come and help the army out of certain transportation difficulties. “Mule skinner" is a techical term that means a guy gifted with the ability to get the most service out of a mule. There was a patriot by the name of Bill Robinson, 27 miles south of O’Neill, who was an accomplished “mule skinner” when not out with his shotgun knocking prairie chickens out of the air and dodg ing game wardens. The army gets into places where motorized equipment cannot negotiate pas sage and mules are needed to pack in the equip ment. I have wondered if Rich Burtwistle across the line in Wheeler county continues the mule raising industry for army service inaugurated by his father before him in World War I days. A mule is decidedly temperamental. He has a system of self defense and self preservation culminating in two hind legs oiled at the joints and equipped at the extremities with armorplate. He and the army “skinner” are made for each other. * * * In a letter from a friend I find this: “There is something more friendly about a weekly paper than any other. The personal items, even the ads and the news articles just seem to be homey.” Doubtless reads Editor Cal’s “homey” stuff. * * * Again we read something of the life story of another who had come down the highway of time on Holt county prairies and after her contribution in deed and word to the welfare of the O’Neill com munity hears the drumbeat of eternity and goes to join that innumerable caravan from whose bourne no traveler returns. Mrs. Wrede was one of the pioneer Lansworth family and became the wife of one of the pioneer Wrede family. Her husband was the first to respond to the roll call of eternity. Lonely hours followed, known only to those whose life’s companion has gone the way of all the earth, and made cheerful by devoted loved ones. Out of the mists of yesterday’s memories linger—and out of the glow of immortal life we meet again. * * * Next month one of those dinner functions comes off up at South Bend, Ind. Edward Doran, a promient Hoosier democrat, is to be “roast master.” This title probably has no connection with the main dish on the table, but rather turn ing to a brown some GOP bigwigs. * * * Ten guys have been selected as the best dressed of the Hoosier male population. Marion bloods feel somewhat slighted that they were not among the thusly honored gents. The best dressed guy to day would be rigged out in a wambat fur coat, cap and mittens and hightop overshoes. But one Marion concern, a national bank, has something to glory over. The past year the bank carried the largest deposits in its history, made the most on bank profits and expanded resources beyond any pre vious year. * * * Contest and recount of election returns in one Nebraska state senatorial district cost the con testat $250, held up things in the unicam for a few days, resulted in nothing only what was first shown when the ballots cast in the two counties of that district were counted in November. Must want a thankless job pretty badly to spend your money in the hopes that a recount of votes will give it to you. • * * “And Elisha died, and they buried him.” A man who had raised the dead, healed the lepers, saved the life of a widow and her sons, put As syrian armies to flight, scared the daylights out of kings and never owned as much as a donkey though he could plow a field with a yoke of ox en, rated seven words as his death and burial no tice. A hobo gets at least a few lines when he turns up his toes. Editorial . . . Some Say: ‘Shouldn’t Be Sold’ One of the questions before the current ses sion of the Nebraska legislature which will receive considerable publicity is the matter of whether or not to sell Nebraska’s public school lands. Already proponents of the idea, which is not new, are busy. Likewise, educators are preparing statistics and arguments to combat the assault against the present system of handling school lands in the state. Many people, particularly those residing in areas where the school land has long since been sold, have only a vague idea about the present system of having the state retain and lease the 1,630,000 acres of land, income from which bene fits all schools in the state. We are quite amused by some of the editorial comment, particularly that which originates in quarters in which the school land dough is spent and not earned. The Nebraska Education News states that Nebraska school districts would lose approximately $1,355,706 annually if the lands were to be sold and the money invested instead of the land being held and leased. The publication estimates the loss in terms of mill levies would be between two thirds of a mill and two mills, depending upon the year, the school district and the number of chil dren in various districts. The Nebraska State (Lincoln) Journal com merits, on the subject of selling the school land: “It is like saying a farm tenant should be empow ered to buy the land he rents for 12 years, the period school leases run.'’ The Nebraska Signal (Geneva) declares: “We concede the question of reevaluation of the leases and rentals paid under the present system should be left open and needed adjustments should be made. For the present, however, the best interest of all children of the state seems to require that we hang on to the one means of equalizing educa tional opportunity and costs that Nebraska has been able to devise.” And there you have the learned and profound comments of three able editors, all outside the realm of the vast majority of state-owned school land. It might be well to point out the state acquir ed the school lands in 1867 by agreement with the federal government when Nebraska became a state. During the intervening years the lands have produced revenue for the schools of the state, al though mismanagement during part of the period lessened the full amount that might have been realized. As is well known, most of the lands in ques tion are in the western part of the state, with ’ generous amounts in Holt, Boyd, Wheeler, Rock and other counties. It is not surprising, therefore, that the state legislators are somewhat divided on the sale question along geographical lines. Somehow those lawmakers, educators and ed itors outside the realm of the only remaining school land miss completely the salient points: The eastern counties have had their school lands although not in proportionate quantity with the western districts. These socalled eastern school lands have long since been sold and the revenue went into a permanent fund. State officials have made investments with these funds—some of which have gone miserably sour and amount to substan tial losses. Meanwhile, the school land in the west ern districts has carried the burden. The eastern school land has long since been restored to the tax rolls and now helps build and support schools, highways and other forms of government. The Holt leaseholder is taxed twice —once for his own property and once for his pro portionate share of the tax burden not carried bv school land (remember, that money is “one means of equalizing educational opportunity”). Probably the most serious aspect of all is the community rows stirred up when many of these leases expire. Peaceful neighbors (outsiders, too) frequently “run up” the lease bids on a grudge basis until sometimes the lease figure is way out of proportion to what the land is worth. Such land will soon wear out—because leaseholders no longer will tend it like their own because they are con fronted with economic impossibilities in many in stances. wny tax-free Holt county land should support all schools in the state is more than we can under stand. The state-owned school land idea would make sense if the money were distributed in the coun ties in which the income originates. But the more populous counties always have had and always will have the most voting power in the legislature, and that’s about where this dis cussion was opened. ^SLFRONTllfi CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St. Address correspondence: Box 330, O’Neill, Nebr. Established in 1880 — Published Each Thursday Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun ty, 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; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; rates abroad provided on request. All subscriptions are paid-in-advance. Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,335 (Mar. 31, 1954) { The Frontier editor, Carroll (“Cal”) Stewart (second from left) is presented a replica of The General, a famous Civil war era rail road locomotive. Presentation was made by A. P. Jaszkowiak, Western Auto merchant, who conceived the miniature model as a “reward” for Stewart's boosting of Chicago & North Western passen ger-mail-express trains number 13 and 14. Left-to-right: L. D. Put nam, Stewart, Jaszkowiak and C. C. Golden.—The Frontier Photo by John H. McCarville. - a-• I: Best-Seller In February, 1954, a James Du gan came up with a historic yarn about the incredible Great East ern, a monstrous ship of the mid dle Nineteenth century. His book, The Great Iron Ship, was ac claimed the book of the month, appeared that month in condensed form in the Readers’ Digest and became a best seller. We knew Dugan rather well while doing air force duty in Eng land during World War II and it was at that time be began his re search on the fabulous Great Eastern—which earned undying fame for breaking 14 corporations, figuring’ in six shipwrecks, laying the first trans-Atlantic telephone cable, attracting thousands of cur ious sightseers on both sides of the Atlantic, and finally was dis mantled for junk. Dugan scooped up a 60-thou sand-dollar “advance” from the book publishers, Harper & Broth ers, and took off for research on his next effort. This week we received a note from Dugan, son of an Altoona, Pa., iron moulder—our first con tact with him in many months: “So good to know you continue to populate the cruel prairie,” he began. “We had an unsedentary year, mostly in France. “I was on 35,000 miles of Coui steau’s ship, the Calypso, in the Aegean, Red sea, Persian gulf and Indian ocean. Expect to go back to France in February to work on my next book. “Peggy, I never did meet your family friends from Jersey who helped on The Great Iron Ship. I tracked them down, looking for certain documents, which they did not have. But they gave clues to the people who did. * * * Giant Jams “We were in London for a couple of weeks; the change is remarkable— everything spruced up, including the people. “Giant traffic jams, including an exclusive Rolls-Royce jam in the Mayfair district. The prewar City Man has reappeared with his billycock hat, fancy vest and rolled umbrella. He talks in a weary, unintelligible mumble. “You can even get a decent dinner in a couple places. “The area around St. Paul’s cathedral has been very slow in rebuilding. “GI’s on leave are always in mufti—but you can spot them a mile away on account of gaudy shirts, windbreakers and zoot suits. It’s still great fun to be in London, but distinctly not the same London as wartime. “The most fascinating stop of the cruise was the Seychelles is lands in the Indian ocean—a gen uine paradise. I met a guy there who has: A rented 10-room stone house on terraces in the moun tainside overlooking the beautiful bay of Mahe; all kinds of fruit, flowers and vegetables around the house; five servants; handcarved furniture; objects d’art; phono graph with new records; a French wine cellar; lots of new books; a new small car. He’s no pinch on entertainment either. “The man’s take-home pay is something less than two thousand dollars a year.—Cheers. JIM.” Our best guess is Jim’s next book will concern either the man with five servants and the island paradise or Cousteau, who hap pens to be the leading authority on things at the bottom of the ocean (where Dugan may have located the doorknobs off the Great Iron Ship). * * * Civil War Engine Editors sometimes seriously question if there is any use in knocking themselves out on pro jects not necessarily defined as a part of a newsman’s job. These thoughts were allayed this week in the matter of a time-consuming interest, namely having a small part in helping to keep in operation the last two remaining passenger-mail-express trains in this area. The kicks derived from the presentation of a miniature steam locomotive (see above photo and caption) amply repay our effort. —CAL STEWART Methodist Circles Fleet Officers— ATKINSON — Circles of the Methodist Woman’s Society of Christian Service reorganized their membership and held their first meeting Wednesday after noon, January 19. Circle I met with Mrs. William Wefso. Officers elected were: Mrs. Fritz Dunn, chairman; Mrs. Lou Dickau, co-chairman; Mrs. E. Gotschall, secretary-treasurer. Circle II met with Mrs. Carl Smith. Mrs. Lawrence Pacha was elected chairman; Lucille Tra cy, co-chairman; Mrs. E. A. Harshfield, secretary-treasurer. Circle IV met with Mrs. Albert Lemmer. Mrs. W. C. Gage was elected overall chairman.' Emmet News Mrs. William Newton visited Mrs. Dean Pery and daughters on Tuesday afternoon, January 18. Charlie Fox of O’Neill was a supper guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fox and family Tuesday evening, January 18. Derold Beckwith and baby vis ited Mr. and Mrs. Guy Beckwith Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Skopec, sr., and Mrs. Geary Enbody vis ited Mr. and Mrs. George Skopec and sons Saturday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Brainard were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Don Focken and children on Sunday. They took their grandson, Ken neth, home. He had been staying with his grandparents the last two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cole at tended a party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gaylor and family of Atkinson Sunday eve ning. The ladies’ Altar society met Wednesday afternoon, January 19, at the Church of the Epiphany. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Fox and daughter, Barbara, were guests at the Robert Tomlinson home at Star Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. John Kee visited at the Wayne Bates home last Thursday evening. Mrs. Mary Lewis attended the Live and Learn extension club meeting at the home of Mrs. Walt Reis of Atkinson last Thursday. Mrs. Dean Perry called at the Robert Cole home Tuesday after noon, January 18. Mrs. Bessie Burge and daugh ter, June, visited at the home of Mrs. Maude Fuller at O’Neill on Friday evening. Leonard Dusatko visited Mr. and Mrs. Jerrold Dusatko Friday forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. Don Meyers and children attended a card party held at the Merle DeLong home at Page Saturday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Schaffer returned from Denver, Colo., on Saturday. They had spent a week there and attended a stock show. Dean Perry, Merle Foreman and Mike Schaaf left Sunday eve ning for Gilbert, Wyo., on a bus iness trip. The sons of Mr. and Mrs. George Winkler visited at the home of Eddy Etherton on Sun day afternoon. The Wayne Bates family visit ed at the John Kee home Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Patterson returned Monday, January 17, from Albion and Columbus where they had been visiting for a few days. Mrs. Bessie Burge, June and Clayton visited the Glen Burge family in their new home at Chambers Sunday. The Glen Burge family recently moved to Chambers from Inman. Dewey Schaffer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Schaffer, spent last week at the home of his grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Schaf fer of O’Neill, while his parents were in Denver, Colo. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cole, Mr. and Mrs. G. Owen Cole, Mr. and Mrs. Dale French, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Kersenbrock and Bill Miller attended a wild goose and duck dinner party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Artus of O’Neill Saturday evening. Merle Foreman and Mike Schaaf called at the Dean Perry home Sunday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Meier and daughter, Megan, and Fran cis Tenborg were dinner guests of Mrs. Geary Enbody Sunday. Kenneth and Randy Kendall spent from Wednesday, January 19, until Sunday evening at the Wayne Fox home. Mrs. Frank Foreman and Mrs. Cecil McMillan visited Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bailey in O’Neill Fri day. Mrs. Joe Ziska visited Mrs. Ag nes Gaffney Tuesday afternoon, January 18. Miss Norma Lou Foreman of Omaha came Saturday and vis ited until Sunday afternoon with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Foreman, and Merle and Jeanie. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ramold mov ed on Tuesday, January 18, from the Clarence Farr residence in Emmet to a farm near O’Neill. The WSCS met last Thursday afternoon with Mrs. Agnes Gaff ney at her home. Fourteen mem bers were present. Mrs. Leon Beckwith was in charge of the lesson and Mrs. Guy Beckwith gave the devotionals. Lunch of suet pudding and coffee was serv ed by the hostess. The next meet ing will be with Mrs. John Conard in February. Mrs. Floyd Barnes is helping Mrs. James Kendall a few days this week. Gary Buckmaster of Fremont was a dinner guest at the Frank Foreman home Sunday. The Methodist Bible study class met at the home of Mrs. Geary Enbody last Thursday eve ning. Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Carroll of O’Neill visited at the G. Owen Cole home Sunday afternoon. Miss Mary Lou Conard spent about four days visiting her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. John Conard. She returned to Wayne State col | lege Monday. The Bernard Pongratz family were supper guests at the Joe Grutsch home Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. G. Owen Cole started to Sioux City last Thurs day morning. They returned home after reaching Osmond as blizzard conditions there made traveling difficult. Kenneth and Randall, sons of Mr. and Mrs. James Kendall, and Steven and Roy Fox, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fox, stayed at the Gilbert Fox home Wednesday afternoon and evening, January 19. A card party was held Sunday evening at the St. Michael hall. Pitch and pinochle were played. Lunch was served. Mrs. Henry Grothe won the dor prize. ATTEND KIN’S FUNERAL CHAMBERS—Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Walter and Mr. and Mrs. A1 Dier king attended the funeral services held at Valentine for their cou sin, Art Orr, held Monday, Jan uary 24. The Frontier for printing. wmmmmmih DR. H. L. BENNETT VETERINARIAN Phones 316 and 304 DR. J. L. SHERBAHN O’Neill, Nebraska Complete X-Ray Equipment Block So. of Ford Garage DRS. BROWN & FRENCH • Eyes Tested—Glasses Fitted Broken Lens Replaced in 24 Hours Other Repairs While You Wait Complete X-Ray x Tourney Dirctor D. E. Nelson congratulates V. Rothchild of Atkinson high’s runnerup basketball team at the close of the 18th annual Holt county basketball tournament. —O’Neill Photo Co. FARM SALE On premises, located 2*4 miles north of Page and 4*4 miles east, or 12 miles straight north of Ewing, on— FRIDAY, JANUARY 28th Starting 1 P.M. — Lunch by Neighbor Lady Club 7 HEAD OF CATTLE—Including 3 cows (2 fresh, 1 to freshen soon), 2 stock steers, 2 bucket calves. ALSO—team of horses, 11 spotted gilts, bred to purebred Hamp, to farrow April 1. ALSO—200 chickens. HAY, GRAIN, ETC.—1,000 bus. ear com in crib, 400 bus. Ne maha oats, 350 bus. Marion oats, 300 bales alfalfa hay. MACHINERY, ETC.—Including J-D tractor, G-P, with new 13-28 tires; 6-ft. Case combine with motor; 4-section harrow; J-D tractor plow; J-D 12-ft. disc; 6-ft. McC. mower; J-D spreader; 9-ft. disc; weeder; planter; sulky plow; lister; 2 cul tivators; wagons; rack; sheller; feeders; bunks; barrels; tools; DeLaval elec, cream separator. Some household items. Terms: Cash. , HENRY HEESE, Owner Cols. Max & Buv Wanser, Aucts. Farmers State Bank, Ewing, Clerk NEW! NEW! NEW! COSTUME JEWELRY We Have Just Received A LARGE NEW SHIPMENT OF Spring Costume Merchandise • Bracelets • Necklaces • Ear Rings • Ropes • Beads I CLARA O’CONNELL ONE ISLAND DISPLAY b COSTUME JEWELRY ON SALE I ! EAR RINGS — Formerly 1.15 to 3.75 fAi . m now_50v to $1 I Special WATCH SALE Nationally-Known v WATCHES Formerly 71.50 Now- $45 Other Specials Too Numerous to Mention McIntosh Jewelry I “Where Price & Quality Meet” ACROSS FROM THE GOLDEN ELDON RAMSEL