Prairieland Talk . . .
Inspired by Sarcasm or Contempt?
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN — I encountered him on South
48th street yesterday. Was it sarcasm or contempt
that inspired his outburst over the baby beller
ing of farm and ranch operators with hands out
for federal aid? If they can’t stand one tough sea
son after years of unheard of high prices for grain
and livestock, they better get out of the way and
let those take over who can.
Joe Ellis, who had given voice to such conclu
sions, may have been unnecessarily severe on an
agricultural gentry of new deal
breeding that know not the root
hog or die tradition of other
days, but out of the memory of
the long ago he recalled that
when there was no hay or other
feed available the ranch boys
out Scottsbluff way used heavy
planks in V shape with horses
hitched to the outfits to clear
snow away so the cattle could
get at the dry buffalo grass.
Joe, I learned, had an uncle
we knew in the village of O’- Romaine
Neill in the long ago, “Norry” Saunders
Ellis, the village marshal, who at one time au
thorized a deputy to bring in three men dead or
alive. They had been shooting up the town. One
dead, two alive were taken.
* * *
Choice, not chance, determines the out
come, but chance often determines the choice.
* * *
A newspaper guy at Chadron is reputed to be
a dude. If a gent arrayed in the togs of a dude
had strutted the streets of Chadron when Jim
Dahlman and some of his pals rode into town on
their mustangs, his derby would have been shot
full of holes and with bullets smashing near his
feet, there would have been a street dancing
scene. The wild and woolly west has now taken
on the mollycoddle aspects of a tamed hombre.
But a newspaper guy may assume any sort of a
role and this Chadron gent may bid next for at
tention in the guise of Wild Bill Hickock.
* * *
"Prospect for a shower very poor” was the
word from the weather man. That night rain
fell, the next day, the next night. And so an
other autumn equinox brings refreshing rains to
prairieland.
* * *
A little white hen from some unknown flock,
urged by the universal mother instinct, came into
the back yard, settled her daitny white feathered
form in a secluded nook under a friendly apple
tree, deposited an egg day-by-day and now acts the
part of an animated incubator, nature’s own way
of multiplying life. Harold, a sympathetic soul,
went out last night in the rain and covered little
biddy with a box to give her shelter.
* * *
A paper that crosses our desk told about the
townsman who went to the poorhouse the other
day to see a friend who once ran a newspaper that
pleased everyone. Which just goes to show what
can happen under certain circumstances.
* * *
There are people in the world who believe
that a cash contribution is all that they are re
quired to do for their communities.
The 90-year-old former resident of O’Neill,
Mrs. Minnie Noble, whose picture and a bit of
the venerable lady’s life philosophy appeared re
cently in The Frontier, believes humanity in
Yankeeland is restless and out of control because
of idleness and looks back to her girlhood days
when there was no time for misbehavior or pleas
ures because of the burden of work. Yes, their
was work to do in the long ago and the pleasures
of life were abundant and satisfying. And if you
think work is lacking in this mechanical age, try
running a newspaper. The mentally alert Mrs.
Noble offers some suggestions for attaining ripe
old age. An old fogey? Maybe so, but if you want
to survive to become an “old fogey” better do as
she says.
* * *
A matron with a sublime faith living up the
street had been praying for rain. Maybe some oth
ers, while everybody wished for rain. Rains have
fallen on the dry land, on the just and the un
just alike. For the favors of Heaven all owe much
to the steadfast sincerity of praying fathers and
mothers.
* * *
In recent weeks we have had the stories of
violence flaring up at the state prison. Now comes
the story of human sympathy for an unfortunate
individual springing from the hearts of criminals.
A group of convicts in the state penitentiary,
headed by one in there for life, raised a fund of
$88 to buy a wheel chair for Ramona Richards, a
19-year-old girl of Hot Springs, S.D., who had
been partially paralyzed. There is some good in
the worst of us and some defects in the best of
us.
* v *
Knowing when to seize an opportunity,
when to turn a deaf ear, when to have an open
mind and closed mouth, when to stop going for
ward and turn to go the other way, will help you
avoid a lot of life’s disappointments.
* * *
Archbishop Richard J. Cushing of Boston,
Mass., has sounded a call for Roman Catholics to
revive their interest in foreign missions, the need
being as he sees it, that paganism is on the increase
in many lands. The Walther league, at a gathering
in New York City, laid plans to send forth cara
vans throughout the country to urge upon church
es and families the dangers of juvenile delin
quency. Dr. Henry Nelson Wieman, a noted theo
logian, is quoted as saying that many men believe
“good” means only “what I like,” that “most men
seem to have no rational basis for defending a
proposition of what is good and what is bad.”
Perhaps the dollar is too often in the way.
* * *
It must be discouraging to the Russians to
send delegations of farmers or factory experts
over here only to see how wonderfully well we
do everything. Maybe it would salve their ego if
they sent a group over here to taste our coffee.
* * *
Sixteen columns of the Sunday paper devoted
to “homes for sale” in Lincoln, “small” down pay
ment, the rest “like rent,” half or less of the “rent”
applying on the debt.
* * * *
A politician thinks of the next election; a
statesman, of the next generation.—James Free
man Clarke.
Editorial ....
Super Counselors Needed
(Editor’s note: George Morris is the
former superintendent of the Nebraska
men’s reformatory at Lincoln. He was
relieved of his post after being critical of
his bosses—the state board of control and
Gov. Victor Anderson. Mr. Morris left the
reformatory with a fine administrative
record and his accomplishments during
8 ^ years in office have drawn praise
from penologists. Mr. Morris contributed
the article below to the Friday, Septem
ber 23, issue of the Nebraska Education
News. The title, “What Should Our
Schools Accomplish?”)
There are two things that I think our schools
should accomplish and both of them are concern
ed with students.
First, our schools should turn out students with
a real concept of themselves as participating cit
izens, and secondly, each student should have a
definite, positive, individual goal that he or she
can follow within the concept of a working citi
zen.
This is similar to the announced ideas of mod
ern education but we should quit talking about it.
It is not a simple objective. It cannot be accom
plished in high school. It must not disregard basic
knowledge and skills. It will only result from a
program that is totally integrated from the kinder
garten through the public school system.
_ • i _ a. _ j j: .i j l__
jviy experience 111 lug tuiiuaicu *.*.**&
vinced me that our delinquents and criminals are
to a large extent the result of our failure to
achieve these accomplishments. The individual
who violates the law and the rights of others has
no real concept of himself as a citizen. He does
not think of himself as a member of society. He
lacks the feeling of acceptance in the community
and the school. No one has made him a part of
the scheme of things.
The correction of this concept is indeed diffi
cult. It should stem from the home but there is
no way by which society can interfere with the
operation of the home. It could be corrected
through a religious program but in many cases
those in need of such treatment are not exposed
to the church program. The school is the only in
stitution which reaches all and the school must
accept the responsibility for such an accomplish
ment
The time to start with the individual is on the
first day of school attendance. The primary grades
are the foundation and the individual superstruc
ture cannot stand unless that foundation is ade
qate. The first school adjustment is the greatest
adjustment problem that the child faces in life.
Only a super teacher can produce a working part
nership, the essence of democracy, out of a group
of youngsters from heterogeneous backgrounds.
When our society demands this type of skill and
training in the primary teacher we will be on our
way to this accomplishment.
I think the second cause of delinquency is
the lack of a positive individual goaL Individuals
who are not going in a specific direction for a pur
pose tend to drift with the tide and can easily be
come enmeshed in anti-social activities. They have
nothing to work for. They cannot judge the mo
ment in the light of the future if they have not
projected their future selves.
I am sure the attainment of these accomplish
ments by the schools will be possible when every
O
o
O
teacher is a counselor, every principal a super
counselor and every superintendent a deluxe
counselor; and when our society gives monetary and
social status to educators commensurate with these
requirements.
Phoney Peace Talks
The current Russian drive for peace should
fool no one since the Soviets themselves forecast
back in 1931 that they would have to resort to this
means to lull the people of the free world to sleep
before launching a surprise attack.
Here’s what a high Russ official said back in
1931:
“War to the hilt between communism and
capitalism is inevitable. Today, of course, we are
not strong enough to attack. Our time will come
in 20 or 30 years. To win, we shall need the ele
ment of surprise. The bourgeoisie will have to be
put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the
most spectacular peace movement on record. There
will be electrifying overtures and unheard of
concessions. The capitalist countries, stupid and
decadent, will rejoice to cooperate in their own
destruction. They wilh leap at another chance to
be friends. As soon as their guard is down, we
shall smash them with our clenched fist.”
Now, more than ever* the price of liberty is
eternal vigilance. With the papers full of news
about the “new Soviet look,” let’s remember that
their peace offensive is just a mask to cover their
diabolical plot of world conquest.
Naturalists ask us not to shoot any giant
whooping cranes as they travel south this year, but
it’s quite a temptation when you’re trying to get
a little sleep in the Pullman and a bunch of them
seem to be holding a get-together in the next com
partment.
As we stated last week, it makes little dif
ference if you win or lose; it’s how you play the
game. The Nebraska Cornhuskers lost to Ohio
State, 20-28, but fought hard.
The nation is praying for the full recovery
of President Eisenhower, who suffered a heart at
tack early Saturday at his summer white house
in Denver.
Frontier
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—2,463 (Mar. 31, 1955)
When You and I Were Young . . .
Driving Solicited
to Pack Race Track
Fair Officials Extend
Invitation
50 Years Ago
The Holt county Sunday-school
convention was held in Atkinson.
. . . A pretty wedding occurred
at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Madison, when their
daughter, Lola, was united in
marriage with Frank Spindler. . .
Judge Simmons went to Cham
bers to do campaigning in behalf
of his candidacy. . . The fair
management invites the public to
do all the driving possible on the
fair grounds track — the more
driving there is the better it will
be for racing. . . Miss Leah Baetz,
the well - known and talented
young emotional actress, is in the
city organizing a road company.
20 Years Ago
E. E. Cole, Star postmaster,
was surprised on his 75th birth
day anniversary. . . There will be
a masquerade dancing party held
at the Country club. . . Fire oroke
out in a five-acre swamp near
here two weeks ago and is still
smouldering. . . Construction has
begun on the first Nebraska
PWA project. The structure is a
new $40,000 public school build
ing in Inman to replace the old
one, which was destroyed by fire
some months ago. . . Louis Vitt
and Miss Bernice Ernst were mar
ried at the Catholic church. . .
The third annual merchants’ free
day drew a crowd of around 15,
000. . . Mary Jean Hammond was
the winner of a motion picture
magazine contest. As a reward
she will receive a frock worn by
Ginger Rogers in a recent film.
10 Years Ago
Mr. and Mrs. Rollie Snell of
Page celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary by enter
taining 24 relatives at dinner. . .
Mrs. Leonard Hamilton enter
tained 16 guests at a pre-nuptial
shower in honor of Miss Mable
Hamilton. . . The farm home of
T. J. Donohoe, located a few
miles north of this city, burned
to the ground. The Donohoes had
been in O’Neill at church and
arrived home to find the house in
flames. . . The stocker - feeder
calf show will be held at O’Neill.
. . . The country church at Beth
any was the scene of the wedding
of Miss Vivian Elshire and Pfc.
Wayne Peterson. Rev. Kenneth
Scott officiated.
One Year Ago
Mrs. D. E. Murphy submitted
to rare heart surgery at Clarkson
Memorial hospital in Omaha. . .
Two teenage escapees from the
Nebraska boys’ reformatory at
Kearney came to the end of their
flight in Holt county. . . Mr. and
Mrs. E. E. Clark took their
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Howard
Clark, and son, Gene, to Sioux
City from where they left for
New York City to board a vessel
for England. . . Three Chambers
high school students were treated
for minor injuries following a
two-car crash near the Chambers
high school. . . Kids were swim
ming in the pool in Lynch despite
temperatures in the 60’s. Water is
supplied by an artesian well and
comes into the pool at a 72-degree
temperature.
Lynch Schedules
Pancake Day Event
LYNCH — Pancake day spon
sored by the American Legion in
cooperation with the Lynch busi
ness men will be Saturday, Octo
ber 1.
Special features are free acts,
free pancakes, carnival, tug-of
war (Boyd county vs Holt and
Knox counties), footraces and
a baseball game, Lynch vs Ver
digre. There will be a dance in
the evening.
O’Neill Couple Weds
in Hospital Chapel
Mrs. Minnie M. Milacek of O’
Neil and formerly of Bristow,
and Raymond L. Beers of O’Neill
were married Tuesday, Septem
ber 20, at 10:30 a.m., in the chap
el at the Veterans hospital in
Omaha. Rev. Allen C. Bergquist,
chaplain, performed the double
ring ceremony. Mrs. Merle Evans
and Miss Esther Stringfellow
were witnesses.
Mr. Beers recently was hurt in
a one-car accident south of O’
Neill. He had been a salesman for
an Omaha fixture and supply
firm and has been hospitalized
since the accident.
Mr. and Mrs. Beers will make
their home in O’Neill.
Page Woman Is
WCTU Officer
PAGE—Mrs. Goldie Stauffer of
Page has been elected recording
secretery of the Nebraska Wo
rn e n ’ s Christian Temperance
Union, which convened last week
in Omaha.
Mrs. Myrtle Davidson of Lamar
was named president for 1956.
None of the officers, besides Mrs.
Stauffer, is from this area.
The Nebraska unit went on re
cord as opposing the sale of
alcohlie beverages on airplanes.
A resolution adopted “to com
mend the International Federa
tion of Airline Pilots Associations
and the American Airline As
sociation of Hostesses” for their
protest against such service.
Justice Court
Edward F. Schmuecker, speed
ing at night, September 14, Shor
ney, $15 and costs.
Don E. Holliday, failure to
stop at sign, $10 and costs, Sept
ember 14, Shomey.
Pauline N. Walston, speeding
at night, $10 and costs, Septem
ber 14, Shomey.
Ronald Britton, overweight on
capacity plate, pending, Septem
ber 15, Richardson.
R. Clayton Housh, driver for
Buckingham Trans. Co., over
weight, September 19, Kirk.
John Zumbrum, overweight on
capacity plates, pending, Sept
ember 19, Richardson.
Frank Zwetzig, overload on
axle, pending, September 20.
Kirk.
Gustave E. Bergstrom, driver
for Byron O. Dorn, overweight
on capacity plates, pending, Sep
tember 20, Richardson.
Gustave E. Bergstrom, driver
for Byron O. Dome, overload on
axel, pending, September 20,
Richardson.
Rural & City
PHILLIPS “66”
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Greasing & Washing
Borg’s ‘66’ Service
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Phone 362
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