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. 19, 1956)
Prairieland Talk . . . McKelvie Leaves Permanent Mark By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier LINCOLN—The last rites over the remains of Sam McKelvie on Jaunary 10 took on the aspect of the capitol building where the state notables gathered with those from the more humble walks of a state affair. These were held in the rotunda of life to pay respect to the memory of the dead. The remains lay in state for a few hours under military guard before the service conducted by the pastor of St. Paul’s Methodist church, Doctor Court, was solemnized. Some 35 years ago, Sam, as governor of Ne ' braska. turned the first spade of Hirt that forecast the erection of our magnificent capitol building, and 35 years later he is brought in from Arizona a lifeless form and laid in a stately setting in the statehouse that his spaded bit of earth consecrated. For many years Mr. McKel vie had been publisher of the Nebraska Farmer and that insti tution is one of the leading pub lishing and printing concerns not only of Lincoln but of the state. Romaine Soon after retiring as governor, baundera the McKelvies went to Cherry county and develop ed the By the Way ranch south of Valentine where they had since made their home. Recently they had St at their winters on a warm Arizona desert. I recall when Sam was a candidate for gov ernor the editor of a biased labor union paper published in Lincoln spewed nonsense and vilifying stuff in each issue about “Slippery Sam”! Mc Kelvie’s Farmer employed only union printers then and now. The author of those editorial slurs nobobdy knows or cares about today, while Sam McKelvie is remembered by Nebraskans every where as one who left a mark upon the agricultur al and livestock interests of his generation. * * * The busybodies are at it. Now it is “eat more meat.” Maybe the way to induce the consumption of Nebraska’s largest animal product is to price it at the meat block at a more alluring figure. And we prairieland dwellers are urged to ar range the daily menu exclusively of home prod ucts, which provide about everything a hungry human’s capacious maw could wish for. * • * When the brief January day draws to a close and the darkness of a long night spreads its winter mantle over the land, the city dweller draws the shades over windows and doors, turns on the house lights, opens the television and sees upon the screen the performers and spielers of the mod em world do their stuff. And memories of other days, of other nights when far out beyond the crowded haunts of men he sat during the long win ter evening in the glow of firelight from burning sticks of wood as that burning wood cast gleams of light across the shadows on the floor. As in fancy he sits by the open fire while lights and shadows play at his feet, there come again the dreams of peace and plenty out where the open country stretched to the distant horizon, away from the rumble and rush of crowded thorough fares. And then, getting a glimpse of something sinister on the screen, is jarred back to the reality of life among men today in a troubled world and thinks maybe the time has come to dive into that hole to escape the bomb raid that guy on the screen is talking about. * * * Eyes now lusterless, watery, too— Years are creeping up on you! Furrowed brow and wrinkled chin, Faltering step and getting thin, Once auburn locks now snowy white, Hardly know your left from right— Still like to have a bit of fun? You’re alright, you’re not yet done! And who is this that presumes to say there are but 11 “All-American” cities in these United States, and Nebraska has one of them? “All-Am erican”—is not all of prairieland just that? What has Nebraska’s third city down by Platte within its cultured lines that sets it apart and above Chambers or other Holt county communities? Something pertaining to schools. If the school in a one-room adobe of a homestead family of 70 years ago, Jimmy McTagert standing by a cook stove with a haybumer going, stumbling along reading his primer lesson, or an older pupil proclaiming in youthful pride Lorenso’s Address to the Romans, or Kate Mann teaching young ideas how to shoot to the stars in a crude church building where the O’Neill Methodist- church now stands before there was a village schoolhouse on the hill—if these were not “All-American”, distinctive and original, the making of worthwhile citizens, where could you find an “All-American”? * * • If all have been counted, 23,000,000 Amer icans have dogs and the dog food business is said to amount to $200,000,000. In the last war 10,000 dogs “saw service,” and there are 2,600 seeing eye dogs helping the blind get about. * * * January 5. Outside on a porch post the ther mometer records the afternoon early winter tem perature at 73 degrees. Shirtsleeve time coming with the new year. The landscape is aglow with sunbeams quivering in the calm air. December, most of November had laid a frost-bitten hand on prairieland and now January comes in smiling and warm. But listen! A warning voice comes out of the sun-drenched distance, an Arctic gale is headed for Canada to be passed on to prairieland—and we look again at the blazing sun, turn in to see where we hung the overcoat. But why so? This is a grand day to be out and strut with the after new year’s shoppers. We will embrace the Arctic with a mittened hand when it gets here. * * * Increasing your speed in reading is regard ed as a scholarly accomplishment by a recent ar rival on the scene of learning. Not how fast or how much I can read, but what I absorb from reading seems the important thing in reading. * * * The Nebraska Blizzard club, an organization to perpetuate the memory of experiences of prai rieland dwellers during the worst blizzard that ever swept across the land, 68 years later called to memory that day in January long ago at the club’s annual gathering and banquet held on Thurs day, January 12, at the YWCA in Lincoln. About 150 were at the gathering, perhaps two-thirds of them sons and daughters of the venerable fathers and mothers who witnessed the .’88 blizzard. A touch of religious sentiment, a bit of humor, brief stories of experiences the day of the blizzard, talks by Governor Anderson and Former-Governor Adam McMullen and brief talks by various members of the club followed the banquet served at noon. * * * I call him Jim. As the year 1955 drew to a close he quit his job at the age of four score years. A native of bonnie Scotland, Jim informed me he went to work in a mine in his native land at the age of nine years and six months and was paid sev en cents an hour. From that day to the last day of the old year he had toiled with his hands. Now the days of toil are over. He owns the residence prop erty where he lives with his life’s companion, who is totally blind. * * * Senator Burney of Hartington will seek the job of lieutenant-governor, and north - Nebraska should be for him to a man—and woman. Politi cians have their partisan supporters, but not like those of the family physician, some of whom would favor having you shot at sunrise if you dis agree with them. Editorial .... Welcome, Mr. Elliott A 2a-year-old assistant to Oklahoma’s great grid master already is on the job at the University of Nebraska. As the new head football coach in the Cornhusker camp, Pete Elliott is being receiv ed with open arms. Elliott has an impressive background as a Michigan university athletic great. He has appren tied under exceptionally fine coaches, including a five-year stint with Oklahoma’s Charles (“Bud”) Wilkinson. . Elliott’s personal qualities are said to be ex emplary and, as backfield coach for the national champion Sooners, he tutored perfectionist ball handlers. Oklahoma hardly knows the meaning of defeat. The “kid” from the Oklahoma camp succeeds the controversial J. William (“Bill”) Glassford, who was a stern task master. * Nebraska’s geographic bigness and variations divide the state in a dozen ways. But the Univer sity of Nebraska is the only school in the state playing major league football. Thus the football team tends to be a common denominator. Some times, it would seem, the Husker football team gets more attention and emphasis than deserved. Even during lean seasons the stadium at Lincoln fills up regularly so it cannot be said there is any organized disloyalty. Pete Elliott will be entitled to and will receive unbounded support and encouragement from every comer of the state. He comes to Lincoln (the handiwork of Athletic Director William Orwig) at a period when grid fortunes are low and at a time when the state, rightly or wrongly, has received several blackeyes because of coach treatment. Somehow an air of optimism pervades the en tire state. Even if the football emphasis is out of proportion to its basic value, the new spirit of uni fication and the widespread interest in this com mon denominator is worth something. Not Good Enough for a Kelly (From the Chicago Tribune) pie Engagement of Miss Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier of Monaco leaves lis unconsoled if not in consolable. Presumably she will now give up her career as an actress, but that isn’t what grieves us, for Miss Kelly’s talents, even though she won an Oscar, were slight. As an actress or even as a movie actress, she is not to be mentioned in the same breath with a genuine artist and charmer like Audrey Hepburn. What distresses us is the fact that Miss Kelly is marrying beneath her. She is too well bred a girl to marry the silent partner in a gambing par lor. She is too nice a girl to become the social loader of a town that, at any moment of the year, contains more well-dressed riff-raff than are likely to be found anywhere else under the sun. It’s a shame to see a wholesome girl thrust into this mi lieu, for it is unlikely that she can change it for the better, though it may change her for the worse. The engagement does offer some hope for the British commonwealth. When Prince Charles be comes of marriageable age, be might go for a daughter of Grace Kelly if one happens to be around. Assuming that the child inherits her moth er’s good looks and good sense, she will have a great deal more of both than can be found among European princesses generally. Religious differ ences and the British constitution stand in the way of the match but maybe they can be overcome. With an infusion of Irish blood, the British royal family might become more adept in the art of governing, and certainly you couldn’t push them around like a duke of Windsor or a Margaret. Dulles Is in Trouble? Two montns ago tne newsletter Human Events speculated mat certain elements of tne Eisenhower administration were undermining Secretary of State jonn roster Dulles, and tnat on one occasion, at least, tne secretary in frustration high-tailed for a Maine retreat. Mr. Dunes is a career statesman, and, judging from current gomgs-on, it would seem the news letter's msignt is correct because John is now getting a going-over from the critics, some of whom are high in the administration. Human Events predicted Nelson Rockefeller would be Mr. Dulles’ successor. Meanwhile, Mr. Rockefeller has quit the white house advisory cir cle on foreign affairs. His “recall” now could be just exactly what Human Events had in mind. The penmanship teacher of yore sadly shakes her head as she views the illegible signature scrawled by a famous man—once her pupil. Amazing the enthusiasm that mounts in a group of communities when a basketball tourna ment is in progress. Nothing reminds a woman of all the things that need to be done around the house like a hus band taking it easy. CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher 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 advanee. Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,530 (Sept 30, 1955) When You and I Were Young . ., Coal Vein Found in Boyd County Believed to Be of ‘Paying Quality* 50 Years Ago The Sanford Dodge company’s rendition of Shakespeare’s great est play, “Julius Ceaser,” at the opera house, was not up to expec tations. . . Judge Malone issued the license and performed the marriage of L. R. Pinkerman of Scottville and Maude E. Wilson of Redbird. . . A Woman’s club was organized at the home of Mrs. T. V. Golden. Mrs. G. W. Smith presided as temporary president. . . Mrs. Elizabeth Ker nan, 75, died at her home in O’ Neill. . . A dance was held at the home of Mrs. F. Coburn and was well attended. Everyone seemed anxious to have a good time and did not return home until the “wee” hours of the morning. . . Coal has been discovered in Boyd county on the farm of Joseph Klasna, four miles west of Gross. It is said the vein appears to be of paying quantity. 20 Years Ago A party of friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bauman to help celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary. . . Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Weier, a son, weighing 5 pounds. . . . An unusual number of “weary Willies” are on the road these days. They are all looking for a handout but very few ex press the desire to perform a lit tle manual labor to pay for same. . . . Mrs. Bordson of Spencer re cently purchased the Style Shop. . . . The Inman junior class pre sented their play to a full house. The cast included: Wilma Chick en, Marjorie Butler, Marjorie Heyne, Patty Watson, Doris Har tigan, Billy Watson, Jerome Ruther and Lorin Keyes. . . The finrcnir Ptai oet nKcorirnH it’c local achievement day at the Dorsey Presbyterian church. . . Miss Margaret Gaughenbaugh of Emmet and Joseph Ziska of At kinson were married in the Cath olic church at Emmet. 10 Years Ago Ellis Wade, a brother of Kid, who met a tragic death at the hands of the vigilanters 62 years ago, visited in tms city. He has land m tne vicinity 01 Lynch but maxes his home in Colorado. . . A special meeting of tne O’Neill Commercial ciud was held. E. C. Wener was present and explain ed ms plan lor operation 01 the O'Neill sale yard for the coming year. . . Tne Tri-btate has incuba tors in the turxey hatcheries now in operation and plans to put lz,buu points on leed on their farm. . . William Wells, one of tne pioneer residents of the Red bird section ol tne country was transacting business in O’Neill recently. . . A number of promi nent leaders and businessmen ol O’Neill met in the library at St. Mary’s academy lor the purpose oi discussing pians for a commun ity hospital. William J. Froelich was selected as cnairman of a general cimmittee. One Year Ago Forty persons irom cities and towns along tne Omana-to-Chad ron line 01 the Chicago cc Norm Western railroad neard encourag ing reports on trams number la and 14—tne last two remaining passenger-man-express trams in Northern NeDrasxa. . . Mrs. Clara May Tucker, tto, nas joined the American i^egion auxiliary, San •aers unit 21*, at iswrng. bne nas tne honor ot being the eldest member in lao5. . . Maj. Lien, cuy in. Henninger, hieorasxa’s aojutant-generai and commander of the state's national guard, will arrive by air. He will comer with civic leaders relative to tne possi ble location of tne guard com pany here. . . Dr. Hex W. Wilson, O iNeill pnysician and surgeon, was elected cnairman of tne noit county cnapter of the American Hed Cross. . . Rev. Carl F. Sch wenK of cast St. Louis, 111., new ly named pastor of Memorial captist church at Chambers, has arrived in Chambers. To Stock Show— Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Schaffer left Friday for Denver, Colo., where tney planned to visit the livestock exposition. Cnroute to Denver tney visited at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Walker, and fam ily at McCook. Benefit DANCE American Legion Ballroom — O’NEILL — l SMITTY and His Jumpin' Jax Thurs., Jan. 26th Sponsored by the O’Neill ; Saddle Club. Proceeds go toward purchasing lights for new arena in Carney Park. Adm.: 75c Origin of Garden Clubs Heard— CHAMBERS—Beautiful Valley Garden club, Chambers, held its first 1956 meeting at the home of Mrs. Ernest Farrier with Mrs. Mildred Wandersee as cohostess. New officers for 1956 are Mrs. Blanche Sageser, president; Mrs. Grace Newhouse, vice-president; Mrs. Bernice Platt, secretary; Mrs. Loa Hubbard, treasurer; Mrs. Florence Rees, news reporter. The 1956 project is the study of trees and birds. Roll call was an swered by 15 members. Door prize was won by Mrs. Chloe Adams. A paper was read by Mrs. Peggy Smith on “Early American Gardens” and the “Or igin of Garden Clubs.” A paper on “Evergreens and Their Classi fications” was given by Mrs. Flor ence Rees. Regional Deaths Stanley J. Pomicior '~>MAHA—Stanley J. Pomietnr. 62, of Omaha died Saturday, Jan "ary 7, in the Veteran’s hospita’ in Omaha after a lingering illness. He is survived by his wife, the former Clara Heinowski of Em met; one brother in Wyoming, three brothers in Poland, and one sister in Poland. Barney McCarville NELIGH — Barney McCarville, a longtime Neligh resident, died Monday, January 9, at the Ante lope Memorial hospital in Neligh. Funeral services were conduct ed Thursday, January 12, at St. rsoniface Catholic church. Fred J. Wurtz LYNCH — Funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon, January 13, at the Wesleyan Methodist church at Lynch for Fred J. Wurtz, 75, who died Tues day, Januapr 10, in the Sacred Heart hospital, Lynch. Cubs Make Pirate Hats— Cub Scouts den 2 met Wednes day, January 11, after school. All boys were present except one. We painted our pirate hats. Mike Hammond and Dick Brew ster served refreshments. We did the living circle before we went home. — By Mike Gallagher, re porter. DISTINGUISHED GUEST George Eiferman, Mr. America of 1948, was the feature attraction on a program presented at O’Neill public school Friday, January 6. Following Mr. Eiferman’s demon strations, a pep rally was held by the student body. Methodist WSCS rummage sale. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 19, 20, and 21, at the former Osborne’s Hotpoint store. 38c New Eastern Star Officers Take Posts The Order of the Easter Star, Symphony chapter, installed new officers last Thursday evening. Mrs. D. C. Schaffer as installing officer; Mrs. D. H. Clauson, in stalling marshal; Mrs. Esther C. Harris, installing chaplain, and Mrs. George Peterson, installing organist installed the new staff as follows: Mrs. H. E. Asher, worthy ma tron; H. E. Asher, worthy patron; Mrs. W. W. Waller, associate ma tron; H. G. Kruse, associate pa tron; Mrs. J. D. Osenbaugh, sec retary; Mrs. J. M. McMahan of Inman, treasurer; Mrs. Eugene Porter , conductress; Mrs. Donald McKamy, associate conductress; Mrs. H. L. Lindberg. chaplain; Mrs. Paul Shierk, marshal; A. E. Bowen, organist; Mrs. Larry Schaffer, Adah; Mrs. Gale Dier berger, Ruth; Mrs. Thomas Lam bert of Chambers, Esther; Mrs. Elwyn Robertson of Chambers, Martha; Mrs. George Cook, Electa; Mrs. C. W. Porter, warder; Mrs. Clarence Hansen of Inman, sentinel. Entertain Guests— VENUS—Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pospeshil and Mr. and Mrs. Her man Dorr spent Wednesday eve ning, January 4, at the Ralph Brookhouser home. Visitors Here— Mrs. Harvey Sawyer and Mrs. Ray Shorney of Ainsworth were Thursday evening, January 12, guests at the Frank Greniei home. Mrs. Sawyer also spent Sunday visiting in O’Neill. John R. Gallagher Attomey-at-Law First Nat’l Bank Bldg. O’NEILL PHONE 11 META’S Beauty Parlor 4 Blocks E., 2 N. of Stoplight. PHONE 102 — O’NEILL | Gives You 20% Additional Vitamin A Vitamin D MILK DAIRY SALE! AT O’NOIL Saturday Nile, Jan. 21 — 8 O’clock — 50- Head of Wisconsin Dairy Calves - 50 Brown Swiss — Guernseys — Holsteins . . . ALSO . . . 15 - Head of Springer Cows - 15 Some fresh now and others to freshen right away . . . top-producing dairy strain. ONE CALF GIVEN AWAY FREE During a Drawing Consigned by — KEN KUEHNDORF Rice Lake, Wise. O'Neill Livestock Mkt. Phone 2 — O’Neill > We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: If you can afford any new car, you can afford a Buick — and the sales figures make the proof of that stronger and stronger. Just ask yourself: which cars would normally be in the top 3 of America’s best sellers? The well-known smaller cars—naturally. But which cars are in that Big 3? Two of the well-known smaller cars, and Buick—for over two years run ning now. That means Buick prices are well within reach of more and more people—thanks primarily to the budget-tagged Buick Special, like w t/ou certain/)/ should look St the Be Bu/ck SPECIAL/ tlie one pictured above. And that’s the whole point of the matter. For this low-priced Buick Special— so close in cost to the smaller cars — is so much more automobile for the money, it’s the stand-out buy of its field. It’s the biggest of the Big 3 in power thrill, in comfort, in size and breadth and luxury and sheer roadability. It’s the biggest of the Big 3 in the solidity and softness of its all-coil spring ride—in the sweep of its styl ing—and in the pure thrill of its performance. For where else but in Buick can you get the nimble getaway, the gas saving mileage, the electrifying switch-pitch action and the absolute smoothness of the new Variable Pitch Dynaflow?* Come in to see and drive the biggest bundle of high-powered beauty and energy ever offered in Buick’s lowest-priced Series. It’s proud we certainly are to be dble to offer so much car for the money— but nothing to how proud you’ll be when you boss a new Special. Can you come in tomorrow? * New Advanced Variable Pitch Dt/naflcuo is the only Dynaflow Buick builds today. It is standard on Roadmaster, Super and Century—optional at modest extra cost on the Special. • V A. MARCELLUS Phone 370 O’NeU!