Prairieland 1 alk . . 4 Demo Presidents in 95 Years By ROM.AIN’E SAl'NDFRS. Retired. Fortner Editor The Frontier LINCOLN—When a republican is entrust'd with the duties of chief executive of the nation •■it is always bad news for the American farmer,'’ says Mr. Truman They have had a lot of "bad news." During »n f>ast 95 years of American progress on farms, in factories, banks and stores and transportation mere have been 12 republicans presiding at the white house nd four democrats. ’ * ‘ 5^ The “bad news’’ for Ameri- gji* / ^ ra’s sons of the soil included i. such tilings as free homesteads and cross country railroads to j haul the cattle and grain and hay and all products of the soil to market; to increase 5-cent corn under the first of the four democratic presidents back in the 1890’s to the all time high today. Another bit of "bad news" relating to farm life on prairie- Romaine land comes from a grain elevator Saunders operator in the cornbelt of eastern Nebraska who tells of farmers in his community who spend the day in the town hall, toward evening go to j the village store and buy a few bottles of milk, a pound of butter and eggs, drive home for supper, then come back in the evening to take in the pic ture show. Last year a couple from Missouri, man and woman, came to the community driving a small truck. They asked permission of the farm- j ers to pick up the corn left in the fields by the mechanical cornpicker and as they accumulated a load they went to this gent’s elevator and sold the 1 corn for $1.75 a hundred pounds. A number of truck loads were gathered in the neighborhood, then the thrifty couple moved to another neigh borhood. One way to make a livelihood thought up by a couple from Mr Truman’s home state. * M 1 The death of Mrs. Dave Stannard removes one more of a shrinking list of O’Neill pioneers, where she had lived 72 of her 88 years. Praine land Talker recalls as a kid that a dashing young man we knew of as Dave Stannard made frequent trips south of the river to woo and win the hand and heart of a young lady. Upon their marriage tn '84. they established a home in the northeast part of town, known later as “Kid Hill.” Mrs. Stannard was a devoted wife and mother and j homemaker. In more recent years since the death of Mr. Stannard she and her daughters have made their home on the upper floor of the store build- j ing on Fourth street and the aged pioneer lady spent her last hours in her own bed with her de- j voted daughters near her. Her death followed soon after Den Hunt, a near relative, passed away. She ami IHm were born the same day 88 years ago at Winona, Minn. a • * His name is Martin, a retired Burlington rail road office worker. We had parked our superan nuated fleshly frames on a bench in the shade. He had visited O’Neill at times and recalled stay ing at the Golden hotel and being served half a cow at the M&M. He had read stories of the Bar rett Scott lynching in the long ago. So I was in for recounting the Scott affair along with the Kid Wade lynching and other vigilanter outlawry in northern Holt, where tragedy and romance wrote a chapter of thrilling frontier life. His 420 pounds stretch to a height of 8 feet 5 inches, and he said he had come to hate every inch of it. Why? A freak is a spectacle that no body loves and everybody stares at, a side-show monstrosity. His name is Ted Evans and his story of mental torture comes to us via the monthly magazine route. A native of London. England, he left home because parents and sisters shunned him, shed distilled drops of sorrow that he tried for a time to drown in the flowing bowl, came to America and has acquired a livelihood in a cir cus tent and has resigned himself to being a mon ster not accepted in human society. Holt county had a Goliath in the person of Mike Carrol, who was a homesteader on that stretch of prairieland where wind tests have been carried out six miles northeast of ONeill. Mike was about three inches under seven feet, his bed being a hay mat on the floor. It is claimed that Father Adam towered to a height of 12 feet. There came up the street from the North Western depot with the crowd that ar rived in ONeill to register for the Rosebud land drawing, a 7-foot gent, who, we learned, was one of the winners in that drawing. • • • Just beyond the touch of prairieland finger tips, rise the rugged walls and fantastic forms of the South Dakota Bad Lands. Americans travel the world over to see what nature has formed and the hand of man defaced. Almost within walking distance of north Nebraska dwellers who join the cavalcade to “see things,” stretch the South Dakota Bad Lands. From Prairieland Talker’s friend, Will Spindler's, book I purloined this word picture of nature’s marvel near our door: As you travel on, the weird towering shape of this strange land be gin to rise high around you. Here in cream-colored clay, nature has fashioned w’alls, castles, temples, spires, towers and minarets in ragged thrones of beauty. And out of the Bad Lands you stand again where Good Lands spread in verdant miles to the faroff horizon, little inland lakes, flowing streams of fresh water, miles of prairie sod w'here once the buffalo roamed, shaded nooks and tree-bord ef-d gulches, the song of birds, the call of crea turs ot the wild and the gracious human contacts W'here men have built their homes on prairieland’s far flung “good lands.” As I write August draws to a close as dark clouds curtain the blue above. Rain washes away the dust and grime of hot days that have “folded their tents like the Arabs and silently stolen away.” Too late to save the dry land corn, maybe because Ike is president, but grass and vegetation across the land are refreshed and revived, plow land given a wetting that was needful for fall planting of wheat. The shirt sleeve and bare leg brigade now are arrayed in coats and skirts. The rain is over, dark clouds, motionless and sullen, burst with a crash of thunder and again are silent. And I wonder if that couple from up in Cedar county who stopped their car yesterday to ask me how to get to a street address a mile or so away and appeared withered from dry, hot weather up there, arrived at that address and have been soak- i ed with a capital city rainfall this morning. * * • Maybe it is now the “poor city property own er.” A friend met with today who for some years has been building houses to sell, now finds he has a number of new residences on hand and no buy ers. If he can get his money out of these city dwellings he plans to move out into the Nebraska grass country and engage in ranching. Editorial . . . Points to Society’s Weakness A native Nebraskan and much-decorated navy flier, who for 19 months was in communist prison er-of-war camps in Korea, has told the Omaha World-Herald he is ‘disturbed” by the public’s ittitude toward American military personnel who gave in to communist promises or pressures. Ensign Duane Thorin, a former Holt county an, has written a book, to be published in Novem ber, about “the men who broke and the men who did not." The forthcoming book was discussed briefly in The Frontier in the August 9 issue. “I would like to dispel the myth that every man has a price or a breaking point and the idea that the communists have devised some irresitible ible means of breaking men,” Thorin said. Neither is true, he asserted. Ensign Thorin, at 36, is a veteran of 17 years m navy service. He was born in Clearwater, at tended schools at Ewing and Neligh and w'as rais ed on farms. His parents were Swedish emigrants. He has a brother living at O’Neill; another at Chambers. As a chief petty officer in World War II, he was a navy test pilot. He was in Korea soon after war broke out and set a record flying 130 helicopter rescue mis sions behind enemy lines. Three distinguished fly ing crosses and the silver star are among his dec orations. On a rescue mission’in February, 1952, he was shot down. Captured, he was a prisoner first of the North Koreans and later of the Chinese com munists until repatriated August 31, 1953 “I know very well that I endured more hard ships than some who are back here complaining that the world owes them a living,” he, said. “At the same time I know I didn*t endure as much as some who are not complaining,” he said. The ex - Nebraskan, commissioned last year, said a prisoner of war can expect “no bed of roses” and must rely on his own resources. “Without a doubt the individual’s philosophy is the greatest single factor in determining his re action to communist pressures,” he said. He attaches much importance to self-reliance, individualism, and a strong sense of responsibility. Ensign Thorin feels that American society has developed a weakness, and that it made some Am ericans susceptible to red threats or favors. “The basis of the red appeal is to self-inter est,” he explained. He said the communists use that appeal in much the same way certain politicians, certain la bor groups and others in this country do in prom ising various benefits to gain support. “One hears so much these days about rights and so little about responsibilities,” he said. On the subject of individuals helping them selves instead of looking for assistance elsewhere, be said: “My high school teacher in Nebraska used to say that the word ‘can’t’ was not American. “I sometimes think that now it has become too American.” Ensign Thorin doesn’t like to see the 21 Am ericans who refused to be repatriated referred to as men “who chose communism.” In his opinion, he explained, they simply were trying “to save their necks, either from official action or the vengeance of fellow prisoners.” Ensign Thorin describes his book, “Ride to Panmunjom,” as “fictionalized fact.” He said he had no intention of writing it un til he and several other former prisoners of war in Korea became concerned by the “misconception being spread that any man can be broken.’’ He regards that idea as “the easy way out” for the American conscience. What Does It Mean to You? (Bill Cox in Pierce County Leader) Have you ever talked to a person who work ed hard and finally obtained his or her naturaliza tion papers? These persons are justly proud and thrilled at having become citizens of the United States. That’s one side of the picture. The other side of the story is the million or more persons who are citizens of the United States and ignore or laugh at the privileges and rights given them; they were natural born citizens and put forth no effort to earn these rights and priv ileges. In their youth this unthankful type of indi vidual accepted free education as a matter of course, not realizing it is one of the privileges of the United States. On Sunday they worship in churches of their own choice. This is accepted as their just dues, forgetting that men died creating these United States so that in 1956 you can worship God in the way of your choice. Your government protects you and by the same laws your rights are protected; you have freedom of speech, freedom of reading, freedoms of press, radio and television. These million or more persons laugh when you ask them if they voted at the last election . . . they were “too busy” seeking personal gains or pleasures to spend 10 minutes casting a ballot. These million or more persons are quick enough to accept all the advantages of being a citizen but forget from what sources these priv ileges stem. Where do you find these unappreciative citi z.ens? It may be you are one, perhaps it’s a neigh bor of yours. They are found in every town, city and rural area. Don’t ignore or forget your great privilege of being a citizen of the United States . . . just talk to a person recently naturalized and you will bet ter understand what you have so long taken for granted. Mathematics is a wonderful science but it hasn’t come up yet with a way to divide one tri cycle among three small boys or a $3.75 luncheon check among four women. CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher ARTHUR J. NOECKER and ESTHER M. ASHER, Associate Publishers 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—2,559 (Mar 31, 1950) * When You Jtid 1 Were Y oung . . . Moonlight Foot Racing Popular Melon Patch Setting for Lynch Sport 50 Years Ago Mr and Mrs. Charles Cole of Lynch were over last week visit ing his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Cole, and attending the race meet Charley says he noted many new improvements in the “old burg” and that she looked better than ever to him. . William A. Lewis and Myrtle Conway, both | of Neligh, were married. . , Taken from the Lynch Journal. “A moonlight foot race with a melon patch for the starting line ■■md a shotgun the starting sig nal is quite popular with certain Lynch youths and they are hard to beat in starting with the crack of the gun and show remarkable I staying qualities in a cross coun try run. Each knows he was the first one home and in bed.". 20 Years Ago At free day results of the foot race for boys under 12 were: Maurice Jones. Dan Freisen and George Mellor Foot race for girls under 12: Eva Jones, Trena Hoff man and Marjorie Summers. Foot race, boys 12 to 15-years: Everett Gorgen, Floyd J a r e s k e and Wayne Hancock. Foot race, girls 12 to 15-vears-old: Oda Posvar, Eunice Hunt and Trena Hoffman. Boy’s bicycle race, under 16 vears-old: John Shoemaker, Dale Kersenbrock and Dale Spry. Pie :iting contest, under . !2-years old: Iris Buffalow, James Bellar and Don Freisen. . . Mr. and Mrs. Jim Pearson and baby, Jim, of Neligh were guests of her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Harnish, this week. 10 Years Ago A drenching rain, 4.43 inches in 7? hours, broke the prolonged dry spell. . . Rev. Feodor C. Kattner, who served the Page Methodist church, has been transferred to Seward. . . Rev. Eugene B. Maxcy oi Inman expects to retire as soon as a replacement is assigned. . . An engineer from the U.S. bureau of reclamation sees 100.000 ‘‘ir rigable’’ acres in Holt county. . . Coach F E. Saindon is confronted with a thorny problem, too many backs and not enough line candi dates. One Year Ago Kenneth L. Van Voorhis, Chad ron district manager of CPPD since 1943, replaced C. E. A. Johnson, who went to Scottsbluff. . Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lowry celebrated their 54th wedding an niversary at a picnic at Ft. Ran dall park. . . C. J. Barnum, 76. of Neligh, who helped incorporate the village of Chambers, died of uremic poisoning. . . Patrolman and Mrs. Robert A. Gude are the parents of a son, Michael Robert, born August 31 at Norfolk. Hold Picnic in North Platte Park— Mrs. Rodney Tomlinson and Larry, Mrs. H. W. Tomlinson and I Mr. and Mrs. William Turner of Chambers took Mrs. Ina Turner of Oshkosh to North Platte where she was met by her daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Noelte. They and Mrs. Tomlinson’s daughter a n d husband Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brhn, and family of North Platte held a picnic dinner at the city park. Mrs. H. L. Lindberg and Mari lyn left Wednesday, September 5, for Lincoln. Marilyn will enter j Wesleyan university for her sec-1 ond year. She will live at the Phi Mu hall. O’Neill Firemen Fight Grass Fires O'Neill firemen have been kept on the jump the past seven days combating grass fires. Six fires broke out Saturday morning between the Dora El shire and Otto Lorenz places, be tween O’Neill and Emmet The blazes were blamed on a diese' locomotive on the Chicago & North Western railroad which had passed through. There were two Saturday after noon calls. The first took the vol unteers to the M. E. Simonson farm to extinguish a grass blaze, the second to Northern Heights addition where a fire of unknown origin was being fanned by the wind and threatened several homes. On Sunday afternoon the O’ I Neill firemen were called to the drown ranch, owned by Charles I Fox, located five miles south of Emmet. Lightning late Saturday was believed to have started the blaze, which smouldered until Sunday afternoon when the alarm was sounded. Neighbors had the fire about extinguished when the O’Neill firemen reached the scene. A strip about one hundred feet long, following a fence lino, was burned. Brookhouser Clan Meets at Norfolk Brookhiuser reunion was held at a park at Norfolk Sunday, September 2. with a picnic din ner at noon. Mr. and Mrs. Ver lyn Gibbs and Mr. and Mrs. Emil Bartos were elected president, vice - president, secretary and treasurer respectively. The oldest person present was Mrs. Elizabeth Seebolt of Mis souri Valley, la., and the young est was Kenneth Ray Tusha, 8 month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Marlin E. Tusha of Verdigre. There was one death during the year, William Paul Huddleston, of Laurel. There were 37 present coming from Missouri Valley, la.; Kan sas City, Mo.; Sioux City, la.; Oggalalla; Holdrege; Verdigre; Orchard; O’Neill ; Brunswick; Norfolk and Venus. Plan Bazaar at Lynch on Saturday LYNCH — The Assumption BVM Altar society met at the1 church rectory Thursday after noon for their September meet ing. Twenty ladies were present. Mrs. Joe Nemic of Spencer was a visitor. In the absence of the president Mrs. Clarence Kolund presided at the meeting. Plans were completed for the church bazaar Saturday, September 15 on main street in Lynch. The hostesses Miss Elizabeth Peklo, Mrs. Vac Jedlicka and Mrs. Thomas Courtney, sr., serv- j cd a lunch. 1 30 Present for Mrs. Hull s 101st Last Thursday, “Grandma” Sarah Hull, the grand little lady of northern Holt county cele brated her 101st birthday anni-l versary at her home in the Meek community. There were about 130 guests present. All her chil dren were able to be on hand. A basket dinner was served at noon and in the afternoon ice cream and cake were served. “Grandma” Hull was hospital ized at Lynch 10 days earlier this year. One of the daughters declared the aged pioneer ap peared to be stronger than a year ago. Chambers News •Mr and Mrs, Glen Ta.vlor were Norfolk visitors last Thursday. Msr. John Wintermote returned s: Thursday from a visit of sev eral weeks with her daughters. Miss Eula Wintermote and Mrs. Baughn, in Oregon and Mrs Howard, at Los Angeels, Calif. Dinner guests in the H. C Walter home Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Walter and family and Mr and Mrs Hilbert Hoge and children. The occasion mark- ' cci the wedding anniversary of both the Lyle Walters and tre Hoges as well as the birthday1 anniversary of Lyle Walter. Supper guests Saturday eve- j mng in the E. R Carpenter home | were Mr. and Mrs. Dean Stevens1 and family of Atkinson, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Medcalf and children of Sioux City and Mrs. Genevieve' Bell of Chambers. Mrs. Nellie Starr is visiting her on and daughter-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Starr, and boys at, Grand Island, Mr. and Mrs. Alva Bowman of Sioux Falls, S.D., visited with Mrs. Jim Grimes and other1 friends at Chambers Saturday. Mrs. Bowman was formerly Letha Norvell. The family lived at; Chambers. A family gathering at the E. H.l Medcalf home for dinner Sunday included Mr. and Mrs. Max Med calf and infant son. Edward, of Shreveport, La.; Mr. and Mrs. P. T Avard and Patty of St. Paul; Mr. and Mrs. Allen Miller and family and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Medcalf and children, all of At kinson; Mr. and Mrs. Bon Med calf and children of Sioux Ci*y; Mr. and Mrs. Don Medcalf and family of Ainsworth; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Winchell and children and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Clark, all | of O’Neill, and Mr. and Mrs. Wil liam Medcalf of Chambers. The group included all of the Med calf children and their families except a daughter, Mrs. Hayes (Marilyn) White, and family, who live in California. Vttend Birthday Event— Miss Maud Rouse and Mrs. Bertha Hayden visited during the past week in the country at the Garold Risor, Ivan Miller, Henry Walters and Howard Rouse homes. They also attended the observance of the 101st birthday anniversary of “Grandma” Sarah Hull. _ MARRIAGE LICENSES Jacob Forsch, .jr., of Bonesteel, S.D., and Laura Mae Karel of O’ Neill. August 31. James H. Schmitz, 20, of O' Neill and Miss Rose Mary Babl, 20, of Emmet, September 1. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS WD — Nellie Barry to Ora Keeler 1-8-55 $1- Vis Int in same land as above QCD—Mary Ann Hoefer, et al., to Catherine Schueth 2-29-56 $1 EVi 24-25-9 WD—Leo Vandersnick to Lyle Free Appreciation DANCE Friday, Sept 14 SUMMERLAND i:\vi\g Pleasant Valley Orchestra land it begins I HERE Quick response to your call about your electric service, whether of a routine or emergency na ture, begins with the friendly voice of an oper ator at Consumer* Public Power District. If your call require* the skilled abilities of one of Consumer* service experts, it is immediately relayed via time saving, two-way radio, to serv ice personnel. But, whatever your request, Con sumers experienced personnel, backed by the most modern equipment, stands ready to make sure that you enjoy the full convenience, effi ciency and economy of modern, dependable electric service. Your Consumers operator is another friendly representative of the smooth-working Consumers team which performs countless important tasks to help you live better... electrically. Hers is a vital link in Consumers plan of operations to bring you low cost electricity geared to your needs of today and tomorrow. it’s all part of your The Consumers *,120 mile network of electric power reaches CONSUMERS electric service the four comers of the state and serves 356 communities Genevieve Mitteis l-i 81-54 $1- K4fcSEV« 31-26-9 NW »j a \r ,s\v>4 5- n’i,.ne»4- SE'. NEL» 6-25-9 QCIV Howard B Havens to C W Kirkland 2-15-39- 31 Lots 6 & 7 Blk 4- Atkinson QCD- Irene McConnell Coad, et al., to Albert Krobot 5-24-56 $400- NEVjjSWt4 22-29-16 QCl>- -Amalia Friekel Spald ing to Alex - Herman & Victor Friekel 2-13-55- $1 00 S*5 and NF>4 11-31-14 WD—Conrad Friekel Jr., et al.. to Alex - Herfnan & Victor Friekel 3-20-54 $8640.00- S^2 and NEv» Sec 11-31-14 WD—Emil Nissen to Kenneth M Heiss A- \\t 8-30-56 $7200 \VUNEi4 12-28-10 WD—Walter H Christen to Ed win Porter & wf 8-25-56 $3100 Lot 12 Block 4- Ewing WD--Atkinson Memorial Hos pital, Inc to Charles E. Chace, Trustee 6-10-54 $1- Lots 7-9 & 10- A.V.W. Add- Atkinson WD—Margaret Chace to Ber nard H Wilson 4-2-52 $10,500 1 ait 3 Blk 22 Bitney’s Add- At kinson WD - Nellie Barry to Ora: Keeler 1-6-53- U Int in N>* SWl4- N».2SW>4- NE>4- SE't NWli Sec 20- SWl4- SHiNWV, 21- Wl-> and SE'4 28- NEl4 33 U and NEl i 34-25-10 WD- Roy M Sauers to Robert K Sauers & wf 1-25-46 $1- Lot 3 Block 11- O’Neill WD — Wiliam Blackburn to Anna Chancy, et al., 11-4-46 $1 SE>4 14-29-14 Guests from Omaha— Labor day weekend guests at the R. H. Parker home were the I li G. Andersons of Omaha. Frontier for printing! r -— 1 .- " o Purple Ribbon ‘Circus’ Presented The first fall meeting of the Parent-Teachers* association whs held Monday at the band room at the public school. The Willing Workers 4-H club presented "Under the Big Top", a circus theme. The sattire on the "Bungling Brothers’ Circus" won the club a purple ribbon at the state fair. There is a possi bility that the troupe may ap pear in Chicago, 111. Improve Lighting for Night Football CHAMBERS— Adequate light ing for night football has recent ly been completed at the fair grounds at Chambers. All games this fall have been scheduled" for evening play with Chambers opening the season at home Friday, September 14. with a game with Bartlett high. Game time is 8 o’clock. Guests from \\ ashington— Guests Monday of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sivesind and family were Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Schlctiscmr of Seattle, Wash. Final Clearance S-A-L-E! MEN’S STRAW HATS Now Reduced 1/2 PRICE BACK-TO-SCHOOL JACKETS SAVE 10% OFF MEN’S and BOYS’ SPORT COATS All Now 10% OFF New I-all Colors ALL DRESS PANTS No Alterations Reduced $2_ MEN’S and BOYS’ DRESS SOCKS Were 55c to $1.00 Now All at 39c Popular Brands MEN’S and BOYS’ SUMMER SHIRTS ALL 13 OFF From Marked Price ONE SPECIAL GROUP LADIES’ MOJUD NYLONS Broken Sizes — Close Out at 69c MEN’S SUMMER CAPS 1/2 PRICE I Final Clearance I °n I LADIES’ SHOES I Drastic Reductions | 99c to 7.99 Petersen Clothing High Quality Merchandise Phone 177-W O’Neill, Nebr. .