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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1957)
Prairieland Talk— Terry Might Get P-T’s Vote By BO MAINE SAUNDERS. 4110 South 5lnt St., Lincoln «. N>br. LINCOLN Having divulged his contempt of Nebraska’s duly elected, appointed and serving as sessors State Sen. Terry Carpenter, from out where our prai rial and state merges into Wyoming, now urges our governor to summon the state senators to meet in special session to revamp the tax laws. What the honorable Terry would have done is not very clear. Under our laws of today the taxpayer has the fun. the duty, the respon sibility of assessing himself Maybe Mr. Carpenter would take that from Nebras ka patriots and put it into the hands of a few overlords. Something like 20 years ago the Scottsbluff man was a can didate for governor. H e whs a democrat then; a voice in O'Neill, now forever stilled Saunders up there on the hill in the abode of the dead, called ui*>n us to support this "capable business man.'' Since going down to de feat as a democratic candidate, the Terrible Terry1 has seen the light and now marches under the OOP banner. Should he* undertake the race for gover nor again, think I would vote for him to see what might happen to our fair state with something of a freak in the governor's job. • • • I talked with him ye*tcr«lay, a stalwart young mail here to get an education, 17 thousand miles from Ids home and native land the Philippine Islands. Asked how he liked It In Yankeeland, he replied, "Toaeuld” I took It he meant It Is pretty cold for him here. But when Informed that pralrie Uuid dwellers enjoy a longer life span than those elsewhere thought maybe he had better stick around a few years. » • • We have been enjoying shirt-sleeve weather the first half of Deceuil>er, but as a clouded sky this morning hangs above us there may be snow before night. It was such a morning 63 years ago. The prairies of Holt county were brown and bare. The day wore on. A team drawing a buggy in which sat two men, a woman and n child trotted along the prairie trail headed for O’Neill. Masked men 15 miles out stopped them, shot down the horses and the man seated beside the driver was taken from the buggy, >>ound hand and foot, loaded into a wagon anti his abductors drove away with him, took him to the river, tossed a rope over his head and hung him from the bridge, cut the rope and he plunged into the icy waters of the Niobrara river. Two weeks later I he body of Barret Scott was recovered from those icy waters by a group of men from O'Neill. So brought to a tragic end a warm hearted, generous pioneer of the Scottville community who had served as county treasurer and came out of that office a defaulter because of using county funds to aid the needy, what Uncle Sam has been doing with federal funds since the days of FDR, and many not “needy”. * • • Doors have been closed for the winter at the FI. Robinson museum and the director, Mr. Orange, and family are In Lincoln. Among the Christmas and birthday greetings from friends and kindreds afar a cheering lettei came from the Dave Segelmans out at Seattle. Formerly residents of the O’Neill community like others who have strayed from life's earlier moor ings they treasure memories of prairieland and keep in touch with us "back home’’ by reading The Frontier from week to week. Modesty does not permit quoting the nice things they say of Prairieland Talk. But from beautiful thoughts ex pressed in their letter I quote this: "All about us is God's trademark in leaf, in flower and tree, and the sky is the glorious display window of His creative power." • • • Editor Cal, having disposed of the capital letters, has turned his attention to the human eyes where he proposes to tell by a glance what our life expectancy may be. That the astute editor will do about the one-eyed guys he has not intimiated, but some of the half visioned procession seem to be headed down the highway to the full century mark. To ascertain the age of a horse, we used to look at the horse's teeth or feel his ribs. Most of us have ribs but not all have teeth after three score years have streaked our auburn locks with grey, so Cal lifts an eyelid and reads the length of your life span. May I suggest to the editor that he refrain from putting into print what lie saw in Lady Clara’s sparkling eyes. • • • Mrs. Nellie Hunt, living at 51st and O streets, called me the evening of December 15 to inform me of the death of her eldest son, John Cronin Hunt, who died at his home in St. Louis, Mo., and she with another son and his wife, who make their home with her, were leaving that evening for St. Louis. John Cronin Hunt was bom in O’Neill 61 years ago, the son of Mr and Mrs. Den Hunt, lx>th of pioneer Holt county families. A year ago Mrs. Hunt lost her husband, who died from Injuries when struck by a car in front of his home. Again death takes a member of the family and wounds a mother's heart. • • • As I stood on the corner yesterday where hur rying feet passed and talked with a friend she came up to me, a wee mite of a girl, presented me with a twig plucked from a Christmas tree, smiled and hid me merry Christmas. A sweet little lady who counted me her friend. The little girl sought out just one of the group standing there or passing by on whom to bestow her favors. Do you long for admiring friends? Make friends of the children. • • • The driver holding the lines stopped his team as he came along. Going my way—hop in and ride! It was the horse and buggy days. Today the guy at the steering wheel swishes past and the leg weary footman plods on his way. This is the auto mobile age. • • * Friday the 13th as I sit down to the typewriter. The shining orb of day comes from out eastern rim of the earth to start the daily march across the sky. Editorial— Gibson, Kriz Deaths Heavy Losses Deaths this month of L. W. Gibson, 54, Bris- . tow-Lynch banker, and Dr. R. E, Kriz, 65, well known Lynch physician-surgeon, left gapping holes in the realm of their fellow men. While both men were diametrically opposed to matters political, they were literal partners in making their county, their towns and their region a better place in which to live. Both were successful men with determination, j Both were skilled in their respective fields. Both kept the welfare of the region and its people close to their hearts. Mr. Gibson was regarded as a good banker with years of experience. He battled for the wel- j tore of the communities he served in several ways —notably in improving highways and schools. He was young in years and in spirit and was close to i the need> of people needing financial assists. He knew the hardships and reversals of depression and his advice’ always was conservative and pru dent It has been said many persons are "on their feet" today by virtue of Mr. Gibson's wise counsel and iielpfulness in a business sense. In some matters including banking- Mr. Gib wm and Doctor Kriz- were partners. Doctor Kriz was a skilled surgeon, a confidant of hundreds of people, and a friend to many more. ' He had Seen a great deal of life both inside and outside the confines of the United States: he knew ami understood behavior of men from his World War I military days, and, in 1953, he felt so strong ly in behalf of his community he donated a com ple te swimming pool to his town an extraordinary gesture of goodwill Boyd county will miss Doctor Kriz and Mr. Gib son. At the moment it would appear no one can replace them. Secrecy Explained The first session of congress in 1879 had a lot of organizing to do The new government had to set up housekeeping. So a law was passed giving the head of each department the right to make rules to take care of the records of his department. The law used the language, "custody, use and preservation " It did not say. "retention and se clusion." Nor did it authorize anyone to hide the record from the people, the final sovereigns. This 168-year-old law is the main reliance of toe bureaucrats for withholding information from congress as well as the public. The first congress made the law. The 85th can unmake it. There are specific laws to protect national security from disclosure. All other matters will better serve the public interest for being exposed to the pitiless light of publicity. However, there are many country- journalists we know who would have recommended the navy use sensible secrecy regarding the Vanguard, in atead of dramatizing the “count down' and result and abortion in Uncle Sam s attempt to put a sat telite into space. The normally discreet military, however, was goaded by politicians into a ludicrous display. As one of the Washington correspondents has written: "It is imperative that testing failures should not occur in the goldfish bowl of the press, television and radio publicity All of us at The Frontier take this opportun ity to wish you and yours a happy and joyous Christmas. TTus from our correspondents too. O o 0 • - O -V o -1 Memorial Presented Hundreds of O'Neillites and wayfarers will pass through the portals of the Golden hotel. Some will be compelled to take a second look at the sleek, modernized entrance; others will accept the two sets of glass doors and the alum inum fixtures as merely a part of the installa- ; tion. The latter thought, quite obviously, is correct. But the handsome new entrance has senti ment behind it. It is a memorial to the late Frank ! J. Dishner, former mayor of O’Neill, former realtor, and for many years seen so frequently in and about the lobby of the hotel. The widow, the former Martina Dishner, a member of Hit' family that owns the hotel, re cently undertook the memorial project as a tribute to the memory of her husband. We ‘‘happened on” to the background of this improvement to our city and these lines are written without the knowledge or consent of the widow. Certainly the new entryway is finer and more impressive than otherwise might have been installed by the ownership; certainly the hand some change is one that might well be apprecia ted by townspeople and by others for years to come. Congratulations to Rockwells Congratulations are in order to the father-son combination the Rockwells of Grand Island — on O'Neill's new fully-automatic bowling headquar ters. The installation reportedly represents an investment of 80-thousand-dollars The recrea tional layout is a fine asset to our city and no doubt will bring many keglers, men and women alike, to our city repeatedly. In addition bowling, originally known as nine-pin kegling in jolly ol’ England, is a wholesome sport for all. The game changed to 10 pins, our almanac says, when the rulers of England declared that the commonfolk were spending too much time at “nine-pins”. A law was enacted . . . But the 10th pin was added . . . nothing In the regulation mentioned 10 pins . . , and today lwwling is one of the world's most popular and healthful sports. And O'Neill is blessed with perhaps the finest bowling facility in all of north Nebraska. It is our hope Ten Pin Alleys receive the pa tronage that is deserved. . CARROLL W. STEWART. Editor and Publisher Entered at the postoffice in O’NeilJ, 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. 52.50 per year: elsewhere in the United States, 53 per year; rates abroad provided upon request. All sub scriptions payable in advance. 1 When You & I Were Young . . • Lamp Explosion Fatal to Girl, 4 Dakota Rail Line May Reach O’Neill 50 Years Ago William Laviollette, jr,, arrived from St. Paul to spend the holi days. , . R. R. Dickson’s house hold goods were destroyed by fire. . . . Edward Earley is driving the Phoenix stage since the death of •Francis M, Johnson, who died at the home of his son. Charles, near Ray. W. L. Gielish has leased the Horiskey meat market.. . . A railroad survey has been run from Huron, S-D., to Platte, S D., one of Jim Hill's projects. It is expected the line will eventually ] tie up with the Great Northern at j O’Nqill. . . Editor Akin of the At kinon Graphic has been appointed postmaster. . . Other deaths: Mr. and Mrs. Will Stearn s 14-year-old daughter: Mr. and Mrs. D U. Yantzi's four-year-old daughter died of burns suffered in a lamp explosion. 20 Years Ago Miss Henrietta Schreier won a 4-H trip to the national club con gress in Chicago, 111. . . Bids are being sought for grading and cul verts on highway 8- O'Neill to Ewing. . . Bill Maxwell was elec ted honorary captain of the O' Neill high “O” club. He played center on the football team. . . . William Starts left for Trout ville, Ore., to spend the winter. . . . Unemployed persons in the nat ion are estimated between 10 and million. . . uonn L,unen oi r.m met has joined the army signal corps . . Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Por ter of Chambers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. . . Will iam Wells renewed his subscrip tion. 10 Years Ago Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Townsend of Page observed their 50th wed ding anniversary. . . G. Owen Cole of Emmet and Miss Marilyn Bock were married at Burlington, la. . . Miss Imogene Calkins and Walter O. Lyons exchanged nup ital vows. . . Carl Sandburg, poet humorist, "mentally fagged-out" Romaine Saunders in a Lincoln appearance. . . Deaths: August J. Storjohann, 60, of Spencer; Sister Alexia McGovern, 78, of Buffalo, N.Y., formerly of St. Mary's acad emy; Mrs. Sarah Jane Robinson, 93, of Salt Lake City, Utah, mem ber of original Mormon colony at Inman. One Year Ago Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Tams celebrated their 50th wedding an niversary. . . The Save-the-Trains association is sponsoring an es say contest among high school students! . . Chambers rural fire district received delivery on a new truck. . . Miss Mary Louise Birmingham, American Red Cross worker i n France is aiding Hungarian refugees. . . North jamin C. Cuningham, 56, Inrrifcn; Central Nebraska Game Conserv ation association was formed here; L C. Walling, president . . . Deaths: James Petr, 82; Fred Bazelman, 79; Edward E. Tren nepohl, 77, Wheeler county ranch er; Adolph Hrbek, Verdirge; Ben jamin Cuningham, 56, Inman; Mrs. Mary Enright, 69. Mrs. Minnie Gaughenbaugh of Hot Springs, S. D., left Sunday for Council Bluffs, la., to spend Christmas with her son, Irwin Gaughenbaugh and family after spending a week each here with her daughter, Mrs. Nina Jonas of O'Neill and Mrs. Justin Butter field of Inman and son, Woodrow Gaughenbaugh of Inman. Letters to Editor (Editor's note. The following letter is from tin* author of the current hook. "Ride to Pan mumjom". Mr. Thorin whose roots are deep in the Cham bers-Neligh localities, frequent ly visits hero. He was a pris oner of the Chinese reds and his hook is classic study of the lre havior of men men under stress,* • • • 3100 Wilson Ave. Alexandria, Va. December 3. 1957 The item on school district 231 in the November 28 The Frontier was of groat interest to me. Hav ing been long awav from Holt county, except for occasional brief visits. I am not much ac quainted with the personalities in volved. Init the issues and stakes in the Nebraska educational con troversy are indeed quite clear. This is not merely because of my considerable galavanting about these 48 states and several of the seas, wherein I have had oppor tunity to deal and work with the end results from a variety of ed ucational systems. It is also be cause my travels have taken me close to the original source of certain demoralizing ideas and ideologies which have already permeated the schools in some areas and are now being infiltra ted into Nebraska. It is encouraging to note that the efforts to replace education in Nebraska schools wnth "social ad justment" programs is meeting with stiff opposition. That is to be expected, of course, consid ering the kind of folks who make up me ouik oi prairicianu popu lation. Happily I can report signs of popular resurgence against those programs in areas which at one time seemed hope lessly lost to the “mass educa tion" ideology. The people of this land can still wield the power when they really want to. But it takes lots of hard work and it is a never ending task to preserve the freedom and dignity of indi viduality for posterity. By no means would I suggest that all advocates of “public schools for social adjustment” are directly linked to some inter national conspiracy. Many are for courses such as “social graces, leadership and self-ex pression” simply because they either lack the ability to fulfill those parental duties or else they are so involved in schemes for saving humanity en masse that they haven’t time for such trivia as teaching manners to their own youn gun’s. Of course, anyone in that cate gory could do much worse than turning their children over to one of the school-teachin’ Carsons for bringin’ up. But I rather imagine they, as most dedicated educat ors. would prefer to provide the youngsters with leamin’. My best acquaintance, of course, was with Duane Carson, with whom I played considerable baseball. I don’t recall being concerned if he was "graceful” about it, but his throws to first base were right accurate and he was one of the “leading" hitters. As for “self-expression” anyone who heard him the time be sprained his ankle sliding into second could never have doubts about that. In more serious vein, it seems a pity that so many folks think that social graces, leadership and self-expression are things which can be taught. Oh sure, in one sense they can. A dog can be house-broken, a trained goat can lead sheep (to slaughter), and a mule has been known to kick up his heels now and then without any coaching. But in human be ings, social graces come from self-confidence, leadership from self-reliance, and there is no such ... yO * * t TO OUR WONDERFUL FRIENDS1 JIM & JOHN’S BAR Jim Rotherham — John SUzousky S? Sr I I fi i § w fi I IT thing as self-expression unless a fellow knows by virtue of his own God-given ability to reason— what he is talking about. Give a youngster some good basic (or base-ici instruction in the forma tive years and unless he ex changes his vote (and his soul* for some do-gooder politicians utopian pottage, vvhatev er he might lack in the way of finish ing school charm, chairman's finesse or oratorical ability will be more than made up for by the fact that ta- is a man (or woman if we started with a girl baby ) in his own right an individual with a mind of his own. Sincerely, DUANE TH0R1N Page News Mr and Mrs. Frank Cronk hosted the members of the Coup les bridge club Thursday evening At cards Mrs William Hock had high score and Alton Braddock. 1 second high. Mr. and Mrs. Brad | dock will be the Thursday, Jan i uary 9. hosts. Members of the Get Together club had their Christmas party | Friday evening at the home of | Mrs. Harry Thompson. All mem-, hers with the exception of Mrs. I Kenneth Van Every were present. , Games were played and gifts ex changed. Mrs. Robert Harvey ! will be the Friday, January 10, hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Kornock will be hosts for the card party Friday, December 27, at their home. n iiv/Mu f-'• ''r~i .. . presented Wednesday evening at district 57. Santa Claus put in an appearance following the program and gifts were distributed. Lunch was served to a large crowd. Miss Delores Mellor is teacher. Amelia News Mr. and Mrs. Dale Smith of > California came Thursday to vis it her grandmother, Mrs. Delia1 ■ Ernst. Don Adams came from Gor don Friday evening for two weeks' vacation from school. Mrs. Tommie Doolittle and Mrs. Hob Adair helped Mrs. Art Doolittle do some wall papering ! Friday. -: /V»U/thV rOLKS 1 Hamiks Refrigeration rndergoM Eye Surgery— CHAMBERS Mrs. Jennie Gib son, $5. recently submitted to sur gery in a Hastings hospital hos pital Surgery was for removal of an eye cataract. Home for Holidays— Leo Havelka, son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Havelka, is spending Christmas with his parents He is a student at St Benedict’s college in Atchison, Kans. SLIMLINER HKinriNtl MACHINE Alice’s Beauty Sho Phone ?63-— O'Neill TO EACH ONE OF YOU ’ FROM EACH ONE OF US! KERSENBROCK Iexaco Co. — O’NEILL — ft*-%Rrft*-$)r>ft* ft* >*** ft* <$. May your Christmas be merry, and may its spirit fill your hearts with lasting happiness! BAZELMAN’S SERVICE — O’NEILL — ■ft*4«*4Rr^nrft*-for\ ft* ft* <s?f$ WITH BEST WISHES fat. a Cyflehhu Qhdibndin O'Neill National Bank — MEMBER FDIC —