Prairieland Talk— Talker Reaches His 88th By KOMAINE SAUNDERS, 4110 South SUt St., Lincoln 6, Nebr LINCOLN I stand at the window and look out upon the scene this bleak December day Snow has fallen, skies are overcast, a haze hangs over the city. 1 see no one walking past the window, a neigh bor steps in his car out in ffont, grips the steering wheel and rolls away headed for the temple of learn ing where two young girls have spent the day in school and will rejoice to see jT" the car roll up that will take U|* them home 1 have neither poultry nor livestock in these crowded abodes of men to call me out to do the chores. 1 look out up on the winter scene, turn away in gratitude for the shelter of home and the heat from the roaring furnace when the snows of the north come to prairie land. So I park again at my type- Romaine writer to talk with friends Saunders through the medium of The Frontier. In early December, 1 reached another milestone on life's journey, having reached the 88th, and en joy good health and the capacity of a prairieland pioneer to eat and rejoice that a Guiding Hand from above leads on. Christmas and new year’s once more have brought their joys. And we who saw it that terrible day of January 12, 1888, will gather again at the Blizzard club ban quet board here in our Capital City. * • • Down smith they have the plantation where they raise cotton and tobacco. Up north they have the farm where they raise grain and veg etables. To the west on prairieland it is the ranch where they raise cattle—and sometimes a fuss. Take your choice—pick cotton, husk an ear of corn, or rope and brand a steer! * * * Eleanor Roosevelt, our one time Lady of the White House and a notable personage, is safe again on American terrafirma after a visit to Russia. She heard no laughter over there ,saw tear dimmed eyes, caught the sound of sighing and crying. ... A hus band and father in a southern California city has tear-dimmed eyes and a sorrowing heart he came home from his day's work to find his wife and four children had been murdered, the work of a teen ager they had taken to their home off the streets. ... A greeting card from the Ray Bly ranch house hold, eight miles west of Amelia, tells me they had been, Ray and Mrs. Bly, to Canada the past sum mer to visit their daughter who we knew back in the late 30's as a charming little prairie maid pass ing our gate on a horse on her way to the Berry .school. Ray will have a two months rest now if Mrs. Bly doesn't find jobs for him, and then at it again assessing a sizable slice of southwest Holt. * * * Fred Gatz took advantage of the first cold spell and cut ice. That was in late December in 1901. ... A few cases of smallpox in the Dorsey com munity. . . . Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Weeks spent Christ mas with her people at Tekamah. . . . J. P. Mann came out from Chicago, 111., for the holidays, being greeted by his many O'Neill friends. . . . Mrs. Wes Evans entertained a group of her lady friends at the Evans hotel parlors. . . . M. D. Long received an‘invitation to attend the annual meeting in New York City of the American-Irish society. * * • Not with the roll of the beaten drum, not with the trumpet that blows a stirring blast— just in a freezing voice he tells his radio listen ers zero weather Is coining. Turn on the heat. Seattle, Wash. Dear Friend: Again we come to the grandest, happiest and most unselfish season of the year, when the Christ consciousness is being renewed universally. We told you in our last letter that our property on 8th ave. was in the path of the freeway being built. Well the state bought our place and we are now in our new home; this came at just the right time for us, Dave was ready to retire from the bus j iness life. We felt that we re getting pretty well frayed in the dizzy modernity's merry-go-round, and were j getting lost in a multitude of "things”, so we , thought this a good time to unload a lot of excess. - We have reached the place in life where we want j to travel light, so we discarded a lot of unnecessary accumulation. We are now living in a rural setting, out away | from the hurry and bustle, high tension and we love it Out here life follows a more leisurly tempo, here we have time for homely, simple things, time to add to our hank account of stored-up strength and simple philosophy and sturdy faith in God. The air is so fresh out here and even the drink ing water is better. We have several fruit trees on our place, there is a winter apple tree close to our kitchen window. Dave picked all we wanted and left some for the birds. It is a beautiful sight to see all those little birds enjoying the apples. On clear days we can see the majestic summit of Mt. Rainier from our front room; it is a beau tiful and awe-inspiring sight, seeing the sunrise and sunset on the serene and lofty crest. We get a newscast from Omaha via TV, and we hear the "Back to the Bible” broadcast on the radio —this gives us a near feeling to our beloved Ne I braska. The seasons work their wonders, as we move along life's winding lane, and each day brings it's own manna, but believe we should call December j the happiness month! It's a very important month, I the turning point of night and day, of time and his ! tory, and man’s experience, it’s a time of deeply ! stirred emotion. At this time the silent snowfall whitens the ground in many places. Yes, nature is in her winter dress and silence of rest, laying up new strength for the coming spring. This beautiful month brings the turn of the day, soon the day begins to win against the night and we are on our way to spring j and summer again. This month the Christ of Christ mas comes, bringing us the message of the resur ection of life. Yes this is the month of happiness! We wish you a happy Christmas, and may God bless you and yours in the “New Year”, every step of the way. From your Seattle friends, MR. and MRS. DAVE SEGELMAN * * • The compiler of Prairieland Talk would have j counted it a pleasure to have joined that family night group in Ewing when members and friends of two of the village churches got together. Of course, John Trommerhauser, Clarence Selah and other pioneers I had known in my youth would not have been there nor the unforgettable Hay McClure would not come riding up on his choice mount and give us a wave of the hand as he loaped by the door. Rut this day’s citizens of the metropolis of eastern Holt county were there to welcome any visitors. Such gatherings bring friends together in human fellowship where you clasp a friendly hand, look into smiling faces and enter into social relations, to the clatter of neighborly talk. Out of the adven tures of pioneer days, Ewing emerges today as the business, cultural and religious center of a charm ing section of prairieland stretching down to the shores of Goose lake and beyond. * * * Life’s pleasures are brief; holidays with its joy of giving and receiving over again. Now up and down the Well-worn path from home to workshop. Editorial— What Manner of Men Are These? The Nebraska state board of education has defied the mandate of a recent informal poll of locul boards of education in the state and has ig nored resolutions adopted by the 1957 state legisla ture in its closing business. A majority of local boards polled said "no thanks” to the proposition of whether or not schools these local boards represent would participate in federal aid to education under the national defense educa tion act. The last session of the Nebraska legislature in resolutions said, in effect, “no thanks" in a blanket statement that would cover education and other areas of federal aid. But State Education Commissioner Freeman Decker and his puppets (state board) have gone ahead anyway and requested federal aid for Ne braska schools with certain reservations. Clyde VVidman of Amelia, vice-president of the Nebraska School Improvement association, raises several pointed questions: 1. What manner of men are on the state board who would proceed with a scheme when a majority of local boards said they wanted no part of it? 2. On what constitutional grounds can the state board proceed to request federal aid when the state's law-making group the state legislature—in resolu tions turned a deaf ear to federal aid? 3. How can the state board morally appeal to a bankrupt federal government for financial aid when a debt-free state government is in far better posi tion to take care of its own needs To Widman’s question number 1: The amend ment that created the state board and state com missioner (to replace an elective state superinten dent) was deft and effective. The state board mem bers are elected on a staggered basis and can get away with murder for about 10 years because it'd take that long for voters to catch up with techniques and change the composition of the board. More over, the state board can fix Decker s salary at any figure it pleases. The legislature has little control over Decker et al except that it can anticipate tnoves and plug the holes by enacting a law. Other than that, the Decker crowd is on its owti and goes on the premise that “we know what’s good for you and yours; you don't”. Occasionally a band of in dividualists, like the Amelia school patrons, take matters to court, but generally there is free-wheel ing. Question number 2: Our guess is the national education act is broadly written; certainly the powers of the state board and commissioner are broad. Decker & Co. very likely are within con stitutional bounds. Question number 3: We agree with Widman. The whole show is immoral. Merry Christmas, Clyde! Let’s Employ Sense of Feel Guest editorial from the Pierce County Leader The observance and more particularly the non observance of stop signs on highways is becoming a major factor in many of today's accidents. There are four senses see, feel, hear and smell. The safe operation of a motor vehicle is relying en tirely on one sense—sight. Why not broaden the field of auto operation into more than just sight and include feel? i Why not place small man-made bumps or rises in a road as a warning to drivers? Establish a code that when a driver (and his passengers) feel these warning bumps he or she will know this means that ahead is a stop sign, a slow sign or a curve. The rises or bumps could be five or six feet apart and could even lie repeated on the road surface. Stop sign ahead: At 300 feet have three distinct bumps and at 150 feet have three more distinct bumps. Slow sign ahead: At 300 feet have two distinct bumps and at 150 feet have two more distinct bumps. Sharp curve ahead: At 300 feet have four distinct bumps and at 150 feet have four more distinct bumps. Three signals that drivers would learn to know there is something ahead that requires their atten tion over and beyond just steering the auto. Motor vehicle drivers then would have two senses urging them to be careful sight telling them “stop ahead’’ or “stop", and also bump through the sense of feel, warning the vehicle operator there was “stop ahead” or “stop”. A driver's eyes become tired. His vision becomes fixed on the road after many hours of driving. Add the sense of feel and this will help bring him out of the sluggishness that precedes so many auto ac cidents. An engineer-designed hump will bring at tention to all drivers. Oklahoma has made center section of roads of a corrugated nature to warn drivers they are out of their own lane on curves. Carry this sense of feel even farther and include stop, slow and curve bumps on all highways. Box 330 — O’Neill, Nebr. 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 newspaper is a member of the Nebraska Press Association, Nation al 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 upon request. All subscriptions payable in advance. When you ami 1 were young. . . Merry Christmas’ from Cigar Factory Reka’s Firm Extends ; : > 50 Years Ago C. C. Reka of the O Neill Cigar Factory wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy new year on the front page of The Frontier. | . . . Air. and All's. J. G. Aiurphy and family of Atkinson, left for Alinneapolis, Alinn., where they will reside. Mr. Aiurphy has been a resident of Atkinson and vicini ty for the past 24 years and has been head of the Atkinson Milling company . . O’Neill lodge A 6 U W elected the following offic ers: D. 11. Cronin, master work man; S. F. AlcNichols, foreman; Neil Brennan, overseer; A. P. Brooks, financier; John Brennan recorder; Frank Campbell, re ceiver; Sam Barnard, guide; T. V'. Golden, inside watch; John Hosiskey, outside watch and J. A Golden, trustee. . . John Hayes was down from Atkinson to visit his daughter, Mrs. Henry Grady. . . . Robert Gallagher died in Page of Bright’s disease. Among those attending the funeral from here were VV. P. Si mar, Judge Malone, J. A. Golden, P. J. Mc Manus, Joe Mann and Ed. E. Gal i lagher. 20 Years Ago Deaths: Mrs. Wilhelmina Thier olf, 84, who lived in Nebraska 22 | years before it was admitted to the union, died at Creighton; Mrs. ; Clara Martha Kipplinger, 21, died in an Omaha hospital; Mrs. Gold ! ie Founfaine, 38. of Bright's disease. . . Mrs. Bee Merzig, 79, who came to Holt county in the fall of 1878. . . Lawrence Chapman of Omaha: known here, is moving to New York city, where he has received a promotion. . . The Al pha club held its Christmas par ty at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Helmer Widfeldt. . . Jack Bailey caught an American eagle in a trap set out for coyotes. The big bird had a wing spread of seven feet two inches. . . Phyllis, baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Conrad of Inman, was badly bur ned on her face and one hand when she fell on the hot cook stove. 10 Years Ago Rev. and Mrs. Vernon Harley and their three small children have arrived in this country from South America where Reverand Harley, a graduate of Atkinson high school, completed eight years of missionary work for the Luth eran church. He will spend a one year furlough here. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Casper Har ley of Stuart. . . Two Page cou ples, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mich aelson and Mr. and Mrs. Wallace French, are celebrating their gol den wedding anniversaries this week. The couples were married on the same day, December 28, 1898. The Michaelsons were mar ried in Plainview and the French es were married four miles east of Page. . . Deaths: John F. Hanley, | 68, a lifelong resident of O’Neill; Mrs. John McCaffrey, 86, of Pitts- j burg, Pa. One Year Ago Two prominent Boyd county ci tizens have died. They are Dr. R. E. Kriz, 65, of Lynch and L. W. Gibson, 54, of Bristow. Other deaths: Gustav E. Remter, 87, of Bristow; Merwin Zepf, 47, of Creighton; Shorty Lee Steele, 44, of O’Neill. . . Miss Cecelia Ann Arbuthnot, a senior at St. Mary’s academy, has been named a semi finalist in the national scholarship competion. . . hi the American legion-sponsored church league basketball games, the Chambers Methodists defeated the Cham bers Lutherans, 56 - 20, and the Amelia Methcxlists defeated the Chambers Baptists, 52 - 32. Valley Center School Presents Program— CHAMBERS Over one hundred persons gathered at the school in Valley Center district 107, Wed nesday evening, December 17, for the Chr,stmas program. The 23 pupils, with Mrs. Ken neth Adams and Mrs. Kathleen Render teachers, presentation of a Christmas play with singing by the group. Gifts were distributed and lunch was served. Why not consider a gift sub scription for THAT family this Christmas? ROYAL THEATER O’NEILL Thurs.-Fri.&at. Dec. 25-26-27 IN LOVE AND WAR Three marines -at home and at; the front—are here given an ex tensive, generally interesting ex- [ animation. Frankie (Robert Wag ner) is just a big boy dying to j learn what makes his big girl (Sheree Northi tick. Nico (Jeffrey Hunter) has already learned and is marrying his girl (Hope Lange) just in time. Alan (Bradford Dill man) is' disgusted by his loose living fiancee (Dana Wynter) pre fers the company of modest, un spoiled France Nuyen. All children unless in arms must have ticket. Thurs. not family nite. Sun.Mon.-Tues. Dee. 28-29-30 THE BI(i COUNTRY Gregory' Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Burl Ives. William Wyler’s pro duction in Technicolor and Tech nirama. Co-starring Charles Bick ford, with Chuck Connors, Alfonso Bedoya, Donald Hamilton. This is the story of the giants who bridled 1 the untamed land ... the wilder ness that rolled down from snow country to sun country, and spraw led sea-to-sea. It is the story of more than con quering giants. It is fired and fleshed with the women who shar ed their path-blazing, their power —yes, and their passions, too. Merry Christmas! Boxes Delivered to Ewing Shutins EWING — Boxes for shutins were packed at the all-day meet ing Thursday of the Women's Mis sionary society of the United Pres byterian church. Members met at the home of Mrs. Thomas Hutton. These were delivered later in the afternoon. "The Unchanging Evangel", was the theme of the lesson with Mrs Ora Switzer as leader. Top ics on the subject were given by Mrs. William Ross, Mrs. Ralph Shrader. Mrs. Leo Miller, Mrs Willie Shrader, Mrs Richard Nap ier and Alice Shrader. Mrs. Wilbur Bennett presided at the Inisiness session. An election of officers for 1959 was held, re sulting in the reelection of the present officials. They are: Mrs Bennett, president; Mrs. Archie Johnston, vice-president; Mrs Lionel Gunter, treasurer; Mrs Ralph Shrader is the alternate for any of the above offices. Other of ficials will 1m? appointed at the January meeting The ladies also voted to save Nash coffee coupons for a coffee maker and Betty Crocker coupons for other articles for their kitchen. Nearly all their equipment was destroyed by the recent fire in their church. The society served a no-host din ner at noon. Guests were Miss Laura McLachlan, missionary from Pakistan, and her mother, Mrs. Robert McLachlan of Atkin son. Miss I^aura McLachlan of At kinson gave each one present a gift, which she had brought from Pakistan. Other Ewing News Mr. and Mrs. Willis Rockey and children left Thursday night after the grade school operetta for a holiday' vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. G Rockey, and also his sister and husband. Mr. and Mrs. Buford Carlson and son, Danny, all of West Palm Beach, Fla. Another family in the Ewing community planning to spend the Christmas vacation in the South east are Mr. and Mrs. I >ovvitt Hoke and son, Clayton, where they will he guests of their daughter and son-in-law, Pfc. and Mrs. Rob ert Hobbs, stationed in North Car olina. They will be accompanied by his sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Nelson of Plainview. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Olson at tended a family gathering Sunday at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Wilson, near Elgin. A lurkey din der with all the trimmings was j served at 1 o’clock. The afternoon hours were spent informally. There was an exchange of gifts which were piled around the Christ mas tree. Others present were Mr. and Mrs. Greer Clark and family of Stantpn, Mr. and Mrs Henry Rasmussen of Fremont. Mr and Mrs Jack Blair and son of Elgin. Mr and Mrs. Merwin Olson and family of Clearwater, and Mr. and Mrs. Albion Doeszal and son of Lincoln. Mrs. Kittie Fry of Ewing will join the members of her family at a Christmas eve party at the home of her son and wife, Mr, and Mrs. Lee Fink and sons at Page. There will he a six o'clock dinner fol lowed by an exchange of gifts Others from the Ewing commun ity in attendance will be Mr. and Mrs Willie Shrader and children, and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Fry and family. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Davis and Marie will spend Christmas eve at the home of tier sister and hus band, Mr. and Mrs. Home Barton at Orchard, where other members of the family will gather for an informal evening and exchange of gifts. Others present will lie Mrs Louise Beal of Orchard, Mr, and Mrs. Walter Austin and family bf Plainvievv and Mr. and Mrs. 1 Mug las Barton and family of Colum bus. Archie Tuttle and family of Ew ing and Mrs Louise Beai ot Orch ard were dinner guests Tuesday, December 16. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Davis. Mr. and Mrs L. A Hobbs will lie hosts at a family gathering at their home Christmas day. Din ner will he served and the after noon hours spent informally. Ex-, pected guests are Mr. and Mrs. 1 John Turay and family, Mr. anti Mrs. Ed Yellia and family, Mr. and Mrs Mick llohbs and family, Mr. and Mrs. Dorrence Hobbs and family and Pete Roudybush, all of Ewing, and Mr and Mrs. Dwaine Hobbs of Milford. Mrs. Ethel Trumbull of Allen. S. D., arrived in Ewing Thursday, to spend the holiday with her mo ther. Mrs. Caroline Sanders and other relatives. She was brought to Ewing by Mrs. John Trumbull and daughter, Martha, who re mained overnight and attended the grade school operetta at the Ewing public school. Friday, they continued on their way to Springfield. S. D.. to get a dau ghter who returned to Allen with them. Many Ewingites who are plan ning Christmas or holiday vacation trips are keeping an eye on the weather and hoping the good wea ther may continue for a few more j days. Evening Dinner Is Feature of Meeting EWING—The parlors of First Methodist church were gaily de corated for the annual Christmas party of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, Wednesday evening, December 17. , A 6:30 o’clock covered dish din ner was served. Candlebra bear ing tall ted candles surrounded "by Christmas greens and glitter ing ornaments was the center piece used by the committee in charge. Miss Hazel Ruby and Mrs. Anna Pollock. During the evening, the ladies sacked treats for the Sunday school Christmas program. After an informal hour, Rifts w ore exchanged. Mr. and Mrs Melvin Gunter of Ode bolt, la Thursday visted his parents. Mr. and Mrs lVwitt Gun ter. Mi's. Anna Pollock accompan ied them home to spend the holi days. m « end a fervent hope thet you have neor • i tho«e w« know you hold K> deed from the staff . . . MOTOR PARTS, Inc. x. x»''»«x* v» • . '•xs'. » . -. . x»-«x x, « . •■•*-- - *•» «•-> tftWPTOfK-'T^err^ :vreT :r. • •\~cr.-\^xz^m.x'vr^re seir.T2«ass*cv««MB* I crncnnc % s W <3 & £ £r ?3 (F 2 I 1 ■ & « w »S I £ I I * 2 y y 3 y fl i • • i Please accept this expression of our appreciation s I together wth our best wishes .or a joyous Christmas and a DroiDerous New Year. a I FRANK A MURRAY y P.O. Box 401 O’NEILL Tet. 279 J & A ,lSiarfcSiS)S!2-<»i2.ajSi2.3»a».&.3i»»»»»ia»S