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<a!S»*.»<a^Si5.3i2r.&§.2"S.3.;:.3.S.3.oiaiS<5Fi»-^
it
¥
*
* May we extend to you oar warmest of
\§ wishes tor a Merry Yuletide and « H^PP]|
New Year . . . may every hour be HMed
^ with good cheerl
* DICK’S BAR
The beautv of the oft' told Christmas story
ha* Seen an inspiration to many for many centurie* ...
mav this ( hristmas briny; all of us closer to the hopeful
message Peace On tar ih. Oood Will loss ard Mewl
MEADOW GOLD PRODUCTS
Local Route Dealers:
Bill Perry
Wayne Harmon
Joe Sivesind
Owen Parkinson
I I
YEAR - END
i BARGAINS
Women’s Better
WINTER COATS
i Now___ 19.00 - 2500 J
r _____ f.
Women’s
WINTER JACKETS
1 Now_9.00 -12.00
— -M-,„ I »!■■■■■ I ■ —■ ...» ■ ■ ■■■■■ ■.— —
Women’s
WINTER MILLINERY
Now ___2.00
g
Girls’
WINTER COATS
| Now_6.00 - 8.00
Girls’
WINTER JACKETS
X
M
I
■
Mens’
SPORT SHIRTS
Now __—2.00
t --- 5
Boys’ f,
BETTER PARKAS
Now_5.00- 9.95 - 11.00 i
- __£
Infants’ Better
2-PC. SLEEPERS
Now ___1-29 S
-—— 2
MERRY CHRISTMAS \
| TO ALL .. . ! 1
u M
