Prairieland Talk "Only Two" By ROMAINE SAUNDERS. 4110 South bi.t St., Lincoln 6, Nebr. P. C. Corrigan and Johnnie O'Neill, son of the General O'Neill. a few bottles of drugs on shelves where Pat Donohoc now sits at his polished desk; John McDonough in the hank liasement writing the classic editorials for the Tri bune and raking in the tens for land notices; Ed Kelly at the cashier's desk in the bank. John Mann. Tom Morris, Heine rick sons, M. M. Sullivan, Neil B re nan, the boss at the Arcade hotel where Billy Heed shot Sheriff Barney Kearns and where the K. C. building now stands. Where are they now? Some left for other parts long ago, the I tones of those who re mained now in the abode of the Saunders dead up on the hill. None now on the north side of Douglas street tie tween 3rd and 4th who knew either of those just named as Dad. But across the street are still two or three native sons and daughters of the town's pioneer meat merchant, Fred Gatz. And in the next block west were two whose sons are with us yet — Edward Campbell of the First Na tional Bank, and Leo Mullen of the Biglin mortuary. And a daughter of the Brennans is still in O'Neill and a son of that family down in our Capitol City. Twenty-five and more years ago he waded the snow cold January mornings to go the mile to the Berry school down there in Swan precinct. From grade school a step to the academy, another step to college and university with intervening service in uniform when Pearl Harbor was touched off. A dozen years with a great organization in an eastern city. Now to a Texas city with his wife and little daughter to take on a research engineering job and lMxa»t for Texas ... My son, Romaine whose most thrilling experience was the night he and his brother waded the snow afcxjt the five miles from our home to Tom Salems at Amelia when the two boys packed atout 40 pounds of Salem’s goods and groceries home, pulling in a little before midnight. Neither horses or automobiles could go places that night. • • • A numtor of convicts serving time in the state prison have agreed that at death their eyes are to go to the Nebraska Lions Club eye bank, a setup that transplants seeing eyes to the blind. Or if you have one eye gone an eye will to given you. Shall I permit the eye of a criminal to to placed in my one empty eye hole? But these toys in the pen, having done evil deeds, wish to do something to help fellow beings, unlike that terrible young killer who met his end in the electric chair last year. Asked if he would give an eye said no. No floral bloom out where lies the blanket oi snow, but all through the long night hours the win dow panes are whitened with frost tinted flowers. The flowers of summer are faded away, but there upon the glass nature touched with beauty what no human hand could ever do. * • • John Martfelt, an O'Neill lad of days now gone, writes me from his Colorado home expressing his interest in what he reads in Prairieland Talk that apjiears in The Frontier from week to week. Among others he recalls to mind he mentions Rosco Moore and another guy who entertained the 4th of July crowds riding broncs. Yes I knew those rough necks or knew of them. And I knew their kind long 1 e fore their day — Long Hair John, Hob Ingersol, Joe McEvony, Tim Ilunell, and that classic gent of the saddle, Sam El wood, as well as the notable Hay McClure, and the guy they called Pete who forsook wild west W’ays to become Prairieland Talker. Nice to hear from you John and to know you keep in touch with your friends back here by The Frontier. • • • Grandfather's almanac set forth weather con ditions day by day for the whole year. Today's weather man forecasts weather conditions for just the next five days — and doesn't always hit it . . . Cloudy, cold and deep snow this morning as we step across to the beginning of the last week in Tumiurv T coo a hire! fl\/ hv mv win* low to s<*tt!p on a branch of a nearby tree, and I am reminded with regrets that I have not put out a bit of bird feed for those little winged creatures that find nothing in the snow to feed upon . . . We young prairielanders thought we were doing it when we jumped into the Elkhom down there on the school section southwest of town and dived seven feet to the sandy bottom, the river being at flood stage. Modern sea going American Navy patriots report having dived seven miles down to the bottom of the Pacific ocean. • • * If U can smile while I only frown, then U are floating high and I am cast down. * * * 1960 another national census when you tell your bit to the census takers, your nationality, political and religious leanings and a few other things. It was 50 years ago an O'Neill citizen sought the ap pointment as census supervisor for the then 6th district. O’Neill was also the home of the congress man at that time whose approval must lie had for appointment as census director. But that congress man passed up doing something for a fellow O’Neill citizen to maybe catch a few votes by appointing a stranger to him at a distant location in the district. ... . 1 Editorial U.S. vs Russia—Good Competitors? American Expert Says Answer Is No! Oakland Independent—Bob Hogue The 50's have ended. And, as usual, there has been a flood of historical and analytical accounts of what happened during that remarkable era. Most of these have one thing in common — a recital of economic advances that were tremendous by any standard of measurement, and perhaps un precedented. Even so, as Reiman Morin of the Associated Press reports, there is a feeling of un easiness among millions of Americans. Why should this l>e the case, in the light of all the countless material gains the 50's brought us? Two statements Mr. Morin quotes may help to an swer that question. Dr. Charles Frankel, a professor of philosophy and soeioligy says: “Our society has met many great challenges and quite successfully in other years. But today it is drifting and has no sense of nnmosp.M George F. Kennan, who. in the course of a var ied carreer, has been our Ambassador to Russia and is regarded by many as the foremost U. S. expert on Soviet affairs, says: “If you ask me, as a historian, let us say, whether a country in the state this country is in today, with no highly developed sense of national purpose, with the overwhelming accent of life on personal comfort and amusement ... If you ask me whether such country has, over the long run, good chances of competing with a purposeful, serious and disciplined society such as that of the Soviet Union, I must say that the an swer is 'No'.” The good life does not just consist of "things”. The good life involves character, decision, fortitude, the willingness to sacrifice when sacrifice is needed in the common cause. No matter how rich a nation may become, if its people fall into the pit of lazy complacency, if their values are restricted more and more to the purely material, then that nation is doomed to ultimate destruction. Best By Test The Marketing Service of the Department of Agriculture has completed a survey which shows that newspapers are the best medium for food ad vertising and for marketing information on food. Here's what they say: "The printed won! ciui t>e read, re read, cupped and filed. And for Home reason or other it com mands more authority than casual statements on radio and television." This is the first statement emanating from the Department of Agriculture in many years which will not rouse a single word of criticism from the press. On the contrary, newspapers will be so im modestly satisfied with this fresh statement of a long established fact that they will call attention to it. The only regret of the press is that the Depart ment of Agriculture, having entered this important field, did not carry its survey further. Had it done so. it would have found that newspapers are also the best medium for advertising automobiles, cloth ing. accessories, drugs, furniture, fuels, hardware, lumt>er. soap, toiletries and watches. Full permission is granted to all radio and tele vision stations to broadcast these lines. Suppose they w'ill? —Hutchinson (Kansas* News I Want To Start Farming? Itluir Pilot-Tribune We read an article by Sylvia Porter, headed: “Worker Feels No Need to Fight Inflation.” The writer asked the question: "How have you and your family made out financially during the past 10 years of constantly climbing prices." Have you kept ahead or slipped behind the rising cost of living?” She continues, “You have made out very well if you're a typical worker living in an American city—very well, indeed.” Then she goes on to tell that the consumer price level has increased 23 per cent since 1950 in New York. The earnings of the New York factory work ers have increased 39 per cent, women clerical office workers have enjoyed a 56 per cent increase in earnings. In San Francisco prices have risen 27 per cent, earnings 56 per cent. In Atlantic prices have increased 24 per cent. earnings 68 per cent. In Philadelphia the comparison is 33 to 55 per cent; Los Angeles. 27 to 57 per cent. The Detroit price index is up 22 per cent and earnings 60 per cent. The writer ends the article with the comment: “As long as the city worker and his family keep ahead of the cost of living—and the trend is con tinuing into 1960 he'll gripe about inflation's evils, hut he’ll not set off any popular rebellion against creeping price increases in our land." From the figures reported by Sylvia Porter one must conclude that the majority of city workers have been given salary increases far greater than the cost of living increase. And how about the farmer? We all know how the cost of living has increased so why not go back to 1950 and see what the market price was for the products he sold. The Blair Enterprise reported that as of Jan. 1, 1950 the market prices in Blair were; heavy hens 17c, Leghorn hens 12c, old roosters 12c, cream 63c, wheat $2.03, corn $1.00, oats 68c, rye $1.20 and barley $1.20. The 1960 prices for some of the same products— com 98c, oats 66c, cream 60c, hens 7c and cock erels 6c. After a study of those figures—would you be interested in starting farming? JAMES CHAMPION, Editor and Co-Publisher Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; rates abroad provided upon request. All subscrip tions payable in advance. 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 Asso ciation, National Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. NATIONAL EDITORIAL I*#1®1®" Frontiers Ago 50 5 EARS AGO V. Alberts have installed a gaso line engine in their harness shop, the power from which they will use to run their machines. With this added equipment this popular firm will be able to nearly double their output. . . .Mellor <& Quilty have purchased a Berg touring car tor use in their livery business anil when the snow goes off Jess will endeavor to navigate the ma chine. He is of the opinion that he will he an expert ehautier after a few lessons but most of the boys are from Copenhagen. . . .Last Tuesday R. H Mills purchased the confectionery and grocery of Mrs. Moore located in the building next to Weingartner’s restaurant, tak ing possession Wednesday morn ing. Mr. Mills expects to increase the stock and run an up-to-date grocery and confectionery store and will handle all kinds of fruit in season. •*.-> years ago A. T. Crumley, living about ten miles northeast of this city was in the city last Saturday. Mr. Crum ley had with him a photograph of 17 coyote pelts that had been cap tured in the eastern part of the county after the snow fall the fore part of the month. . . While un loading culverts last Friday, Joe Cuddy had the misfortune to per nut one to fall on his foot and the result is that he had been hobbl ing around on crutches ever since . . . .Workmen started Tuesday dig ging the gutter for the sewer that | is to cariy the water from Fourth street, in preparation for the pav ing of the street. The workmen started between the Burlington and Northwestern depots and will work north. . . .The month of January, 1935, will go down in history, at least as far as this county is con cerned as the month of fogs. There has been more foggy weather in this section of the state the past month than has ever been seen be fore. 10 YEARS AGO Mrs. Dora Townsend returned to her home in Page recently after accompaning her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fleming of Ewing, on a 5,000 mile trip that took them through the West coast states to British Colum bia and into Mexico. The trip took alxiut three months. . . .Icy roads caused the stock truck of Henry Eickhoff of Page, to upset Tuesday morning, January 24, on highway 20, two miles west of Osmond. He was traveling east on his wav to Sioux City. The truck was virtual ly demolished. It was loaded with 12 heavy hogs and 4 steers. Only one steer was injured. . . .Deaths; Charles R. Manson, 62, a charter member of the American Legion and long time resident of O'Neill; John McNichols, 70, a memljer of a pioneer Holt county family; Mrs. Mina Coventry. 73, Holt resident since 1904; Clarence E. Shaw, 43. Ewing oil dealer; Albert J- Daniels, 37, Ewing trucker; Mrs. Bertha Pritchett, 76, a resident of the Op portunity community. 5 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. James F. O'Don nell quietly observed their golden wedding anniversary Sunday. Mem- ( hers of their immediate family! were present for an afternoon, luncheon, which included ice i cream, cake and coffee. . . .Open house will he held from 1 to 5 p.m.. Thursday, February 10, at the Car- j son sisters’ home, in honor of the twins, Mary and Lizzie, on their 80th birthday anniversary. . • • Jimmy Ilauf of Clearwater and | Clarence Shavlik of Ewing were driving cars in opposite directions. Just before the cars were to pass each other, four deer crossed the highway. Mr. llauf’s car hit and killed one deer. Mr. Shavlik s another. Two deer were uninjured. There were alxiut 20 deer in the herd . . The 25th wedding anniver sary- of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Mashino was observed Sunday at the Mas hino home when many of lhe rela tives from South Dakota and O Neill and neighbors from the Red bird area gathered there for open house from 2 to 5 o clock. — i Letters to the Editor Neligh Man Gives Politickers I Plenty of H ... The following letter was received in this office in answer to our re quest for public thought letters. It does not necessarily express the opinion of this newspaper. The author’s name is printed at the end of the column. Neligh, Nebr. Jan. 29. i960 The Frontier Publishing Co. O’Neill. Nebr. Dear Editor: Just a few lines please. This in terstate highway Professional Pro motors and Politickers are talking so much about should be started at Sioux City, then built straight West to O’Neill, then to Long Pine, to Chardon and Harrison. This route should become the right-of-way for the Nebraska in terstate highway. We can get that right-of-way much cheaper than through Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and North Platte. Better call some meetings while the suckers are biting. Nebraska has plenty of highways at pre sent. I am told that Nebraska Rail roads would like a little more business. If the Nebraska folks are to hi-toned to ride the Nebraska trains, then let them walk, darn them. I can’t see why the Nebraska Taxpayers should build highways for other states. Well, I predict that World War HI will be in full swing before the interstate highway is one-half done. I also understand that the Pro fessional Promoters and Gravy Train Riders are now planning drainage and irrigation ditch from Ewmg, Nebr., to Ptlger 70 miles aJurcg the Elkhorn river and that that oultit stated that ditch would irrigate 250.000 Acres of Land. It s all a tot at baloney. Why, in die summertime there is not enough water coming down the Elkhorn river to wash Neligh sewage away The stuff lays on a sandbar some yards east of the sewer outlet right in the summertime. The sewer outlet is just south of the Riverside Park Dance hall A few years ago the city em ployees put in a jetty m the river t lew yards west of tne outlet. This jetty is made of wood, brush, wire anu rink It runs from the south bank to nearly the north bank and is used to force most of the water along the north bunk. It helpe, some, but is not so good now. High water in the spring hurts the jetty. There should be more wood a,,d stuff on it. Guess this Elkhorn Valley irriga tion district outfit are having meet ings in Madison, Norfolk, O'Neill and other places. The newspapers say there are big crowds at these meetings. 1 suppose a lot of folks there are gravy train riders and New Dealers looking for some thing that they might get a kick back out of. 1 understand that the Elkhorn valley was loaded w.th ir rigation wells. What has become of these wells. This outfit has been trying to put in a ditch like that at Ainsworth for months and con gressmen lk>n McGinley and Larry Brock finally killed it. Yes, the cattlemen up there did not want it. (Editor's note; The Ainsworth pro ject has not been killed and there is good indication that it will he passed * Nebraska has three good i S. representatives in Washing ton now anti they are McGinley, Brock and Carl Curtiss 1 hope we can elect some mote good men this tali. We need them. This thing of our labor unions and New Dealers running the U S. has got to stop now or Uncle Sam is Kennedy, Humphrey, and Syming ton are ail good men. We don't uant Vice-president Nixon. He is depending on the labor union vote Well, he will not get all those votes Yours truly. H. R. Sehniek Neligh. Nebr, A Poem From Mrs. Eby ... This week Mrs. Eby has sent us a poem which she cut out of a ; paper printed during the Second World War. The poem was sup posedly found on the body of a dead American killed in action. The poems of Mrs. Eby are read over KBRX every morning WITH \ FRIEND Look God 1 have never spoken to you But now I want to say "llow do you do.” You see, God they told me you didn’t exist And like a fool I believed all this. Last night from a shell hole I saw your sky I figured right them they had told me a lie. Had I taken time to see things I , 'u\i made Id have known they weren't cal ing a spade a spade 1 wonder God if you'd shake my land somehow I feel that you will understand. Funny I had to come to this Hell sh place Before 1 had time to see your [ace. Well I guess there isn't much more to say Hut I'm sure glad God I met you today. I guess the "zero hour" will soon :h' here But I'm not afraid since I know rour're near. The “Signal" well God I'll ha\e to go l like you lots this l want you to know, Ix-ok now this will lx* a horrible fight Wlio knows 1 may come to your house tonight. Ttiough 1 wasn’t friendly to you before , l wonder God if you d wait at your door. aaxik 1 m crying, me shedding tears 1 wish I had known you these many years. Well I have to go now taxi good bye .. „ . Strange since l met >'