Prairieland Talk
A Sudden Summer Storm
By ROMAINE SAUNDtrtS 4110 S»^ith bi«t ST.. Uncoln 6. Nebr.
It was a summer night some twenty years ago.
My life's companion and I were at rest in our bed
room Awakened by a flash of lightning and the
thunder. Then at once the house was lighted up as
if an intruder had stepped in. I
got up, stepped to an adjoining
room to look out a north window.
A haystack was on fire, light
ning had struck, now fire to
burn us out to start from that
burning hay. No. A downpour of
rain put out the fire and we
could go back to bed and sleep
the night through In the morn
ing learned a horse had been
killed by lightning in the pas- Romalne
ture to the south of our abode.
Lightning -if you are in its path 8aun cr*
down you go.
• • #
When the schoolhouse closed its doors for the
summer and the kids thought it was over, then the
various churches began another '‘vacation" Bible
school. So now our young friends are off again, not
to learn to read and write, but to be instructed in
the spiritual things in life.
• • *
You step out of the bath, water and soap having
cleansed your body once more. Now open your soul
for that unseen hand, its cleaning power to pour!
• • •
The morning dawns calm, the sun gJry^ >n
golden glory to light up the far flung pralneland;
the raging wind of yesterday fresh from the North
Pole has blown itself out, so that the velvet green on
high tree top flutters not this morning calm; and
the deep blue sky up there so high looks down upon
the green robed scene where U and I go about the
affairs of life another morning. And as the shades
of night may come at eveningtide may we have done
our stuff another day as best we could then crawl
into bed and snore the night away.
• * *
It was in June in 1906. There were 43 patriots
interested enough to turn out to the annual school
lniard meeting and election The treasurer, Dr. Gilli
gan, reported that the district indebtedness, out
standing warrants, had been reduced from $20,000
a year previous to $8,000. Dr. P. J. Flynn and D. J.
Cronin were elected members of the lioard . . . The
group at Page opposing granting of a saloon license
to open a grog shop in their town wfon out in a dis
trict court hearing ... Miss Mamie McManus was
visiting relatives in Chicago during the month of
June that year . . . The Misses Horiskey were en
joying a visit with a friend from Laurel . . . Miss
Flo Bently went to Boyd county to spend a night or
two on her homestead . . . Mrs. D. H. Cronin was
visiting in Randolph.
She comes one evening a week with bits of cake
to sell, six for 30 cents Just a young girl asuming
thus in childhood some of life's burdens with a help
ing hand for mom and dad Don’t say no if she
comes to your door. Just reach into your pocket and
get three dimes to hand to her and you have some
good little cakes to nibble on at meal time.
• • *
So Nippon thumbed a nose at our esteemed
President Ike Very well—he returns to the White
House sound and unharmed. Just as I escaped with
out being sea 1 p e d that time from a Sioux Indian
camp by the Elkhom.
• • *
Tim Hanley and Sliver Triggs- are the likes of
them in O'Neill today. Tim in the pitcher’s box and
Sliver behind the batter- home talent on the base
ball grounds where now are the dwellings of citizens
on west Douglas street.
# • •
Now' a few years past middle life, started life
together owning little or nothing of this world’s
goods. They labored, planned and saved. They have
today a comfortable home of their own, the home
well furnished and they get about in their own car.
Had raised a family to maturity and today have a
few grandchildren. Years ago they faced life to
gether bare handed, struggled along life's way to
acquire not great wealth but life’s richer hlessings,
a happy time together and a home with its com
forts. Just one of the many happy homes in prairie
land.
• * *
Another lovely letter comes to me from my
young friend out in the Eagle creek country. Trudy
Schultz. Now that summer has come, school days
are over and vacation time has come Trudy has more
time for her home duties and to get about the charm
ing country side on her pony, Glass Eye, that will
soon or now has had another colt. Maybe this one
will be Prairie Rose, and will make eight horses on
the Schultz ranch. And Trudy reminds us that her
sister was one of the top ones in school matters this
year. Nice to hear from you my young friend.
, * * *
The past ten years our state population increase
has been nothing much. Thank the Lord that on Ne
braska’s open prairies there is still elbow room—
let others take off to the moon!
• * *
Sunday, June 19, Father’s Day. The Old Man sits
and thinks it over again. Father, grandfather, great
grandfather. Then his door opens and in steps a 13
year-old granddaughter with a Father’s Day gift.
Other gifts had come by mail or handed him in per
son. Children and their children it touches the
throbbing heartbeat today of more than one Old
Man. ;
Editorial
Silly Question Department
#
Trying to answer all silly questions for the year
in advance, Bob Wright, editor of the Montello
(Wise.) Tribune, recently ran a column of questions
and answers, as follows:
Q.—Why don't you print in color, say red, once
in a while?
A.—Our entire supply of red ink is used in the
bookkeeping department.
Q.—Why don't you have funny papers?
A.—We think we have the funniest paper in
Wisconsin right now.
Q.—Why don’t you have an ‘.Advice to the Love
lorn” column like Abby Lane?
A.—None of our readers have any such problems.
Q._Why don't you publish a pin-up picture once
in a while?
A.—I dunno. We ran our own picture a couple of
years ago and noboby asked for reprints.
Q.—Why do you have all those misprints?
A.—They’re the most entertaining part of the
whole paper.
Q._Why do you always say we when referring
to yourself in the paper?
A.—We want our readers to think they’re out
numbered.
Q._Why do you make so many grammatical
mistakes?
A.—Cause we ain’t never learned no better.
Q.—Why don’t you put out a bigger paper like the
Milwaukee Journal?
A.—We plan on it as soon as the population of
Montello equals that of Milwaukee.
Q—Why do you devote so much space to such
trivialities as “Joe Smith is feeling poorly
this week?”
A.—Because good old Joe has many pals who
are concerned over his health even if you
are not. Who knows somebody might read
the item and send Joe a bottle of sympathy.
Q —What would you give me for writing a weekly
column of moral homespun philosophy?
A.—A poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Q —Why don’t you write an editorial and tell
those guys on the city council what they can
do to improve the town?
A.—Why don’t you go down to the next meeting
and tell them yourself?
Q._Why don't you print more letters to the edi
tor?
A.—Why don’t you write me one? And sign it
with your name-please-don’t be chicken.
Q.—Why don't we go have a cup of coffee?
A.—Why not?
Here's A New Argument
Nebraska Signal
One of the most astounding reasons we have
ever heard given for trying to keep public business
out of the newspapers was offered by Keith Kovanda
of Burwell, Garfield county attorney, who was one
of the s{leakers on the program of the Central Ne
braska District Press association at the recent meet
ing held at Ord.
The program, arranged by the press association,
was actually presented by laymen, who told what
they don’t like about newspapers. We thought
several of the criticisms were reasonable but the
criticism, or implied criticism, given by Kovanda was
something else.
In case you missed the report, which was given
in the Sunday World-Herald, Kovanda was quoted
as suggesting a new law which would make news
involving misdemeanors and first offenders un
available to the press.
Kovanda cited a case in which a young man ac
cused of a minor traffic offense offered to plead
guilty ‘‘if the judge would keep it out of the paper." ,
The judge refused, the boy was found guilty in
county court and freed in district court, Mr. Kovan
da said.
That isn't all. Please consider carefully the im
plications of Kovanda's comments when he said,
"The case cost our county thousands of dollars, all
of which could have been averted had the judge had
power to keep the story away from the press in the
first instance.
What the Garfield county attorney is saying is
that if the county judge had agreed to keep the case
out of the papers the youth would have plead guilty
and everything would have been fine, even though the
district court said he was not guilty. In other words,
the guilt or innocence of the man was unimportant
because only a minor traffic offense was involved.
Following the reasoning of the county attorney,
we might point out that the entire mater could have
been less costly if law enforcement officials had
winked at the traffic violation, especially since the
case must not have been too strong in the first place.
We say the officers could have winked at the
case but actually we would hate to see things come
to the place where they would do so. That would have
been as bad as railroading an innocent man and
buying his "guilty” plea with a promise to keep it
oui ui me papers.
The trouble with some public officials in cases
such as the above is that they can't stand to be re
versed in higher courts or lose cases in lower courts,
we can see why they would prefer to keep the cases
out of the papers in such cases.
As a matter of fact, we believe most county of
ficials dealing with all types of crime really prefer
to have the press cover the cases. We have had of
ficials tell us they feel in some cases the newspaper
publicity is almost as strong a detrrent as the
punishment handed out by the court.
No, we hope the Garfield county attorney gives
more thought to his proposal to give courts arbitrary
power to keep cases out of the newspapers and we
also hope he really didn’t mean to imply in his re
marks that the important thing in such cases is to
get the defendant to plead guilty, regardless of his
actual guilt, in order to save taxpayers money.
JAMES CHAMPION, Co-Publisher
BRUCE J. REHBERG, Editor
Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year,
rate 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
|Asg»C0T0N
Frontiers
Ago
» YEARS AGO
During the thunder storm last
Friday night lightning struck the
residence of J. H Meredith in the
western part of town, setting the
building on fire but the prompt
work of Mr. Meredith and some of
his neighlxirs the flames were ex
tinguished without much damage
. . . Judge Malone officiated at a
double wedding at the county court
room last Monday afternoon when
he united in marriage William S.
Horton of Washington county. Colo.,
and Myrtle Belle Wood of Cham
bers. and Joseph Bradshaw and
Miss Anna Horton, both of Amelia
. , . J. B. Ryan returned last eve
ning from a two week's visit w'ith
relatives in Chicago and other
Illinois cities.
25 YEARS AGO
A sand-limestone rock was struck
recently and a charge of dynamite
crushed that. A 10-pound chunk
with an arm bone of some ancient
human was drawn up from that
depth, 32 feel, and many persons
are wondering how that got down
there ... A family reunion was
held Sunday, June 30, at the old
home place of Mr. and Mrs. C. J.
Taylor, near Star . . . The night of,
June 27 an unknown person broke
into the the Conoco station here and
made off with 15 gallons of gaso
line and lubricating oil. Art Tibbets
is the proprietor of this station . .
Floods have cost taxpayers of Holt
county more than a pretty penny
this spring. Early storms ruined
bridges to the extent of about
$30,000 and the northeast Holt
storm of June 24 is believed to
have caused damages that may
tnt;i I Sin 000.
ID YEARS AGO
The city's new 33-thousand
dollar outfall and lift station was
placed in operation Friday morning.
The event marked an important
milestone in civic improvement
. . . Clarence Ernst was elected
chairman of the Holt Soil Con
servation district at their regular
meeting of the supervisors Wednes
day, June 21, at the courthouse
annex . . Mr. and Mrs. W. B.
Gillespie and children left Friday,
June 23, for a few days fishing in
Minnesota . . • The O'Neill post
office service w-ill be curtailed |
beginning July 3, 1950 . . . The first j
Country Club dinner was held Sun
day, June 25, under the chairman-1
ship of Mrs. John Watson and Mrs.
John Stuifbergen.
5 YEARS AGO
Hugh McKenna, 33, a native of
O'Neill and now an administrative
vice-president for an Omaha in
surance company, last Thursday
was elected president of the United
States Junior Chamber of Com
merce at the organization’s 35th an
nual convention held in Atlanta,
Ga . . . Willard Solfermoser, prin
cipal at Creighton high school the
past three years, has accepted the
position of principal at O’Neill
high school for the coming year
. . . Miss Geraldine Cronin of Los
Angeles, Calif., a former O’Neillite,
recently was awarded one of the
highest honors awarded by the
Greater Los Angeles CIO council’s
community service committee . . .
Rev. Egon Kirschman is the new
pastor of the Assembly of God
church succeeding Rev. Wayne A.
Hall.
The Long Ago
At Chambers
50 YEARS AGO
George Lambert and family cele-1
brated in Chambers. Aunt Vina
Nesbitt went home with them and.
will visit in Ewing a few days . . J
Upon the request of Chambers I
people the Duncan and Devere
show will play h re Saturday night
Mrs. Maud Blake had a lively
runaway Thursday but fortunately
escaped unhurt The Fourth in
Chambers passed off very smooth.
Everyone seemed to enjoy them
selves to the uttermost There were
no accidents to mar the day, and
something was doing all the time.
U YEARS AW)
Mr. and Mrs. Gaius Wintermote
arrived home Monday evening from
their trip through the Ozarks ... I
Rev Sengpiehl left for Lavenworth,
Kan , Monday morning to take
charge of his work as chaplain in
the COC camps of Kansas . . .)
Bathing at the Chambers swim
ming pool is on in full force now
since the pool has been renovated i
Mrs. C. E. Tihbets entertained
at out fifteen gu ests in honor of her
mother, Mrs. VV. B. Cooper. Sun
day ... A number of people will
visit Lake Ericson for the Fourth.
Martha will stage a celebration
for those not wishing to go far away i
from home.
Smoke from
"Brandin'
Iron" Crick
By J. C. Fudd
Crackin' good fishing weather
along five Crick this week. The
Bundy boys got a fine mess of
bullheads down in Turtle bayou.
Old Man Chinn hooked a dandy
bass in the swale behind his barn.
Says he caught it on a plug he in
vented himself—a corn cob with
triple hooks screwed in the end
trailing a strip of bacon rind. tBet
the old bugger used a cane pole and ;
worm.)
Otty Camber made the headlines j
twice this week. On Monday he got |
everyone in a lather when he traded j
off his old '48 klunker and got one(
of them new compact j jbs. Seems j
like he had been up at the County j
Seat about a month ago snooping
around the car dealers. Salesmen
have been running him ragged ever j
since. Nobody figgered he could I
swing the deal however so he sure
surprised the heck out of folks.
It’s bright red but got a narrow
wheelbase so all the citizens are
speculating on how it will work on
country roads.
On Tuesday night he got picked
up lor speeding. Seems he was
hitting 70 when the patrolman nab
bed him. That didn't faze folks
any, they know what a speed demon
he is; wiiuis got tm shook is
wondering who was with him. De
lano Bundy who had been to the
show at the drive-in came along
just as the cops nailed Otty. De
lano swuns mere was someone
with him and that it was a female
with a scarf tied over her head.
He tried his best to get close j
enough to see who it was but the
patrolman got tough so he had to
move on. Can't get a word out of
Otty for a change.
Ten ladies attended the pink and
blue shower for Mrs. Abe Gory. A
nice program was put on by Mrs.
Art Gory and Mrs. Willie Kelt.
Lunch of ice cream and cake was
served. Some of the gifts will have
to be exchanged unless she decides
on mass production. She got four
bottle holders, three blankets, a
didy jacket and two sweater sets.
Kids are a heck of a lot better
informed now than they were
when yours Truly wore short
pants. Little Martin Gory was in
this week and 1 was asking him
if they luul a stork shower up
at his house (Just to see what
he’d have to say about it.)
“Nope. He says. They had a
shower for the new baby we're
gonna get.” . . . "Say, Mr. Fluid,
what is a stork?”
Mrs. Willie Kell is expecting
company from Rapid City next
week. Her nieces are coming to
stay a spell.
See you next week.
J I
Homemakers
Corner...
Dost thou love life? Then «lo
not squander time: for that's the
stuff life Is made of.
Benjamin Franklin
With summer just beginning. !
there are many busy days ahead
for the farmer, rancher and the j
homemaker. The gardens arc real
ly making progress now, providing I
they hadn't been washed out by the
heavy rains Sunday night. Here in
this vicinity we received over two
inches of rain, hut farther south
and east they received as high as
nine inches. It really ruined many
crops and hay land.
This is also the busy season j
for canning of fruits and vege
tables for winter use. The evpres- .
slon has been made that It is
just as cheap to buy it as to put
It up yourself, but considering the
kind of winter we had last year ;
and how hard it was to get to
town at times it is then that it
pays to have some extras on
hand.
Since this is the season for j
rh uarb and strawberries 1 am
going to give you some recipes
which you may find useful as well
steiul Maybe not now, but when
winter is upon us these jams and
preserves will taste good on bread
and butter, pancakes or toast.
HEAVENLY JAM
2 raw pineapples
cup water
4 quarts strawberries
Juice of 3 oranges
Sugar
Slice, pare and dice pineapple.
Cook in water until tender. Then
add strawberries and orange juice.
Measure fruit and arid 3/4 cup
sugar for every cup mixed fruit.
Cook, skimming frequently, for 8
to 10 minutes or until sirup coats
spoon. Pour in sterilized glasses
and seal with paraffin.
STRAWBERRY PRESERVES
Select firm ripe berries. Scald
two quarts of berries, leaving in
boiling water two minutes, and
drain. Add four cups sugar and
boil two minutes, counting time
when entire contents of pan are
bubbling. Remove f-om fire, and
when bubbling has stopped, add
two more cups sugar. Boil five
minutes, counting time as directed
above. Pour preserves into shallow
pans; do not let them stand more
than one and a half or two inches
in pans. Let stand overnight; in
the morning, pack cold preserves
in hot sterilized jars and seal with j
paraffin.
STRAWBERRY AM) RHl’BARB
JAM
One pound rhubarb, 2 pounds t
strawberries, 2 pounds granulated !
sugar. Wash and skin rhubarb; i
wash and hull berries. Put rhu
barb thru the food chopper, catch
ing the juice. Com line rhubarb
juice and sugar. Add berries and
let stand until sugar is dissolved.
Stir frequently to prevent stick
ing and to crush the fruit Coek un
til a spoonful tried on a cold plate
jellies. Turn into sterilized jelly
glasses and cover with paraffin
when cold.
We are hoping this column, in
I
TWILIGHT
Stock Car Racing
Free $1,000 Fireworks After Races
MONDAY. JULY 4
7:00 P.M.
STUART, NEBRASKA
9 Races
Admission: Adults, #1.00; Arcs 12 to 16, 50c; Children 12 and
under FKEE, accompanied by parents
Do You Know Your Neighbor?
“Know YiHir Neighbor" is not a contest. There are no prizes given
for correctly identifying the person pictured. The only reward is the
satisfaction of knowing your neighbor.
Well perhaps he didn't really help dig the Missouri, but many of
his friends claim he did. He’s Joseph L. McCarville sr.
This man knows the true value of things.
the past five months, has given our
readers the information which they i
have found useful. If (here are j
other things you wish to see or
questions you wish answered, we
will he glad to help you. Maybe j
you have some clever sayings by j
your children or ideas you wish
to pass along. Just write to Mrs.
Sarah Michaelis, Inman, Nebraska,
we are always glad to hear from
our readers.
Opportunity
For ambitious men and women,
ages 17 to 50 from Nebraska,
in tiie growing field of Account
ing and Industrial Management.
No previous experience needed.
Must be willing to spend one
hour a day, four days a week
using specially designed materi
als. Arrangements can be made
for those accepted so that train
ing will not interfere with pre
sent employment. Positions for
which this training will qualify
you are currently paying from
$270 to $400 per month. If you
have a sincere desire to better
yourself with a steady job and
income, we will be glad to dis
cuss these opportunities with
you. No obligation. For strictly
confidential interview with our
bonded, state licensed personnel
interviewer, send in this couixm
NOW!
I want this op|xirtiiiiitv
UNIVERSAL EXTENSION
SERVICE
COLLEGE BUILDING NO. SO
Grand Island, Nebraska
Name Age
Street
City_Slate_
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VISIT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALER
A. MARCELLUS CHEVROLET COMPANY
121 NORTH FOURTH ST.. O’NEILL
