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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1961)
Prairieland Talk "Cherished Memories of Holt" Bv ROMAENE SAUNDERS. 4110 South 5i*t St., Lincoln 6, Nebr. rveiuiTung 10 Lincoln auer spending me weeK end with his wife and sister at Fort Calhoun, State Senator no, Holt county rancher Frank • Nelson came my way, gave me the glad hand and visited for a time before going to his holing up place to resume legislative worries. Of course Prairieland Talker was a kid on the prairies of Holt county long before young Frank drifted thitherward from down by Omaha, but we both have cherished memories of life in Holt county. Mr. Nelson thinks the state legislature will be in session until in June. He in- _ - * , ,, Romanic formed me that there were a few measures pending to load Saunders upon Nebraskans the' sales tax, which he will vote against, regarding such as just another tax. Recent ly he had a few minutes with Cal Stewart, who had been passing through Lincoln on his way south. Cal passed me up this trip but I hope to see or hear from him soon again. When Mr. Nelson goes up to O’ Neill next he proposed to take me along. * * * The Omaha Negro who was headed for the electric chair after being convicted of murder has boon granted a life term in the penitentiary by the State Board of Pardons. A number of colored citi zens of Omaha appeared before the board in be half of the c ndemned man, who claims he did not design to kill the man hut to rob him. * * * Two holidays in February, Lincoln and Washing ton’s birthdays. Now on March 17 will there be the “Wearing of the Green” in honor of the memory of St. Patrick here in O’Neill, as we did many years ago? The J. P. Mann store had on hand a full stock of green ribbon and Col Neil Brennan was one of the first to step up to the ribbon counter at Mann’s and walk out with a yard of the green in his grip, J. .1 McCafferty being a close second. * * * A letter has been received from Mrs. Eby of O’Neill in which the lady tells of her interest in the Barrett Scott story recently appearing in this department of The Frontier. Mrs. Eby, at the time of that Scott tragedy, was a young girl but had a childish interest as well as a childish horror of it all. And in her letter she gives a bit of childish wit on the part of a witness at the trial of one of the accused of the Scott murder. The little daughter from the Scott home was a witness on the stand at the court trial and had said in answer to a question by attorney M. F. Harrington that it was a distance of a mile. The legal light then asked her how she knew what a mile was. “Why, Mr. Harrington,” replied the young girl witness, "it is a mile from our house to the schoolhouse.” Takes a kid some times to shut up a lawyer. Mrs. Eby is the gifted writer that week by week comes to us in poetic beauty. Out of memory’s treasured store comes to mind as I write today the names of those still part oi the O’Neill scene who themselves or their forebears were here in the 1880’s. A few of the ladies now walking life’s highway alone—Miss O’Donnell of th( John O’Donnell family, Bernadette Brennan of th( Neil Brennans, Mabel Meredith McKenna of the J H. Meredith household. Mrs. Loy of the George Jones family and her brother Hurley who all know the two Stannard ladies of the Dave Stannard family and one or more of the Gatz family, Mrs. Dishnei and her brother Max Golden of the T. V. Golder household, Miss Elizabeth O’Malley and her brother Walter, a daughter of the John McManus family. And some of the gents—Henry Grady heads the list, John Sullivan, Ed Hagensick and his brother; J. D. and Francis Cronin and their sister Mrs. Harty, Hugh Coyne, Ben Gillespie, Pat Dona hoe, Leo Mullen, R. H. Parker and one or more ol the James Davidson family. The wives of most oi these men belong also in the group picture. And no doubt there are still others in or around O'Neill who can trace their parents back to the 1880 O’Neill picture and onward. * * * Another president, congress at it again; another state governor and the state senators in session. Somehow we Americans keep on the go and make it day by day with little thought of our honored heads of state and nation. * * * For sizteen years the lifeless form of my be loved life companion at rest under sod upon Pro spect Hill at O’Neill. Now word comes that she was one of the heirs to a property in California. No, she would not turn over in her grave at this bit of news. She lays there awaiting the call to come forth to her inheritance in a better land beyond this vale of tears. * * * From high up medical sources comes the infor mation that one out of every 13 men above 20 years of age is an alcoholic. And this today is receiving medical attention as 50 years ago did the TB, that fatal lung disease. Well, 12 out of 13 guys not now booze soaked. Not so bad. Can that 13th yet be added to the list? * » * It has been an “open” winter. But I did not leave my door open nights. February bid us good day under the golden glow of the evening sunset, and March came marching in upon Prairieland. And now what will the spring and summer he—just another time of growing things, frogs croaking their morning and evening chorus in prairie ponds, the song of meadowlarks and golden crested eagles soaring high on outspread wings; prairie roses again colorful and fragrant, the landscape robed in sum mer green, cows feeding on summer green and their calves keeping the cows well milked; grain fields rich for harvest and you fellows behind counters in banks and stores raking in the cash. Editorial Sanity Test The false notion that the federal government can legislate away human shortcomings and cancel out natural economic laws may be coming to an end. Whether this is true will be tested when im pending efforts are again made to amend the fed eral wage-hour law to extend coverage and boost the minimum wage. Proponents of wage-hour revision run into forces that can no longer be swept under the rug by legis lative fiat—namely, inflation, unemployment and imbalance of the gold flow from the U.S. These forces have reached their proportions, mainly be cause the free-market system has already been coerced, regulated and taxed to the danger point. Legislating another increase in the wage level will mean more cost increases to pass along to con sumers in higher prices, and another turn in the inflationary spiral. It will mean further unemploy ment and a further weakening of the ability of American business and industry to compete with foreign producers of everything from neckties to automobiles. As this ability to compete is restricted, more and more of the nation’s gold and resources wall drain away to other countries. What is most sorely needed is a demonstration of faith in the ability of private citizens to run their own affairs to the benefit of themselves and our country, if the regulators and spenders will give them a chance. We're For It ... If It Will Fit Into Our System Nebraska Signal Governor Morrison has suggested drivers’ li cense fees should be increased and that the increas ed revenue should be used to increase and improve iriver education classes in our schools. We have seen no figures to show how much money the governor feels could be raised by his suggestion and we don’t know how he would have the funds distributed to get the best results. The idea, however, of improving and broaden ing driver education classes has considerable merit, we believe, so it would be foolish to oppose the governor’s suggestion merely because it is vague. Perhaps discussion and suggestions from the public should be encouraged and additional facts should be brought out in order to make our discussion help ful. In the first place, we have seen figures quoted to show that driver education classes really help to reduce accidents. The best proof is the backing insurance companies give the classes. Educators seem to be convinced they are beneficial and, we presume, they would go along with the governor’s suggestion. Still, we think it would be helpful if facts based uoon experience with classes to date were presented to all of us who may be asked to pay more for our new licenses. In the second place, we believe the suggestion mad? by our governor at best is only a first step in a safety drive. Making the classes optional or elective and offering them to only part of the stu dents, as is done in many schools today, leaves us short of the goal we believe the governor has in mind and also short of doing all we can to educate young drivers. This suggestion is not intended as an objection to the governor’s proposal. We simply say that before we pass a law making more money avail able and forcing more students to take the course we be sure we are being practical and that the suggestion can be fitted into our schools. We think it can but we believe more of us would buy the idea if we knew just how it could be worked out. Proposed Law Would Permit Prior Censorship Albion News State senators Ed McHugh and John Munnelly this week introduced in the legislature a bill to change the law on obscene literature. Even though this bill was drawn up with the active co-operation of Secretary of State Clarence Meyer, we believe it to be unconstitutional for these reasons: (1) It permits action against a person, firm or corporation which sells or distributes “or is about to sell or distribute or has in his possession with intent to sell or distribute or is about to acquire possession with intent to sell” . . . This is prior censorship and is against all the 'mown standards of regulation of printed material. It could very well lead to control of other publica linnc ori o o nf “Hh tiro ti'nnlrln’f rln TT-I AT *1 -j-{---, -y — ---- (2) It places responsibility for enforcement on "Any city or village, the mayor or chairman of the board of trustees or any officer charged with law enforcement responsibilities.” Thus, city officials could harass a newspaper which prints a “pin-up” picture, or a drug store which sells slightly naughty magazines, even though such art is more apt to be in bad taste than obscene. With hundreds of mayors and policemen in the state, there will be hundreds of different ideas on what is lewd. (3) A person arrested with obscene material in his possession certainly isn’t going to admit that he planned to sell it or give it away, so how is the state of Nebraska going to prove that he had “intent” to sell or distribute the same? That’s the crux of the prior censorship idea, and in our opinion won’t stand up in court. Albion Newspapers has no special sympathy with the distributors of obscene literature—whatever that is—but we are militantly opposed to any in roads on our 225-year-old freedom of the press. Every year, it seems, there are more attempts to whittle away here, or there, against this freedom which is even more important to you than to us. Prior censorship is an especially invidious concept, and mustn’t be permitted to gain a foothold. “It is not consonant with the spirit of institutions of the American people that a demand should be made upon the public treasury for the solution of every difficulty.” — Herbert Hoover. Frontiers Ago 50 YEARS AGO Four couples wed here: Roj Hemingway and Amelia Wettlaug her of O’Neill, Clifford Maple and Mamie Coates of Orchard Rex Grimes and Margaret Davi: of Chambers and Ralph Hulbur of Ainsworth and Mattie Thomai of O’Neill. . .First sale of al purebred Poland China hogs helc by Wm. Mather & Sons. . .Hope has been revived for the building of new hotel. . .A seven course dinner served when Miss Mabe McNichols entertains a number o girl friends. 25 YEARS AGO Severe cold weather of pasi six weeks causes many of the water mains to freeze up anc break. . .Butte beats O’Neill foi Niobrara Valley championship 25 to 20. . .Bob Morrison breaks arm in two places in fall on slip pery walk. . .Clifford Davis, 50 is dead after long period of ill ness. 10 YEARS AGO Grand champion bull exhibited by H. A. and Robert E. Van Horn at 20th annual sale of North Central Nebraska Hereford as sociation. . .Work night was held February 23 when members com pleted their new Church ol Christ building. . .Marie Guthmil ler weds Eugene Potter. . JSpach Buechler nuptials at Orchard February 17. 5 YGAK5 AGO St. Anthony’s hospital receives a bequest of $2,001) from estate of the late Albert Otte of Win ner, S. D. . .Heart illness claims young businessman, J. G. Stuif bergen, 39. . .James A. Donohoe, 78, former O’Neill resident, dies February 26 in Omaha—was chief judge of the federal court for the district of Nebraska. . .Inman Tigers win Center D title. The Long Ago At Chambers 50 YEARS AGO On February 28 at the Jesse Frary home occured a pretty wedding uniting Daniel Perkins of Chambers and Louise Metzner of Napa, Calif. . .The Methodist Ladies aid will give a social on St. Patrick’s eve. . .Arthur Fluck ey left this week for Omaha where he will learn the barber trade. . .The Band Boys have ordered a complete outfit of cur tains and scenery which will be equal to any outfit of opera house equipment in Holt county. 25 YEARS AGO Miss Freida Singleman of O’ Neill and Walter Brown of Cham bers were united in marriage February 26. . .Month of Febru ary records^ coldest temperature in history, ranging from 6 to 28 below zero. . .George L. Smith, confirmed bachelor, weds Lo raine R. Enis at Methodist church in O’Neill. . .Knock out farm sale is reported as held at Pete Martensens when high est cows bring $62.59 each and smooth mouth mare sells for $136. inman News By Mrs. James McMahan Snow Cancels School Monday At Inman School was not held Monday due to the weekend snow. Mrs. John Buhlmann jr . of Bartlett visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Banks, Friday afternoon. Mary Morsbach accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Neil Dawes to i Lincoln Thursday where they vis ited Perry Dawes. They refcurn I ed home Friday evening. Mr. and Mrs. David Morsbach and Mary, Mrs. Josie Kopecky, Mrs. Harry McGraw and Mrs. James Banks attended church services Wednesday evening at the RLDS church at Clearwater. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sawyer and son were Sunday guests of their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Sawyer and family at Atkinson. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Schrunk of Atkinson visited Mr. and Mrs. James Banks and John Schrunk Wednesday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Schrunk and family of Atkinson attended church services at the RLDS church in Inman Sunday. Margaret Pruss, who teaches in the Clearwater Public schools, spent the weekend here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pruss. Ivan Couch, who is employed at Geneva, spent the weekend vis iting his family. Ralph Sholes, who is employed at Fremont, visited over the weekend with his mother, Mrs. Violet Sholes. Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Hartigan and family of Sidney visited from n j.— :_ ii_ UVtWJ UiiKU HJUliUUJ U1 kilb homes of Mr. and Mrs. James Coventry and Bill and Mrs. Mary Hartigan. Mr. and Mrs. Vern Wrede and daughters of O’Neill were Inman visitors Thursday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Coventry and Leo Harte visited Mr. and Mrs. Matt McCabe at Page Wed nesday. Mr. and Mrs. James Coventry visited Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sul livan at O’Neill Sunday evening. The second meeting of the Boy Scouts was held Monday evening at the school lictase. James Banks Is the leader and Horace Sholes is the assistant leader. Roger Banks is the Pack Leader and Terry Anthony the treasurer. The Scouts gave the Scout pledge and flag sa lute before the Community club at the regular meeting Monday evening. On Saturday several cf the boys helped clean the lower part of the TOOF hall and they plan to meet there in the future. Joe Peters of Norfolk spent a couple of days last weeks with his family. George Herold is spending some time in Sioux City, la., vis iting relatives, Venus News By Mrs. Ralph Brookhouser St. Pat's Party Planned By Club Members Mrs. William Buxton entertain ed the Help-U-Club at her home _ March 1. The hostess served a luncheon to 11 members present. The afternoon was spent in doing needle work. At the business meeting a St. Patrick’s party was planned which will foe held March 17. Mrs. Ora Caskey re ceived the door prize. Mrs. Clar ence Finch will have club next time. Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Dwinell of Verdigre are spending some time with their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Finch jr., and getting acquainted with their grandson, Randall Or rin. Mrs. Finch and son came home from the hospital February 28. Jim and George Jeffrey cabled hay for R. Brookhouser from the Davey farm Friday and !Tues day. Howard and Chuck Tyler were hauling corn for Harold Tyler Tuesday. Fred Uhlir and son Franklin were Creighton business visitors Tuesday. Among those attending the annual meeting of the Plainview Farmers Co-Op Creamery from here were Mr. and Mrs. Ce cil Walton, Mr. and Mrs. Mu rice Dwinell, Mrs. Fern Mcr sett and Mrs. R. Brookhouser. Tuesday Don Rucker and Ray Brookhouser of Norfolk had din ner with Ray’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brookhouser. They called at the Harold Tyler home that forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Uhlir and daughter, Annet, motored to Om aha February 25 where they met their son, Franklin, of Fort D.x, N. J., where he had been station ed with the National Guard unit. Tliey visited with relatives Satur day evening at Omaha and re turned to their home Sunday. Mrs. Lavone Hines and Mrs. James Podony were Tuesday vis itors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ora Caskey. Mr. and Mrs. fi-enrsre .leffrev snent the week end of February 25 at Omaha where they visited at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell, Julie and Jeffrey. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Davey of Bellevue stopped at the Ralph Brookhouser home Monday, en route home from Bristow, where they visited Sunday and were ov ernight guests at her sister, Mrs. Tillie Bowers. Mrs. George Jeffrey helped Mrs. Clarence Finch cook for corn shellers Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Etlmin sten were guests at the Jeffrey Bros, home February 28. They moved to their new home at O’ Neill from North Platte Satur day. Suellyn and Joan Caskey re turned to their home at Norfolk Friday. They spent the week with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Caskey. Taking them home were Mrs. Mable Bennett. Mrs. Caskey and Mrs. Archie Moser accompanied them. The PTA at the Grimton school house was held Friday evening. There was a good attendance. Cards were played at eight ta bles. Those receiving prizes were Mr. and Mrs. Max LeMasters, Dick Podany, Vlasta Pospeshil, Mrs. Dale Dorr and Fred Uhlir. Lunch was served at the close of the evening. The hosts were Mr. and Mrs. Ora Caskey, Mr. and Mrs. Lavone Hines and Mr. and Mrs. James Podany. Mr. and Mi’s. Larry Brookhou ser of Grand Island were week end visitors at the hcwne of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brookhouser. Phone Your News to The Frontier Phone 788 WHAT QUALITY! WHAT BEAUTY! WHAT A PRICE! ? WHAT A SAVING! • Beautiful, “1 out-of-this-warId*’ Styling • Lighted Control Panel • Fast, Vacuum principle drying • HI-LO-OFF Heat for ail-fabrk drying • In-A-Door Lint Trap • Drum stops when door 7s opened It FREE LIVE DEMONSTRATION IN OUR STORE DANKERT'S SERVICE 610 East Douglas Chambers O’Neill Phone 410-W Phone TV 2-2101 Make The Best Better By Gary W. Kick About 2,300.000 members of 4-H clubs in America will observe National 4-H Club Week from March 4 through 11. These young people from ten to twenty-one years of age belong to more than 94,000 local clubs in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. In Nebraska alone we have more than 32,000 mcmtors tolonging to some 3,000 clubs. These 4-H clubs are organized groups of toys and girls who learn to live, work, and play together. In 1960 they partici pated in- more than 65,000 projects. They covered all phases of agri culture and home economics projects plus many more of interest to urban boys and girls. Along with learning practical knowledge in the projects, they also have an opportunity to learn judging, public speak ing and demonstrating. Four-H club work is officially sponsored by the county extension service, the colleges of agriculture, and the U. S. Department of Ag riculture. But behind it all are thousands of volunteer adult leaders. One of the most important parts of the whole program is the work of mothers and fathers, local leaders getting the story over to the individual 4-H members. It is they, who by investing some of their time, thought, and energy in this fine work, arouse the ability of the individual boy and girl to perform at his best. Good leaders are the strength of the 4-H program. xou may asK, "How is this all brought about?” We know boys and girls like doing things together. 4-H clubs are organized groups of boys and girls under the guidance of these local leaders and their county extension service. They are encouraged to participate in their club activities and to help plan and carry out their program. They have a choice of 86 different projects. There are projects to meet the needs and interests of all young people, no matter in what area they live. In completing the projects they choose to take, they have learn ed by doing. In project after project, they use their newly acquired ability to surmount greater responsibilities. We see that by a gradual process of applying themselves, 4-H members develop self-confidence and self-expression, create initiative and build leadership. This in turn prepares them to create better homes for better living, to choose a way to earn a living, to share community responsibilities, and to learn to live in a changing world. Thus through the encouragement and guidance of mothers, fathers and other local leaders, the energy and imagination of these young people has been channeled into activities that help build character and develop their talents for greater usefulness. They, in close co operation with the Agricultural Extension Service that sponsors this worthwhile activity, have helped prepare tomorrow’s citizens physic ally, mentally, and spiritually. Another valuable by-product of this program is in helping to preserve family togetherness. Working together at home or on the farm, 4-H young people and their parents develop warm comradeship and a deep spiritual bond of family unity and cooperation. Can you think of a program that can do more to preserve de mocracy and to help keep America strong? No wonder then the 4-H program, whose motto is “To make the best better”, yields such rich dividends to our country. It is for these reasons that we are this week observing National 4-H Club Week. FttUNt OO U I I 11 I I I' II no" •*** o<* v°ur ,,,e, I most of us, when the kids are in the car, you get that “extra careful” feeling. You know, that’s the same way your friend—the service station dealer—feels when you stop by to see him. Over the years, you’ve probably come to take your service station dealer pretty much for granted. But when your kids are riding with you, aren’t you glad you took his advice and had your brakes checked? His sugges tions—small though they may seem to be— may have saved your life more than once. His interest in your safety is more than interest in a customer—it’s concern about a friend. And what a valuable "extra" if your own service station gives you S&H Green Stamps. You know, of course, that half the families in America save them. Your S&H Green Stamps make it possible for you to choose from over 1,500 top quality, famous brand-name items at yoor S&H Green Stamp Redemption Store. 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