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
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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
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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.
NEBRASKA DIVISION
The Sperry and Hutchinson Company
1025 0 Street Lincoln, Nebraska
An American Way of Thrift
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