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Semi - Weekly
EIGHT PAGES
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VOLUME XX VII 1
: PLATTSMOUTH. NEBRASKA. THURSDAY, A1MCILUO, 1908.
NUMItUIl 1(1
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TC3E ROLIER SKATE
A Pastime of World-Wide Popularity is En
joying a Tremendous Vogue Just
Nor, and Plattsmouth is Right
in the Swim,
Plattsmouth in common with the rest
of the country is in the throes of a
growing roller skating craze. From
the mysterious absurity which aban
doned fads the roller skate emerged
into new life four years ago and daily
is gaining in popularity. Promoted by
Young America, its fascinations are
appealing to all ages, and is evidenced
by the kids, who are seen on the streets
occasionly, occupying the principal
portion of the sidewalks.
The roller skating fad attacks the
country periodically. The history of the
pastime includes "crazeof 1S84," "the
craze of 1866" and even more remote
dates distinctly marked by a national
or international indulgence in the sport.
The Beginning of Roller Skating
Holler skating has an existence dat
ing as far back as 1319, when it was
invented by a Frenchman. The first
roller skates were very crude, weigh
ing perhaps five pound.-, and having
rollers an inch and a quarter wide and
about two and a half inches in diame
ter. From 1820 to 1S74, however,
hardly a year elapsed without a roller
skate being patented which was an im
provement upon its predecessor, and by
1S76 it had reached such a state of per
fection that in minor details only was
in inferior to our present day skate.
The roller skate owes its existence
principally to one man W. F. Plimp
ton an Englishman, who made at least
a dozen improvements on the skate
and did more than any other to bring
it to its present condition.
The roller skating craze first appeared
in England in 1S64. Its vogue did not
confine itself to children and young
people, but took hold of middle aged
ani elderly persons as well. The fol
lowing extract from the London Society
of 1S75 may give an idea to what ex
tent this was true:
"The rollers have a fascination for all
ages and even under the greatest dis
advantages. This is not so remarkable
with proficients who can but hobble
like cats in pattens. We have seen
ladies of a good half hundred persevere
through all the fatigues of the goose
step (a stjde of skating of that period)
with a degree of energy worthy, if
possible, of a better cause. We have
seen ladies of a 'certain age' that is
certainly aged with some twelve stone
to carry on the wheels, thinking it
never too late to begin; we have seen
one grandmamma and several gentle
men of three score years arid ten, who
seemed to us, Tristram Shandy says of
aged-students, as if they were qualify
ing to practice in the world to come."
Not only was roller skating indulged
in by young and old alike, but it soon
became the principal pastime of Lon
don high soc-iety, and numerous skating
clubs were organized. The craze soon
spread to other cities and every town
of importance throughout England had
its skating club. By 1S67 it became
almost more popular than dancing and
the newspapers and fashion plates were
filed with the "latest" in skating cos
tumes. In the early .'40s skates were used by
L-allet dancers and proved a great suc
cess; in fact the opera "Los Plaslrs do
riliver," which was produced at Her
.Majesty's theatre. London, owed its
Fv.ccec;-, to its ballet ox roller skaters.
Pi33t:iur.nt Wallers on Skates.
In Eerli.i. in ltZl, som-3 skating wait
resses, dressed i:i farcy costunvis and
r.-.ovir.g on wheel skale.s were intro
Journal Office Removed.
Our friends will please bear in mind
that the Journal has been removed to
its own home in the west one-third of
the Watermen block, where we will be
glad to meet all our patrons, and espec
ially these who desire to pay their sub
scription or are in need of job work,
our facilities for which are unequalled
by any print shop in Nebraska. Come
and see us when you want the best.
duced into the beer houses of that cityf
as an additional attraction to the sol
diers, students and other frequenter
of the Kneipe. It is strange that this
idea has not been copied by some of
our modern caterers. Who can tell but
that it might solve the quick service
problem, and it would undoubtedly add
amusement to cafe patrons to see their
waiter or waitress doing fancy "stunts"
on their skates while carrying their
longed for dinner.
In 1866 the roller skating "fever"
broke out in Australia and soon spread
to the United States and Canada. New
York and Cincinnati were the first to
get the craze, other cities soon followed
and by 1868 almost every city and town
of the United States was in the midst
of a roller skating craze, known in
skating history as "The craze of 1S66."
The rink of the New York Skating
asscc:ation was the first in America.
Holler skating .in those days confined
itself solely to rinks. This, however,
is not hard to understand and as the
roads and sidewalks in thesa days were
not what they are at present.
The skaters of that day were by no
mean3 behind us in rink skating as they
were thoroughly acquainted with the
waltz, three-step and polka. They also
induldged in "skatir.g" of which the
modern skater is unacquainted, namely,
the grand march, which was skated in
much the same manner as at a ball.
One of the most recent forms of rol
ler skates is the two-wheeled variety,
the wheels made of hard rubber. This
skate was much used on streets and
roads, but a more recent ball bearing
skate has proved more satisfactory for
this line of spoi t.
A Motor Sitate the Lates.
The very latest is the motor roller
skate, invented by M. Constantini of
Paris, who has perfected many devices
for automobiles. The skate is run by a
gasoline motor. The use of the rubber
.wheels is to give it a very smooth run
ning movement. On the back of each
skate is a small sheet iron box which
contains the battery and spark coil.
From this box a pair of wires protected
by rubber tubing passes up to the
leather belt which the skater wears,
and upon this belt is placed the switch
by which one is able to make or break
the ignition circuit when one wishes to
start or stop the motor or to regulate
its speed. On the back part of the
belt is fixed a srr.all gasoline tank
which feeds the motor. Each motor
weighs 8.8 pounds and contains one
fourth of a gallon cf gasoline for every
thirty-five miles traveled. The weight
of the skates complete is 13.2 pounds
and can ran from three to twenty-five
miles an hour. 'I. Constantini has
given the new skate a very thorough
trial and it has proved to be a success.
Since 1SG6 the roller skating craze
has appeared at intervals, only to die
out again. The most recent of these
previous to the present one was in
1SS4 5, but it soon shared the fate of
its predecessors. Strange as it may
seem, the craze visits all countries at
the Fame time. At this moment skat
ing rinks are flourishing in England,
Australia and France.
The present craze started in 1904.
How long in will last no one . can tell,
but if it continues to grow as it has in
the past year or so, it may be a com
mon thing t: see business men skating
ta work m the morning and women out
shopping on their "rollers."
Will Sui!d a New Heme.
This morning Henry Born come in
and took out a load of lumber and the
carpenters, who will begin on the r.ew
residence which Mr. Eorn is building on
his farm west of the city. Hem y is go
ing to have a house which will be both
comfortable and commodious. Baxter
Smith and Herman Teiketter are doing
the work, having just completed the
home of Ed Treitssch, just south of the
farm of Mr. Born, where thev are now
working.
NEBRASKA IS
GOING SOME
Hearly Two Millions Paid Out
for Automobiles Alone.
A special from Lincoln says: "The
people of this state have spent for au
tomobiles in the last twelve months in
the neighborhood of $1,841,000 enough
money to wipe out the state debt. This
is basing the total on an average price
of $1,400 a car, and that is the figure
given by a local dealer, who says the
C?rs he has sold this summer averaged
that price. But cutting down the aver
age price paid to $1,000, it would make
a total of $1,315,000 paid out for new
automobiles between April 26, 1907 and
April 25, 1908.
The records in the office of the secre
tary of state show that between the
dates mentioned there were registered
1,315 automobiles; during the year from
April 25, 1906 to April 25, 1907, there
were registered 640 machines, or less
than one-half the number registered the
year previous when there was no bank
flurry. The law requiring automobile
owners to register them went into ef
fect July 1, 1905, and at the close of
business April 25, 1906, there were reg
istered 659 machines; a year later there
were on file 1,299 registers, while at
this time there are 2.614 automobiles
registered.
During 1908 up to April 25, there
were registered 470 automobiles, while
for the same time last year there were
registered 211. That the bank flurry
failed to injure the automobile trade is
shown by the monthly registrations, as
follows: October, 88; November, 72;
December, 32; January, 59; February,
39; March, 141; April up to 26th. 231."
Suggestion to the City Council.
The contract for the lowering of the
streets and doing the repaving, which
is to be let by the city council next
Thursday, at the meeting which is to be
held at that time, it should be understood
that preference be given to Plattsmouth
labor. Considering the stringency of
the times, the lack of steady employ
ment now, and during the past winter,
it has placed many a laboring man in a
position that the little work which this
contract will afford, would be of great
benefit to them, as it would carry them
over to a time of better employment.
Were it so that there was a scarcity of
labor to ba had it would be different.
But as it is now there is plenty of labor
and that which can do the work and
who are desirous of an opportun;ty to
earn a dollar.
In the letting of the contract the
council should insist on the observance
of the giving of Plattsmouth men the
preference. From this place comes the
money to pay the contract and to this
place should return the amount paid for
wages. It is a matter which should be
looked after, and not allowed to slip
away unnoticed.
A Reminiscense of Former Days
Says the Lincoln Herald: Wednes
day was Arbor Day and the observance
of it called forth many incidents in the
life of J. Sterling Morton, . founder of
the day. Most people who know any
thing of the life of Morton believe he
was always a democrat but such is not
the case. In 1884, when Ben Butler of
Massachusetts was candidate for presi
dent on the greenback ticket, Morton
was candidate for governor of Nebraska
on the same ticket and L. C. Pace of
this city for lieutenant governor. J. M.
Patterson of Plattsmoth, Capt. W. H
Ashy of Beatrice and Dr. II. S. Aley
of Cedar county were presidential elec
tors on the same ticket. We have one
of the old tickets in our scrap book and
ir is an interesting souvenir.
Returned From Ths 'h
Ed. Fitzgerald returned home last
evening from a trip to Bridgeport,
where the Slater-Fitzgerald Stock com
pany have their ranch and where he
conveyed the new manager, W. H.
Lair. Mr. Fritzgerald says that there
is a tendency towards a scarcity of
water in the western portion of the
state. While in the west he was in the
city cf Gering, and there met Rev. D.
A. Youtzy, whom he reports as preach
ing good sermons and selling land.
J. L Burns Discharged.
In the case against J. L. Burrs by
state, charging him with selling intoxi
cating liquors without a license and on
Sunday, was tried in county court to
day. County Attorney C. A. Rawls
prosecuted, while A. L. Tidd defended,
and a large number of witnesses wrere
summoned. In the summing up of the
issues the judge discharged the defend
ant, as it was only proven he sold cider,
and that was made from apples as one
testified who furnished it, and the de
fendant was accordingly discharged.
Departs for South Dakota.
Fred Hesse departed this morning for
Gregory, S. D., where he will accept a
situation and make his home there with
the, intention of filing on a homestead
when the Tripp county reservation
opens this summer. There being no call
for employment here, he thinks he can
do as well at that place as here and be
in position to know what is developing
in respect to the land question, -and take
advantage of the opportunities offered.
BOIlEHinn TURNERS
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
Dy Courtesy of the Order at
Omaha and South Omaha
Was Held Here Satur- '
day Evening
This annual exhibition comes every
year just before the district tourna
ment, for the states of the west, which
is composed of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas,
North and South Dakota and Colorado,
and this year is held at Omaha. The
meeting of last Saturday consisted of a
very interesting program, which was as
follows: The opening number was the
address of Joseph Mik, training master,
which was about fifteen minutes in
length, and in -which he took up the
good features of the turning classes,
showing a better development of the
physique and a more evenly balanced
man throughout.
This talk was very interesting and
instructive. The next to follow, was
the young boys '.drill in calisthenics, and
was put through by a class of twelve,
after which was a calisthenic drill by
the Omaha, South Omaha and Platts
mouth members combined and about 25
in number.
Plattsmouth and South Omaha then
preformed on paralel bars, while Om
aha did some feats on the horazontal
bar, with South Omaha and Plattsmouth
following on the long horse, and Omaha
on the double bars. The came the most
difficult feature of the evening when
Omaha preformed on the side horse,
they did this nicely. Tben followed an
address by Frank Riho an instructor,
and Frank Schlatinsky of Omaha, who
has been the instructor for the classes
here, also instructor of the western
division.
The District tournement, will be held
in Omaha, on the 31 of July and the 1st
and 2nd of August.
The program was followed by a dance,
in" which all who participated,thorough
iy enjoyed themselves. The class here
to take part in the exercises were. V.
Pilney, Robert and James Rebal, Chas.
Hardroba, R. Hollv and Louis Jarand,
the later of which was not present be
ing in South Dakota.
SPENDS YEAR
IN GERf.lANY
L G. Sharpe Returned From a
Sojourn of More Than a
Year onfheGontinant
Going to the continent some fourteen
months since in the interest of a cer
tain German syndicate which were ii
troducing some American machinery in
the factories of that place, L. C.
Sharpe prolonged his stay from time to
time until his absence from home ex
tended to over a year. He had only
expected to have stayed for a few
months when he departed, but finding
much to do in the matter of his mission
he continued there until but a few
weeks since. He was with the manu
facturer of certain machinery, among
which was the construction of some
can-making machines, a number of
which were made and with prospects
for a number more. In conversation
with Mr. Sharpe he said to a reporter
of this paper that he was pretty well
pleased with Germany, and .while it
did not anywhere compare with Amer
ica, but considering the money strin
gency which now exists here, he noticed
there was a little freer circulation in the
old country than here. The people are
very well satisfied there and do not feel
so anxious to go ahead as here; they
are not of that restless nature which is
a characteristic of the American. While
the wages are smaller that the work
man draws in Germany their living ex
penses also are lower, and consequently
the people are as well satisfied. In re
turning from the east Mr. Sharpe says
that he notices the marked change from
the time when he departed for Europe,
over a year ago. He will remain in the
city for the present and make his home
here, caring for his mother, who has
been alone during hi3 absence. Mr.
Sharpe disposed of his business in Om
aha some time since at this time in not
interested in any manufacturing enter
prises in that city.
he
iEUGNTED
Address of Will C. Ramsey Proved Very In
foresting to All Attendants at the Presby
terian Church Sunday Evening.
At the Christian Endeavor last even
ing at the Presbyterian church, Will C.
Ramsey gave the second address on the
work of Josiah Storey, entitled the
Challenge of the City," taking up the
third and fourth chapters. The sub
topics of which was the "City in
Modern Civilization," and the "Factors
of the Problem."
The first, "The Place of the City in
Modern Civilization," as the city, num
bers more than the rural in population,
its influence is felt more strongly than
that of the county, from the fact that
it is more pronounced by the popula
tion being more concentrated. He said
that a new patriotism was growing,
and with every year was showing it
self more and more in which the christ
ian spirit denominated. The unselfish
ness of many in the struggle towards
the better and a higher life, which is
to be the object resulting from the
struggles through which the civilized
society of the present day is passing.
While the worst element predominates
in the selections and the worse element
of society can be constrolled for the
placing in the way of the world's pro
gress for a better condition; this ele
ment, the saloon, was being gradually
eliminated, and as an instance he cited
a certain person who had recently gone
out of the business in this city, who
has said that, within three years it
would be a question of getting a license
to conduct a business in this city or
state. Under the head of "Factors of
the Problem" he cited environments as
one of the strongest factors for de
termining the future life and character
of a person, and while this was so he
said that there were people who arose
above the environments and become
greater even by the hindrances placed
in their way. As an instance of the
influence of environments, he cited the
case of the present King of England
and Emperor of Germany, they both
having an English mother and a Ger
man father, but one having been raised
in England was an Englishman, while
the other being raised in German was
a German. Thus showing that environ
ments was the chief factor in the mak
ing of the character which should dom
inate the future life. The environ
ments which go to make up influences
which are to determine the future of
the country as it bears upon the char
acter of the citizens which it is making,
are the home, the street, the school,
TWENTY THOUS
' FOB BRYAH
St2ts Poll Shows That the Peerless i
Mas Ihs State-Republicans Ap
peal to Tart for $150,C?3 ' ,
A special to the World-Herald from
Lincoln, under date of April 25, says:
' 'Mystery and alertness and anticipation
have been manifested among the faith
ful machine lieutenants since the silent
and clammy meetings of the executive
committee of the republican state cen
tral committee at the Lindell hotel last
Wednesday evening.
"Taft has been called upon to grease
the wheels. Furthermore the repub
lican national committee will also have
to grease the wheels and it will take
about $lo0,000 to do the lubricating.
"In order that these things might be
discussed safely and secretly no report
ers were admitted The basis of the
demand for cash is the assertion of the
executive committee of the effect that
a quiet poll shows that the state is for
Bryan by about 20,000. Work must be
begun early. It was whispered at the
meeting that the Taft promotion fund
has grown from $300,900 to 5300,000
and part of this money might be very
profitably be used in Nebraska. Then
Taft, for the patriots conceded that he
will be the republican nominee would
not be at a disadvantage in Bryan's
state. -
"Money, brains, organization and ef
fort it will take, all these asserted the
republican counsellors. The barrel cus
n
the industry, amusements, and the
church. Regarding this, the speaker
said that the home was the unit upon
whose welfare depended the success or
failure of the state. The home is
governed by three laws Love, Service
and Sacrifice and in the home, as we
look at it, we find these three laws
governing, where the beat results are
to be attained. New York City waa
used for an example to illustrate what
conditions obtained there and what an
influence those conditions exerted upon
society. The tenement house, with its
thousands of people in one building and
numbers in one room; in many in
stances in a small room, not larger
than 12 by 18 feet, as many as a dozen
to twenty people lived without a single
window in some instances and very im
pure air, bad sanitary conditions, and
much worse social conditions. The in
fluence of such home assoc iations were?
of the worse- character, and in New
York City alone there dwellt under
such circumstances as mucli as two
thirds of her population, of over 2,000,
000 people, more than the population
of anyone of 36 states of the Union.
These surroundings showed that over
35 per cent of the population of that
portion of the city died with the dread
disease consumption. The next influ
ence was the street, which was the
play ground of the children with it.s
contaminating characteristics. Then
school statistics v Mled rhovved
that on entering school c.c boys were
blessed with 85 per cent good health
and at the time of graduation it had
been reduced to 35 per cent, while they
after having left school again returned
t: 70 per cent, thus sustaining a loss
of 15 per cent which was not recovered.
In the case of the girls their state of
health wa3 only 73 on entering and on
graduation was as low as 17, and only
attained a per centage of 35 after hav
ing left school, thus being only about
one in three healthy women after hav
ing passed through the New York
schools. The remainder of the influ
ences were not given, as the meeting
was closed a little early in order to al
low those there to attend the union
services at the Christain chureh.
Clinton G. Wood favored the meeting
with a solo, "Thy Will be Done." T -
subject to be taken up at .' e last
meeting of the Endeavor will t the
two following chapters. Subjects
treated will be "The People," ar.d
"The Message of Jesus. "
todians will be so advised. It is ex
pected that a noticable effect of this
advice will soon be detected and the
state committee will be amply supplied
with funds."
Learn Them Better
The following from the Nebraska City
News is applicable to Plattsmouth a.s
well, and some people in this city should
be made to know that they are liable to
a fine every time they do so: "People
lay nice sidewalks at great expense a:;d
take, pride in them and there are some
people who seem to have r.o regard
for the property or rights of others and
drive over and break up these walks.
There is an ordinance against driving
over sidewalks under any circumstance
and an enforcement or two would cause
these people to not on'y respect the
law, but regard the rights of otheis as
well as their property."
Daalh cf J. W. Tclsnt!
J. W. Tcland passed away at Aurora,
Nebraska, on Tuesday, April 21, 1'jO'-,
after serious illness of several w eek3 of
asthma and lung trouble. The deceased
was one of the pioneer citzens of Cass
county, and for many jears a citizen of
Greenwood. He removed about fifteen
years ago with his family to Aurora,
where they have since resided. The
funeral of Mr. Toland occurred Thurs
day, April 23, from his late home in
Aurora.
The Riley Hotel is having a retaining
wall placed at the rear of the building
to keep the dirt from washing in on the
pavement at the kitchen door.
MI