Nebraska State Histc
cal Society
tnowtb
VOL. XXXVL
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, MAY 19, 1919.
No. 95.
Journal.
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HOW Ml vES
con FULFILL
ED HIS MISSION
LETTER FROM WAH-WAH-TAY.
SEE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' FOR
EIGN REPRESENTATIVE
Jeanne 0!ry, for Whose Benefit the
Movie at Parmele Tonight is
Given Attend It.
From Thursday-! )..
Commercj. France. March 25.
"VVah wahtayee Camp Fire (Jirls,
I'lattsmouth, Nebraska.
Dear Cirls:
Greetings from France and your
little French orphan Jeanne Olry.
I have at last found her, talked to
her, been in her home and delivered
your presents to her, all of which
made her very happy and proved to
be a most interesting- and delightful
experience to me. You have a very
charming little protege, and if you
had appointed a committee and sent
thtm over here to search this poor
maddened land of France for the
nicest orphan they could find I dont
believe they could have made a
better selection.
Jeanne 03ry is a very bright win
some little French girl of 10 years,
slight" in build, hut plump and fair
cf face. She has black hair and
bright sparkling brown eyes. I
picked her up and would judge she
weiehs about 4o pounds. She is
about as large as well I can't
think of any girl there her size but
she is about as tall as Edgar Wes
cott but a little more sletder. She
is bright and intelligent and mod
e;t and neat, clean and withal a
little girl that any of you would be
proud to have in your honae. She
Is far above the average French
cl.ilJ that you find this close to the
battle zone or "advance sector." as
tiis-5 territory around here is called.
Now ycu want to know how 1
found her and how I know she is
bright and intelligent. Well I have
been a long time getting at this
job and It will take me a long time
to tell you all about it longer than
I 'have time tonight but when 1
get home I will give you all the de
tails and I am sure you will enjoy
It as I did
She lives in the little town where
you address her Pagny sur Meuse.
That means Pagny on the( Meuse
river.- In France they hare several
towns by the same name I sup
pose they run out of names because
there are fo many towns so they
r?e?ignate them by adding some
thing to it. If you will take a map
of France and look at the north
eastern portion up near the border
of Alsace-Lorraine you will see the
Meuse river which has become quite
Liberie in this great war, especial
ly to us Americans as it was in the
valleys and along the heights com
manding this river that the Yanks
did the most cf their fighting and
it is cn these hillsides that many of
our valient dead are sleeping. Your
map may not show Pagny sur Meuse
but it probably will show Commercy
and about 20 miles southeast you
will find Toul. This Pagny is about
half way between Commercy and
Toul. It is a typical little French
village nestled down in a valley next
to the hillside on the east. As you
approach from the west you can see
the red tiled roofs and the big
church spire Just over an arched
stone bridge that crosses the Meuse.
As you drop down into the nar
row French streets, unlike ours be
cause there are no sidewalks, you
pass many little narrow alleys or
lsnes which like the main street.
wind and twist, which mike you
think cf the crooked man that lived
In a crooked city etc. It was one
of there little alleys or crooked
lanes that I found your Jeanne and
her humble little home. Let me
say right now before I forget it that
one of the first things that greeted
me in this dirty little French alley
was a tiny American flag In the
window of Jeanne's home. You
can imagine how strange and yet
how welcome and homelike it look
ed to me. That was the first Indi
cation to me that I had found the
right place.
Jeanne was not at home when I
arrived at her door but at one of
the neighbors a few doors away.
The French boy who was directing
me found her aunt first and she
ushered me into a little low ceil
ing dark unpainted room, which
nevertheless was as clean and neat
as hands could make it. Presently
Jeanne and her mother came in and
as I reached out my hand to little
Jeanne she greeted me with a
unite, and without the least hesita
tion or backwardness "Bonjour-
Monseiur. with a confidence as
though a long expected friend had
arrived. I 60on discovered why it
was she was looking for me and
no doubt wondering why I had been
so long coming. Her mother
brought out a small letter box and
handed me first a letter from Clara
Mae telling her about the Camp
Fire Girls, who you were, and what
you were trying to do. There In
the list was my own daughter's
name. I pointed to it and told
them that was Alois hlle my
daughter. Then they gave me a
letter or rather two letters from
Virginia Beeson in one of which
she told of my departure for France
and of the package I had for their
little adopted friend. That was
written in November, and probably
reached her about Xmas time and
no doubt she has been looking for
this " American Santa Claus to ap
pear ever since. After I had read
the letters and was quite convinced
that this was the very Jeanne Olry
that I was looking for I began to
unwrap the package and hand out
the various articles before the
wondering eyes cf the now quite
large group around the center
table, because beside Jeanne and
her mother, there was her aunt, her
old merry faced grandmother, her
brother whoee picture I enclose, a
neighbor woman, the French boy
that piloted me and the American
soldier boy who is one of our driv
ers, and nobody enjoyed it more
than he did. He said on the way
back that that was the" happiest
little episode he had witnessed In
France.
Well, girls, I can't .take time to
tell 'ou all the story tonight. Suf
fice to say, Jeanne's father was
killed at the terrible battle of the
Marne. on Sept. 14, 1914, in the
very beginning of the war. She
and her mother and brother and
grandmother have been through all
he horrors of the past four years.
They have known the Eickening
fear of the near approach of the
German beasts, they have fled Into
cellars and caves for safety from
ihe deadly air raids and most of
all, they long for "the touch of a
vanished hand and the sound of a
voice that is forever still." This
brings us to a close up view of
what France has suffered to keep
back the Hun and rid the world of
bis fiendish designs. Jeanne said
she had sent you her photo so I
will not enclose the one she gave
me. bne wrote ner name on tne
back of mine and "une petite
Francoise" which I think means "a
little French girl." That's why I
say she Is bright because her
schooling has no doubt been limit
ed the past 4 years, and yet he
writes as readily as many of our
American girls at her age.
I told her mother and grandmoth
er that I was going to take her
home with me to America but they
said no they couldn't spare her. If
it were not that the French gov
ernment forbids it I think I should
tease her away or borrow her for
awhile so you girls could Bee her
and have her 'in your homes for
awhile. How would you like that?
I promised to take her to Toul with
me some day as we go through her
town on the way there and In fact
I stopped yesterday to get her bu
she was in school. Her aunt said
that a week from "Jendl" or
Thursday- would be a holiday and
if I can arrange it will take her
over with me then. I left a couple
of bars of Y. M. C. A. chocolate for
her yesterday and so I am looking
after her the best I can although I
confess I was quite late In getting
on the Job.
Now I trust this will do for my
first report and hope it will make
a little more personal and' real to
you the object of your tender heart
ed generosity and Interest In a little
French girl you have never seen or
known. There are many others in
mis iana equally needy. May we
all learn to be unselfish In our
thought and service to' others.
Sincerely,
Your foreign representative,
C. C. WESCOTT,
PLEADS GUIL
TY AS ACCES
SORY TO ACT
JAMES SMELLEY CONFESSES TO
BEING MIXED UP IN MUR
RAY BURGLARY.
GETS FROM ONE TO TEN YEARS
Had Been Headed Toward Peniten
tiary for Some Time Laid
Blame on Another
From Friday's Dally.
Putting up the same story he used
on a former occasion wnen ne was
arrested here charged with robbing
the Fricke fuel office and the West
ern Machine Works, James Smelley,
in pleading guilty to complicity in
the robbery of the Puts & Gansemer
store at Murray a few night ago,
laid the actual commission of the
crime on another, and unknown man.
whom he chose to name as "George
Who-do-you-calt-him" and whom he
said made bis escape after the act
was done. ,
In pleading guilty Smelley admit
ted that he carried the bar which
was used to force the entrance into
the store window, stood watch while
his companion entered the place, and
then carried the bar back to the liv
ery stable where he is employed, but
did not himself enter the building.
He then declared insomuch as his
companion had gotten away, "I sup
pose I will have to stand for it."
After he had pleaded guilty in
the county court before Judge Bee-
son, he was bound over to the dis
trict court. When the case oanie on
for hearing before Judge' Begley the
same plea was entered, whereupon
the Judge in a very pointed lecture
called the young man's attention to
the gravity of the crime which he
had committed and gave him an in
determinate sentence of not less than
one year nor more than ten years at
bard labor in the state penitentiary
at Lincoln. He was placed in Jail
until such time as be can be taken
to the state prison.
Although the amount of money
taken from the store was not in ex
cess of $25, the fact that entry was
forcibly made and that under cover
of darkness makes the act constitute
burglary, and the amount stolen
does not make eo much difference.
Smelley has been mixed up In sev
eral previous escapades, but always
managed to escape doing time in the
penitentiary until the present in
stance.
JESSE TOWER COMES
HOME FROM FRANCE
Where He Saw Active Service for
More Than a Year Glad to
Get Back Again.
Froni Friday' Dally.
After having been in France for
over a year, and not having seen his
relatives and friends here for a much
greater length of time, Jesse Tower
stepped off the morning Burlington
train from the west this morning,
into the arms of happy relatives, and
shouted his gladness at being home
again until be was smothered with
kisses and ktndred greetings.
With the war over, he was more
than pleased when the ship bring
ing him back had landed and much
more pleased when he was able to
Jump off the train this morning into
the arms of his father, sister and
family. Jesse has been in France
for about a year, and during most
of that time has been in the medical
corps, where there was plenty of
work to do. and as long as he was
needed, he was ever ready and will
ing to do his bit, but with the clos
ing' of the conflict he began to long
for the day when he mlirht asratn
see his friends and loved ones and
that day has now come.
SADDLE LOST.
On the public highway somewhere
between the Joe Wiles corner and
the Eight Mile Creek. Frnder please
notify Wm. Rummtl.
GOES TO OMAHA TO MEET SON.
From Friday's Dally.
This afternoon G. II. Tarns, su
perintendent of the county farm, de
parted for Omaha, where he goes to
meet his son, John Tanis, who re
turned last night from the service,
being discharged at Camp Dodge
yesterday, after having arrived from
overseas but a short time ago.
Mr. Tarns rejoices at the safe re
turn o fih is son and displayed a smile
of genuine gladness as he boarded
the train for Omaha and one could
fairly see joy bubbling from the aged
father's face as he talked of meeting
his son again.
While he made his home in Oma
ha prior to entering the service, John
Tarns is really a Plattsmouth boy,
having grown to manhood here, and
he 'will accompany his father to this
city this afternoon for a visit.
CHARGED WITH
BEING INSANE
Newton Bronson. For Many Years
A Resident of Louisville, is
Ordered Arrested.
From Friday's Dally.
For some time the citizens of
Louisville have been purzling over
what to do with a citizen who has
made that thriving city hi3 abiding
place for "nigh onto forty years' but
who is at the present time financial
ly unable ,to care for himself and
having no visible means of support.
Many of the people at Louisville are
endeavoring to have him make his
home at the county farm which he
is reluctant about doing. In order
to get a hearing complaint has been
filed charging hjin with possessing
an unbalanced mind, and a warrant
was issued today for his arrest. He
wilt accordingly be taken into cus
tody and given a hearing" inthenear
future.
BERT SPIES ARRIVES
HOME LAST NIGHT
A One-Time Journal Employe Back
From-Overseas Service In
Field Signal Service.
From Friday's Dally.
Bert Spies, well known here, ar
rived home on the midnight Mis
souri Pacific train last night, being
very glad to see the old town of
Plattsmouth again.
Bert enlisted about two years ago
and was over seas for about seven
months being engaged in Field Sig
nal work. Prior to his departure for
the battle area of Europe he was lo
cated at Gamp Dix. N J., for some
little time.
On his return trip he came on the
U. S. S. Sibonay, sailing from Brest,
France, on April 18th and arriving
in America on April 27th. He was
discharged at Camp Dodge Wednes
day of this week. May 14th. Bert
was for a long time an employe of
the Journal office, going to New York
to learn linotype operation and
mechanism during the time he work
ed here. Later after severing his
connection with the Journal he was
employed at various places over the
country, holding a position at Co
lumbus at the time of his entry into
the service.
We are sure pleased to see this es
timable young man home safe and
sound but none the more so than is
he or are his folks at his presence
here.
FROM THE "SHOW ME" STATE.
From Friday's Dally.
"Jack Wittenburg has a Tin Liz
zie that has turned several flip
flops and made several tail-spins
since he has owned her, but the
climax came the other day when
she climbed a tree." reports the
Lexington, (Mo.) News. "Jack -was
delivering groceries and when op
posite a retaining wall Lizzie sud
denly and without warning veered
her course and headed for the re-
! tainine wall, went over it and
landed in the top of a convenient
shade tree. Jack 'cooned' it down
the tree arid got to earth without a
scratch. He then built a platform
! and had to back Lizzie down, and
j found her only damage a broken
radius tod."
Subscribe for the Journal.
TWO MORE OF
OUR BOYS RE
TURN HOME
CHAS. R. KUSHINSKY AND EAR
NEST MUTCHELOTT DIS
CHARGED FRIDAY
HOME LOOKS GOOD TO THEM
And They Are Glad to be Relieved
of the Routine of Amy Life Af-
ter Long Months of It.
From Saturday's Dally.
Two more Plattsmouth boys arriv
ed home this morning, they being
Charles R. Kushinsky and Earnest
Mutchelott.
Both of these young men were
mighty glad to see the old town and
home folks again. Each has seen
considerable service overseas.
Mr. Kushinsky enlisted at Alli
ance and sailed from Newport News,
being in Europe for some se,en
months. In order to keep his people
from knowing he changed his name
around and made it read Robert C.
Kuskinsky. He arrived las.t night
in Omaha from Camp Dodge and at
that early hour in the morning (one
o'clock) called his sister up telling
her to come down to the Burlington
station this morning to get a bird
which he was sending her, but the
biid proved to be himself and she
was sure pleased that it was.
From off the same train stepped
Earnest Mutchelott, looking like a
giant, which he very nearly is, and
without even awaiting for the nod
of a friend, made tracks toward Win
terstein hill and the home over there
where his mother, whom he had not
seen for months, was waiting pati
ently her boy's return. We could
hardly stop hira long enough to get
a meagre amount of information in
regard to his return, so anxious was
fre to reach home.
Both boys arrived in the United
States on May third and were dis
charged at Camp Dodge yesterday.
Both they and their friends and rel
atives here are glad they are home
once more.
One by one the boys are coming
back and soon the Plattsmouth cir
cle of service men will be as com
plete as it will ever be possible to
make it. Those who have paid the
price in full by giving up their very
lives, will be missed, honored and
levered, while those who re'turn will
be welcomed with gladness and all
should appreciate the service they
have rendered in our behlf.
Chester Tuey, John Wiekman and
Mr. Kushinsky were all in the same
camp at San Francisco. Mr. Wick
man being discharged from the west
ern camp, the other two going over.
Mr. Tuey returned some time since
and Mr. Kushinsky's coming today
completes the circle of comrades who
were together in the west.
GIANT SEA-PLANES
MAKING PROGRESS
American Trans-Atlantic Flyers Are
On Their Way Elements
Are Favorable.
The large American hydro-planes
engaged in attempting a trans-Atlantic
flight were in the air all night
last night and a flash over .the wires
at the Burlington station this morn
ing stated the Yank flyers had pass
ed the eleventh boat in the line be
tween America and the Azores Just
before day-break this morning, go
ing at the rate of about 70 miles an
hour. If the Atlantic can be cross
ed in an aeroplane surely none oth
er than an American will be first to
accomplish the feat.
FOR SALE 2 HERFORD BULLS
I have for sale, two roung high
bred registered Herford bulls, four
teen and fifteen months of age re
spectively. Inquire of Fred T.
Ramge. Phones 102 and 532,
Plattsmouth. Neb. 6-tfw
T7all Paper, Paints, Glass, Picture
Framing. Frank Gobe'man.
ROBERT WELLS VERY SICK.
From Thursday's I"oIIj-
Robert Wells of this city, is re
ported as being very sick at his
home having been confined to his
bed for the past two weeks or more,
and not being able to get out of the
houe. The patient has been get
ting in a worse condition, and has
for the past few days been consid
ered very sick, so much so that
word was sent for his children, Mrs
Orvil Stiles and his sen Harvey
Wells, who were living at St. Joe,
Mo., to come heme, they arriving
yesterday morning. Geo. Bussard,
a brcther-in-la w, and wife were al
so notified to come, and arrived
last evening. It is hoped that he
may show improvement in a short
time.
RETURNS FROM SER
VICE OVERSEAS
Marion Dickson Arrived Home Yes
terday Was in the Aviation
Department Long Time
From Friday's Dally.
Marion Dickson, who early in the
war volunteered his services to his
country and left a lucrative posi
tion in civil life that he might aid
in defeating the Hun hordes, arriv
ed home yesterday morning, having
received his discharge from the ser
vice but a short time ago. Marion
enlisted in the Aviation department
and went over at the same time Don
ald" E. Arries did, being with him for
a short time, but through the exi
gencies cf the service, the two be
came separated after which the two
only saw each other occasionally.
It was a pleasure for this young
man to j-erve his country in au hour
when his services were needed, but
when the end came he felt that his
place was at home where" he could
be doing something for his folks and
consequently he was much pleased at
being permitted to return home just
now. Marion is an excellent young
man and will make good here, as
he did in the service and we are glad
to have him back among us again.
SURPRISED HER MOTHER.
From Friday's Daily.
Wednesday being the birthday of
Mrs. Fred Patterson, her daughter
Miss Effa planned a little surprise
and invited in a few cf her friends.
Miss Effa gave a reading, also a
four minute talk on "Mother" while
Miss Clara Wiekman gave one on
Home," which were greatly en
joyed by all.
A delicious luncheon was served.
Miss Effa was assisted by Miss Clara
Wiekman, Mrs. B. Kettelson and
Mrs. T. O. Wilson. Those present
were Mrs. J. S. Hall, Mrs. B. Kettel
son, Mrs. M. Archer. Mrs. F. Lehn
hoff. Mrs. N. Brittain. Mrs. Wm.
DeWolf, Mrs. F. Patterson. Mrs. T.
O. Wilson, Miss Mable DeWolf.' Miss
Mahle Brittain. Miss Clara Wick
man and Miss Effa Patterson.
CXul 3sSf tJNDER (feyi flj?
J GOVERNMENT ' J
How Much for Clothes?
Yes, and how much for food, for rent, for amuse
ment, for charity?
Money is coming freely thes; days for most of you
men; the spending of it of necessity is largely in the
hands of the wife. Women do 80 of the family
buying.
Fortunate is the housewife who is given an allowance,
a bank account and a check book for her convenience.
For she can always know just what goes out for the
family expenses.
First National IBank,
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
MEMBER
FEDERAl'E$ERVE
SYSTEM
CONTRACT IS
LET FOR THE
ALFALFA MILL
TO EE CONSTRUCTED ON SITE
AT CORNER OF THIRD
AND PEARL STS.
WORK TO BEGIN AT EARLY DATE
And be Rushed Rapidly to Comple
tion Council Grants Part of
Two Streets For It.
From Friday's Pally.
The much heralded alfalfa mill in
Plattsmouth is to become a reality
it a not far distant date.
The proposition of its con ruc
tion wa.i held ud for some time un
til the mitter of a site could be set
tled, this being talren care of lit a
meeting of the city council (hiring
the current week, when parts of two
streets adjoining th? proposed tore
at the corner of Third and Pearl
streets, was decreed vacant by city
ordinance, duly passed, and is deeded
to Messrs. Sharp and Young. with
the stipulation that they erect there
on a suitable building and operate
an alfalfa mill therein.
Accordingly, with all the techni
cal legal propositions settled, a con
tract w?.s signed yesterday with
Messrs. Peters & Parker, local con
tractors who will take rlfdit hold
cf the work and push it to early com
pletion. During the past few d;iys
the. firm of J. H. McMaken lia.i b n
busily engaged in removing the obi
blacksmith .shop which has occupied
a part cf this site, and placing it
upon the opposite side of Pearl
street, where it will be used as a
tool house during the period of con
struction of the mill.
The new mill should prove a prof
table industry in Plattsmouth and
the Journal bespeaks for it succe.-a.
ATTENDED COMMENCE
MENT EXERCISES
From Friday's Pally.
Mrs. John McNurlin departed last
evening tor ixmisvuie. wnere
she attended the commence
ment exerciss of the Louisville H'.gh
School, which was held in that city,
and in the graduating class of
which Mrs. McNurlin had a mice.
Miss Margaret Stybert who com
pleted her high school course, and
received hr diploma last evening.
Mrs. McNurlin went in order to be
there at the closing exerci-e and
found a very enjoyable occasion.
The exercises being all that one
could expect and the crowd filling
the house to the utmost very ap
preciative of the good work which
is being done by the schools which
they support.