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VOL. NO. X1VHI
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, FEBR. 25, 1932.
NO. 8
7
f I I.
Masons Pay
Honor to Birth
of Washington
Past Masters Night at Plattsmcoith
Ledge No. 6 Given Over to
Special Program.
From Tuesflays I rail y
The annual Past Master's night at
Plattsmouth lodge No. 6. A. F. &. A.
M. last evening, was devoted to trib
utes to George Washington, the sol
dier, first president and Mason.
The spacious lodge room was for
the occasion arranged as the garden
of Mt. Vernon, heme cf George Wash
ington, near Alexandria, Virginia,
where the great leader had served in
the Masonic lodge and where today
the world pilgrimages pay honor to
his memory.
Gathered at the speakers table
was the group representing the men
of close association in the Revolu
tionary war, these being in costumes
of the days when the new nation was
ecming into being. This furnished a
striking picture as each arose and
paid a tribute to the work of Wash
ington as a national leader.
The menu of the dinner which was
opened at G:30, was prepared by the
wives and sweethearts of the mem
bers of the lodge and was a real fea3t
in every way. The members of Cass
Chapter of the Order of DeMolay did
the serving in their usual clever man
ner. The menu was as follows:
Cockade Cocktail
Virginia Yams
Valley Forge Beans
Colonial Sausage
Mt. Vernon Salad
Pickles
Minute Rolls
Continental Jelly -Plantation
Coffee
. . Cherry Pie-a-la-mode,
Martha Washington Candy
Federalist Fine Cut
The toast list was presided over
by "Alexander Hamilton," aid de
camp to General Washington, imper
sonated by William A. Robertson.
"General Anthony Wayne," hero
of many -f the daring exploits of the
war for liberty, recreated for the oc
casion by Leslie W. Kiel, paid honor
to General Washington in his toast,
from the crmrades in arms.
"General Washington," i whose
soldierly figure was fittingly repre
sented by Wliliam F. Evers, grac
iously responded to the greetings of
the as?embled group of the friends.
"The Mt. Vernon Quartet." mem
bers of which comprised the well
knewn vocalists of the order, Frank
A. Cloidt, H. G. McCluslcy, Raymond
Cook and R. W. Knorr, gave several
scng3 during the course of the din
ner that added to the occasion.
"The Tribute of the Foreign Sol
diers," the honor cf the legion of
those from the old world, was paid
by "P,aron Von Steuben," drillmaster
and teacher of the continental army.
This part was taken by Judge James
T. Begley in his usual impressive
manner.
"The Military Genius of Washing
ton" was the toast that was given by
"Thaddius Kosciuszko," Polish pat
riot, who had served in the war for
liberty. Judge A. II. Duxbury was
selected for this toast nd gave a fine
tribute to the military career of
Washington and his sirong character
that had won him the love and es
teem of his soldiers.
The humorous touches of the pro
gram was adued to very much by
"Corporal Louis Gottverlassen." a
Hessian, which part was enacted by
Raymond C. Cook, who wa3 as usual
a real hit of the evening and whose
callies of hit added much to the en
joyment of the members of the large
group cf Masons.
The main address of the evening
was that cf Marquis De LaFayette,"
French noblemn, whose love of lib
erty and adventure had led him to
the new world to battle for liberty.
This character was enacted by Rob
erty Foster Patterson. Mr. Patter
son's address was en "Washington
and Posterity." a truly masterly word
painting of the life and services of
the great American leader, an orator
of more than usual force and logic.
Mr. Patterson was at his best as he
touched the phases of the life of Gen
eral Washington, as the man, the
leader and the effect that his life
and work had on the -future, of his
country. This was one of the finest
tributes that has been heard to the
memory of Washington and the cul
mination of a series of tributes that
had preceded in the honoring of
Washington, the military leader.
The program was closed by the
benediction by Rev. II. G. McClusky
of the Presbyterian church.
SHERIFF VISITS OVER COUNTY
From Monday's Daily
Sheriff E. W. Thimgan was out in
the county today on a very exten
sive trip over the north and central
sections. The sheriff was called to
serve summons in several cases and
also to remove quarantine signs and
place several new ones for an epi
demic cf chicken pox which is pre
vailing in the central part cf the
ccunty.
W. F. Nolle is
Candidate for
Commissioner
Weil Known Resident of the Vicin
ity of Mynaid Files fcr the
Democratic Nomination
William F. Nolle, well known and
progressive farmer and poultry raiser
residing west of Mynard, Saturday
became a candidate for the office of
county commissioner.
Mr. Nclte filed his name subject
to the wishes of the democratic voters
of the first commissioner district of
Cass county.
Mr. Nolte is one of the best known
residents of this section of Cass
county, being active in the farmer's
crganizations as well as the Mynard
community club and the Plattsmouth
Chamber cf Commerce. He is a stu
dent of the affairs of the state and
ccunty and is a gentleman well suit
ed for the' position for which he has
become a candidate.
This is the second filing for the
democratic nomination for commis
sioner, T. W. Vallery cf Murray, hav
ing filed several days ago. So far
there has been no filings on the re
publican ticket, altho it is expected
that George L. Farley, the present
commissioner will. file.
The law governing the election
of county commissioners was changed
by the last legislature and the com
missioners are nominated and elect
ed in the separate districts, previous
ly all of the county having voted on
the election. The first district com
prises Plattsmouth city. Eight Mile
Grove, Plattsmouth, East and West
Rock Bluffs precincts.
SUFFERS BROKEN FINGER
Louie Knoflicek, one of the regu-
In rr r9 4 Vi a T1 o cm rtfi Vi Vi i rr pfilinnl
. .
basketball team, will be missing
from the lineup at the Wahoo-Platts-mouth
game here Friday. Louie suf
fered the fracture of a finger Sun
day when he fell' while working
around the barn at the home in the
northwest part of the city. The in
jury, it is thought will be healed in
time for the Southeastern Nebraska
tournament at Nebraska City. In the
absence of Knofiicek from the game
the guard position will probably be
filled by William Ronne. who has
played this position a great deal dur
ing the season.
POLICE DISTURB RENDEZVOUS
From Tuesday's Daily
Last night the night police discov
ered four young people making a ren
dezvous of one of the vacant rooms
in the Bekin building and the quar
tet made their escape before the police
could round them up. The parties
were recognized, however, and a pur
suit taken up, but the parties made
their escape in a car.
This morning the South Side police
at Omaha made the arrest of two
young girls who are thought to be
the parties in the case and they are
being held there pending action by
the local authorities.
MRS. BRIGGS POORLY
From Tuesday's Dally
Mrs. M. S. Briggs has been suffer
ing for the past two days from a
severe abcess in the ear and which
has caused, a great deal of suffering
to the patient. The painful afflic
tion has. made it, impossible for the
sufferer to enjoy any rest for the last
several days.
Washington
and Colonial
Times are Told
Miss Olive Gass Presents Interesting
Paper on the Inflnence of
Great Patriotic Leader
The following very interesting
talk on the life of George Washing
ton and the colonial days was given
at the meeting of the W. C. T. U. in
this city, and which is given below.
presenting a many sided view of the
first president and the influence of
his life on the nation in its forma
tive days:
1732 1795
These two dates so uninteresting
in themselves, mark the dates cf the
birth and deatfi of "The Father of
His Country," George Washington.
How much the student of history
can read "between the lines," of ro
mance, adventure, courage, danger
and accomplishment.
A biography of George Washing
ton is a history of the American
colonies during his life-time, for by
his interest and wisdom and political
status, he touched the life of the
Colonists at every point.
The three million people who con
stituted the Colonies clung close to
the Atlantic seaboard, although scat
tering fragment of the population ex
tended west io the Alleghany moun
tains.
A review of conditions in the Colo
nies during the life of George Wash
ington will be of interest.
The roads were so bad that trad
ins posts had to be established near
waterways. By this manner, they
could use rude scows and canoes.
Philadelphia was well situated
for this purpose and became the
chief town ot North America.-'
But, of course, wagons and horses
had to be used to carry produce to
colonies where there were no water
ways. The most remote of these set
tlements could only be reached by
pack-horses.
The interior trade of Pennsylvania
was carried on in great wagons call
ed Conestoga wagons. It took from
six to eight stout horses to pull one
of these wagons. There were 10,000
cf the Conestoga wagons running
out of Philadelphia.
On account of the bad roads, horse
back riding and walking were very
much in favor with the poorer class
es. Two people often traveled with
one horse. The first rode ahead and
tied the horse by the road; the sec
ond, when he came up, rode on past
his companion, and in turn tied the
horse and left him for the other. This
was called "Traveling ride and tie."
Even as late as the rear Geors'e
W ashington became president, in
17S9, there were no steam-boats nor
railroads. Even among the rich.
lamps were almost unknown; their
homes were lighted with tallow can
dles. The poorest people burned a
wick in a vessel containing a little
grease, or they lighted pieces of pitch
pine on the hearth. Stoves for cook
ing were not even dreamed of.
But in spite of all of these dis
advantages, the social life was very
gay. A fashionable assembly must
have presented a colorful appearance,
for gentlemen as well as ladies wore
bright colors and rich fabrics, and
their powdered wigs must have made
an attractive contrast. Ladies dress
ed their hair in a lofty tower. It was
not unusual for a lady to pay her
hair-dresser, $600.00 a year.
As members of the W. C. T. U. we
are interested in knowing how this
great patriot stood on the temperance
question. The following quotation is
the answer:
"Dr. Benjamin Rush, Physician
General of the Continental Army, at
General Washington's instance dis
tributed among the troops the first
scientific temperance essay ever writ
ten. Just before his inauguration,
Washington wrote a letter referring
to liquor as 'the source of all evil
and the ruin of half the workmen of
the' country. This was long after
the Hancock letter quoted by Presi
dent Boston.
"The first pledge-signing cam
paign carried on in this country was
'The Washington Movement, which
stood for the suppression of the liquor
traffic and the teaching of temper
ance principles. It was organized in
Baltimore, in 1840.
The Etude magazine . presents a
rather unusual but interesting topic
for this 200th.. anniversary. It is
"Music in Washington's Day," by W.
A. Fisher.
Mr. Fisher says that music played
but a minor part in the community.
What music there was functioned
chiefly in the churches. The princi
pal music-makers were the organists,
for the church was the pivotal point
arcund which the social life of the
community revolved.
There were few organists because
the Puritan prejudice against the
use of organs in churches was wide
spread. In the . churches where the
organs were not" need, the bass-viol
or a wind instrument supplied the
music, and in many churches no in
strument was used.-
Composition of music in George
Washington's time was left mostly
to the organists who generally wrote
only the treble and bass. Then the
player, or the singers themselves,
would complete the harmony of a
four-part song.
Concerts were given as early as
1731. But until alter the American
Revolution, these concerts were most
ly subscription concerts, and only
i
subscribers and their guests were ad
mitted. It was net until after the
Revolution that concerts took on a
more public character.
At this time, songs, as a rule were
of two types patriotic and sentimen
tal. Washington was familiar, of
course, with all of the songs of this
fiery period.
The first patriotic song published
in the Colonies was "Liberty Song,"
in 1768. Another patriotic song that
must have been as familiar to Wash
ington as to every farmer's boy was
"Yankee Doodle." This song is still
very popular and is often heard over
the radio.
When General Burgoyne surren
dered his sword at Saratago, he did
so with "Yankee Doodle" ringing in
his years. The legend has become
popular that ""Yarilfee" Doodle'' " -wis
the tune the bands of the Continental
army played when Lord Cornwallis
surrendered his sword to Washington
at Yorktown.
Some of the poor farmer folks
thought that the rich George Wash
ington was proud, hence the follow
ing "broadside" from one of their
poems:
"And there was Captain
Washington
And gentle folks about
him;
They say he's grown so
tarnal proud.
He will not ride without
em."
Hopkinson, the greatest musician
cf Revolutionary times, dedicated a
book of his songs to Washington, and
sent him a copy. In acknowledging
the gift, "Washington wrote: "I am
highly gratified at receiving this book
of songs, but what, alas, can I do to
supporr It? I can neither sing one
of the songs, nor raise a single note
on any instrument to convince the
unbelieving."
In studying the life of Washington,
let the date, February 22, mean more
to us than a mere holiday or a time
to wave flags. Let us ask ourselves
earnestly, "What kind of a patriot
ON TOP OF HEAP
The Plattsmouth high school bas
ketball team is at the head of the
list cf schools in the Southeast Ne
braska conference, having a clean
slate in their games. The locals have
had a victory over Auburn and twice
were winners from Nebraska City,
these being the only conference
games on the schedule. Humboldt is
In second place with only one defeat
for the season. Falls City added to
their hold on third place by defeat
ing Auburn the past week 27 to 25.
Auburn, which at the commence
ment of the season was rated as the
strongest team in the southeast, has
won seven and lost four contests.
The Auburn team plays Nebraska
City cn the Otoeans floor on Tues
day night.
The standings:
X. Pet.
0 1.000
Plattsmouth 3
Humboldt 4
3
5
7
3
2
2
0
.750
.710
.636
.600
.400
.284
.000
Falls City 7
Auburn . 11
Peru Prep 5
Pawnee City 5
Nebraska City 7
Tecumseh- . 8
CusJnes will improve only as
we contribute to It improvement
oy - exercising -. our purchasing
power.
High School
Observes Wash-
ington Birthday
Fine Program Presented by Young
Pecple cf Sohccl Address by
Principal Patterscn.
From Tuesday's Daily
A very impressive convocation pro
gram was presented yesterday morn
ing at the high school in honor of
the bicentennial anniversary of the
birth cf George Washington. Ed
ward Wehrbein presided as master
of ceremonies.
The Harmonica Band composed of
twenty-one little folks rlayed three
enjoyable numbers. "Old Black Joe,"
"Jesus Lover of My Soul," and "My
Nebraska." Miss Williams accom
panied them on the piano.
A play, "George and Martha Re
turn," directed by Miss Helene
Perry, was presented in a very in
teresting and clever manner. George
and Martha Washington stepped out
of their picture frame and were
amazed at the things they discovered.
They were greatly astonished at such
modern conveniences as the radio,
the telephone, the automobile, the
electric lights, and other improve
ments since the days of George Wash
ington. The cast was as follows:
Martha Washington, Mrs. Gilbert
Hirz; George Washington, Gertrude
Vallery; The modern George, Janet
Vallery; the modern Martha, Elea
nor Swatek.
The girls' sextette composed or
Gertrude Brink Virginia Trively,
Lois Bestor, Veima Wells, Helen Gil
mour and Mary Ann Rosencrans, sang
two musical selections. The boys'
quartette, comprising David Robin
son, George Adam, Otto Stodola and
James Nowacek, were heard in two
splendid selections. "-"Kiss Williams
accompanied both the sextette and
the quartette.
Mr. R. Foster Patterson gave a
fine address on the life of George
Washington. He stated that most
people hear of Washington as a sol
dier and as a statesman but there
are other phases of his life which
are of interest and which show what
a great man Washingion was. He
spoke briefly of Washington's per
sonal life, his life as a father, and
his life as a great farmer. He clear
ly showed that Washington was only
a man he possessed faults just like
other people. He experienced diffi
culties and had to overcome obstacles
the same as folks today. But Wash
ington i3 great and remembered to
day because of the work he did to
make this country a government of
united states.
ENJOYS BRIEF VACATION
From Tuesday's Dally
Clarence Corner, owner and oper
ator of the Cotner bus line, who has
over a period of several years drove
his bus back and forth between this
city and Omaha, three round trips a
day, enjoyed a vacation last night.
Mr. Coiner, a member of Plattsmouth
lodge No. 6, A. F. & A. M., decided
that ht owed it to himself to cele
brae Washington's birthday, accord
ingly secured William G. Meisinger
to drive the bus while Mr. Cotner
enjoyed the Masonic banquet.
RECEIVES SAD NEWS
From Tuesday's Dallr
Judge James T. Begley was called
to Omaha last evening by a message
announcing the serious condition of
bis mother, Mrs. Mary Begley. Mrs.
Begley, who is in her eighty-first
year, suffered a stroke last Monday
and at her age her Case is very ser
ious. Mrs. Begley is a long time resi
dent of Sarpy county, but has in the
last years made her home in Omaha
with the children residing at that
place. Judge and Mrs. Begley were at
the bedside of the aged mother today.
SUFFERS FROM THE GRIPPE
Walter Gabriel, head of the sales
department of the Iowa-Nebraska
Light & Power Co.. in this district.
has been confined to his home by an
attack of the flu. The many friends
of this genial young man are hoping
that he may soon have the best of the
malady and be able to look after the
business of his office as usual.
Journal Want-Ads get results!
BEAUTIFUL ELK HEAD
The business office of the Platts
mouth Journal has had the attrac
tiveness of the room enhanced by a
large and beautiful Elk head that
was presented to R. A. Bates, pub
lisher of the paper.
The elk head was sent from Mon
tana by John Chapman, former neigh
bor and friend of Mr.-and Mrs. Bates,
and was killed by Mr. Chapman last
fall. The head was mounted by an
Omaha taxidermist and was placed in
position in the Journal business of
fice Monday by Carl Knieke.
The head is quite large, measuring
some five feet in height and four feet
from tip to tip of the horns. The
head has attracted a great deal of at
tention from the callers at the Jour
nal office.
Sheriff Thimgan
Files for Re-EIec-tion
to Office
Serving in Vacancy, Present Sheriff
Asks Republican Nomination
to the Office.
From Tuesday's Daily
Sheriff Edward Thimgan, appoint
ed several weeks ago to fill the va
cancy in tne office caused by the
death of Sheriff Bert Reed, will seek
re-nomination and re-election to the
office.
This morning the sheriff filed his
intention to seek the republican nom
ination to the office that he has been
holding.
Mr. Thimgan was a resident of
Murdock and one of the well known
men in the west part of the county
when selected by the board of county
commissioners to take the position of
sheriff. He has been Jn charge of the
office for several weeks and has made
a very capable and efficient officer in
every way.
The filing of Mr. Thimgan brings
the republican filingB to four and a
free for all race at the April primaries
with several others meditating toss
ing their hats in the ring.
Rex Young, former deputy sheriff,
Pat Reed, son of the late Sheriff Reed,
and Floyd Cole, of Weeping Water are
the other candidates for the repub
lican nomination.
TO HEAD LOCAL C. M. T. C.
Mr. J. A. Capwell, of Plattsmouth,
has been appointed chairman for
Cass county in connection with the
Citizens Military Training Camp ac
tivities this year by W. B. T. Belt,
Civilian Aide to the Secretary of
War for the State of Nebraska.
The Citizens Military Training
Camp will be held at Fort Crook, Ne
braska, in August, and about six
hundred young Nebraskans are ex
pected to attend for the thirty-day
training period.
This camp will be under the sup
ervision of officers of the United
States "army and the Officers' Reserve
Corps, and is for the purpose of help
ing young men to become better citi
zens and better Americans, to de
velop them physically, mentally and
morally, and to teach them man
hood and self discipline.
All necessary expenses, both to
and from the camp and during the
training period, are paid by the gov
ernment. Any boy over 17 years of age, who
is a citizen of the United States and
who is physically qualified and of
good character, is eligible to apply
for admission- to the camp.
Mr. Capwell will be assisted in
his duties as county chairman, by
committeemen whom he will appoint
in the larger towns of the county.
Any boy who is interested in secur
ing further information regarding
the camp may do so by applying to
the county chairman or any member
of the county committee.
SHOWING IMPROVEMENT
From Tuesday's Dally
Robert Warren, who has been suf
fering since Sunday with an attack
of pneumonia, is reported as show
ing some improvement and it is
hoped that the malady has been
checked and that the ycung man
may soon be on the highway to re-
ccvery. However he is still under
the care of a trained nurse until
the patient is well out of his illness.
Death of Thomas
Akeson Recalls
Murder Story
Deceased was Son of Matthew Akeson,
Who was Shct at Farm Near
Weeping Water in 1892.
The death of Thomas Akeson,
Weeping Water resident which oc
curred Sunday, recalls the tragedy
of forty years ago when Mattes
Akeson, th father of Thomas, was
murdered at his home near Weeping
Water.
The family was residing on the
farm at the time of the murder,
Thomas Akeson being a young man
at home at the time. The family
had two strangers come to Cueir farm
in the fall of 1892, seeking work as
corn shuckers, but as there was no
need for their services the men left.
The two men, who had given the
names cf Hill and Benwell, were
later seen in Weeping Water. In the
night the two men returned to the
Akeson heme and sought to rob the
family. During the attempted rob
bery the elder Akeson was shot and
killed. The men were pursued and
captured later as they concealed un
der a bridge in the vicinity of Weep
ing Water.
The trial was one of the sensa
tions of its day in this county and
many hundreds from all parts of the
ccunty were present each day of the
long trial, presided over by Judge
Samuel M. Chapman. The prosecu
tion of the case was conducted by
Harvey D. Travis, then county at
torney and later district Judge. Hill
and Benwell were defended by Mat
thew Gering.
The jury that tried the case found
Hill guilty of murder iu the first de
gree as having fired the fatal shot
that killed Mattes Akeson, while"
Benwell was found guilty of second
degree murder as an accessory in the
crime. After the case was appealed
to the supreme court and affirmed.
Hill was executed in this city, March
1, 1895. for the murder, the first
legal execution held In this county.
Sheriff J. C. Eickenberry was in
charge of the execution and which
occurred in the yard of the jail.
which was then located on Pearl
street between Third and Fourth
streets. Benwell was paroled some
ten years later.
In the shooting Thomas Akeson
was shot on a watch charm, the bul
let glancing and striking him in the
forehead, inflicting a flesh wound.
FACTORY RESUMES WORK
From Monday's Dally
The Nebraska Basket Factory,
which has recently been removed to
the building formerly occupied by
the Alfa Maize mill, today resumed
their regular operation. The factory
machinery required some time to in
stall in the new building and a num
ber of changes were made in the in
terior of the structure before oper
ation could be Fuecessfully carried
on. The factory will now be operated
cn the usual schedule and the work
of manufacturing the various lines of
baskets will be taken up at once in
order to fill orders which have been
delayed owing to the moving pro
gram. UNDERGOES OPERATION
Mrs. Marie Trumble, former resi
dent here and at Eagle, was operated
on Monday at Lincoln, undergoing
a very severe major operation. At
the last reports she was doing as well
as possible under the circumstances.
Mrs. Trumble is the widow of Ernest
L. Trumble, formerly here with the
Plattsmouth State bank. Mrs. Trum
ble has been engaged as secretary at
the U. S. Veterans' hosDital at Lin-
'coln, and her health having not been
the best, it was thought that the
operation would be necessary to re
store her to her former good health.
MARRIED AT COURT HOUSE
Tuesday afternoon at the court
house occurred the marriage of Miss
Mary K. Beeson and Carl O. Van-
rcoy, both of Lincoln. The wedding
was performed by Judge A. H. fhix-
bury and was witnessed by C. O.
Wright and L. C. Wright, both of
Eagle. Mr. Vanscoy . la a former
Louisville resident.