All Prophecy Exceeded
Early Nebraska Settlers
iHBJKB are doubtless tome Ne-
braskans still living who were
here In 1864 and who were par
ticipants In the starring scene
Incident to tb Daseage of the
Kansas-Nebraska bllL Buch early settlers
are much better prepared than I am to
speak In a reminiscent way of early terri
torial and state history and probaWy on
this semi-centennial occasion they will con
tribute a fund of interesting information
pertinent to those times.
My own personal experience in Nebraska
did not begin until a little later. In August.
1SG8, I drove through from Burlington. Ia
to Nebraska for the purpose of locating s
home. I had some friends Hying in Butler
county, and the fact that they were well
satisfied with their new surroundings in
duced me to Journey in that direction.
After a short visit with them I pushed on
a little farther and crossed into what if
now Pols, county, where on September t
I located a homestead, a property on which
I subsequently lived with my family for a
number of years.
At that tme the immigration to Ne
braska was beginning to assume consider
able proportions, but It was not until 171-8
that it had reached the flood tide. Ours
was ths second home established in Polk
county. I built the first frame bouse In
that county, a one-story structure, 12xW
feet. That was in the spring of 1S. I
hewed the sills and floor Joists .-m native
timber, and the shingles were made from
native cotton wood Mocks. The siding and
other necessary lumber were hauled from
Lincoln by my teams, baring been previ
ously hauled to Lincoln from Nebraska
City, to wMch latter point shipment had
been made by water. The first white child
born in Polk county was Edgar T. Roberta,
in 1MB. The second was my oldest son,
O. El Mickey, born in 1870.
I mention these personal matters simply
as evidence that I was reasonably early
on the scene in that part of the state
and had an opportunity to form an Idea
of what pioneer life was. If one were to
describe Nebraska as It appeared In those
days be would have need for but few
words. Omaha and Lincoln were both
small places and gave but little promise
of tbe splendid development to which they
should attain in later years. As I remem
ber, the Union Pacific was the only rail
road within the state, and that was In
process of construction.
Tbe majority of the important settle
ments were either in the Missouri valley
or very close- to It. A general senti
ment seemed to exist that settlers could
no maintain themselves west of the cen
tral portion of the state, and hence nearly
all commercial, and agricultural activity
was confined to the eastern portion.
The public school of the states to the east
were teaching that a treeless waste known
as "The Great American Desert" lay west
of the Missouri, inc'udlng all of Ne
braska and extending to the foothills of
the Rocky mountains. It took time to
dissipate this erroneous Idea and that
probably accounts for the fact that emi
gration to Nebraska was delayed as long
as It was.
But It Is Impossible to If'? a good coun
try very long In the background. In due
time the Idea permeated the eastern and
middle states that this section had been
maligned; that here was a country well
suited to home-making, rich in ogrieul-.
tural possibilities and capable of sustain
ing a large population. The result of this
correct conception we see In alT parts of
the state today. The prairies have been
compelled to yield their increase, the buf
falo grass has given way to pastures and
Uses of
MKFTflORACHKH who dot?
J I great eal of the Illustrating work
a, I .. b, kw York adveMis-.nir.
firms ii an adroit; and versatile
genlw. He is considered the star
of all tha "before and after" artists and ha
has earned his reputation.
Not long ago the writer, as a special
mark ef favor, was permitted to look at his
"studio" while the advertisers' photogra
pher went through an average morning's
work. An exceediagiy pretty young woman
was the first subject, fine was to be pic
tured in the familiar "befnr and after"
style, to advertise a new remedy for the
skin.
The photographer himself "made up" her
face, and when he got through with the
camel's hair brushes the young woman's
countenance was a sight. He took the
"after" photographs of her first, thus
showing hir as a young woman with a
smooth, faultless skin; round, well tilled
neck, and so on. Then he went at her face
with the "make-np" articles, and changed
her countenance Into a veritable map of
blotches and pimples and lines and wrin
kles. When he had finished and the young
woman caught sight of herself In the glass
She let out a little Involuntary scream.
"Oh, you'll be all right after you use our
remedy," cheerfully saM the photographer,
and b took a nintwr ef views of her fn
her capacity as a "before taking."
Tha nai young woman posed for a gar
ter advertisement The Idea was to gel'
meadows of timothy and alfalfa, orchards
and areas of small fruit are a part of the
equipment of nearly every rural habita
tion and the evidences of peace and plenty
are on every band.
During the fifty years since the erection
of the territory the population has in
creased to nearly 1.500.000 of happy, con
tented pople. all imbued with the Idea that
they live in one of the best countries on
earth. It is not necessary to go Into fig
ures and statistics In order to illustrate
our growth.
From Desert Waste to Diadem
I vast tbe theme! When we look
I il tfc K.hrask A rrf flftv vftim
sgo, marked on tha map of that
day as a part of tbe great Amer
ican desert a barbaric land without a
landmark and without an Inhabitant except
the untutored and aavaga Indian, and then
view it as it is today in all its magnificent
grandeur, with its thriving cities and
towns, its well -cultivated farms and its
Immense herds of domestic animals, the
contrast Is so great that ft hardly seems a
reality, and satire like products of the
necromancer's art Ilk the scenes and pic
tures from some wondrous dream. But the
magic which baa produced this is not the
sorcerer's spell. It Is the genius of the
world's dominant race, which has touched
with deft hand the eager earth and ex
tracted therefrom untold wealth and pro
duced within our borders cities and towns,
and flelda a-blossom and a-bloom. Prom
May, 18M. to May,. 1904, , what wondrous
change! From the waste of a dessert to
the diadem of ft splendid state.
The great state of Nebraska Is but a
smalt part of that Immense territory which
t President Jefferson purchased from Prance
in 1808, the one-hundredth anniversary of
which purchase is now being celebrated in
St. Louis, Mo., by the grandest exhibit the
world has ever seen. Napoleon was fully
aware of the value of what he abandoned
and said he renounced it with the greatest .
regret He knew he was losing an empire
of imperial dimensions.
At the time of the passage of what was
known as the Kansas and Nebraska bill in
1854, there was great agitation in congress
on the slavery question. The law permitted
any state to vote for or against slavery
and In Kansas and Nebraska was fought
the first battle for emancipation. There
were six slaves in Nebraska In 1858, and a
bill was introduced in the legislature fo
abolish slavery. In tbe debate on its pas
sage one of those who favored the bill
quoted those' memorable words of the Im
mortal Lincoln: "We will hereafter speak
for freedom and against slavery as long
as tho constitution guarantees free speech;
until everywhere tn this broad land the sun
shall shine, and the rain shall fall, and the
wind shall blow upon no man who goes
forth to unreraited toll."
The constitution of the state of Nebraska
as adopted by tho legislature excluded tha
Photography
a picture of a stocking attached to a
garter that was not doing it work property
and, after that, a portrayal of a stocking
held snugly in place by the garter In
tended to be advertised. For the first pic
ture the young woman had on a rather
slouchy pair of low shoes, with which she
had come provided according to tha
thoughtful photographer's suggestion, and
her quite ordinary cotton stockings wera
wrinkled and hanging In folds about tha
shoes.
For the "after-nslng-ooTs picture, bow
ever, the young: waaman bad on a dainty,
billowy, lacy underskirt, silk open-work
stockings and fancy high-heeled shoes,
and the stockings clung with a fine and
appealing siiugness, a a matter of course,
thus illustrating tha superior excellence)
of the new garter.
Another pretty young woman was then
calied in to pose for some pictures to Il
lustrate the claims of a new brand of Iron
ing wax about to be put oa tha market.
For the picture to illustrate tbe no-account-ness
of all other brands of ironing wax ex
cept tlia one to be advertised, the young
woman wore, at the photographer's sug
gestion, a soiled and in-fitting old gingham
house walate, that hang la folds about bar.
and when she stooped over gave bar a
round-showlderrd effect.
The photographer fixed her hair so that
it seemed to be hearing la damn strings,
and wita a brush be painted little lines,
supposed to indicate the result of scuts
TU PY vaqm aim wtimi XT1 .ri ikn
l" I Included most of the area which
A I now rnmnrfoM f h irffttea of Ne
braska, North and South Dakota,
Wyoming, Montana ami Idaho,
there was not anywhere in the territory a
substantial town or village of white people.
Within the memory of the living the
region was in the poiwnslon of Indian
tribes. Half a century Hgo military pests
had been established at Fort Kearny, Fort
Laramie and a few other place, but there
was no settlement of whites In those days
which deserved the name of a town In
either Kana or Nebraska. Forts Laramie
and Kearny were the prominent positions
in the southern part of the territory. In
the northern purts there were Forts Pierre,
Clarke, Union, Benton, Herthold, Alexander
and Manuel's Port, the last three of which
were in the Yellowstone, and all were sta
tions of the Fur company. Besides tluse
there were a few scattering trading posts
and emigrant camps. This Is the catalogue
of the civilization of the great Nebraska
territory fifty years ago.
negro from the right of suffrage. Congress
passed an act to admit the state, pro
vided the word "white" be stricken out.
President Johnson vetoed this act and it
was passed over his veto. In February,
1867, the legislature was convened and ac
cepted the fundamental conditions Imposed
by congress. On March 1, 18G7, President
Johnson issued a proclamation declaring
Nebraska a state.
The early settlers of Nebraska had much
to contend with. After the panic of 1S57
our people were much disheartened. There
' was no demand for property of any descrip
tion not even the richest farming lands.
Our money consisted of "city scrip" and
bills issued by banks, without limit und
without security. Gold and sliver, what
little there was of it, was hidden away,
and in the fall of 1857 was at a premium
of 60 to 60 per cent. The next year all
paper money, almost without exception,
was entirely worthless. After that we had
devastation of crops by grasshoppers, In
dian depredations and the massacre of
settlets, and it was not until after the
completion of the Union Pacific railway
that the last relic of Indian savagery was
swept from the face of this fair land that
peace and quiet reigned.
Five years prior to the first settlement
of the territory, but three states of the
union had a larger population than that
of Nebraska today, and It Is safe to hacard
the prediction that before the next general
census our people will number over 2,000,000.
Today Nebraska Is looked upon ss a mar
vel of rapid and enduring growth. And
whnt should be a source of pride to ua all Is
that within its borders is found the highest
grade of public education and the lowest
percentage of Illiteracy of any common
wealth m the land. Education, the or
dinances of morality and Christian en
deavor are the essential elements which
shall preserve this nation and this state.
While these remain, who shall compete
with us in the honors due to a state, and
who In our abundant harvests, our en
pastured plains and valleys, our rich bal
ances of trade, our Increasing commerce
and the expansion and reward of labor?
in Modern Advertising
worriment over using no good ironing; wax.
tinder her eyes. For this picture sfee was
posed standing wearily over sn Ironing
board, holding out and gazing disgustedly
at a frazzled and soiled shirt bosom.
Ten minutes later she reappeared looking;
as trig as could be In a fetching whit
waist, all of the imitation shine taken off
of her nose, her hair neatly dona op. Bit
was then posted in an attitude of keen de
light and satisfaction, gasfng with a smile
of approval at the nice, new, shiny, ttn
rumpled shirt bosom, which she held out
before bar.
Then a coupto of babies, twins, came
along. They were to be used to Illustrate
the advertising of a new baby's food about
to be marketed. The photographer said
thai he'd had tremendous difficulty In get
ting bold of Just tbe right pair of twins,
and bad sent commissioners to range tho
whole East Side before ka had got the
twins be wanted. They were twin boys.
Just s year old. One of them was in a fat
and flourishing; stats of health, but tho
other twin bad Just emerged from soma
sort of to fan tile complaint, and was thin
and drawn and of a poor color.
But. aside from tbe difference In their
condition of health, tbe twins looked pre
cisely alike, The unprosperoua-looking
baby wore a befitting expression of acuta
gtoon while be was being photographed for
the "before and after picture., and the fat
young customer, by sundry and divers arts
Ilev. Edward Everett Halo Is the author
Of the first history of Nebraska, which wag
published In New York In 14. It gives a
ctnpleKe account of tbe geographical and
physical characteristics and the political
position of the territories of Nebraska and
Kansas from the best Information obtain
able np to the time the manuscript was
given to the publishers on August 21 of
that year. It Is interesting to note that
while Itev. Hale fully realised the wealth
of the territories' resources, be did not
hazard, even to a small degree, to predict
the wondorful development which haa
taken place during the half century. Cau
tiously he ventured to hope, with soma
feeling of confidence, that Nebraska Hnd
Kansas as they then existed would s.ime
day be taken Into the union. Where Key.
Hale hoped there might bo two states there
are now elht, and as chaplain of tha
United 8ttes senato. Instead of ne4ng this
vast western territory represented by four
members In that body, there are now six
teen. "It must be that thr settlement of the
new territories by the best population
which can ho given them shall command
the active efTort of all true lovers of their
country," wrote Rev. Hate. , "The cru
saders are already on their way. They
will need only the guides, who shall show,
them the f:iirest binds In the world. No
propagandlsm Is needed to Instill them.
Thus will this emigration, with tho ra
pidity with which It now proceeds, add
almost at once two new free states to the
American union. It Is not wlthfn tha
province of this book to look farther. It la
enough to foresee so great a victory of the
right as Is this. It will be only by a
miracle of indolence, by blindness utterly
lncurubln. that the men of the free stales
can forfeit such a prlxe."
When Rev. Halo wrote thus hopefully
tbe Missouri river was navigable by steam
boats all the way to Great Falls, and
boats of fifteen Inches draft had uetunlly
traversed tho river that far. The Tfeilow
stone had been navigable eighty miles
from Its mouth. The steamboat El Pan
had ascended the Nebraska or Platte river
600 miles from Its mouth. And still, with
out the navigation of this great system
of rivers, upon which many of the fond
hopes of the early pioneers were based,
the country has developed and grown be
yond the dreams of tho most sanguine.
What will the next fifty years bring
forth? Nehmska Is yet In its Infancy, and
its development has only begun. I firmly
believe that the next fifty years will sea
as great, if not greater, development than
has taken place during the last fifty. Tha
utilization of our waters for irrigation, and
for electricity, and the discovery of
products better adapted to the section, and
of better method of working out our re
sources, will bring this about. The next
fifty years will see Nebraska waters,
which now wash unused Into the Gulf of
Mexico, harnessed for all kinds of Indus
trial purposes, and our towns and cities,
and even the farms, wfll be accessible)
through the establishment of Interurbaa
railroads In as com pi etc a system as the
telephone and telegraph of today.
of the photographer, was worked Into a de
lighted crowing picture of happiness by ths
time tha shutter was dropped on him for
the "after taking" advertisement.
Then another young woman came along
to "stand for" a corset ad. First she wore
a corset that was about the most abomina
ble fit Imaginable. It seemed Impossible to
Imagine that so graceful and sinuously
formed a young woman could look so im
possible In s corset.
The whalebones of the corset were stick
ing out at the bottom, and the young
woman was represented with stringy linlr
and angry eyes, as gating vcngefully at
tha Ill-shaped and injurious stays. Then
she donned a pah- of the "fit form,"
straight-front stays to he advertised, .and
with her hair nicely combed over her "tat"
and her plump arms at rest at her aides
she presented s sufficiently bewitching fig
ure to sell almost sny old corset.
There are tricks In all trades but mine,"
said the photographer when his morning's
work was finished, but the wink with
wtik h be accompanied the remark was elo
quent. Washington Star
Good Guess
"In what sense," asked ths teacher, "do
we look noon George Washington as ths
father of his country T"
"In the two cents, ma'am, ventured
Tommy Tucker, seeing that no one else
was prepared to answer.