THE OMAFIA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
Jon 1905.
Growth and Commercial Importance of the South Platte Empire
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"CDMMT5RCTA t. CLUB TO THE FRONT."
THRKH dAvii tour of central and
A I outhwestern Nebraska with the
1 triLrttt pxi'umion of tmAlin'n moil
enterprlilntf and lubstantlal bul
ness men. Including Jobbers,
bankers, manufacturers and representa
tives of the Live Stock exchange and
packing houses of South Omaha, was a
novel experience and a revelation. Under
the directorship of B. J. McVann, com
missioner of the Omaha Commercial club,
and the guidance of Will Tetter, chair
man of the trade excursion committee, the
160 live, wide-awake. Jovial and sometimes
boisterous commercial tourists, comfortably
housed In eight Pullman sleepers, passed
out o the Burlington station on an Ideal
Nebraska spring morning, while the siren
whistle attached to the locomotive blew a
gruesome goodby and the superb Flnst
regiment band of Wlsner played "We
Won't Go Home 1111 Morning." And the
next day It rained, and the day after the
next day It rained off and on, but there
was no break In the procession of rd,
white and blue umbrellas marching double
file and no Intermission for the blue
coated band or the yellow-coated and
whlte-beavered minstrels and the giant
Bcotch Highlander In full costume, who
marched In single file playing "Auld Lang
Syne" on his bngplpes, while the boys that
followed on the flanks of the outlandish
show blew shrill toy whistles that had
been distributed gratis by the South Omaha
tourists, and the little girls and big girls
on both flanks, decorated promiscuously
with ribbons and badges, played "catch
as catch can" In the shower of candles
projected by Omaha's Inimitable pltcljer,
Dave O'Brien. So much on the score of
the grotestque and descriptive. Passing
from the picturesque to the objective, the
trade excursion was admitted jn all nan la
to be, a great object lesson and a phenome
nal success.
Welcome Along; the Way,
At Milford, Seward, York, Stromsburg,
Aurora, Hastings, Holdrege, MrCook, Sut
ton, Clay Center, Geneva, Dorchester and
Crete special efforts were made to enter
tain the excursionists, and the population
turned out almost enmasse. Among the
surprises of the excursion were the auto
mobile rides to which members of t-s ex
cursion were treated over pavt-1 streets
ind excellent roadways. Thr was notably
:he rase at Hastings, wose people justly
eel proud of their Ublic Improvements
ind public buildings. The climax of en
tertainment was reached by the FJks" club
ove feast at Hastings, and the demonstra
tion that greeted the excursionists with a
lalvo of artillery and a brass band at
Geneva, and the great popular turnout at
Dorchester. .
It was a continuous ovation from the
Platte valley to the valley of the Blue, and
from the plains of central Nebraska to
the valley of the Republican. Everywhere
the excursionists were greeted cordially
and enthusiastically, and every town vis
ited bore the untnlstakeable signs of phen
omenal growth and unprecedented pros
perity. In every town the banks were
overflowing with deposits and most of these
deposits belong to the farmers, who have
not only paid off the mortgages and Im
proved their farms, but have money to
burn, or rather to lend to the banks.
Extensive preparations for a popular
greeting were made at Crete, where all the
fraternal lodges were lined up In the street
In regalia and uniform, and the children
of the public and parochial schools and the
students of Doane college were out In full
force. Unfortunately, the excursion train
had been delayed nearly two hours, so that
the train did not reach Crete until 8 p. m.,
seriously disarranging the reception to the
SCENE AT SEWARD.
tisappointed excursionists as well as the
people of Crete. To make good a part of
the program Postmaster Wells, who Is
also editor of the Crete Vldette; Mr.
Bowlby, editor, of the Crete Demoorat, and
their associates In the committee treated
the excursionists with carriage drives
about the city and entertained them at
their homes.
Beauties of Nebraska.
It would take a master of word painting
to portray Nebraska as it presented itself
in the full glory of its verdure to the
Omaha tourists. Never has Nebraska left
such a profound Impression upon the minds
of those whose eyes beheld a continuation
of great cultivated fields of grain and rich
pastures, with their numerous herds of
horses, cattle and sheep, representing more
productive wealth than all the mines of
the Rocky mountain states.
It was not at all surprising to learn that
lands in York, Butler, Seward and Polk
counties, which are regarded as among the
most fertile of the state, have doubled and
trebled in value within the last six years,
but it seemed almost Incredible that the
lands Id the Republican valley that were
regarded as almost worthless without Irri
gation, and did not command more than
from $3 to 15 an acre six or seven years .
ago, were today in active demand at 5
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A ' Irak,
ARTHUR METZ TAKES A DRINK.
to $40 per acre, and even at a higher price
(n some localities.
As a natural sequence of this marvelous
change, due chiefly to the change in cli
matic conditions that have revolutionised
agriculture in the semi-arid region, is the
unex&mplod growth and prosperity visible
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DISTRIBUTING CANDY AND SOUVENmS AT YORK.
PARADE AT SUTTOJf.
Gossip and Stories About People of Prominence
ICS
Department Commander for Iowa.
IENATOR 3. H. HARPER of Ot-.
tumwa, who was elected depart
ment commander of the Iowa
Grand Army of the Republic at
1 the Oskaloosa encampment. Is the
senior member of the Arm o( Harper at Mc
Intyre company, a wholesale hardware, Arm
of Ottumwa. He Is now serving his first
term in the state senate. His service dur
ing the civil war reaches over a period of
three years and seven months, at the close
of which he held the position ef captain.
A Noted Sailor and Explorer
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Mr. Harper was born in Taylorsvllle, O.,
April 23, 1843, and ten years later came to
Ottumwa, la. He enlisted in the Thirty
sixth Iowa Infantry August 2, 1862, at the
age of 19, and was later transferred to the
Forty-sixth United States cavalry In June,
163. He was promoted to a lieutenancy and
later promoted to. captain and was mus
tered out In February, 186G. after a service
of three years and seven months. In civil
life Mr. Harper has held a prominent posi
tion In the state. He engaged In the hard
'"ware business in Ottumwa in 1868 and has
remained in that business ever since. He
is now the senior member ot the Arm of
Harper & Mclntyre company. In 1900 Mr.
Harper was a presidential elector and the
year following was elected to the state
senate, which position he still continues tq
hold. Mr. Harper's opponent for the posi
tion of department commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic was P. A.
Smith, editor of the Scranton (la.) Journal,
and while the campaign for the position
was somewhat spirited It was conducted
without bitterness.
Head of A. O. V. W. In Nebraska.
O. J. VanF)yke of Shelton, Neb., who was
recently elected to be grand master of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen for' Ne
braska, Is a native of Pennsylvania, and is
60 years of age. He was born at Harris
ville and lived there until he was U years
of age, when he removed to Nebraska,
bringing with him a wife and two children.
He took up a homestead near Shelton and
lived on It some years. Anally removing to
the town to engage in business. In 1884 he
became a member of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, and two years later was
appointed a deputy for the state, which
position he Ailed for seventeen years, re
signing becaune of his wife's health, which
demanded his care. He was elected to be
head of the order In the state at South
Omaha after a most spirited contest.
Fltahasjh l.re and Knnston.
During his visit to Hartford. Conn., in
April last. In the interept of the Jamestown
exposition, the late General Fltshugh Lee
related the circumstances under which he
first met Fred Funston in Cuba. Just be
fore the. Maine was blown up General Ieo
received many threats that he would be
killed and was in daily fear of his life.
Soon after being warned of a plot to slay
Mm the American consul got one of Ins
worst scares In his life.
lie was alone In his office when the door
opened and one of the worst looking faces
he had ever seen looked In at him. The
man had long hair, unkempt beard, and a
gaunt appearance. His hat was full of
hole. shoes about all gone, and he had
no clothing apparently but a linen duster.
artillery, and wanted to go back to the
United States.
"He said he was from Kansas and had
enough of the Cubans. I told him he was
taking his life In his hands by coming into
the Spanish lines and if he was caught
they would make quick work of him as a
spy.
"He said he didn't care. I was satisfied
he was telling the truth and sent him out
for a bath and hair cut. When he came
back in a new suit ot clothes you wouldn't
have recognized him as the same man.
I got him aboard a steamer the next day
without arousing any suspicion. He landed
safely in the United States. That man
was General Funston, who captured
Aguinaldo."
Shrewdness of Morgan.
George C. Thomas, one of the leading
Agures in the Philadelphia house of the
Morgans, tells a story which Illustrates
the shrewdness of J. P. Morgan. ' Mr.
Thomas' daughter was married not long
ago and a day or so before the ceremony
there came to her father's ofllce a paste
board box wrapped In coarse, brown paper,
broken at two of the corners, tied merely
with twine, but distinguished among its
fellows by the address, which was In Mor
gan's own bold handwriting. Investigation
brought to light that It carried a pearl
necklace for the bride-to-be worth any
where from $1,500 to $2,000. The sender had
properly thought that the unnoticed was.
after all, safer In transit than the parcel
advertised as valuable by registry and wax
seals.
The nnardinn nf "tinnier Rrown."
. More than any other comic-supplement
character, reports Everybody's magazine,
"Buster Brown" has made a hit. A lawyer1
and two secretaries are said to be em
ployed constantly by Mr. Outcault, his
author, to keep track of the "business end"
of Buster Brown, for there are Buster
Brown cigars, suits, garters, stockings,
belts, sweaters; there Is a successful Bus
ter Brown play. And In Buster's every
effort Mr. Outcault proflts. He lives at
Flushing L. I., and has an Income of
some t2S,00O a year.
His inclinations are to the theater; .he
has contributed largely to the club's an
nual burlesque, and Is co-author of "Bus
ter Brown" as a stage production. He
served his apprenticeship to art In Paris,
and returned with the regular art-student's
outfit a beret, or soft cap, and a velveteen
painting Jacket. To this day, In his hours
f ease, when not drawing Buster Brown
or royalties therefrom, he dons this cap
and Jacket and strums student songs on
the banjo. He Is preparing himself for the
stage, or says he Is; but Is also fond or
1903, be won on the platform: "I recognize
God Almighty as my boss, and by Him
alene will I be guided In my every act."
He is a devout Baptist, teaches a Sunday
school class and over the desk in his office
are the lines: "For the cause that needs
assistance, for the wrong that needs re
sistance, and for the future In the distance,
all the good that I can do." Mayor Weaver
was born In England forty-two years ago
and was brought to Philadelphia by his
parents In 1869. By hard work he gained
an education and now stands in tiie front
rank of the legal fraternity. He also is
considered to be one ot the best dressed
men In the city.
He approached General Lee cautiously, and btt, tu an(1 takes his children to the wild
LA TIC OAPTATW It. F. RWTrTOIJr fWWWE, KeTk
the latter Instinctively grasped his revolver.
"If that fellow had once put his hand undor
Ms duster I am positive I would have shot
Mm without waiting for a word," said Gen--vjal
Lee.
"I as satisfied he had been hired to come
and klU me. When he aproached to a
speaking distance he astonished me by
asking In good English If I was General
Lee. I told him I was and asked him who
he was. He said he belonged to the Cuban
army, was General Gomel's chief of
parts of Flushing and instructs them In
the' mysteries of "Three Old Cat," as he
used to play It In Ohio when he was a
"Buster" boy himself.
Philadelphia's Reform Leader.
Mayor John Weaver of Philadelphia, who
Is Just now irobitnent In connection with
the gas lease. Is a talented lawyer. While
he was district attorney he procured con
vlctlons In many election fraud cases and
when elected to the mayoralty In February,
So Waste Material.
Secretary Cortelyou tells of an English
man who was out west in early days and
fell in with a long train of prairie schoon
ers. The leader of the caravan announced
that he and his fellow emigrants were
going to found a town, having everything
that was needed and nothing that was un
necessary. "We won't have any waste,"
he said. "Thero iRn't a person In our party
who won't do some Important duty in the
new town." The Englishman pointed to an
old and feeble man with a bent back and
a long, thin, white beard. "But that very
old man there," he said, "he can't possibly,
be 6f any use to you. can he?" "Oh, yes,"
said the lender. "We'll open our new
cemetery with him."
ltoal Tips.
Some of the European monarchs give
very large tips whenever they travel, and
others, on the contrary, ar quite nig
gardly. Emperor Nicholas ot Ruxrla is
the most liberal In this respoct. During
his brief visit to Frame three years ago
he spent flii.oro on tips to servants, und
almost as much on presents to officials
and others. King Edward of England Is
jtot quite so generous, but as he travels
a good deal, both within his own realm
and abroad, het Is obliged to lay aside each
year $.12,000 as an allowance fur tips. Em
peror William of Germany In much more
generous In a foreign country then at
home and during his recent visit to ("owes,
England, he sppnt not less than $10.i0 on
tips. Of the remaining rulers some spend
lessons hie sums and others very little,
but probably quite us much as they can
afford.
Boyhood of (.rent Men.
One tint day in the summer of 1&44, re
lates the Chicago Tribune, two 10-ytar-old
bos who hod been Ashing Hi a stream
near a little town in sum hern New York
became hungry and weut to a farmer's
bouse to get sumething lo eat.
Thfc farmer's wile five Uium a bountiful
supply of bread and milk and rtfmxxi U
take any pay for It.
One ef the hoys merely said:
Thank you, ma'am."
But the otiicr wiped his mnutb on Ms
coat sleeve, huwetl. and w rented his
grsxttuda at greater length.
"To say that you have conferred a great
favor up on as. madam." he said, "and
that we are etirieepondlngfy fratefuL con
veys the idea, feebly. Usre we were, mOed
from home and suffering from hunger,
having caught nothing in the little stream
in which we were fishing. You have sup
plied our wants most generously. Out of
the abundance ot your larder youvhave
ministered to the wants of two hungry
strangers, and with a hospitality rare In
deed in these days of sordid greed, you
have refused to accept any remuneration
for the same. It is scarcely necessary to
assure, you, madam, that we shall always
hold you in grateful remembrance, and
should it ever be in our power to requite
the favor, you may depend upon us doing
so with the liveliest satisfaction. Madam,
we thank you."
"Good land, little boy!" exclaimed the
farmer's wife, "what I done for you
wasn't worth all that, but I like to hear
you talk. You'll be a big man some day."
Her foresight was unerring. The boy
grew up to be Chauncey Mitchell Depew,
the greatest after-dinner orator of his day.
in the towns between Hastings and Mo
Cook a section which ten years ago was
impoverished and almost depopulated. At
McCook, In the very center of the rainless
belt, new churches, school buildings, busi
ness blocks and dwelling houses have been
erected within the last three years that
would do oredlt to any city in the west of
ten times Its population. At Indlanola,
Cambridge, Arapahoe, Oxford and Hold
rege the growth was almost as great as at
McCook. In some respects Holdrege had
ninny surprises In store for members of
the excursion who had not visited the
place since 1900.
Notable Industrial Establishments.
Most notable of all were the Industrial
establishments whose existence was not
even dreamed of by the commercial repre
sentatives of Omaha. This Includes not
only the large flouring mills at Milford,
Seward, McCook, Stromsburg, Holdrege
and Crete, but the. various manufacturing
concerns, notably hydraulic cement block
factories at Sutton, two incubator fac
tories at Clay Center that are reputed to
be the largest In the world, and a patent
Index tag factory at Exeter that supplies
the United States navy, War and Treasury
departments, New York Central railroad,
Westlnghouse Air Brake company and
many great banking houses and railways In
the United States and Canada.
All In all. the trade extension flyer can
not fall to have a salutary effect In draw
ing Into closer mutual friendly relations
the merchants of Omaha and their patrons
in the state. E. ROSE WATER.
Reasons for a Divorce
Mrs. Julia 8. Grubbs of Lawrenceburg,
Ind., aged 70 years, recently obtained a
divorce from her husband, , Hamilton A.
Grubbs, aged 76 years. This aged oouple
were school lovers, and after a long
courtship were united in marriage' nearly
a half century ago, and have reared six
children. Mrs. Grubbs alleged In her pe
tition for divorce that over twenty years
ago, after a family quarrel, Mr. Grubbs
abandoned her as a wife, and although
they have lived in the same houpa ever
since they have lived apart.
Mr. Grubbs selected a front room In the
eastern portion of the old log house, and,
placing his belongings there, requested the
members of the family never to enter it.
Although Mr. and Mrs. Cirubhs have eaten
at the same table during, these many years
they never spoke to each other, but were
served by their children during the meal.
A few months ago the last effort was made
by members of the family and relatives
to bring about a reconciliation, and, as It
proved unavailing, the family decided to
separate. This daughter dealred to Join
her brothers In Kansas and keep house
for them, and the mother, not wishing to
remain alone with her aged husband, asked
the court for a legal separation, and she
will accompany her daughter on her west
era visit.
Commercial Club Gallantry
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