THE COURIER
now ho sharps with the board of education the attention of those
persons who are of an investigating turn of mind, and as the ques
tions involved affect most directly and seriously a very large class of
citizens the entire public to a certain extent, the discussion cannot
fail to be generally interesting.
"While duly observing other phenomena of possibly more far reach
ing iiniortaiice we have at the same time noted, in the last three
years, the very rapid progress of a certain young man of this town,
and it gives up distinct pleasure to be able to record the fact that
our friend sustains, to a gratifying degree, the idea which we early
formed of him. We refer to Mr. T. S. Allen, sometimes vulgarly
known as Tommy. Over two years ago we recognized in this youth
the promise of coming greatness, and we foresaw that the time was
fast approaching when men would bow down to him, when his name
would be frequently seen in the newspapers. If anything the ful
fillment has been more rapid than we looked for. Mr. Allen has
Lasked in the light of the blaze of glory emanating from Congress
man Bryan, and since the Bryan star has been in the ascendant Mr.
Allen has enjoyed an iridescent splendor and prominence, carting
bags of Mr. Bryan's speeches about, going to conventions and keep
ing himself in evidence generally. He became, and speedily, A Per
sonage, and in recognition of his merit he has been awarded one of
the soft seats in the high council of his party, or to be explicit, the
Bryan section of it. And now, to crown all, and vindicate; our prop
hetic instinct. Mr. Allen is made deputy postmaster. Mr. Harlcy
has at all times had our very distinguished consideration, but we
feel like making some special expression of appreciation to him for
thus signally rewarding virtue, or Mr. Allen, and we are sure he will
not regret this boost to the political fortunes of one whom, we are
convinced, will one day be a United States senator or president or
councilman or something like that. Mr. Allen is a popular young
democrat, with friends in all parties, and his apiointment will give
general satisfaction. And if there is any man in the democratic party
in this city who would make a handsomer or abler deputy we would
like to have him pointed out to us.
Dan Wing's poetry in last Saturday's Call has been the talk of the
"town for seven whole days. Its rythmic beauty and deep fervor sur-
prised those not intimately acquainted with that gentleman and his
capabilities. In order that it may receive the publicity it deserves
we give the poem in its entirety herewith:
O loc will win and love will win, anil lovo will kecji on winning,
TIhiiirIj all tlio demons in the sea cons'ire against its inning.
"
Citizens or Omaha are writing to the Bee and World-Herald to
prove that a person can live in that city on five and ten cents a day.
Then Omaha ieopIe must be shockingly extravagant. We are in
formed that large numbers of people there spend as high as seventy
live cents and a dollar a day in living expenses, and bloods have
leen known to throw away quarters on gin cocktails and relieve
themselves of as much S1.25 in one night doing the town. This,
when it is shown that a person can live in Omaha on a nickel per
-day, would indicate that there is a riotous prodigality extant in that
city that should be promptly and effectually checked. It is sinful
to spend money in so needlessly reckless a manner. But then
Omaha people will be bloods, even if it costs money.
The Omaha Commercial club celebrated its first anniversary the
other day. In the last twelve months this organization has infused
a life and energy into the business circles of the metropolis that
they have not known for years, and it has ierforined very valuable
-service in bringing new industries to Omaha and developing trade
generally. All this time Lincoln has been asleep. Enterprise in
this particular direction has fallen by the way side,and our business
men have been laying on their backs waiting for something to turn
up. There is no reason, except the masterly inactivity of our busi
ness men, why Lincoln should not have an organization like the
Commercial club, an organization that would be something more
than our so-called boards of trade of the past. Lincoln people are
too much given to the stick-in-the-mud-policy. There are too many
Micawbers among our business men, and not enough progressive,
aggressive men who, instead of waiting for an opportunity, go out
and grab time by the forelock, and make opportunities where none
exist.
The right kind of an effort would undoubtedly be productive of
valuable results in the way of securing new wholesale houses; a
cIud of this kind, properly managed, could accomplish much; but
we are apparently content to idly lay in the grass while Omaha and
other lustier and more active rivals are knocking down the persim
mons. Lincoln people suffer from an acute and malignant form of
that tired feeling. Why don't somebody get up and do something
for a change?
We have no desire to be impertinent or disagreeable, but we would
like to ask Mr. C. A. Atkinson if this wouldn't be a good time to
bring out those wholesale houses he promised with so much enthu
siasm about a year and a half ago. We need them now in our
business.
Major Shelby's statement in the defense of Colonel Breckenridgo
made since we wrote some notes above on this scandalous case, is
really a pathetic recital. The story of the seduction of the great and
powerful Congressman Breckenridge by a young girl, the description
of the manner in which Madeline led Willie astray, was enough to
make strong men weep. The poor man! As this caso proceeds the
conviction is forced upon us with more and more force that the
best thing poor Willie could do would bo to get a cheap revolver and
go off somewhere and shoot himself.
Since Mayor Weir's famous order of March 1, there has been a
phenomenal eruption of such signs as "Dressmaking,' "Rooms for
Rent," etc., in various parts of the city. A little investigation on the
part of the police would doubtless disclose the fact that things are
not always what they seem, and that an innocent looking card loard
sign may cloak a shocking condition of depravity.
In the rush of complimentary remarks on the new Coukiki: we
have noted one or two objections to the cover. Some people have
told us that it is in bad taste to have advertisements in this part of
the paper. If Ward McAllister should meet a very poor man on the
street in New York, and if the poor man should ask Mr. McAllister's
opinion on his personal appearance, and if Mr. McAllister should
deign to reply, he might tell him that it is not good form to wear a
patch on the kneo of one's trousers. Our artistic or esthetic taste
would lead us to discard advertisements altogether, and make the
cover an illuminated work of the finest art: but as Major Calhoun
has pointed out, wo are not financial' able to gratify our artistic
taste, and we are compelled, by the grossest of reasons, to wear a
patch on our trousers" knee, or in other words, run advertisements
on the cover. There is money in it, and while we are try'ng to live
up to the high standards of art and culture we are also hard after
the dollar. We do not think the advertisements are a serious defect,
however. Other publications that are almost as good a3 The Couk
iek are guilty of the same offense.
TWO IN ONE.
Mr. Harlcy will do things in the postofiice as they were never done
before. He will run the big stone building as he runs his corner
store. Things will all be so nicely arranged that you'll never know
them they'll be so changed. You can, if hard pressed, get drugs at
the postmaster's, and fine tooth combs, toilet soap and porous plast
ers. Vichy and seltzer you will find there on tap, and other things
such as syrup of squills and ipecac: every kind of ointment and
healing potion: yea. siedlitz powders,if you take the notion. But lie
will not sell you or your friend a bottle of wine it's against the
rules, and he's got em all down very fine. At the store, Eleventh
and O, stamps you will always find with first-class mucilage on
behind; nice, new postal cards, already addressed, and comfortable
chairs in which to rest. When you spend a dollar you'll get a ticket,
good for a stamp, and you won't have to lick it. Money order prizes
will go with ginger pop; but if you get a little gay you will have to
stop. Returning to the postofiice stamps will be sent; and if you
ask for credit you will also be sent. Everybody, so Mr. Harley says,
will get a letter; a little one for a penny; for a nickel much better.
When it happens that there's none on hand, he'll make "em to order,
the Tommy Allen brand. The rich and the poor will all fare alike;
when there's a letter for Bill, there's also one for Mike. You can
post your letters at the store and see the directory at the postofiice
first floor. A daisy postmaster Mr. Harley will be; there may be
some flies, but there's none on he.