THE COURIER
U
h
&
r
A.
4
Mr. J. D. Calhoun and family were entertained Thursday and Fri
day evenings by Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Sawyer and Judee Broady. Mr.
Calhoun decided to spend the last two or three days of his stay in
Lincoln at a hotel, but his many friends objected to that arrange
ment. Mr. Calhoun and family leave for Nemeha county today.
Early next week they will go on to Tampa, Florida.
The boxes were filled at the presentation of "Among the Break
ers'' at the Lansing theater Wednesday evening. Among those
noticed were: Mr. Sherman, Mibs Mae Burr, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hollow
buBh, Mr. Askin, Miss Marie Johes, Miss Emerald Jones, Miss
Hollowbush, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Robinson, Miss Mary Miller of
Chicago, Miss Fay Marshall, Mr. Woods, Mr. Dawes, Mr. Smith.
Mr. Hurlbut, Mr. Dorgan.
Perry, A. W. Jansen, W. C. Wilson, J. D. McFarland, A. G. Beeson,
J. A. Buckstaff, C. H. Morrill, O. B. Howell, R. O. Phillips, R. II.
Oakley, Rodgers, C. S. Lippincott, Dr. and Mrs. C. F. Ladd; Misses
Mary Miller of Chicago, Anne Funke, Sarah Harris, Bertie Burr,
Mae Burr, Bertie Clark, Fay Marshall, Sadie Burnham, Hollowbush,
Wells, May Moore, Minnie Gaylord; Messrs. B. G. Dawes, Hollow
bush, D. G. Wing, W. Morton Smith, C. A. Hanna, F. M. Cook.
Will Raymond, Davis, W. B. Robinson, Marshall, Mattson Baldwin.
Charles L. Burr, Lewis, Lee, Dr. C. E. Spahr.
There is a rumor abroad that one of the veteran society bach elore
of Lincoln is about to "commit matrimony." What sad news for the
buds!
The departure of Major Calhoun
from Lincoln is not without a cer
tain pathetic interest. The major's
experience in Nebraska, and more
particularly in Lincoln, furnishes a
forcible illustration of the fact that
the deserving do not always receive
their deserts; that men of virtue and merit are often "left high on
the sands of disappointment, while the base and truckling push
their crafts into the currents of favor and sail out on to the sea of
success. Virtue, they tell us, is its own reward. Too often the con
sciousness of its own merit ib the only compensation it receives.
And this consciousness is not always so comfort-giving and life-sustaining
as the loaves and tishes that come to those who have a little
Jess of real virtue, and something more of an inclination to devote
oneself to selfish interests.
We do not mean to imply that Major Calhoun is reduced to such
straits that he is an object of commiseration. His circumstances a
polite way people have of speaking of one's finances are, so far as
we know, in a comfortable enough condition.
But he is nevertheless driven away from Lincoln. And there is
something of the pathetic in the spectacle of this man who, coming
to Nebraska at an early day, has labored during the best years of his
life in a community in which he expected to pass his days, and who
now, when he has reached the age when he should rightfully reap a
reward for his years of unselfish toil, is compelled to pull up the
stakes that have well nigh crumbled in their sockets, and pitch his
tent in another country and begin anew the battle of life, with new
surroundings and among a strange people.
Calhoun has djvoted himself to the editorial profession and, in a
remarkably unselfish way, the interests of the democratic party. He
had seen a long service in this state before he come to Lincoln some
fourteen years ago, and since that time with the exception of the
period covered by his connection with the Stale Journal, he has
given his whole endeavor to the editing of democratic newspapers
and the upbuilding of the democratic party. He fought the battles
of his party, and helped put men into office, struggling meanwhile
as every newspaperman who is trying to make a success in life with
his ability and unceasing labor as his only capital, must struggle,
and when, after a long season of drouth his party finally enjoys a
frnitful harvest, and plums drop into the laps of democrats every
where, only disappointment comes to him. Men whom he helped
elevate forsake him, and while other democrats enjoy the fruit the
major must need hold the sack.
Ho has grown weary of this sack holding, and, satisfied that the
future has nothing in store for him here, after his great service, he
moves on to another claim, hoping to find a more productive pay
streak.
Calhoun is not given to proclaiming his woes from the house tops;
but it is no secret that his regard for Congressman Bryan has
undergone a rapid change in the last few months. He does not
blame the congressman for not securing his appointment; he simply
thinks Bryan might have stayed with him till the end.
The Herald, as is well known, has made bitter attacks on the ad
m inistration, and some people pay Calhoun deserved no better fate
than disappointment. His course with reference to Cleveland is an
evidence of his independence. He was conscientously opposed to
him and ho remained true to his convictions, knowing, perhaps, that
such a policy would in the end hurt him.
Major Calhoun has a strong leaning toward populist ideas, and
his views on questions wherein capital is concerned meet the so-called
"popular" demand; albeit we do not believe ho is influenced by
any demagogic considerations. He is, in many respects, the ablest
editorial writer in Nebraska if his opinions'were not so popuiistic
his writings would have had more weight among thinking people.
His style is cultivated to a degree and he is often brilliant. He has
the faculty of always being interesting. Major Calhoun is a super
ior man intellectually, and his character is of the sort that men of
all opinions respect. His departure is a distinct loss to Lincoln, and
in going to Tampa he carries with him the sincere well wishes of a
very large number of people, representing all parties. We are
afraid the Herald without Calhoun will be like a baloon with the
gas let out of it.
There are some very active recruiting officers for the A. P. A. in
this city, and the order is said to be growing with great rapidity.
If a list of the Lincoln A. P. A.'s should fall into the hands of the
Catholics as was the case in an eastern city recently, there would be
the biggest kind of an excitement. Some very prominent citizens
are enrolled as members.
"Among thoughtful persons, the impression seems to prevail that
the nation is at the threshhold of a new economic era,' says the
American Banker. "To some, the outlook presents few features
that are promising, and others, if they recognize unfavorable tenden
cies in the currents of the time, feel sure that they are in their na
tureliut ephemeral. Current literature is largely devoted to these
varying aspects of the period and the study of existing conditions,
in the hope of anticipating the issues towards which these condi
tions are tending. All this is indicative of the mental unrest of the
people, the fermentation of morbid thought and feeling, which has
been generated by the existing perplexities in business and social
life. There are grounds, too, for much of this distrust of the future.
Nor are they based wholly upon the uncertain economic tendencies
which are developing. Politically, as well as economically, the
future seems to be clothed in forbidding gloom. In congress, the
forces of sectionalism seem to be gathering strength and 'purpose
from which spring legislation, or attempted legislation, in the inter
ests of particular localities, and in the support and promotion of
which opinions yield to self-interest. That large and increasing
class of our people which look to government for the correction of
all evils inherent in their business and social affairs, is encouraged
in its fatuous chase after the unattainable. Evils are emphasized
and exaggerated, and panaceas which, if they could be adopted,
would be foudd to be wholly inadequate, are exalted. It is no
wonder that thoughtful men are inclined to gaze upon the move
ments of the time with distrustful eyes."
Frank C. Zehrung will manage the new Funke opera hous next
season.
