l
Ob. 10, No. 6.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
LINCOLN, NEB., SATURDAY, JANUARY 26. 1895.
A STORY WITH A MORAL
THERE was, once upon a time, a beautiful city, tho capital
of a great territory. The people of this city were progress
ive and active, and the city grew like a green bay tree.
Enterprise and thrift went hand in hand, and all the people were
happy. The city spread out in all directions, and its beauty and
prosperity attracted not only thousands of people, but great institu
tions. Soon, besides its great business interests, it had colleges
and universities, without number, and it became famous through
out the land as a seat of learning. But after awhile a change came
over the people. Enterprise gradually gave way to a kind of mani
pulation that promised much but achieved little. Half of the peo
pie gave themselves largely
or wholly over to politics,
expecting to secure at one
grab from the public treas
ury, that which it would
take years to obtain in
legitimate business. The
other half dropped back
from their erstwhile condi
ion of enterprise and activ
ity and some of them went
to sleep. Some of them
went into a kind of stupor,
and others put their faith
in the politicians, expecting
thrm to accomplish for the
city what formerly was ob
tained by the prompt exer
cise of public spirit. Public
spirit? That phrase became
a mockery. Scheming on
the one side, and lethargy
on the other, took the place
of that public spirit that
had built a beautiful city
on the bare prairie. The
change in the people soon
brought a change in the
town. There was no longer
auy advancement. No new
enterprises came to town.
The population not only
long rest waB taken. Then came the question of the re-location of
a big exposition that had been held in the city annually for years,
an exosition that was worth thousands of dollars to the city. Tho
club essayed to secure the re-location of the exposition. Tho other
people did nothing. People said, '"There is no use for ub to get up
any excitement. The exposition will never be taken away from this
city.' They thought the relocation was simply a question of
lolitics, and they were confident. The club soon came in contact
with the representatives of other cities live cities, and men who
were fully awake and who had long since cut their eye teeth. The
habit of sloth was too much for these men who tried to keep the
exposition. A rival city carried away the prize. The club there
upon went into a state of desuetude.
And one by one many enter
prises that were of value to
tho city slipped away, and
the town that live years
before was the wonder of
the county became a peace
fully Bleeping community
whose only relief from the
dreadful monotony that
marked the passing years
was politics.
Ada That is Mr. Leader, the great conductor.
Saida Of which car-line?
did not grow, but began to decrease. Politics and sleep and lethargy
did their work. Gradually progress turned around and commenced
to go backward. Instead of gaining new strength, the city began
to lose, little oy little, that vitality that had made it so powerful.
Finally a few of the people becoming alarmed at the trend of affairs
rubbed the sand out of their eyes,after a deal of talk, got together
and organized a club that was to supply all of tho enterprise for the
city. This club was installed in a handsome mansion with great
eclat, or something nearly akin to it; and the city, or as much of it
as was awake, waited to see what the club would tlo, fondly expect
ing that the old time prosperity would be brought back. First, tho
members and officers provided for their stomachs. That done a
Now some people who
are in the habit of jumping
at conclusions may imagine
that the city above des
cribed is Lincoln. If they
do so imagine they are mis
taken. It is not Lincoln at
all. But. nevertheless, now
that Lincoln has been
mentioned in this connec
tion, it may as well be
admitted that there is a
lesson in the fate of the
unfortunate town for our
city. Lincoln today isn't
as stirring and public
spirited and enterprising as
she might be, and as some
thing like the same condi
tions obtain here as in the
is barely possible, unless the people wake up,
other city it
like fate may be in store for us.
that
A MUTUAL SERVICE.
He I am very unfortunate: it seems I can please nobody.
She Come, cheer up: I have no one to admire me, either.
He Tell you what let's found a society for mutual admiration
I, for instance, admire your beautiful eyes; and what do you admire
in me?
She Your good taste.
r
