The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-09-23

with much grief that he 10 the only per.
son from bis place who is a member OF
TIE Nebraska Historical Society, and
the only collector Of relics. But the
old town on tho river has hsd its stories
told, and we'll told. by eye witnesses
and pioneers. One man can mako q
town famous to the heather outside.
Did not the city OF Lincoln make its
debut AZ q known power one summer
not long ago when a certain respected
citizen made some most remarkable
excursions out into the worldy There
lie absolutely no politics in that state.
ment, just honest fact. 10 the limited
few Lincoln is famous because Dwell,
her strict integrity, cedar-block paving,
which refuses to be forgotten, and her
Hagenow's band. But the great un.
washed think of it az merely Bryan's
town. 1t Is town without q history.
About all the traditions which it might
claim as halo OF glory clustered about
the old ealt basin. 81 careless we were
Of tradition. however, that We rejoiced
when Joe Burps took his big scoop.
shovel and made what we called lake
there where red men and white scraped
salt 10 the hard days gone by.
But Nebraska City has committed I'm.
forgivable sins, too. 1t has Knocked at
ancient relics, s,orned the laws Of the
prophets, and broken to fragments the
sacred hieroglyphics Of the past. For
thu old town on the river has clear,
exact, india-rubber, mathematical
street nomenclature which, l am sure,
would be the envy Of all those INSPIRED
Mosesses who from time to time have
tried to lead Lincoln out OF the wilder
ness OF errors and slphabets. Lincoln
has nothing to keep that is worth keep
ing in the way Of street names, but here
it was different. and wonder at the i'm.
pulse OF modern Improvement thus in.
vading the old place. Indian name,
once used were cast aside and now all
you have to do il to count streets by
numbers west from the river. "avenues"
by numbers north from central av.
enue," and "corsos' by numbers south.
No Otoe, Pawnee, etc, for the children
to learn to spell. The quaint old names
Of a race that will some day be naught
but name itself in history seemed to
give the proper atmosphere to this old
town by the river. The change must
have been made, / ehould judge, about
the time post Office was built with a
box capacity which seemed to expect
tremendous increase in the size Of tie
town. The new system il good, but 1t
is not romantic and,--wel', We western
people think We have no time for 10.
nance, but our children's children will
pay the penalty.
A park seems almost superAuity for
q small city whose pleasant homes are
set in the midst OF many trees. But the
old town has beautiful one. the gift Of
j. Sterlirg Morton. It is on the western
edge OF the town. away from the river.
A few Of the trees have been get out, but
they are principally OF natural growth.
The park contains nothing. but trees. a
email hall in the grove. and white-wasa.
ed "old settlers cabin"-the apologies to
the spelling hook must be made by
another than myself. ] am told that
the old town st,ll :eels poor and core
over its dive weeks smallpox scare last
winter, 60 they have no money to use
in fixing up the park. BIT 1t is lovely
place in these autumn days. without any
modern improvements.