The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-14

at the Office CT the "Bugle," Council Bluff,
Iowa: TO which point communications for
the present may be addressed"
This was the second editorial in the
same issue:
Last night we slept in our sanctum-
the starry decked heaven fer a ceiling,
and cur mother earth for floor. 1t was
a glorious night, and we were tired from
the days eXertions. Far away on different
portions Of the prairie giimmered the
camp fires of our neishbors, the Pawnees,
omahas. or that noble and too often unap-
preciated class of our people known as
pioneers Or squatters. We gathered around
our little camp fire, talked of times in the
past. of the pleasing present, and of the
glorious future which the march of civ
ilizaticn should open in the land whereon
we sat We thought OF distant
friends and loved cnes, who, stretched
upon beds Of downy ease, little apprec-
lated the unalioyed pleasure, the heaven
blessed comfort that dwclt with us in this
far-of la nd No busy hum of the hustlinS
world served to distract our thoughts.
Behind Us was spread our butfalo-robe IN
an old Indian trail which was to serve as
our bed and bedding. The cool night wind
swept in cooling breezes around US, deep
laden with the perfume of a thousand
ECeu ana various HoWeTs- away upUI
our lee came the occasional long-drawn
howl of the prairie wolves. Talk of COM
fort; there was more of it in enc hour
of our sanctum camp life upon Nebraska
soil than in a whole life of fashionable
pampered world in the settlements, and
individually, we would not have exchanged
our sanctum for any OF these of our breth-
ern Of the press, who boast of its neat
ness and beauty of artfui adornment."
The little items Of local Jews are quito
as suggestive. Here is one:
Tho 0mahas are soon expected in from
their hunt to prepare and dry their green
corn"
There are also rumors of Indian troubles
along the Western trails, and of massacres
of white travellers, all recorded in a mat
ter-of-face way, but speaking eloquently
of the wild discomfort of The time.
At that time there WERE of course, no
law courts upon tbs new SOL and the set
tiers had nothing to guide them save their
own good will and good intentions to-
ward one another. There is news in this
first issue of the Arrow of the formation
OF an association among the settlers which
had for its purpose the protection of the
rights Of its members in caring for their
lands and homes. One of the bylaws OF
tho association provided that ''all persons
who have families to support. or who are
acting for themselves will have protection
from this association. providing they be-
come member of it and act in conjunction
with majority of its members They
were protected. too: and nothing more
than that can be said in favor of our
courts of the present day. No doubt their
style OF justice was rude and rough at
times: but 1t served TO keep the men
thoughtful of one another and made it
possible for them to do their work in Sc
curity.
The advertisements tell a great deal
about the time and the difficulties which
the settlers had to overcome. There was
not great deal of money in use on the
frontier, and it was often impossible for
the most honest to pay their debts in cash.
There are several advertisements in this
tone:
And the books Were Opened!
Yes, the books are opened and posted,
and we are ready to meet our neighbors
and friends and fellow-citizens for set
Element. We consider it not only JUS
tice to our fellow creatures to close our
little matters without waiting for the Day
of Judgment, for some Of the charges
might be hard to answer to then. Come
forward and make clean conscience and
even books before the old year passes
away while it is a good, healthy time,
and we have nothing else to do-come!
And another:
The Last Call.
ITO those who have unsettled accounts
with the late Emporium Store, they will
please come forward without delay and
make settlement and save unnecessary
trouble and expense Walk up like honest
men and pay an unfortunate fellow and let
him know what he owes you. 1t must
come-step lively-no dodging!'
The advertisers are not the merchants
OF Omaha, for there were none. Most OF
those who patronized the columns were res
idents of the neighboring town of Council
Bluffs; but there were others whose busi-
ness was conducted in far-off Salt Lake
City. Distance did not signify much in
those days.
Time passed quickly and to some purpose
on the new soil. The fourth issue Of the
paper, dated September S. contained this
editorial:
Again We write from our sanctum.
though no; as at first upon the stump OF
our first fallen tree. Our cabin is partial
ly reared, and near it we have selected
shady tree from whose boughs We have in
terwoven a cool. airy. and delightful bow
er. A rustic seat formed Of poles, with
the green soft grass for cushion, and an
umbrageous limb as a table upon which
our portfolio rests. We have been out
scrambling through the bushes TO gather
some OF the delicious and juicy plums that
grow in wild profusion around US. The
reverberating echoes of the axe of the
distant squatter. mingled with the noon
tide anthem of the wildwood warbler,
falls upon our ear as the sound OF merry
music. In the distance upon the river
we see the approach of the noisy steam
er disturbing Natures lovely seclusion
with its clicking machinery and clouds OF
steam and smoke, while in the back
ground smokes the great campfire over
which broils a brace of quails and
plump duck for our midday meal. Our
rude buffalo hammock hangs high over
our head in the branches OF the tree.
a safe retreat from the singing bite OF
the mosquitoes which at even swarm in
great abundance.
"a rude village of the Omahas, with
few acres of luxurious maize and other
vegetables. stands by the skirt of the
timber far away to the westward upon the
banks of a clear, pure stream OF Natures
choicest beverage. Those sturdy sons Of
the prairie and forest have Just returned
| from their summer hunt to see what the
Great Father at Washington has sent
them They look sorrowful and cast
down, for they are soon to leave the
lands and graves of their forefathers for
ever TO sojourn and rear their children
upon the lands selected for them by the