Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-25
N~,o, Ras,1~A
ooA 9nt0As<sDss

w /
saying that next to his Network as a banker
which had first claim upon his energies, he devoted
more time and thought 10 our public library than 70
anything else outside Of the family circle. He took
pride in his service the library board which only
those associated with him Understood Ills most last
Ing labor for tho library in connection with the
construction Of the beautiful building which was to
he its first own home. in which 1t was already
housed when appointed TO the board. Mr. wal
lace already one OF the old members charter
member beieve-and vice president was second
in rank TO President Lewis S. Reed. We served to-
gether six or years when he retired after
which ! remained a few years longer, but he kept
his personal interest in the institution right along
When / went on the library board in 1894 the
other eight colleagues Lewis s. Reed, william
Wallace. Frank /. Halter. p l. Perine, Elijah Dunn,
r. X Scarborough Miss Elizabeth f. Poppeton (now
Mrs. Shannon), and Mrs. Claire Rustn Mcintosh. It
fated for Mr. Perine to be first the
call and / attended the funeral Of Elijah Dunn only
a few weeks ago. In those days Mr. Wallace was,
according TO my recollection the most regular at
tendant at the meetings and always very positive in
whatever position he took matters that came be-
fore When literary odds and ends offered
donations" Shy folks who wanted to unload old
junk, he hesitated 10 record polite refusal.
At the outset Miss Jessie Allan the librarian in
charge and after a sort Of interregnum following her
death, the place filled by the late BENJAMIN II.
Barrows. who subsequently made way for Miss Edith
Tobitt, the present librarian. In the intermssions
the position Of acting librarian taken by Miss
recently
Ex-Governor George T. Sheldon, who is here from
the southland of his periodic pilgrimages to
his old haunts. is little portly and little
more matured in look than when he was acclaimed
the boy governor Of Nebraska" towering above all
around him. The tone OF his voice when he tells how
glad he is 10 his old friends, and how he hopes
day 10 he relocated this vicinity should pro-
against surprise at having him again citizon
OF his native state before many more years roll
around.
Along with a number OF others similarly favored
despite their residence this side OF the Missouri.
] attended the annual dinner of the Council Bluffs
Commercial club TO whose success from every point
OF view am glad to testify. II Council Bluffs had
had In the early days the same bunch OF live wires
now galvanlzing the business battery there
fear We in Omaha would have had hard time to
pass our neighboring city. and get the lead on It
that we have. Although Council Bluffs most dis
tinguished citizen, General @. NJ Dodge. was unable
TO be present around the board seated the gov
Of Iowa. OF it's United States senators tho
congressman representing the district several OF the
state officers and last. hut not least former
Der or the Mckinley cabinet in the person Leslie
NJ Shaw. And what Is most in point is that all OF
them impressed the disnterested stranger with tho
fact that over In Iowa big bTainy men put into
the high official places accorded the leadership
in public affairs, and that this accounts more than
most people realize for the position of influence
which Iowa holds and has held for so many years
among the other states. 10 is disparagement of
the speakers on the program to say that the hit OF
the evening made by Secretary Shaw who was
not on the program. but who came back with some
keen satire and homely anecdotes that constituted
ment of business 1 heard Mr. Shaw told me
he was coming west again in few weeks and in re-
spouse TO my urging said he would try, II possible
to arrange TO stop off in Omaha"