Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-15
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Victor Rosewater
While have not yet seen the moving pictures
OF our Nebraska semi-centennal history pageant
am told that they are very hne, and that the
dental party in the reviewing stand, with the Bee
building and the city hall on the other side Here
was Nebraska history in the background as well
as in the foreground, and It was noted by others,
as well, as may be attested by the following let
ter have received from Frank J.. Sadilsk OF VIII
Der, one Of Nebraska's most prominent Bohemian
citizens, which cannot refrain from reproducing:
While watching the parade in Omaha, and
when that part representing the first settlers
coming to this state in prairie schooners came
around, it reminded me Of your father, Edward
Rosewatcr, to whom great deal OF credit IS
due for large settlement OF agricultural people
in Nebraska.
When he first began to publish Bohemian
paper in Omaha, there was just such picture
on the front page. A covered wagon on the
prairie husband and wife standing by the FIRE
and group Of small children playing around,
while the oxen were grazing near by. Many OF
my Bohemian countrymen were induced, on &C,
count of his writings OF the richness OF the soil
Of Nebraska, to come from Iowa, Wisconsin
and other states to locate here and through
them many Of their friends from the old coun-
try. Now all are prosperous beyond their ex-
pectations.
What consolation it would have been to
his heart could he have seen that great process
sion, with the president of the United States
viewing it right across the street. where once
upon time stood on high hill his little home,
now surrounded by skyscrapers.
Alusion might also be made to the fact that
the city hall stands on the site Of the residence OF
Governor Alvin Saunders, who held his guberna-
torial commission from Abraham Lincoln. have
a faint recollection of the serenade that was given
him there on his return home when he was later
elected United States senator.
Strange, is it not, that my attention was at
tracted almost simultaneously by the demolition
OF the old Germania hall building over on Harvey
street east of Nineteenth which directly adioined
the spot to which the little home on the high
hill" referred to was moved and remodeled for
our occupancy to clear the location for the pres
ent Bee building. We lived over there for about
FIVE years while the neighboring Germania hall
was the center OF the social activities of the Ger
n'ans Of Omaha, who then as now constituted one
OF the substantial elements in the city's popula-
ton Here were held the turnfests and saenger-
tests, the dances masquerades, anniversary feiers
and, occasionally, the presentation OF German
drama For time the building served as a club
house. though its main use was for German
American school maintained there to teach pu-
pills facility with both the German and English
languages. The old-time Germans must be sorry
to see the building go, although it has long since
outlived its usefulness. ...
In this column recently related an aneedote,
in connection with the visit OF the federal land
bank board to Omaha, repeating remark had
made TO Herbert Quick when he suggested that
the place that gets the bank must be tornado
PROOF. and / responded: Then Omaha's one of
thee few places that can qualify, for it has been
scientifically established that tornadoes never hit
twice in the same spot, and we've had ours.
A little insurance paper published IN Indian
apos takes me up on this and insists thatl over
stenned the limit when said this fact was "scien-