Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-26
GLIMPSEs
OF Nebraska Noted by One
Who Followed the Chautauqua
Circuit Just 10 Meet Folks

hnd men, women and children as.
sembling under the big tent and de-
voting an entire week to entertain
meut and uplift work. The atmo-
sphere. surrounding and permeatng
these assemblies is hygienic and
wholesome. and very often high class
talei performs. The liberal attend
arce indicates a prosperous condition
in the state, for without exception
the audience is we'll dressed, gener-
ously fed and of good disposition.
Among the season ticket holders are
the farmers who convey their taml-
lies in automobiles and often remain
several days. As we have one auto
mobile to every seven people in Ne
brasks 1--WE lead the union, you know,
the motor car is always in sight
The chautauqua pitches its tent IN
grove or park, with many small
tents scattered here and there for
the accommodation of the camper or
city wanderer. Comfortable chairs
or benches fill the big tent and the
stage is profusely decorated with
American flags. A piano is always
present. At Norfolk we heard Hon.
| Victor Murdoch of Kansas orate
Running through his entire speech
was a large vein of patriotism and it
might be added that the prevailing
sentiment of entertainers and audi
ence from one end of the state to
the other is intensely patriotic. No
slackers are wanted or admitted to
the grounds.
Murdock, after the performance,
gave us a Champ Clark story that is
worth repeating.
When Buchanan was elected presi-
dent one of his Pennsylvania constit-
uents who had delivered many
speeches for Buchanan and the demo-
cratic ticket during the campaign
wrote the president that his wife was
an invalid and he thought a change
OF climate-preferably that of Europe
would be beneficial to her health.
He suggested that he be given po-
sition in the foreign service and his
choice was the amo4- -adorship at
the court of St. James. Buchanan read
the letter to his cabinet and litter
went round the table. Buchanan in
terrupted the laughter by saying that
his friend could not hope to fill so
exalted a position as mentioned, but
that some place in the foreign serv-
ice should be rendered him.
Six months elapses and not another
word from this Office seeker. Bu-
chanan had not forgotten him and
once more brought the matter before
his cabinet. He said his friend had
not followed his letter with sec
ond one urging his claim, but he had
no doubt that he was still anxious
about his application. Turning to his
secretary of state Buchanan asked for
a suggestion. This official replied
that vacancy existed at Beirut, that
the position was not lucrative one,
but would afford change of climate
and that seemed to be the chief thing
desired.
The president Immediately wrote
his friend rendering him the consul
ship at Beirut and expressed the
hope that the change Of climate
would be beneficial to the health Of
his wife. to which the Pennsylvania
replied as follows: "Your letter OF
blank date received, When I applied
to you for a position in the foreign
service my wife was an invalid, but
since then she has gone to heaven
and you can 60 to hell" Whether Bu
chanan read this letter to his cabi-
net deponent sayeth not.
The land of milk and honey may be
in other latitudes than 40-43 degrees
and the longitudes of Nebraska, but
| If there is a more beautiful agricul-
tural state with more promising crops
than our commonwealth exhibits in
this month of August, then my hat is
off to such land. The eastern half OF
the state is one continuous field of
King Corn, golden grain, alfalfa and
garden. The western half of the
state is equally fortunate, so we are
told. With almost 100000 more
acres in crops than we had last year
our sum total of harvest will be
phenomenal, notwithstanding the
damage done in the Republican val
ley by hot winds and in the counties
Of Merrick, Polk, York, Saline, JEFF
ferson and Richardson by hail
storm that destroyed whole sections
of corn, killed hundreds of birds and
chickens and injured scores of houses,
while thousands of dollars worth of
glass went to smash.
The damage to Nebraska this year
by hot winds and hail may reach, if not
pass, the $50,000,000 mark. In many
fields of corn the only thing left was
corn stalks one foot high, the rest of
the field being swept clean by gale
that went through the country at a
speed of sixty-hve miles an hour.
York, Friend and Falls City suffered
the most damage among municipal.
ties. In some sections the path of
the storm was ten miles wide and i'll
other sections the devastating storm
jumped entire townships only to alight
and recommence its destructive work.
In many places the tenant suffered
total loss, but a spirit of patriotism
permeates all Nebraska this year and
the needy will be helped to plant an
other crop. The State Council OF
Defense has this matter in hand.
But it is in corn that Nebraska
shines this year. Corn to the right
of US, corn to the left of us. Corn in
front Of us, and corn behind us: in
fact, corn almost everywhere. Some
of the stalks are so tall that one is
led to believe for an instant that the
school of forestry has been excep-
tionally busy during the summer.
Field after field of corn reminds one
of vast groves of young trees, but
the large ears of corn thriving
toward maturity checks the imagina
ton and the dreamer awakens to the
1. - Ll..L .--.. l. ....n ..ai..a Lii IL 4,