Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-29
Views and Reviews
Eastern Visitor Says q Lot Of
Nice ThinQs About Omaha

The New Year card habit seems to be well
established, and to have come through the war
and the conservation propaganda unscathed.
From the number and variety of these missives
of remembrance and we'll wishing that are COM
ing to me it is evident that the practice is
spreading and at the same time calling forth the
highest character of the stationer's art as well
as the best thought and clever conception in the
phrasing of the sentiment and choice of the
form The tendency is growing to make the
card more characteristic of the sender or more
specifically appropriate to the individual to
whom it is addressed. 1t is beautiful custom,
giving unrestricted opportunity to show
thoughtfuness of friends with the true holiday
spirit without inaicting the sense of obligation
that goes with the interchange of more or less
costly presents.
1t is so nice to hear good things said about
Omaha that the temptation to pass 'em along
is irresistible. In the December number of the
handsome magazine called State Service,
which is published by the State of New York
in the interest of the government and public
affairs of that commonwealth Charles R. Skin
ner, formerly state superintendent of public in
struction, and now legislative librarian, gives a
graphic account of western trip made last
October with the dedication of the Lincoln and
Douglas statues at Springfield, ILL.,, as the OBJ
Jective point but followed up by going on as
far as our city. This is what he writes:
An easy ride by sleeper brings the traveller
into Omaha for breakfast at the Fontenele,
one of the finest hotels in the country, where
you find courtesy and an air of western hos
pitality.
visited Omaha to call upon the best
teacher | ever knew, whom l have not seen
since 1889. She had just left for Minnesota
to spend the winter with her daughters. |
did not have time to wait for her return. She
is now Mrs. Lansing Hoyer, formerly Miss
Hannah T. Hutchens, daughter of Ben amin
Hutchens, who lived on the Brownville road
this side of the river. She taught school at
Union Square.
What do l think of Omaha? 1t is one of
the finest cities between New York and San
francisco, with a population of quarter of
million. There is every evidence of enter
prise, prosperity and public spirit. They tell
me that everyone in Nebraska is rich, or ex-
poets to be-wants to be- There is all auto
for every four people in the state. Weekend
trips to Kansas City, $50 miles, and Chicago,
500 miles, are said to be common. All the
great railroads of the west center here. One
trolley line extends IA miles without break.
Fine buildings abound and there are great
stores both above and below the ground,
They cling to Scent fare on the troleys
and if you want a l0-cent shave or 15-cent
hair cut you can have them by taking trip
to Omaha.
And the stock yards! They are city by
itself. They make an easterner open his eyes.
Hundreds of miles of railroad tracks, thou
sands of stock pens scattered over hundreds
of acres, with cattle, sheep and hogs, make
up this city. Elevated walks give extended
views of the great place. You see long drive
ways leading to the shipping house and
slaughter pens and they are filled with end
less droves. One does not care to see the
IL
the war. Porterhouse steaks. lamb chops and
ham all around you, but all on foot You
count until you reach six billion (the loan
limit, and then you estimate the rest One
man was looking for six lost sheep among
10000! An attendant bound for home was
carrying something alive in a bag. 1t was a
pig which he had rescued from destruction in
one of the pens, where thousands of "porkers"
crush the lives out of 'little families" which
happen to arrive, either on the way or in the
pens.
There was a loan drive in progress, with
handsome girls selling bonds-a big war tank
moving up and down the street. They did
not need to fire guns to attract attention.
colored war map 40 feet square hung from
Ii one of the buildings: You could almost dis
tinguish your boy cover there There was
enthusiasm for war only. did not hear
politics mentioned. One little poster told of
someone who wants to be county clerk or
Something" There was no peace talk ex-
cept unconditional surrender. Forgiving was
not in the creed.
1t is immensely gratifying to have voun-
teered testimony to the attractiveness of Omaha
to visitor who speaks from wide observation
and knows relative values Such boost is
worth more than slathers of made -at-home
promotion publicity.
A hint to the street railway company: Put
in another skip-stop by eastbound cars at