The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-01
Howe About:
Railroads
Early Settlers
Babylon and Chicago
BY ED HOWE


which they have been ruined by auto
mobiles and trucks. Still, the
railroads ruined the stage coaches.
My town (Atchison, Kan.l, was once
famous because the Ben Holiday
stages started from there for the West.
Atchison was then as famous as Los
Angeles. Medicine Hat, Washington,
Chicago, or Kansas City, Is now. Hor-
ace Greeley, Mark Twain, Albert D.
Richardson, Artemus Ward. wrote
books about It. Thousands of freight
wagons started from Atchlson for the
gold fields OF the West; the exagger-
ated buffalo and Indian stories col
lected first at Atchison, and were sent
out by the new telegraph to the world.
STILL Atchison WAS dome up"
by the railroads, and no one came to
its relief.
Brand Whitlock, former American
ambassador to Belgium. and writing
In France to Introduce an English edl-
ton of an American book, said OF our
country towns and communities:
'sThese early settlers were engaged
In conflict with circumstances that
were too much for human nature.
They had to work to make bare ana
frugal living; they had no time for
culture and refinement. There were
few amenities and no gracious forms
of art or manners. no background 10
life. no racial memory, no traditional
festivals or amusements. none OF these
folk-customs that give unity ana
charm to peoples life. The majority
opinion was stamped by q narrow
piety and assertive provincialism
which ruthlessly imposed Its tyranny
on the whole community. The only
escape rom Its domination and the
drearv monntony OF harsh material
existence was to be found either In the
physical debauchery of the bar-room
and the demijohn. or In the emotional
debauchery OF the camp meeting and
the religious revival"
deny that early settlers anywhere
engage In a conflict with circumstances
too much for human nature also. that
men working hard to make frngaf
living have no time left for culture
and refinement
The grandfather OF the present sec
rotary Of agriculture lived In coun-
try community. and asserts In his men,
oirs that his neighhors practiced the
gracious forms OF manners, and other
old and good customs that give charm
to a peoples lives.
declare country people may do this
anywhere, and at the same time work
hard. practice frugal lives. and grow
In art, manners, and material comfort
IT fs not necessary for country people
to go away to rowdy colleges or cities
to learn good manners; the memoirs
OF Henry Wallace's grandfather prove
my contention.
And I further declare that gooc
manners are easier practiced anywhere
than bad manners and more profitable
Once I was travelling. and encoun
tered a lot of Jews wailing at soms
kind of wall. (They acted so strange
ly that a crowd of loafers had col
lected, to watch them carry on, al
idlers gather to watch negro haptiz
Ing.o There did not seem Il
be n first-class Jew In the lot, the,
looked like professional walters. Som
of them had blue or pink whiskers
and their wailing seemed to be an &C
cnsation against Arabs living in tn
same town. heard that occasionall
the Arabs beat up the walters, result
Ing In rioting that greatly injured az
cent and Woodworking citizens on bot
sides. II was poor and r
dIculous show, and I soon passed OF
wondering that such folly had sprea
over the earth.
! I like better the performance OF tn
Jews at Babylon They were take
there as ignorant slaves. but learne
everything their masters knew, ant
nv saving and industry, survived AS
] race long after the magnificent Bah,
: lonan cities had crumhled to dust.
WHY don't the Jews erect NOM
!. ments In memory Of their really gre'
brethren, and cheer In front Of ther
instead of wailing over their To-
cause? should myself remove n
! hat in presence OF monument
. memory Of D'Israeli, who alone. ca
tured England, which the great N
}, poleon was unable to do with b
grand army.
What a chance for Jews to cheer
presence OF A monument to Juli1
= Rosenwald, who captured modern CT
: cago!
- know a woman who lives In
! prominent town, and 1t Is general
? said she is rich, although she Is M
Q. There Is the usual talk of kidnapil
y her for ransom. tn her CO..
d munity live three brothers called t
= Callahan boys. quiet men OF cons
9 cradle size. They have beaten up
few Of the neighbors. and generally
c. Is believed the Callahan boys we
4 right In the controversies leading
70 the fghtjng: the Callahan boys mi