The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-03-02
Howe About:
Railroads
Early Settlers
Babylon and Chicago
BY ED HOWE
G. Bell syndicate.-wNu Service.


railroads ruined the stage coaches.
My town (Atchison, Kan.), 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 AtchisOn 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.
. ID. Still, Atchison was 'done 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 edi-
ton of an American book, said of our
country towns and communities:
"These early settlers were engaged
In conflict with circumstances that
were too much for human nature.
They had to work to make bare and
frugal living; they had no time for
culture and refinement. There were
few amenities and no gracious forms
Of art or manners; no background to
life, no racial memory, no traditional
festivals or amusements, none of these
folk-customs that give unity and
charm to peoples life. The majority
opinion was stamped by narrow
piety and assertive proyincialism
which ruthlessly imposed its tyranny
on the whole community. The only
escape from its domination and the
dreary monotony 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"
I deny that early settlers anywhere
engage in conflict with circumstances
too much for human nature; also. that
men working hard to make q frugal
living have no time left for culture
and refinement.
The grandfather Of the present Sec
rotary of agriculture lived in a coun-
try community. and asserts In his mem
oirs that his neighbors practiced the
gracious forms of manners, and other
old and good customs that give charm
to peoples lives.
I 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 is 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 good
manners are easier practiced anywhere
than bad manners, and more profitable.
Once was travelling, and encoun-
tered a lot Of Jews wailing at some
kind of wall. tThey acted so strange
ly that a crowd Of loafers had col
lected, to watch them carry on, as
idlers gather to watch a negro baptfz-
ing.) There did not seem to
be a first-class Jew in the lot; they
looked like professional walters. Some
of them had blue or pink whiskers,
and their waiting seemed to be an ac-
cusation against Arabs living in the
same town. I heard that occasionally
the Arabs beat up the walters, result
ing in rioting that greatly injured de-
cent and Woodworking citizens on both
sides. It was a poor and RI
diculous show, and I soon passed on,
wondering that such folly had spread
over the earth.
I like better the performance of the
Jews at Babylon. They were taken
there as ignorant slaves. but learned
everything their masters knew, and.
by saving and industry, survived as a
race long after the magnificent Baby
lonian cities had crumbled to dust.
Why don't the Jews erect monu-
ments In memory of their really great
brethren, and cheer in front of them,
instead of wailing over their lost
cause? should myself remove my
hat in presence Of a monument In
memory of D'Israeli, who, alone, cap
tured England. which the great Ma
poleon was unable to do with his
grand army.
What a chance for Jews to cheer in
presence of a monument to julius
Rosenwald, who captured modern Chi
cagol
The people have always known a
good deal. I remember that when a
boy, If any of us got out of condition
and were fretful. mothers. the earliest
doctors, said: "He has eaten some
thing" The modern preach
ing that we all eat too much, and. in
our greed. frequently eat something
not good for us, is not new.
I know a woman who lives In a
prominent town, and it is generally
said she is rich, although she is not.
There is the usual talk of kidnapping
her for ransom. In her COM
munity live three brothers called the
Callahan boys, quiet men of consid-
cradle size. They have beaten up a
few of the neighbors, and generalE II
is believed the Callahan boys were
right in the controversies leading to
the fighting; the Callahan boys mind
their own business. but 1t is known
they will not be imposed on. The
woman has received two threatening
notes. These were placed In the hands
of the Callahan boys. who made prop.
er investigation, and did not bother
the police. Everywhere it Is under