The Syracuse Journal, Volume 20, Number 3, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 19 May 1927 — Page 8

|| Il II II II II Il 11 fl . fl. tag ’ ii Lin® tf 1 Il liTTRMfc i wHE ■ I w IMIUUUTT ~ i 1 =^br~~ J

By KARL/L. BPENCE . Editor, Franklin (Nab.) Now*.

IFTT-SIX years ago this spring the first. settlers commenced arriving In central Nebraska, bent upon permanent settlement, with the expectation of making homes for themselves and their families. Passing up the opportunity of securing the rich bottom lands along the Republican river, the first settlers went back from the I river a few miles and settled along I the different creeks, which were heavily timbered, and had an abundance

of fine spring water. Tha fuel bill was also solved here, as the new settler bad plenty of timber for wood, and posts for hla fencing. These first settlers able to build log houses or dugouts, which were log houses built In the banks of the draws or along the streams, the lower story being dug out of .the bank and the house built over it. During the years of 1871. ’72 and *73 nearly all of these desirable homesteads were taken up, the settlements running up the streams north from the Republican river fior a distance of several miles, with the Intervening lands left vacant for a few years. As these lands were well grassed, the settlers along the creeks were able to use them for pasture as all unoccupied lands were owned by the government and were free range. One or two portable sawmills were brought into the country and for a tjlme native lumber, sawed from cottonwood and elm trees, was available, but at its best this lumber was not very satisfactory, as It was liable to buckle, warp and twist into many fantastic shapes while curing in the sun. Many of the first houses ware built from this lumber and one can still find a few of these pioneer dwellings in this section of Nebraska. Beatrice, for a time, was the closest railroad point and this was a matter of several days' Journew coming and going with the slow ox teams of the pioneer period. Moot of these journeys were made to secure flour, coffee, sugar, tobacco and other necessities needed by the pioneers. Usually the load taken by the pioneer to Beatrice was buffalo hides which he bartered for the things needed in the .home. Later the railroad was extended to Lowell and the trip was made to that place In much less time and the pioneer was fc then able to take a load of grain to exchange for bls groceries and clothing. The Rush Into the West And so we come to the time when the rich . prairie lands, which contained no timber, were all that was left for the homesteader. And they came in swarms, as this was the period in our history Immediately following the Civil war, when (housandn and hundreds of thousands of young men, virile and full of hope for the future, were striking out to make homes for themselves. It was a new country, money was scarce, and many of the settlers did not see enough money to buy a sack of corn meal from one year's end to another. Trade, such as It was, was carried on by barter. A man traded what he had a surplns of to his neighbor or the small pioneer storekeeper, for what he absolutely had to have. He raised hla own corn for corn meal, hla wheat for flour, and these he took to the mill, often on horseback, the grain being tied behind the saddle In a bag. Hers he waited until It was ground into meal or flour and paid the miller a share of the finished product for the grinding, the balance being taken home In the same sack the grain was brought to the mill In, The prairie homesteader bad no timber to build himself a log cabin, and no money to buy the lumber or logs, so that It was up to him to provide a substitute. He did this by building a -aoddy.’* First selecting a likely site for his new home, be took a team of oxen.and hitched them to a breaking plow -that is peculiar to the prairie regions. Instead of a solid plowshare this plow has a share of heavy rods, which does the same work as a solid share without causing the friction, that it does. Setting hla plow to a depth of about three Inches, he plowed a long straight furrow as near to the location of his soddy as he could, so that he would not have the labor of moving the sod any areat distance. This sod-Was Impregnated with fibrous roots of the grasses and prairie plants so that It held together remarkably well. Strip pod a foot wide and three feet long •«* brought to the site of the new house andl the building begins- After the dimensions of the house have been decided upon, the ground la off go that a space Is left for the wh cb wRI be two feet or more in thickness. The growing grass Is left on the sod and this forme the chinks between the layers, so that It Is not nee- " entry to chink up the spaces' between the layers of sod. The walls are built up to a height of seven or eight feat. openings being left for the window, and doors which are recessed Into tbs walls for a distance of a foot or more. Many of the first soddys did not have glass for the windows, but instead used oiled paper or muslin for Ughts Setting the Ridgepole After the walls were completed a ridgepole was secured, usually being a native tree, with other smaller trees or branches to be.used for rafters or supporters. Over this brush was thrown and then a layer of prairie hay or straw, after which ths roof of sod was put on, the layers being leveled off and chinked up so that not a drop of water enters and the structure drains per-

Hospitals in India Spread the Light

Th. mWonsry hospltalln India ha* an unique value, any* Albert E. Moore, M. IK, Bngitob Baptist misMonary U* Palwal. North IwH * 5 “ Tbe ! day* of blasphmny. acorn and anaara are largely ow, and India to |nt lo th* supranj* beauty of Christ and all He slgnlfire Thera to a won derfnl growth of th. spirit of service which is manifested In th. highest dojwm tn . mlsstoo hosnltaL Th* Peo-

fectly. Doors and windows are then made by the homesteader from native lumber or perhaps from the boxes he brought with him in his overland Journey to his uew home. The soddy la now ready for the homesteader and his family to live In, though In many Instances to make It more attractive, a coat of whitewash Is glvfcn the inside walls, which has been made from native lime, which he secures from the bills along the river and burns himself. Most of the pioneer soddys bad no wood floors, the floors being made of clay which was dampened and tamped down until It was smooth and even. The furniture of the pioneer soddy was very primitive and except for a few pieces brought by the homesteader when be first came to the. new country, bad been made by himself. The beds, tables, chairs and what few other pieces of furniture he possesses show hla handiwork. The foot of the soddy, being made of dirt as it Is. usually presents a drab appearance, as does the whole building, but in many cases the homesteader or his wife has gone to a great deal of trouble to beautify the humble home which they have builded. and often you see a gorgeous flaming cactus, or perhaps a number of wild sunflower* bravely blooming on top of the soddy. where they have bee*; carefully planted and nurtured by the family. Occtslonally the whole top of the soddy will be a mass of bloom from a bed of portulaca or rose moss, which requires little attention and will bloom tn the hottest and driest weather, in fact It seems to do Its best under the most adverse conditions. Morning glories shade the windows, while beds of petunias, bachelor’s buttons, zinnias and other gar-colored flowers make a bright spot rbnut the soddy. Nearly the flrat tnina that the new owner did after completing his sod house was to plant a small grove of trees which he cared for tenderly during the many dry spells and which have made a noble monument to him in bls afteryears. The roof of the soddy, being built as It was from brush, straw and sod, made a fine home for many different kinds of rodents and snakes and often the pioneer looked up during the warmth of the evening to see a rattler or a giant ballsnake colled around the rafter of his dwelling and stories are told of the packrats that came during the absence of the family and carried off the food store as well as other bright objects which attracted their attention, which they stored away In some convenient cache. One pioneer tells the story of how he spent the night once with a neighbor. When night came on. the homesteader’s wife placed the Jars of milk on the floor In the room, where he was expected to sleep. In order to keep the milk cool. Just as daybreak came a mother skunk with seven or eight babies came through a hole in the wall of the soddv and they all had a nice breakfast of fresh milk. The visitor, fearing that the mother skunk would resent his presence, wisely kept still and allowed the early morning visitors to depart In peace. A Refuge in Time of Storm With walls, two feet thick and a roof from eight Inches to a foot thick the soddy juade a fine home f<>r the pioneer family, being warm In winter and cool In summer. Fuel was scarce and the pioneer had to depend upon cow “chips” for fuel. Ice in summer was unknown, and this finally led to the building of caves or outside cellars, where the vegetables, milk and canned goods were kept This eave was also used by the pioneer family, who took refuge dn it when tornadoes threatened. Water on the prairie was hard to secure and wells were put down, being dug by hand, sometimes to a depth of 250 feet The pioneer welldigger had a dangerous Job and many a well has cost the Ilf* of a man before being completed. Later wells bored by machinery and tubular wells were put down and moat of these were equipped with windmills, so that the back-breaking labor of pumping water for household use and for live stock has been done away with and large tanks are provided fbr storage during the occasional spells when the wind does not blow. The average soddy contained one or two rooms, though occasionally some well-to-do homesteader had a soddy containing four or fire rooms, but usually when the homesteader was able to build such a house be would build from lumber which be freighted in by ox-team from a long distance. Many of these larger soddys had wooden floors and these houses were the meeting places for parties and dances among the ploneera. The flrat school houses and first churches were built of sod and many of the native sons and daughters secured their first rudiments in the three It’s while attending school tn a sod school bon— A Menu of Wild Fruit The pioneer family lacked variety in their menu, but this was overcome to a certain extent by the homesteader's wife, who canned and dried the wild fruits which grew along the numerous streams in abundance in nearly every section of the country, as well as choke-cherries, and tn different tocalltles there were black and red raspberries, gooseberries, sand cherries and black currants, wnich grew wild. The family usually took a day. off each year when these fruits were ripe to pick a supply for canning. The plant known as the buffalo bean also furnished the makings for pies, and while rather insipid in taste, was used by the homesteader when nothing better could be secured. and make a dish quite nourishing.

ple stand around and watch loathsome sores being dressed, pariah end Brahmin receiving equal attention; they watch minor operations being performed, and the consequent of pain; they beer no demand for money, and they hear the reason for It all tn the evengeltot*s address. A striking corroboration of this aspect of medical mission* to given to a latter from the chief magistrate at

the district, who wrote to me: India to now beginning to wake up. and now la the time when dean, selfsacrificing, unselfish work Ilk* that of your mission can be of Infinite rains in netting a standard for the people.'* GrowfA Coral Varies Little to known regarding the rapidity of growth In corals. A specimen of Mocsndrina labyrinthic. measuring a foot In diameter and four Inches | thick in the most convex part was

THE SYRACTrSE JOTRNAL

The outbuildings on the new home of the homesteader who lived tn a soddy, were nothing more substantial than a leanto shed against some bank or a shed made of poles and covered with straw or hay. Usually by spring this had great holes eaten into It by the stock and during the summer months was little else save a roof and the framework of poles. In the early days of settlement fierce storms raged during the winter. Blizzards, driven by high winds, swept over the prairies, and while the homesteader and his family, living within the two-foot thick walls of his soddy, was Immune from their blasts, as long as the food and fuel lasted, his live stock, which was housed -in flimsy structures, often suffered from the cold and snow. One pioneer tells us of a snow and windstorm which kept up continually for three days. He had a team of mules tied to the manger in a shed barn which was built of boards running up and down, with a'o good-sized crack between each board. When the storm ended it was found that the mules were still tied up, but all that could be seen of them was their ears and the tips of their noses. They were in a solid cake of snow and had to be dug out -before they could move. At that time there were thousands upon thousands of acres of lands that had no trees on them, but these storms have » greatly diminished since windbreaks of trees and groups of buildings dot every quarter section of land. Abundance of Wild Game A milk cow, a pig or two and a small flock of chickens helped to provide the living of the pioneer family, but these chickens had to be Jealously watched by the household to keep the prowling coyote and the watchful hawk, who were always on the watch, at a safe distance. Besides this domestic supply of meat, the early settler depended much upon his gun to provide meat for his table, as the prairies teemed with bison, antelope, deer, wild turkey, sage hens, prairie chickens and many other varieties of wild game. In spring and autumn the annual migrations of the ducks and geese made a welcome variety to the family larder and the homesteader could secure meat for his table in a very short time. Many homesteaders became discouraged before proving up on their claims, others stayed long enough to prove up and then left, selling their land for a song or letting it go back for taxes. One homesteader, whose name is unknown, in leaving his homestead, after finally proving up, writes the following dirge: FAREWELL TO MY HOMESTEAD BHANTY Farewell to my homestead shanty; I have my final proof; The cattle will hook down the walla, And aome one will steal the roof. Farewell to my aheetlron stove » That stands tn the corner all cold: The good things I have baked In the ovea In language can never be told. Farewell to my cracker-box cupboard. With gunny sack for a door. Farewell to my store of good things That I shall never want any more. Farewell to my little pine bedstead. 'Tls on thee 1 slumbered Farewell to the dreams that INdreanjL While tha fleas all over me crept. Farewell to my down-bolstered chair. With bottom sagged down to the ground; Farewell to the socks, shtrts and breeches That fill It again to the ground. Farewell to my nice little table. Where under I have oft put my feet. Then chose from the bounty of good things ‘The substantlals of life for to eat. Farywell to my sour dough pancakes That agps but myself eould endure: If they did not taste good to a stranger They were sure the dyspepsia to cura Farewell to my tea and .my crackers; Farewell to my water and soap; Farewell to my sorghum and buckwheati Farewell to soddy and hop< A virgin soil, undaunted courage, youth and a spirit of home-making were sure to win fine tha plofieef homesteader and his little dirt soddy wad good changed to a modern home with th« comfortis that his pioneer fathers had never dreamed of. and today we find that while the oldo soddy has passed into the beyond, back to the dust from which it came, it has left a well-settled country of prosperous fanners who have builded for permanence and the future. His trees, planted and tended with such tender care, have grown Into great groves which shade thousands of acres of ground and provide a fitting resting place for himself tn his old age and for the generations which are to come. He builded wisely and well. His work has borne fruit beyond the imagination of the men of his time. Where once stood the lowly soddy with the straw covered sheds for the live stock, now stands the modern Nebraska farm home with modern outbuildings surrounding it. Instead of the slow and steady team of oxen, the farmer now has his automobiles, his tractors and labor-saving machinery of various kinds, so that one man working half the time that he used to can now produce twice as much grain by his labor. Where once were trails, are now great graveled highways that are covered dally by hundreds of automobiles going at the rate of thirty or more miles per hour, where once that distance would have been considered a big day’s driving. Through the coming of the pioneer settlers Nebraska has developed into a great commonwealth with a population of more than a million and a

taken from a block of concrete at Fort Jefferson. Tortugas. It had Imen calculated that the average growth of a Mocandrina observed at Key West was half an Inch a year. - Out tn tA e Coanatry A seventh history class, which had Just finished studying colonial life was on examination. One of the questions was, “Discuss city life In colonial times.” One boy wrote: ‘•There were not many cities, and what there were were out tn the country*

LACE COMES INTO ITS OWN; STYLING OF HATS DIVERSIFIED

LACE has come Into Its own. For several seasons past the air has been rife with rumors of a coming vogue for lace. The long-looked-for has happened! Lace in Its every phase will glorify the summer costume. Not only does this apply to lace as a trimming, for the vogue of the all-lace frocks is also destined to sweep through all fashionland. Nor is the lace-mode confined to evening wear, indeed po! The very latest Idea Is that of the platted all-over lace skirt, attached to a lace-trimmed chlilou blouse, over which is worn a

J 7fl w ■ / /♦ BHk* Ip v' ; i ; ! f I || ; . H I r / J I 3 w Mi v r | Pretty Styling for Lace in Any Color.

matching lace Jacket or bolero with long sleeves. This ensemble is carried out in either black, beige or light gray. As to the sleeved black lace dress, its name is legion. Here’s a suggestion : Buy several silk underslips, a black one, a white one and several favorite tones or tints, thus enhancing the value of the frock as ready for every occasion. Why not have the sleeves made detachable, thus again scoring a clever move? So much, and much more for the daytime frock of lace, but what of the ravishing evening gowns all of lace which have entered the summer fashion panorama! No need to be in a quandary as to

I \v / / ■te,-' i Hats of Varied Style.

what to choose for the next party dress, for lace is the answer. The gown in this picture suggests a pretty styling for lace of any color. The gypsy girdle of taffeta Is a smart detail Here's a really and truly story about a new hat. as laughingly related by a certain well-known club woman, who seeing the humor and psychology of It thought It too good to keep from ber friends. “Soon after donning a new chapeau,” said she, “1

Sleeveless .Coats Short jackets of varied types are worn with every possible costume. For evening are sleeveless jackets of velvet matching the color of the dress. They are exquisitely embroidered in pastel colors and gold thread. Evening Frock An evening frock to of cloth of gold with a finely accordion-plaited skirt, and a Noused bodies with a belt of gold leather.

met a dear woman friend who exclaimed. ’How becoming that new hat is to you!* Later on a friend of the sterner sex met me with a ’Good morning! How well you are looking, what have jou been doing to yourself —you seetn to have found the fountain of youth—look ten years younger than when last I saw you!’ ” The man of it, the woman of it! Anyway it Is a fine argument in favor of becoming millinery. A more diversified styling of hats seldom has been recorded, as exists this season. Perhaps this is because

the modish compose Idea so encours. ages imagination to soar to very heights. Not only in terms of combination of color but of materials does the milliner create. Especially are tine straws and crochet viscas partnered with taffeta, faille and ribbon. Tiie fact that the crochet vlsca hat pictured first in this collection has a rippie brim of narrow grosgrain Is significant, for ruffled ribbon framing the face is one of the latest millinery t rends. The hat to the right at the top shows a wide side crown of naudsewed pedaline with a voluminous drape of faille silk. Belting ribbon in two colors Is picketed about a milan crown for the

model in the center. Note bow ribbon ends are brought up through openings in the crown. Handsomely tailored is the large leghorn hat which goes fifty-fifty with black crepe faille In its designing. Wide brims are surely coming in! The lasi model features sand-colored milan with a crown basket woven of narrow grosgrain ribbon in string color with tan. JULIA BOTTOMLEY. <®. IMT, West-rn Newspaper Uston >

Taffeta Slumber Robes Slumber robes, they are called, but their name does not convey the beauty and charm of quilted coverlets of taffeta in delicate pastel colors. The lining to usually In a contrasting shade. Waistlines Waistlines will be movable, according to the figure of the wearer. Most of those shown are placed at the top of the hip bone. .

Jr \JV 17ime-SavHMrtvjnr|) I of Tinting | (fga (Oopyrtzht 191?) For perfect tinting of dainty underwear, dresses, etc., the easiest way—and by far the best way—is the use of real dye. It tints in cold water, you know; Just dip the garment and it takes whatever tinge you wish to gi ve it. A matter of minutes. Real dyes will get such smooth and even tones as shame the streaky, wishy-washy work of synthetic preparations for the purpose! Diamond dye In original powder form is only fifteen cents at the drug store. ; lv your own diluting. Then dip to<tim — and you’ll have an effect that's beautiful. And if you want the tint permanent. Just use boiling water ! Diamond dyes do a slonal” Job of dyeing, too; the druggist has sample shades and simple directions. For a book of endless suggestions, in full color, request a free copy of Color Craft of DIAMOND DYER. Dept N 32, Burlington, Vermont. Diamond Dyes tonNT-Bail toIHE If Vw lnr«m« Is Too Small or You Are tonkin* tor wpare time occupation write Rr propoelttoc CONSUMERS SERVICE BUREAU. P O. Box «?. Cincinnati. 0100. - -I ”’i Increases the Pep aixj Vigor by relieving Auto-Intoxication A SAFE. DEPENQABLE LAXMTVt Going Down Little Marcia Ellen Connor, who attends the Downey Avenue Sunday school, was recently promoted to the beginners* department. “Well," salid the little girl when she came home. “I’m not going to that old Sunday school any more.” “Why?” inquired her mother. “Because my new class was in the cellar,” was the disgusted response.—lndianapolis News. Baby's little dresses will Just simply dazzle if Russ Bleaching Blue Is used In the laundry- Try It and see for yourself. At all good grocers.—Adv. Beyond His Powers “That ventriloquist can throw his voice into a trunk.’’ “Not if my wife has packed it; thor» Isn't any room.” Better First —Coal dust made me rich. Second —Own coal mines, eh? First—No, a chain of laundries.

Evansville Man Enjoys Health Kidney Trouble, Gastrit is and Constipation Had Almost Wrecked His Health. Samuel L. Martin, Main St, , Evansville, Ind., Hp successful decorator, says: “When I WMjMEjL Ran taking Tanlac, F I had almost given TCglpW up hope of recovering my lost health. From morning till night I suffered. My nerves were jumpy ■ and I never slept ■■ soundly. Indigestion made it agony for me to eat. Hours of pain followed every meal. I was tired all the time, no energy to work. “I believe Tanlac is the greatest tonic anybody can use, for it has returned to me my lost health, banished all signs of stomach troubles, built up my strengt h-’ * Tanlac relieves constipation, tones up sluggish liver, juts stomach in shape, bunds strength. Take this great tonic. At your druggist’s. Over 40 million bottles sold. JVERIPUREVEGETABLE, SOAP I AGENTS—MEN ANO WOMEN 1 B!< pmflu Mlilnt tbb wonderful new eoep. sot the rowptaKe. Nib,. beth. toilet. etc. Strletfr Vex etable. CwiUin. m animal fatjx tdyrly setter. Bls Reeeeter Write Today VERIPURE LABORATORIES Box 999 Chicsde. IU. Bunions M 11 Quick relief from pain. a V ■ Prevent shoe pressure, ■ylfy ■ At eßdrug anti shoe stores ■Hli* Dr Scholl's '“■J? WRITERS—MRS. MARKETED. We crlticlii and furnish full Informartoo for correettoi of faults. »1 per S.OOO words. Free markettor advtce. Bureau L’terarx Analysis. lISI Knickerbocker New I BABIES LOVE I I syrup I TU hU.b'*MiCkiMrw>-.RM»Ut<>r ■ Pleasant to give-pleasant to take. Guaranteed purely veg- •£>&!• and abaolutely haimleaa. ■ \ n .. qu . icktr i ML jf aitrrnoci, üßtawney *na L J other like disorders. 5 Th * OD, “ P abOaiMd Ktf