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Pages of History
On Saturday, Sept. 3, 1910, many Cedar County residents traveled to Sioux City to hear former President Theodore Roosevelt deliver an address in Mizzou Park, a baseball field on the site of the present Municipal Auditorium.
Laurel Advocate Editor Nevin had developed enough confidence in his driving ability to make the trip in his new Model T Ford. After listening to Teddy’s speech, Mr. and Mrs. Nevin drove to Elk Point, S.D., for a visit with friends. The next morning they picked up a pair of unidentified newlyweds in Sioux City and drove back to Laurel.
Roosevelt had recently returned to the U.S. from a safari in Africa. Roosevelt’s entourage — which consisted of 250 friends, relatives, scientists and sportsmen — bagged nearly 5000 mammals, 4000 birds, 2000 reptiles and 500 fish. Africa’s remaining animals were undoubtedly relieved when the conservation-minded former President returned to America. The taxidermists at Washington’s Smithsonian Institute were overwhelmed with work.
The importation of live animals from Africa was a lucrative business in 1910. Zoos and private collectors were willing to pay high prices for rare animals. Lion, tiger and bear cubs were in special demand by wealthy families. The baby animals were raised like kittens until they outgrew their playfulness and then were re-sold to animal traders. The mortality rate for captured animals was frightful. Not one gorilla survived more than a few weeks in captivity; 93 out of 100 hippopotami did not survive the voyage to America; and elephants were often killed or maimed while being captured in deep pits.
As there was no high school football in 1910, track and basketball were fall sports in many Nebraska schools. Basketball was an outdoor sport and both boys and girls fielded teams. The kids also helped develop a new athletic field west of the high school and a “yell organization” (pep club) was started for the first time. Miss Maybel Burns was in charge. School spirit was said to be running high and many turned out to cheer for the “black and gold.” A new third grader was enrolled in early October. Her name was Hazel and she was the newly adopted daughter of Carey and Cora Nevin. The 50-year-old editor and his 42-year-old wife found an eight-year-old girl through the Fremont office of the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.
Perhaps while searching for a child to adopt in Fremont or Omaha, Editor Nevin got his first glimpse of a fashion craze that was sweeping the nation in 1910. Nevin said the hobble skirt reminded him of the cornhusk wrapper of a tamale. “The wearer of the hobble was perched on a pair of instep breaking high-heeled shoes and dumped along the steet about like a white person would trying to wear a pair of Chinese shoes. And to think some fool man designed the skirt.” (Marian Mallatt wrote this into the Centennial Pageant. Alice Sohler was the “hobbled” young lady.)
In other news of September and October 1910: Wayne Normal opened for first time as a state college with free tuition.
Chicken stealing was reported south of Coleridge. Parents were reminded not to send under-age children to school.
Cedar County lost two of its oldest settlers: S.E. Jones died at his home near Wynot; J.P. Jenal moved to California.
Several Congressional candidates visited Cedar County before the November election. Among these were incumbent Congressmen James P. Latta and Gilbert M. Hitchcock. Both were touring this district by automobile. The candidates made short speeches on a street corner Laurel and then departed for Coleridge. Hitchcock founded the Omaha World Herald in 1889 and was appointed to the Senate the following year.
The Seventeenth Amendment, which provided for the direct election of U.S. senators, took effect May 31, 1913, so Hitchcock may have been the last Nebraska senator appointed to that office.
