Thursday, January 28, 1949
THE HOME PAPER IN WINTER
At last the floundering carrier bore
The village paper to our door.
Lo! Broadening outward as we read
To warmer zones th’ horizon spread,
In panoramic length unrolled
We saw the marvels that it told,
Welcome to us its week-old news,
Its corner for the rustic Muse,
Its monthly gauge of snow and rain,
Its record mingling in a breath
The wedding bell and dirge of death;
Jest, anecdote, and love-lorn tale;
The latest culprit sent to jail;
Its hue and cry of stolen and lost,
Its vendue sales and goods at cost,
And traffic calling loud for gain,
We felt the stir of hall and street,
The pulse of life that round us beat;
The chill embargo of the snow
Was melted in the genial glow;
Wide swung again our ice-locked door,
And the world was ours once more!
From John Greenleaf Whittier’s Poem “Snow Bound” written in 1866
TOP TEN SPOT NEWS STORIES OF 1948
President Truman and Democratic party score upset election victory.
Russians blockade Berlin, causing inauguration of airlift, heightening the “cold war.”
Count Bernadotte assassinated during U. N. mission in Palestine.
Southern Democrats rebel to form states’ rights or “Dixiecrat” party.
War in China nears climax with Communist troops marching to apparent victory and U. S. officials refusing to grant additional aid to Chiang Kaishek.
High cost of living plagues Americans and their business with fourth round of wage boosts seen in offing.
Oksana Kasenkina leaps from Russian consulate window in desperate effort to escape impending return to native land, creating international episode.
Mohandas Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist, terminating life of service to India and cause of freedom.
United Nations proceedings bring into open many international problems, and emphasize conflict between East and West.
Eightieth congress sets legislative background for party positions during election campaign.
From Wyoming
Dear Mr. Price;
Enclosed money for paper. I have taken the Times nearly fifty-six years. Coming to Wyoming in 1893, and have seen so many changes, my family nearly all gone and I couldn’t take the long journey to see them on account of my age and arthritis. It has been a very pros- perous year in the cattle business for all western people.
My husband died in 1931; my nephew, Glenn Clark, died in 1942. Since then, with my daughter’s help and a good foreman, I have managed the cattle ranch. Our other help during the war – the worst ever. This fall we decided to sell, as the responsibility was so great on women. …
We sold $41,000 worth of cattle this year and don’t owe a cent, but wages are $150 per month and three men all the year with a hay crew at $10 a day. …
I bought a new Dodge farm truck and it cost nearly three thousand, it has a heater and every convenience. I bought a new one-man baler this season; it was $2,600, but it lets out three men. I have two tractors. I buy bonds each season for the girls with all money left over that season and give to every charity. Such is life in Wyoming, but a full and happy one and a busy one.
Sincerely,
Virginia Clark Sharp
