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Title
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Scottsbluff Narratives, 1937_032
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Alternative Title
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1937 Scottsbluff Narratives
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Date
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1937
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Creator
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Frank Shoemaker
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Description
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Frank Shoemaker - Sandhills Narratives
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Identifier
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321301
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Transcription
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1 Scottsbluff, Nebr. Friday, July 9, 1937 A trip to the Badlands with the largest group to date-eight boys and six girls. At the south end of the Scottsbluff-Gering bridge we turned westward to traverse the bottomlands of the North Platte thro the cottonwoods and willows. I was able to point out many plants and shrubs in blossom-thistle poppy, snow-berry, cleome, blue vervain, star-grass, false Solomon's seal; and was pleased to not that several of the kids who had taken earlier trips with me remembered the names which I had given them. I introduced, to those who did not know it, the poison ivy with its three leaves; also, the harmless five-leafed Virginia creeper. Gradually I am persuading the youngsters, especially when taking a woodland or brush-land trip, to wear slacks, not shorts-because of the better protection from poison ivy, rose bushes, cacti. I permitted the eight boys to go swimming, in a restricted area which I knew to be safe; the girls and I went botanizing. After a half-hour I called in the bathers and let the six girls take a whirl at it; they all dug up bathing suits, or something, and had their half-hour, while I policed the hectic males by instructing them in a game which held us all within a square rod or two, densely absorbed. We built a fire and roasted our weiners; great fun, all of us! Absorbing a bit of woodcraft.-Each of the youngsters is instructed to bring his lunch; but on early trips I was positively distressed to not how poorly provided many of them were. So form my own funds I "build up" enough that all may be decently fed, counting in their provisions. This effort on my part is quite as selfish as it is benevolent. For eight hours of scampering and whooping and climbing simply hollers for food. I wish them to be not only benefited by the exercise, but happy; and a hungry child can't be very happy. (This trip carried us into the Badlands, as my personal field-notes proclaim; but as it proved less interesting then some others to be transcribed, I omit details.) Tuesday, July 13, 1937 I took several photographs on our latest trip, July 9th; postcard size, Speed Graphic camera fitted with Zeiss-Tesar lens. Among them was a picture of our group of fourteen; and today a print was delivered, or delegated for delivery, to each of the participants. This is my regular practice, and I am convined, from the enthusiastic reception accorded these prints, that as an "advertising medium" it is of rare value in popularizing our Recreation effort.- Today, it was hard going to assemble a party for a trip afield. I visited a dozen homes; most of the kids had been assigned duties. Some boys had to help father; several boys and girls were held by a rehearsal for a coming entertainment; two girls had to iron; one was attending a friend who was ill. And so on. I was impressed anew with sense of the economic importance of these children in both household and business routine. It surprised me
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Rights
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To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
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Is Version Of
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frank_h_shoemaker_321301-01064.jpg
