Fergus County Democrat., 1914-03-17
GOSSIP Of THE TOWN


DO you know what seemed to me
to be the finest name for place l
ever heard?" asked Big Lehman
just after his return from long stay
in southern California, more extend
ed in fact, than he intended because
of the floods that held him there.
"Well, it was after we got aboard the
local train coming to LewistOWn from
Harlowton. I've a faint suspicion that
it really isn't the sweetest name ever
given to any lo1.lity, but it certainly
did sound good to the junior member
of the firm. Now down there every
thing in the way of names is Spanish,
or so it seemed to me. They give
counties Spanish names and map of
southern California reads like a Mex
ican guide book. They give their
streets these Spanish names and carry
it further by sticking Spanish labels
on a lot OF hotels and resorts. Con-
sequence was that | kept hearing
and trying to use-such names as
Santa Marguerite, San Maria, San
Benito, San Dimas, San Bernardino,
Santa Barbara, San Leandro, San
Diego, San joaquin. San Jose, San
Jacinto, San Matea, San Luis Obispo,
San Roman, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz,
San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Ana,
San Rafael, Santa Monica, San An
dreas, San Bruno, San Juan, San Mar
cos. l got so in the habit Of switch
ing my Us for HIS that l offended
lot of my friends. Went to speak to
bawled out, Hello, Hack Another
friend nnGtnmGr
in to do some business and l called
out, Good morning, Hoe and he gives
me queer look every time he sees
me. But the crusher was when
called up lady customer I've known
for years and whose insurance policy
was about to expire. That was Mrs
Jennie Just to be nice and
friendly l greeted her over the wire
with Good morning, Hennie," and
her receiver went up with bang.
That's just few of those delicious
Spanish names. l might, en- passant,
mention Potrero, Campo, Ignacio, Mo-
disto, Chico, Ell Toro (that was one of
my real favorites, thought, Ventura,
Visalia, Oroville, Merced, Sonoro, Palo
Alto, Sausalito, Yuba, Martinez, AL
turas, Paso Robes, Azusa, Escondido,
Calistoga, Sorrento, Ell Cajon, Alta
dena, Tres Pinos, Temecula, La Panza,
Chulvista, Cucamonga, Azenza, Yer
dugo, Wasioja, Alessandro, Punta
Gorda, Gaviota, Arroyo Grande, La
Penza, Lusardi, La Mesa, La Presa,
Los Olives, Los Alamas, Los Metros,
and so on. These are samples of what
you have to be familiar with in order
to get about from one ward to an
other. But l started in to tell you
about name that sounded SO sweet
to me after Spanish diet of several
weeks. Some husky homesteadel
spoke the words Dog Creek and they
seemed to be spoken by Music's gol
den tongue. That's how much like
the Spanish nomenclature of southern
California. But I've got that list ol
names down pat and will be pleased
to go over the roll call with anyone
who wishes to hear the pure and un
diluted Castillian pronunciation. III
nave to keep in practice on them OF
my tongue will lose it's cunning. Well
II l forget them all, l should bibble,
and Big" cauntered off to enter the
ring for another contest with Ell Toro
Lewistown boasts at least the usua
number of checker players and al
were much interested in the mattel
recently held at Great Falls between
J. H. Canning, of Cut Bank, ant
Michael Ryan, of Sand Coulee. It was
according to all accounts, an inter
esting affair, Mr.. Canning, however
winning easily. He has also won con
siderable prominence through his vic
tory, getting his picture in the papers
along with extended notices. Just t,
get things started Mr.. Canning ha
been presented with the title of cham
pion, and Bernard McGreevy, of Bill
ings, has issued a challenge to him
Followers of the game here are cor
fident that Lewisrown has a create
checker player than the Cut Ban
champion. 1t is generally concede
that the four finest players in this Sc,
ton are E. P. Durnen, the county aud
tor; George w. Cook, Jim Burr an
Attorney c. w. Buntin. An elimin,
tion contest among them would be
very interesting affair and may be a.
ranged. Heretofore they have jus
played among themselves, all tn
games being impromptu affairs, ye
whenever any of these four meet ther
is always an interested crowd of spe
tators at the Day house to follow tn
contests. Their methods are all di
ferent.. Mr.. Durnen is strictly a sy
tenn player and is therefore scientifl
all the way through. He is a pr,
found student Of the game and whe