The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1924-12-18
HOME FOLKS

eeer lived in Red Lodge He was never prominent
in politics it is true but he was neghborly and was
considered one of our leading citizens. He was
progressive and whenever any movement that
had for its purpose the betterment of the city
started he could always be counted on to do his
part His children never failed to be at school at
roll call and he helped pay the minister's salary
occasionally taught class in Sunday School and
whenever his neighbor had sickness in the family
John SWank was there and stayed the night thru
If necessary.
Years ago John Swank married Emma Estell.
She was home girl the daughter of his nelghbor
Alonzo A. Estell He looked over the catalogues OF
all the Chicago mail order houses While counting
her but found nothing advertised that compared
in any way with Emma He never regretted his
choice. Through all the years of their married
life, they knew only mutual happiness and fidelity
and sympathy They found the "bue bird only at
home and among friends He traded with his
home merchants. He had his auto repaired by
home men. he had his savings safely deposited in
his home bank. On occasion he patronized his
home baker, had his own home barber In short
he made it a rule to spend his money with those
who really deserved his patronage. He believed
in patronizing home industry.
When their first child was born the neighbors
''got up shower for John and Emma and the
new baby. The bankers wife and the grocers
wife were the leading spirits in the affair And
the presents-why they were from all their
friends Not single one came from Chicago or
St Paul The editor of the home paper somehow
borrowed enough money to buy bib for the in
FAINT and his wife was one of the proudest donors
that visited the SWank home that afternoon. The
wife of the manager of the News was there with
new tucker for the baby and the wife of the COM
positor presented rattle that was guaranteed to
keep the neighbOrs awake for weeks at time, all
bought with money received for subscriptions or
advertising The wife of the dentist was present
the spouse of the insurance agent and the JeWeler
and the undertaken and the barber and the cloth
Ter and the baker and the furniture man and the
hardware man and the confectioner and the tailor
and the druggist. The wife of the coal dealer and
the transfer man and the garage man and all the
rest of the neighbors were there with presents
and good wishes.
In due time this infant had reached woman
hood and her marriage to Joseph p Redmond was
announced. The old neighbors were invited and
it was an affair long, to be remembered Were
any of the foreign mail order representatives
there? Not any Only home folks came. The
ceremony was solemn and every stitch of the tulle
and crepe and drawn work and rouge and crino-
line and taffeta in which the bride was arrayed
was purchased of the merchants right here in Red
Lodge, Montana The groom was in conventional
black His auto was new and the home he had
fitted up for his bride was as fair as Mohamets
vision of Heaven. All had been bought of dealers
right here in Red Lodge.
Years passed and ere long, John Swank fel
asleep He had heard the reclamation of the an
gels that called him to a still fairer land The en-
tire city was in mourning. The glad song of child
hood which only yesterday had told of happiness
was now hushed. Neghbors came and went but
they spoke in low tones. When the minister hearC
of it he said man dies and the mourners go abou
the streets" Messages of sympathy and condol
ence poured in like an avalanche The widow anC
daughter were heart broken. Life to them would
never be as bright again. OH The sorrow of that
home. 1t seemed that the sun had been darkenec