The semi-annual used book sale was held again at the Bismarck Public Library last week where I made one purchase that I'm glad about. Digging through a box, I came on a Louis L'Amour magazine, something which I've never had. I knew that this magazine published for awhile in the 1990's and then folded, probably due to financial reasons. Anyway, after digging down in the box a bit further, I found more and took all of them. Of course, I bought lots of other books, but these will give the most pleasurable reading. Curious, I looked on the internet to see if I could find any mention of this defunct publication. Sure enough, I learned that only twelve issues were published and that is how many I found that day. So I've got the whole set. Then a trip to the Ebay site to see if they had any value. Yes, they are worth much more than the dollar or two I ended up paying for them. Some days it pays to get out of bed.
The first story I read in those magazines, Elmer Kelton's "Continuity," is a story of multi-generations living on the same ranch, five, in fact, including the youngster. Each succeeding generation must fight the older one to make changes in the ranch's operation, the older one not wanting to admit a newer, more efficient way is available. Kelton's considered one of the premier writers of western literature. His novel The Time It Never Rained features a rancher who refuses to accept any government aid or programs to help him survive a serious drought. It's a great read! Another one he is famous for is The Day the Cowboys Quit deals with an actual occurrence when the working cowboys got tired of being taken advantage of and actually quit their jobs. I've yet to read it, but it is on my shelf. My reading habits changed these last couple of years as I read more and more in the Westerns. Maybe I thought I was above that literature and should read the recommended "stuff" that the eastern establishment promoted. I've finally learned. Stories of the "rough-cut" frontier spirit suit me much better.
***
On Monday evening the Westerners featured a program on "Little Casino," a madame who ran a successful whorehouse operation in Bismarck at the sight where the Bismarck Tribune now sets. Quite the gal, she was! When people from this area were trying to have the capitol moved from Yankton to Bismarck, they needed to raise money. Here came Little Casino to a meeting of that exclusive club of men and threw $1200 down. Asked, "Isn't this a lot for you, Casino?" She looked around the table and said, "I can see more all around me." Search Google for her story. Type in Little Casino, Bismarck, and several items come up.
***
I have no more of the "That's when the fight started" jokes, but Ole and Lena thankfully arrived in time to fill the void -
DURING the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from a pew in the front row. It was little Ole. His mother Lena beside him was horrified. She pinched him to silence, and after church asked:
The first story I read in those magazines, Elmer Kelton's "Continuity," is a story of multi-generations living on the same ranch, five, in fact, including the youngster. Each succeeding generation must fight the older one to make changes in the ranch's operation, the older one not wanting to admit a newer, more efficient way is available. Kelton's considered one of the premier writers of western literature. His novel The Time It Never Rained features a rancher who refuses to accept any government aid or programs to help him survive a serious drought. It's a great read! Another one he is famous for is The Day the Cowboys Quit deals with an actual occurrence when the working cowboys got tired of being taken advantage of and actually quit their jobs. I've yet to read it, but it is on my shelf. My reading habits changed these last couple of years as I read more and more in the Westerns. Maybe I thought I was above that literature and should read the recommended "stuff" that the eastern establishment promoted. I've finally learned. Stories of the "rough-cut" frontier spirit suit me much better.
***
On Monday evening the Westerners featured a program on "Little Casino," a madame who ran a successful whorehouse operation in Bismarck at the sight where the Bismarck Tribune now sets. Quite the gal, she was! When people from this area were trying to have the capitol moved from Yankton to Bismarck, they needed to raise money. Here came Little Casino to a meeting of that exclusive club of men and threw $1200 down. Asked, "Isn't this a lot for you, Casino?" She looked around the table and said, "I can see more all around me." Search Google for her story. Type in Little Casino, Bismarck, and several items come up.
***
I have no more of the "That's when the fight started" jokes, but Ole and Lena thankfully arrived in time to fill the void -
DURING the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from a pew in the front row. It was little Ole. His mother Lena beside him was horrified. She pinched him to silence, and after church asked:
"Ole, whatever made you do such a thing?"
Ole answered gingerly:
"I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He just did!"
...
Ole and Lena finally got married, and Ole was driving her to St. Paul for the honeymoon. "Ole," says Lena, "give me a kiss." "No," says Ole, "somebody might see." "Nobody vill see," says Lena, "and besides, we're married now." "No, Lena," says Ole, "somebody might see." "Ole," says Lena, "I vant a kiss and I vant it now! Stop this car and park it. Ve'll get out and crawl under the car and then nobody vill see!" "Vat if somebody comes by?" asks Ole. "Yust tell them you're checking the clutch!" yells Lena, and Ole knows he'd better stop right then or there will be trouble. Vell, vun ting leads to another, and Ole and Lena are under the car for quite awhile ven He is so happy that his eyes are shut, and then Ole feels a hand on his shoulder. It vas Lars! "Ole!" says Lars. "Vat the heck are you doing?" "Go avay, Lars," says Ole. "I'm checking the clutch." "Vell, you'd better check the brakes," says Lars, "because your car's rolled fifty feet down the shoulder!"
Ole and Lena finally got married, and Ole was driving her to St. Paul for the honeymoon. "Ole," says Lena, "give me a kiss." "No," says Ole, "somebody might see." "Nobody vill see," says Lena, "and besides, we're married now." "No, Lena," says Ole, "somebody might see." "Ole," says Lena, "I vant a kiss and I vant it now! Stop this car and park it. Ve'll get out and crawl under the car and then nobody vill see!" "Vat if somebody comes by?" asks Ole. "Yust tell them you're checking the clutch!" yells Lena, and Ole knows he'd better stop right then or there will be trouble. Vell, vun ting leads to another, and Ole and Lena are under the car for quite awhile ven He is so happy that his eyes are shut, and then Ole feels a hand on his shoulder. It vas Lars! "Ole!" says Lars. "Vat the heck are you doing?" "Go avay, Lars," says Ole. "I'm checking the clutch." "Vell, you'd better check the brakes," says Lars, "because your car's rolled fifty feet down the shoulder!"
