Hastings figure of speech? (Western, Henry: homes, buy, live in)

[PinkElephant]

When I was a child my grandma used to get the Hastings newspaper. There would be articles about people going to each others homes for dinner, etc. "Mrs. John Smith reports the dinner served by Mrs. Henry Fuddlewump was delicious fare."

I got my Mom a subscription to Capper's or Grit and a lady wrote about her cruise. The moral was "be careful what you do, even when far from home. We ran into our neighbors and you never know who will report on you."

Is this a regional thing? Or speech our elders may have more commonly used?

Thanks!

[kosnebbear]

PinkElephant,

I come from rural western Nebraska and most of the local newspapers do print these things. I think that a lot of the older readers who can't get out as much to visit with the people enjoy reading about what is going on around them and to see who is in town for a visit. They may not be as active, but they still care about the town that they live in. Most of the time they know about everyone that they read about. It also keeps them up to date so that when they do get out they have something to talk about with their friends.

Some day I might want to read the society section as well, but not right now.

[PinkElephant]

When I was old enough to read her hometown paper. It sure was a blast to the past to see the newer newspaper print something similar.

We don't have a society page here. You might as well buy the Star, or OK magazine!

Thanks for sharing the local Western NE info!