The Solar Plexus Surprise
A local storekeeper's attempt to act tough with a schoolgirl ends in a swift, painful lesson.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Last Thursday and Friday Ed Angell went around with a bump on his back like a camel. A dainty young school girl came into the store Thursday noon and jokingly began kicking about everything in sight. 'Well, why don't you lick the storekeeper?' asked Ed, bristling up and sticking out his chest. Acting on his suggestion, she let loose her right and landed Ed a wallop in the solar plexus that laid him out cold. He was looking better Friday night, though he was still considerably out of line.
“Acting on his suggestion she let loose her right and landed Ed a wallop in the solar plexus that laid him out cold.”
This vignette serves as a reminder of the rough-and-tumble social dynamics of small-town life in early 20th-century Kennewick. While the gender roles and the nature of the storekeeper's interaction feel dated, the 'local character' column remains a staple of community journalism that bridges generations.
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