TODAY’S LESSON: Dustin Huber responds to our recent column about
the Italian derivation of the new name of the Downbeat restaurant –
“”Abbasso at the Downbeat.””[neWLine]

He writes, “”This letter is in response to Mr. Tony Pascale’s
observations about the new name of the Downbeat restaurant. I was
consulted by the new owners during the naming process and feel that
some corrections to Mr. Pascale’s otherwise excellent research must
be made.[neWLine]

“”While Mr. Pascale is certainly correct that the Italian verb
abbassare has multiple meanings, in any translation the word must
be taken in context.[neWLine]

“”Just as the Camas family didn’t intend for their restaurant to
be seen as ‘depressing’ – one possible meaning of the word downbeat
– the current owners chose a version of the verb that personified
what the restaurant meant to them.[neWLine]

“”Thus, while Mr. Pascale’s literal preference of ‘lower the
volume at the Downbeat’ may be an appropriate choice for any future
upstairs tenants, it is not the best fit.[neWLine]

“”Likewise, interpreting the word as an interjection would lead
one to the translation, ‘Down with the Downbeat!’ Although
Abbasso’s competitors may want to shout this exhortative from the
rooftops, we are confident that patrons of the new Downbeat will
instead join us in taking a break and unwinding at the finest
restaurant in town.[neWLine]

“”But in the end, Mr. Pascale not only pointed out the different
definitions of the word Abbasso, but also came to the right
conclusion about what we meant it to say. Grazie! (Thank
you!)””[neWLine][neWLine]

WHICH WAY?: Inquiring minds want to know why the difference in
spelling of “”Allegheny,”” “”Allegany,”” and
“”Alleghany.””[neWLine]

We have long struggled, particularly with new reporters, over
the spelling difference – accentuated by the Pennsylvania and New
York border – but have never been told how and why the differences
developed.[neWLine]

Generally, Pennsylvania spellings adhere to Allegheny
(reservoir, national forest, county, river etc.) but, of course,
there are exceptions – like Port Allegany.[neWLine]

And New York, it appears to us, mostly uses the Allegany
spelling.[neWLine]

We’ve even seen maps where the name of the Allegheny River
actually changes spelling where it loops into New York. Go
figure.[neWLine]

Anyway, if you can explain how the two spellings evolved let us
– and other curious minds – know.[neWLine][neWLine]

TODAY’S QUOTE: “”A writer’s first objective, it seems to me, is
clarity,”” said syndicated columnist James J. Kilpatrick, 1999,
according to our Freedom Forum calendar.