The Montana post., 1868-12-25

seven-up, when the "chIps" were so each.
PEHsoxAL.-Col. Lane, one Of the bright
and shining lights of Montana Masonry and
Democracy, has returned from n two months
sojourn among the Deer Lodger. He reports
the valley without feck of snow 60 give n
semblsnce of purity to that fusare seat of
government.
From Wednesdays Daily.
LEcTURE.-A fine audience was pre- g.
ent at the Theatre last evening to hear Judge
Smiths lecture on "1hs Gold Fields of Amer
! lea" Aecrediting to the various authentic
sources, not within the reach of the general
reader, the historic factsthat form The skeleton
of his lecture, the speaker reviewed the
early visits of Spsniards, French and others
! to the Pacific coast, and summarized the re-
suit of their explorations and settlements,
giving n very interesting condensed history
of the golden shore before it came into pos
session of the United States. Citing the va
rioss treaties by which the country was ac-
quired, and giving the political history of the
/ several States and Territories, he passed on to
q history of mining operations and embodied
within the narrow limits of an evening lee
ture able, graphic, and comprehensive
description Of the great western gold fields.
The audience manifested a deep interest In
the theme and its elimination by Judge Smith,
and although prepared for and better adapted
were none who did not gain useful and valua-
ble information of this golden land, and the
lecturer received, at the conclusion, hearty
and general applause. We understand n very
large number of tickets were sold and the re-
turn to the worthy object in whose behalf the
lecture was q voluntary benefit will be quite
handsome.
Of the wheel-borow committee, places the
total number of bound volumes in the Helena
Library at GA, besides a large number of man
uscript and unbound works. The Rooms are
open from 10 a. m, until IL p. IN. and the at
tendance of those dropping in to read or
draw out books varies from go to l27 each
day, of whom many are ladies' IL has already
become the especial pride of the city, and all
strangers visit it and admire the generous
liberality of our citizens in instituting such a
commendable enterprise, and the fine taste
displayed In It's arrangement, furnishing and
keeping. We understand q fine lot of speci>
mems of ores and petrifsctions have already
been received, and the officers have informa-
tion of Others shipped. Everything of this
nature worthy of place will be carefully la
belled, and as soon as a sufficient number are
received a large mineraIogical cabinet will
occupy one side of the room. We are graft
fed to see the Library so prosperous and pop
ular, and hope it may grow in the affections
of all good people.
LIVING AND LEARNING.-Helena keeps
square up, shoulder to shoulder with the
times, lets the dead past bury its dead, and
devotes it attention to the living. In evil
dence of this, while the dead lingos are ig>
nored some twenty OF thirty persons are at
present studying the polite and the Celestial
languages, that
'When their ships come in'
and they move amid the gaities and splen
dors of Paris, or, when America takes posses
sion of the Chinese Empire and opens out
with Yankee enterpriZe In Hong Kong, they
may converse with the natives in their mother
tongue and shame the awkward with modula-
ted accents and disciplined shrugs. To make
this perfectly plain: three gentlemen are
studying Chinese under the Interpreter Of this
place and have made good progress, while n
score of ladies and gentlemen are taking les
sons in French from Mr.. Bellerieve, an ac-
complished and geutlemanly Partisan, who is
said 20 possess a happy faculty of imparting
instruction in this practical accomplishment.
PERsoNAL.-we were pleased to greet
in our sanctum yesterday, Col. g. L. An
drews, 18th Inft., commanding District of
Montana, and Colonel r. Nugent, 18th
Inft. They depart to-day for camp, the
former to Fort shaw and the latter TO Camp
Cook, anxious to be in quarters during the
coming holidays We wish all gallant "boys
in blue" Fl ON he who carries the triple stan
TO he who carrleJ ''forty rounds in cartridge
box" "a Merry Christmas aud a Happy New
Year"
ILLUMINATION.--One OF the attrac-
tions on Main street last evening, Indicative
or the Merry Christmas times now dawning,
was the illumination of the Novelty Store
said illumination being partly the radiant
faces of the juyeniles-hut principally of a
more expensive character. Col. Lyon and his
Efficient CORPS of assistants are kept busy and
crowds throng the store day and night pur
chasing of the ample stock adapted to occa-
sions like the present.
STERLING.-Our Sterling correspond.
ten gives most fattering accounts of the bush
ness and mining prospects of that ever lively
burg. Capt. Maltby, who has been running
upon the Red Bluff rock during the past sum-
mer with most flattering results, has stopped
his mill to clean up and renovate some of the
machinery, but after delay of few days be
will begin to crush quartz from other lodes.t
The Hobart mill, of small capacity, is work
ing away in lower Hot Spring District with a
most favorable show of success. The propri-
etors of it are very sanguine. Business in
Sterling Is very good every one IS hopef nj
of bright financial future in that locality.
FORT BENroN.-Capt. Nat. Pope that
E'beau ideal" of a gentleman illuminated our
sanctum, and from Q conversation with him
we derived much pleasure and many interest
ing items From him learn that DIR. III.
N Lehman, of Fort Benton, who was shot by
soldier some time ago, died on Friday,
and was buried on Sunday. His death was
rather unexpected and was supposed not to
result from the wound. A post mOrtem exam
ination held Saturday, from which we
have not heard, determined the cause of his
failing so rapidly and ultimate death. ~
Six AT A TIME.-We are indebted to
Mr.. Sabin, conmandsr-in- Chief Of Utah and
Montana lightning and on whom the efficient
mantle of our departed friend Wiley has fall
len gracefully, for The Fash of gossip that six
men were murdered few nights since on CD