Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-08-02
Helena, Montana, Thursday, August z, 1877.

cost educated the American student. Boston
has no school of art; no art gallery to men
ton. Though she is building one which will
do her honor. The best public picture gal
lery in New York is sales room-doupilrss
There is school for drawing-the National
Academy. 1t has been an aid to many begin
ners, but its a shame to so great city.
Rep-How singularly the mind runs. We
started at Edmonton, and here we are two
thousand miles away.
Tom-Not singular, either. Argument is
poor traveller. Outsigbt of the place it
starts from and it's lost. But you can't loose
conversation. 1t delights in change. Needs
no guide. Will admit of no boundary. Like
Byron's devil.
'Takng jump from Moscow to France,
1t steps across the sea-"
We should give what belongs to it-free-
dom. And freedomto go back to Edmonton,
if you choose.
Rep-1t's immaterial; but since we are
back should like some incident, or hear how
you passed some day or period there.
Toni don't know as I can interest you.
However, l will tell you how l passed New
Year day. There's no particular point to
what am about to say. 1t illustrates how
little variety there is in life there.
Ihad really but one companion in Edmon-
ton. He gave me the name of ''Yankee
Tom" Had the same privilege of naming
him l should have called him ''Old Agree
able.' The Breeds would have disagreed
with me, for when he went there ten years
ago, to dig gold, he was known as 1.-THE
Mean Yankee" When reached there his
name was settled and Interchangeable -"Old
English Charley" We lived miles from any
other house, on 'Virgin Flat" in shanties q
few rods apart. had not lonely moment
until the evening before New Year day.
That was the gayest day in the year to me.
For number of years four of us, who had
mingled in different guilds of society, had
met this evening, exchanged toasts, filled out
the list of calls we were to make together;
each adding with some pride the names of
acquaintance he had made during the past
twelve months, and at midnight we read 'The
Death of the Old Year."
Candles were scarce. sat some time in
my fire-lit hut, thinking of the starry streets
of the city. Then called on Charley. l
found him for the first time unsociable. We
sat for nearly an hour without speaking. At
last reaching among the embers and taking
coal on his black clay pipe, (Which was
smoked empty he said:
''If was in London now wouldn't be
taking nor'west light"
II didn't know what allied you, Charley.
l, too, am feeling lonesome tonight"
For two hours longer I listened to stories
of London, which only added to sadness.
''Tell something of New York; said he.
l thought would change the strain, and
try and make us more content with our sur
roundings.
1T was in the afternoon, New Years day.
Our carriage stopped in front of the resi-
dence of gentleman known throughout the
States. We were received. by his three
daughters, in parlor that limited refinement,
taste, wealth.
As was taking parting glass with one
of these young ladies, wrapped in cost, she
turned her face to large mirror at her side,
and looking directly at herself for the space
of minute, she bowed to me her Yes, sir,
her Certainly her 4 agree with you And
what do you think she asked me as was
leaving?
sI'n be cussed if can guess"
''To call again."
"Well, if them's the kind of girls you have
at home, l don't see anything to make you
blue. rather go see some of the squaws,
though. They'll look at you, andlaugh at you,
too."
'Can't we make calls tomorrow" asked.
'No; there's only one thing they do here.
You can kiss any woman you meet"
The absence of bath tubs in Edmonton
was thing we regretted, for under such cir
cumstances we might have enjoyed the day
and custom Of the place.
"Well, let US do something"
''What can we do?''
''Get up dinner. Old Sam will come"
s'We can't ask him and get back in time to
cook"
"Go tonight"
Charley was sixty years of age, but he pull
ed on his moccasins, and we started at II
o'clock.
Sam said he would come.
Charley made an English duff and roasted
piece of beef. l cooked Saratoga potatoes
and New England doughnuts. Sam was on
time.
I knew the doughnuts were failure. but
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