West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-02-15
Montana Society.

history Of the Territory, expressed the
opinion upon her departure that il
was "a good country for men and
dogs, but poor one for women and
oxen" Rejecting upon the weary, sad.
eyed animals that | have seen toiling
laboriously with great trains of heavily
laden wagons literally working for
nothing and boarding themselves i
cannot object 90 this verdict 30 far rs
tue oxen are concerned; but | may be
permitted 20 dissent from il rs To the
women. / speak within the narrow con
hnes OF my experience. Ii is quite con
ceivaele that there was time when the
conditions of feminine existence in this
territory were not wholly ENJOYABLE :
and my idea of a heroine is realized by
a noble matron who brought two chill
dren TO the Territory fifteen years ago
and reared two amiable, white-souled
boys amid the seething mass of gold
seeking humanity that constituted the
standardization of that time.
But change has come. IL is an i'm
tereslng study i'll social evolution. One
can conceive of the circumstances at
tending the first population of Montana.
When gold was found Mt Grasshopper
Creek, or Alder Gulch, or wherever il
was, there came mob of human beings
with the simplest necessaries of life.
Then there was n phase OF genuine from
tier existence. 1t is so far foreign to the
experience Of those who have lived i'm
the populous communities of the East
that ones imagination can scarcely com
pass IT. The Montanians of that period
lived in cabins upon a cuisine which I
have heard tersely described IA bacon
straight" The days were spent i'm the
eager search for gold. The nights were
seasons of debauchery. the monotony of
drinking villainous fluids being relieved
by diversions with the revolver. There
was no lack of excitement. A "man
for breakfast" every morning furnished
a momentary sensation, and the hanging
of half dozen road agents on occasion
was an incidental recreation. In time
families came. They were brave men
who introduced wives and children into
such communities. But the immense
and variSd resources of Montana made
it certain that il would be the seat of "A
large and steadily increasing population.
Not only that, but the opportunities for
money-making soc II attracted the best
class of people from the States, and led
To the accumulation of fortunes that
justified the most luxurious modes of
existence.
1t may be excusable Mt this point to
make slight departure from my theme
No one OF my sex can have even crossed
the boundary of Montana without OBJ
serving the delicate and unfailing chiv-
airy OF its citizens. Said lady of the
bluest blood of Boston, who suffered
with me the agonies of stage ride
through the least attractive part Of the
Territory: "This is an awful country,
but the men are splendid" 1t was not
too warm tribute TO the gentlemen who
parted freelywith everything that could
contribute to the comfort of the women
and children whom they encountered i'm
their travels. There may have been an
occasional slip as to the third command
ment, but there was no failure IA TO any
attention woman or child could need
May it not be that IL was the long dearth
OF ladies' society suffered by the men
of the frontier that has educated them
to this high degree of chivalry2 One of
the first lessons that a pilgrim learns il
that 1T is hazardous TO iudge too hastily
by appearances. You behold men that
are unshaven and whose clothes are such
as you would find on day laborer in
the East, but upon listening 20 their
conversation you find them graduates of
Yale or Harvard, gentlemen possessing
more culture than three-fourths Of the
butterflies Of Eastern society.
To person residing in the States,
Montana seems the extreme frontier of
civilization. And 80 it is. Its capital
is removed by hundreds of miles from
steam transportation, and that distance
is heightened by mountain ranges and
every obstacle that nature, in it's most
ingenious moments, could devise. Ones
preconception Of the Montanian metrop-
oils and the reality must necessarily be
ludicrously at variance. The expecta-
tion would be town Of log cabins, i'm.
habited by miners with red shirts, and
fringe Of reyoivers. The realization
is a smart city, only differing from the
small cities Of the East in the vast ex-
cess OF business il ransacts-homes
that might distract with envy the vii
lagos Of the States--amateur musicians
who could command the admiration of
any audience in America.-parties that
are complete in all their appointments
culture and refinement in a degree
equaled at few Of the Eastern capitals
bellies that have made sad havoc with
hearts at Washington and wherever
beauties most do congregate.
If IL we're becoming 10 me-which it
is MOTTO pass any criticism upon Mon
taDa society, it would have reference 10
the excess Of luxury. That wealth
should manifest itself i'm the usual
ways is but natural But the Territory
is young. There is much To be done.
Among other things, we arc lacking IN
educational facilities. II is shame
that children are sent 10 the far Fast to
secure the completion Of their instruc-
ton Then there are many works Of
internal improvement Of great impOr-
tance to the development Of the re-
sources o. the Territory. Until there
ends are realized little less elegance in
the mode Of living may be Justly re-
gardcd A. public duty-a duty, the
performance of which is all that Is nee
essary 10 advance Montana b. the front
rank Of the communities that constitute
the Great Republic
A CLOCK made entirely Of bread has
lately been received in Milan. italy.
from Peru II was constructed by an
Indian, who having no means Of pur.
chasing material, saved q portion Of his
daflv broad Tor fhr v.trrv.rl III