The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-10-27
A. PILGRIMS PROGRESS.
Editorial Etchings Of Montana's Detachable
Valley Of Sun River-Pasto1al
Pastime Among It's
People.

who were bringing with certain sloWness
type and material for this paper, it occurred
to us that our time could be employed with
profit and pleasure by visiting the district Of
Sun River ard making the acquaintance OF
its genial people. Happy thought! and
straightway to Sun River we went as fast as
that useful old relic Of past time-the stage
could carry us. Some one has said that each
inhabitant of this planet, during a Lifetime OF
three-score and ten years, cats his peck OF
dirt. But weswill aver that passengers On
the Benton and Helena road commune that
amount in ten hours. Passing time equally
in social converse with Major Maginnjs and
swallowing potions Of our virgin soil, we at
last and long after dark reached the gem Of
the valley, Sun River Crossing, penetrated to
the marrow with the searching chill of the
autumn evening. The massive and elegant
proportions of r. s. Ford gave US first and
cordial greeting, and the stove in George
steell's store gradually reduced US to our
normal condition of mellow amiabi]ity.
It was not until the following morning that
we were enabled to get a fair impression OF
the surroundings Of this pretty village. Then
we felt that our Wanderings were at an end,
and that in this vale we would be content to
light our earthly campfire, and stay with it
until it's fires should die out, and even pre-
empt our six feet of earth under it ashes.
There isa similarity Of association in this
tree-coyered plain with the past of our lives,
and We mortals cannot deny cur nature or
shake off, if we would, the force Of our
early impressions. The country around
looks parched and barren, although covered
with q luxuriant growth Of nutritious bunch
grass, but a half mile on either side Of this
beautiful stream, from which the toWn takes
its name, is drawn q magic line wherein all
is bloom and changing Verdure. Give me a
grove of fine old trees, even if they be only
the ]cottonwoods Of this valley. They give
to the landscape q languid and dreamy air,
frightened by the soft azure that floats over
the distant hills, toning the harsher elements
into quiet ~harmony-like the ists that give
to our day dreams a touch Of unreal reality
reducing q weary mind into harmony with
it al. But the day dreams of q lively imagi-r
nation gradually fade away as the hustle of
the morning brings in the disturbing element
of duty-tiresome from its eternal monotopy
and the competition for our daily bread.
Now we become acquainted with the peo-
pie Of this valley with the easy receptivity
which only Western folk know how to display,
and there is q heartiness il it that is lacking
Ia crowded communities where the brother
hood Of man is sadly forgotten in the struggle
for existence. Nothing can be pleasanter
than for q stranger to come amongthesepeo-
pie; if he has the slightest impress of q gen
tleman, or with even the smallest in
tention Of business or with the poverty Of
Jobs gallinaceous fowl, he will be received
with an eager courtesy that has not the
slightest tinge Of being forced or false.
Sun River Crossing is the center Of what
is incomparably the finest, p@rettiest and
richest agricultural and stock section of
Montana, and does an amount of business
entirely disproportioned to its size. The
class Of goods sold indicates a population who
have passed the trying period Of frontier
life, and reached the pleasant situation of the
Well-to-do, and even tothe extreme JUNCTION Of
the very wealthy. Articles Of luxury, ge1tuand
b75c-a-b1uc find ready sale, and the druggists,
j. Steele 81 Go. nave them to dispose OF.
George Steel and Milot g Co. do the mer-
chandizing and both firms carry immense
stocks and are are doing a rushing business.
Mr. Steell is the old standby Of this section,
while Mr.. Milot has been in operation but
little over q year. Where the people come
from to buy all these goods is the first thought
Of the pilgrim, but they disappear somehow,
and the cry is still for more. John Lar
gent owns the popular hotel known by his
name, and the house is presided over by |. s.
Corson, whose smile, siWays childlike, never
ceases, and whose painstaking,knoWs no rest.
This house is superior, both in its archi-
lecture and accommodation, to most Of the
abodes Of mine host in Montana, and can
be termed frst-class in every respect. Mr.
Largent has also a granaIy nearly opposite
the hotel, which has . capacity in its two
stories Of nearly 800, 900 pounds. 3. W.
Murray is doing d prosperous Wagon-repair.
ing and ~blacksmithing business, and has
besides q fine herd Of cattle. We were taken
wholly by surprise when we recognized in
his features those of one with whom the
associations o. childhood and youth arr
closely interviewer ; and together We re-
counted the days Of Aud Lang syne, ane