The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-10-05

1855 0ASS
him with intentions he never possessed are
simply doing him an unkindness.
BENTON is growing rapidly, her business
is increasing, and she is following closely on
Helena and Butte in the substantial improve
ments contributing towards q permanent and
prosperous growth. But in one thing material
" essential to her future welfare Benton is
still far behind other towns in the Territory of
not more than one-half her s~ize-opportuni-
ties Of social intercourse and mental and
moral improvement. Benton, at the last
census, had q population of 1918, and has
grown, proportionately, faster than any
town in Montana since then, and yet in Boze-
man, with only 1874, one can find more means
of social enjoyment Virginia, with 624,
has justly earned the title Of the Social City,
while Deer Lodge, with $40, is far ahead of
us in sociability, culture and true refinement.
Often, when away from home, have we been
asked, lis Benton a pleasant place to live
in ?" and we have been obliged to answer
mo" And we We're not answering for our
selves, but speaking the sentiments we have
often heard enunciated by men Of our town.
In a social sense, Benton is not a pleasant
place to live in, except for q few, but it
would be il all did their share in making it
SO. True, society in Benton is much young
or than in the places named above, and there
are a great many who apparently do not care
for associations other than can be found in
public places, but this is only apparently SO,
and because there is no option in the matter.
Many Of our young men who now spend
their evenings in places where the %associa-
tons are, to say the least, not conducive to
morality, would gladly exchange this mode
Of living for something better were an oppor-
tunity afforded them to do so, and have
often so expressed themselves. And it is to
the people who have permanent homes here
that w must look for a remedy for the ex-
listing state Of affairs, and especially to the
fairer and better sex. And the good which
might be accomplished would be well worth
the effort. Our Western men often appear
rough and reckless, but they possess more
natural intelligence and manliness than the
average nice young men of the Eastern cities,
and underneath this rough exterior are brave,
true hearts and souls-hearts that can be re-
lied on at all times; souls that are we'll
worth the saving, and which are always
prompt to recognize the good and true. No
where in our broad country is a good, pure
woman appreciated as she is in the West,
and nowhere can she exert SO much poWer
for good if she is but willing to try. But
9 woman, no matter how willing she may
be to help others and make life enjoyable for
them. cannot accomplish a reformation an
aided she cannot go out into the highways
and byWays and gather in the wanderers,
and We cannot expect it of her. This is for
her natural protectors to do, and to them
she must trust for her associates. Of course
there are many men in every community
whom we would not think of placing in a
position Of intimacy with our dear ones, but
there are also many others, association with
whom would not jeopardize their fair names,
and for this class-honest mechanics. and
~N~A
employees Of the very men in whose hands
lies the power to make their lives pleasant
or and better-that we are now speaking.
We believe the present state Of society here
as all over the West, where every man is
used to relying on himself and letting others
do the same-is due more to thoughtless-
ness ia men than to an unWillingness to adj
nit the associates whom they esteem as their
friends into their family circles. But the
fact exists, and it's our duty to society, to
ourselves and to our friends to remedy it.
And aside from the knowledge that We have
done ONE good and contributed to the hap
piness Of others, which is in itself q sufi-
Gent reward, we will be beneftfing our
town by such efforts. Persons with fam
lilies will be more willing to cast their LOT with
q people among whom their children can find
congenial and safe associates, and the result
will be . more rapid growth for Benton and
q more material reward. The winter sea-
son IS approaching, when people seek their