The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-12-18
NEWS IN BRIEF,
Gathered by Special Correspondent
Of the Pioneer Express and
Forwarded From
Walhalla, Neche, Drayton, Tyner,
Mountain, Alma. Ernest, HYDE
Park, Crown Centre, Park
town, Bathgate, Cavalier.
MOUNTAIN.

MOUNTAIN.
G. w. Lutes, of Pembina, visite,
Mountain last week.
The ladies society are making arrange
ments for another tea party.
The school-llouse is almost finished
School will not commence till after New
Years.
The ladies society has decided to hav,
a Christmas tree in the school hous,
Christmas.cve.
II. Thorlackson is steadily supplying
his store with new goods. His trade thii
season has been very good.
Mr.. Thorlackson who sprained hi
ankle some weeks back, is now able tt
move around with carefulness.
Miss II. snowfield, Of Mountain, hat
been engaged to teach the winter tern
i'll the school district west ofus.
1t is rumofed that drug store will
soon be put up here, if this is the case
Mountain will have three stores.
Mr.. II. Thorcson, of Ashley, left last
Thursday, he will be with us again about
the middle of January to attend the rail.
road meeting at Olga.
1t has been neglected to report tina
Mr.. Sveenbjorn Gundmundson, of thit
place left for Grand Forks some time ago,
where he attends the university. Mr.G.
has entered the Junior class, preparatory
department. He is u bright and active
young man and we entertain well ground
ed hopes of his success. He intends to
take the classical course.
Letters have recently been received
from Mr.. +. Bergman, who now pursues
the study Of theology at Philadelphia.
He spent two winters at koistiania, Nor
way, for that same purpose, but chose tt
take his last year in this country. HI
has received call from the Gardar coil
gregation and will take charge Of it il
the spring. Mr.. Bergman is promisin
well and will be quite an acquisition IA,
his people.
The burning question here ut Mountain
ut present is this: Shall we have a saloon
OF Shall VIC not? In other words: whisky
or no whisky. Some, and they are very
few, advocate the saloon cause. while
others, and they constitute the gre al
majority, absolutely protest against sucl,
Il house as IL saloon. The minority in
sists upon it that a saloon will promote the
growth of our village, the minority OBJ
jects to this and maintains that saloon
will, instead of building it up, degrade
it by preying upon its social welfare and
its reputation. Some will say that we
make II great deal of fuss about sucl, IL
small thing rs u saloon, and ask how in
the world it happens that matter so
insignificant can occasion such u stir.
But we hold that the matter is not in
significant, that it lisa life question, that
it is Il question of to be or not to be- .
A saloon! What is a saloon? 1t is wide
open gate to destruction, ruin, degradation,
and dannation to everyone who frequents
1t. A saloon is IL place where men come
together to buy poison for their hard
earned money, to spend their valuable
time, to bring sorrow and distress upon
their wives and children. to SANDER their
neishbors, to shake dice fol their worl dIy
and eternal welfare. And how could We,
for moment, calling ourselves christians
or if not christians citizens of colnmu-
nifty, in duty bound to sustain and pro-
mote the material and moral growth OF
our country, for one moment lift our
voice in favor of such Il house? For one
moment, unless forgetting ourselves and
our duties entirely, help to lay even one
stone in the foundation of such Il house?
How arc we and what are VIC made of if,
when we claim to be christians, or moral,
or to love our ncighbor, willfully in the
same moment act contrary and in 50
doing hide the christian in closet and
hang both our morality and love on the
wall, to use it only for Sunday-go-to.lneet-
ing purposes? Is not this contradiction
or rather humbug? If VIC arc moral, then
let us show our morality by working
against all immoral institutions, and il
we are christians then let us work fol
God i'll the great cause of helping oul
fellow men to lead q good life, and let us
s;bhor all cooperation with the devil
both i'll great and small matters, lie viii
do the operating himself and needs mo-
any support.