Evening star., 1886-07-17
The Girls Of Montana.

NOVEL CLASS OF WoMEN-DAMES AND
MAIDENS woNDERFULLY SELF-RELIANT AND
INDEPENDENT ARE BREAD WINNERS AND NO
MISTAKE.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
With the remarkable development of the
western territories has grown up a class of
women totally different from their sisters in
the states. The very fact OF being in a new,
wild country, often left alone to look after the
herds and flock's has made them wonderfully
self-reliant and independent. L run across
women up in this country full of pluck grit
and endurance that verify believe that in a
stand up fight with hostile Indians maraud-
ing horse thieves they would be equal, man for
man, to the same mum Der of COWBOYS or sold
iers. These ladies, by reason OF their wild
life on the frontier, do not by any means lose
all the gentleness and refinement OF their SEX
10 be sure they become somewhat rOughened
by hardship and exposure, but, through il ALL
they still preserve their wOmanly traits and
Wnen , the necessity ~, arises for them to ride,
the end perhaps little better OF than many
males would be under similar circumstances.
There are all kinds OF women i'll the north
west From the cultured danes of our best
cities the grade runs all the way down to the
female road agent. But, as rule, the girls OF
Montana are made OF the very best material to
be had on the continent. Scattered all over the
broad prairieS of Montana are refined and cuI-
tured women, bred in a1iiuence and ease, proud,
young and hopeful, called by the mis- sfortuues
OF their husbands or led by their desires TO en-
ter and achieve in new fields the mission of lile
to surrender society. the home and friends and
scenes of their youth and march boldly to a
far-OH wilderness and endure privation, toll
labor and suffering. But these women nave
grown TO be brave, industrious, set-reiiant, full
OF pluck and energy, perfect horsewomen,
healthy, hearty, active and independent, and
in many cases about as pretty and plump AS
the very best OF climates can make them. Now
the typical Montana girl, ii lett alone, will sue
ceed where AL ordinary man would fail, With
no vices, they stick closely to business, aud if
.ts.a aipg
empling quarter, half, or whole section OF
lapd, they generally stay by the claim to the
end, and prove up on time.
Many of these enterprlslng damseIs wouldn't
have a husband at any price. Again, many
after laying the foundation OF comfortable
fol tune, are taken in by some lazy bachelor
who comes loaf1ng along, sees the cnance mar
rieS the maiden, and settles down into nice
ready-made home; Our girls are bread WIN
ners, and no mistake. They are up to all sorts
OF schemes, such as ranching, herding of sheep
or cattle, school superintendents, and even poll
The latter should be expected, however. as
the females OF Montana have the right of SUI.
frage extended to them in case they happen to
be taxpayers. AS nearly every woman in the
territory is a taxpayer, why. of course. she
votes, as she has perfect right to do. In Boze-
man, few miles west of here, one can see
10 the passer-by to 'VOte for Hamilton, the
peoples choice, or "Giye your vote to Darcy"
Nichols and Darcy were candidates for the
school superintendency of the county, and a
fourth candidate was in the feld-a man Ii is
needless to add that "the hOrrid man" was
beaten by all three OF the girls, Hamilton
coming out ahead.
There is no question but what female suf.
frage is a beneft to Montana. Female Jurors
in cases which involve in temperance breaches
of promise, and gaming would hang a cuprit
on moderate testimony. Yet with all this girls
are scarce in Montana. The town of Maiden,
near by Uhe county seat of Fergus countyl
whose name is suggestive of wit, beauty, SC,
Is, in fact, u safe retreat for bachelors since
there is not unmarried lady in the town
Sadie. whence these lines are being penned. is
q community of forlorn b;icheiors, with not a
female within a radius of fifteen miles, except
ing the Crow squaws in the neignboring Indian
camp. One old bachelor wandering around the
village has O $7O,OOO bank account and no one
to help him spend IL.