The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-18

n|7 the clerk of the court, John
HM Bean, the other day, when
n AIN young man accompanied
by young lady entered the
lFI v room. As they were smil-
u! MNHN ing pleasantly and seemed
lkIlNSp somewhat embarrassed I
WNNM decided their business was
1gV EEE to procure a marriage IL
IlM3 cense. Now, imagine my
IN83MM surprise when the vRman
.& stepped briskly forward to
the desk and informed De-
putty Cassidy that she and her husband
would like to have divorce at once. The
husband nodded his head when a look OF in
quiry passed over the handsome counter
ance of the astonished deputy. Mr.. Cas-
sidy finally recovered long enough to in
form them that it was not quite so easy to
procure divorce a. they supposed. He ex-
planned to them that it was necessary for
the matter to go through legal process
and come before the court. The anxious
people were somewhat disappointed, but
they accepted the dsputy's advice and
started out to find q lawyer.
~
A few minutes afterward Johnny Bean
came down from the court room and Joined
us in discussing the episode. The genial
clerk of the court, however, is as fond of o
joke as anyone about the court house, and
in few minutes he had an opportunity to
play it on a we'll known but oredulous citi-
zen of the city. Mr.. Bean, who is estab-
lSu1,ir off3n n
tenn, has lately introduced large series of
new files for keeping papers. These consist
Of long tin boxes with a white label. They
are arranged in tiers in the vault. The
citizen in question dropped in the room and
his admiration. for Mr.. Beams
method of keeping papers. YES" said the
clerk of the court, 1--WE are getting matters
in better shape here all the time, but there
is still room for improvement. We have no
means of lighting the vault in a
manner SO I am going
to have those boxes labeled
with illuminated paint" The man looked
up with wonder and said: "Well, that will
be great. Why, never heard of that
scheme" "No," said John. "it is just out
but am now studying scheme SO that the
right box will jump out when whistle"
There was a look of incredulity on the
mans face when he remarked with sigh,
II guess l am getting behind the times"
He was then helped out of the door by tho
clerk and his deputies.
~
The many friends of Manager John Ma
guire will be glad to know that he has re-
turned to spend the summer in Helena. ]
fell in with genial party the other night
and of course when say that John Mcguire,
Hugh McQuaid and George w. Irwin were
together it is needless to add that there was
a charming flow of "reminiscences and
stories. But Sir Hugh told good one on
the manager. It was in the early days when
Mcguire was show by himself. He was
performing at the old International hall.
which was located where the present post
office stands. The business was enormous,
the receipts amounting to several Thousand
dollars week. In fact, as Mcguire says,
Edwin Booth could do no more, for I
packed the house every evening"" But Hugh
and his friends thought they would have
some fun with John Mcguire, actor. So
they organized syndicate and purchased a
boquet. Flowers cost something in those
days. They sat in box and when the time
came attached string to the boquet and
threw it on the stage at the feet of the hon
ored actor. Did the joke work? Not much.
Mcguire continued his Marc Antony decla-
nation until he worked his way in front of
the boquet. Then placing his foot squarely
on the string he tore the boquet loose and
retired amid the plaudits of the audience.
While talking about theatricals let ME re-
peat remark of my friend Mr.. Goodplayer.
We were walking out of tae opera house
the other evening after witnessing Held By
The Enemy when he said: Did you ever
see gathering of people like Helena au-
dience. They applaud everything without
reference to propriety. Now of course we
all enjoyed that wonderful stage effect of
the galloping horse and we're willing to re-
ward it with proper applause, but did you
notice that every time it was produced the
people drowned out the climax with their
noise They seemingly could not wait until
the prettiest part of the effect was finished.
And again was disguised with that portion
of the audience that commenced whistling
and applauding the other evening when
Marie Stone sung snatch of the Annie
Rooney song. The greedy audience de-
mands encores after everything without
considering the hard work of the perform
ers and they will keep it up even after the
chorus has come on the stage. And then
again I am told by actors that it is the
greatest between-the-act audience in the
country. But will not say anything about
that for occasionally 60 out between the
acts myself.
Nv
The colored people of this city, like their
brothers of the sections, have some strange
superstltions. The rib of black cat, tax en-
at midnight, is said to be very lucky to it's
possessor. But the fetlsch which is most
highly priced is the left hind foot of what
is termed the graveyard rabbit. The rab-
bit must be caught in graveyard on a
moonlight night and the left hind foot
secured. The possession of this peculiar
trophy is said to insure luck and prosperity
to its owner. Any other foot except the
left will not do, as related by knight of
the razor in this city who had the misfor-
tune to secure right foot instead of a left.
He complied with all the conditions except
in this particular, but that, according to his
idea, proved fatal to his ambition. Being
possessed of this sure talisman of luck he
plunged wildly into speculation of all kinds,