The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-20
THE LOUNGER.

similar size in the world. When asked
his definition of an all night town, he re-
piled: II mean simply that Helena mas
more houses and resorts that have no keys"
I thought of the remark an hour afterward
when an old timer p inted down Main
street from Broadway and said: ut is not
many years ago since this street was filed
with people at this hour. Look at 1t now.
There are not enough men on the street to
form IRE company" The hour was 10
O'Clock in the evening and the remark was
strictly true. Lower Main street at mid
great metropolis. Excepting an occasional
welcoming gas jet from a saloon. the street
is silent passage between brick
and granite of forbidding darkness.
1t is interesting to move to
the upper end of the street
and watch the Kaleidoscope changes as the
hours advance. At midnight this section is
transacting its heaviest business. The
gambling houses are most crowded, the
dealers fingers fly fastest, and tho lookouts'
eyes widest open. In the surrounding res
taurants the walters are Fastening with or
ders for gay parties in boxes, or attending
the night shifts who sit around gossipinR
about the movements of various members
of the fraternity. On the street are groups
of men in and out of luck busy devising
ways and means, and slipping through the
crowd are small-sized messenger boys bear
ing notes to and from the soiled doves of
the neighboring streets. The variety thea
ire is at its liveliest. The women on the
stage are adjusting their kicks to the up
most height, and their frail companions
in the house are smiling sweet
est through their paint and pow
dered masks. An hour later and the
excitement begins to wane. The fellows
who are ''broke" have gone home, and the
others who are near it are rapping patiently
at the nearest pawnbroker's door. Finally
the first lines of early dawn begin scatter
ing over the hills into the gulch. The gas
jets grown pale and the electric globules
lose their lustre. The dealer and his COM
panions grow drowsy as the click of the
checks dies away with the discozdant blasts
of the variety music. Later the early
birds sharp voice sounds the alarm of day.
The shadowy form of the market gardener
and his old horse appear. Finally the last
rounder is sneaking around the corner as
the Woodworking laborers strides down
the street with dinner pail in his hand.
The busy mart of trade opens its doors,
and with burst of full light the sharp rays
of the welcoming sun come down the street
and another day has begun.
*xx
John Mcguire once had valuable collec-
ton of autograph letters, the result of many
oocooio%i0ru IN Sc fr1
The unfortunate fire in Butte deprived the
veteran actor of many of these souvenirs Is
we'll as fine collection of curios and
costly library. Fortunately letter that he
priced most was at shop being framed
when the flames carried away the others.
1t is an autograph letter from General
George A. Custer, dated at Fort Lincoln,
OAK, Aug. 8, 1876. 1t was note of intro
duction in which the general expressed his
of Mr.. Maguire's entertain
ments and kindly asking that courtesies be
extended him at other military posts. Mr..
Mcguire at that time was travelling among
the posts of the northwest giving lone
man. entertainments. These consisted of
character sketches, quick changes,
etc. In this way he became very we'll ac-
quainted with host of royal good fellows
the white chief with the long
hair.
w.
Billy Todd, of the Fort Benton River
Press was recently in town shaking hands
with old friends. A reference to General
Charles S. Warren, of Butte, reminded him
of an amusing experience in Deer Lodge. |
It was when Warren was running for
sheriff of that county and Todd was can
wasting for The INDEPENDENT. The general
had not been making much of canvass
and had not even visited Deer Lodge city |
when Col. Todd happened in that town on
a business trip. When Todd went up to
Dave Culp's store the proprietor came out
and grasping him by the hand, said: 1--WE
have been looking for you for some time. |
am glad you have come, because if you
expect to do anything in this county it's |
time you begin. How's your canvass get
ting alonRY"
Every nicely" said Todd, thinking it |
was reference to his canvassing tour for |
The INDEPENDENT.
''Well. can you carry the countya'' asked |
Culp.
Todd then dropped onto the fact that he |
had been mistaken for Warren. He con-
tinued pumping Culp until he learned all
of the campaign secrets, when he disclosed
his identity.
Don't say word" said Culp. 'Come
in and have drink and put me down for a
years subscription to The INDEPENDENT.
always said it was the lest paper in the
state"
Mayor Bradford recently received the
following letter:
July II, 1880.
To the Mayor of the city of Helena.
Dear Sir: You may think it little
strange of my boldness of writing to you
but my husband Levi Phillips was the first
white man to build the first mining cabin
where the city of Helena now stands in the
year 1864. You will lind his name on the
books of the mint of Philadelphia and you
will find two names on q soldiers book,
company H., Ohio 56th regiment. He is a
man stands five feet seven inches high, blue
epes. black hair and light complexion. He
will be 81 years old the 10th of July. Jane
Phillips, wife of Levi Phillips.
was born in Scotland, I am So
years old. have been in this
country 40 years. My father is still alive.
He is 81 years old and he has seen four gen.
erations. I am an invalid for the last If
teen years. If you think it worth while to
IN rita ko ma woul6 ho vorv ho,,v,, - ho~.