The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-15

| AuHGor Vi HV0 centuries IN the future,
carefully disinterring willow pattern
plates, dudes and other bric-a- brao of
the present day from the site of New
York that has passed away, has ceased
to seem to us q 5tartiing apparition.
Mark Twain has 1ad the audacity to in
troduce m uern Yankee, with his
capacity FL pies and dickers, to the
knights and danes of King Arthur's
court. The tendency is, IN many re-
spects, the result Of self complacency.
Modern inventions have so far increased
the comforts and conveniences Of life
that we weary to act as cicerones to
those who did not enjoy our opportuni-
ties The world may have gone very
well then, but we fiatter ourselves it
goes good deal better now. 1t is but
natural. therefore, that we should be
inspired with the feeling that prompts
the townsman to pocket his vanity and
show his country cousins the lions of
great city.
Reality is beginning to overtake imagi-
nation. Damascus is to have line Of
horse cars, and Jerusalem railroad
depot. The enterprising American
traveller will soon be able to ask to be
set down at the house that sheltered
Saul Of Tarsus. He may ride to the
tomb Of the children of tho Mahomet,
and blase conductor will pass without
a second glance at the last resting place
of the knightly st. George. The neces-
sary capital for the horse car line has
been subscribed, the proper concessions
have been authorized, and work is to be
begun at once.
1t is to be feared that the manager of
the Damascus Rapid Transit company
will not have bed Of roses Accidents
are certain to be distressingly frequent,
and suits for damages will drive sleep
from his aching head. Our own Main
street is boulevard compared with the
streets of Damascus. Every now and
then horse car will carry away the whole
front Of a store, and some fierce looking
Mosem will call around at the office
demanding satisfaction. 1t will be no
rarity for car to block up whole
traffic. Then the company will have to
60 to the expense of removing the build
ings to allow the car to proceed on it's
way, and, If the occurrence is not to be
a daily one, they will have to provide
the disturbed householders with a
change of location.
The life Of the company 8 drivers does
not promise to be a happy one. Civil
zation will be met with civilization
The local donkey drivers, finding their
occupation gone, are sure to form local
trades-union. The newcomers will be
denounced as scabs and blacklegs
Grand Master Powderly will be invited
to visit Damascus to address crowd Of
Moslem sympathizers or the iniquity of
labor-saving machinery. Accident poll
cies will thereafter be in great demand
among tho unfortunate drivers. Worse
than all, their life will be one Of con-
slant tear and wear. Second-sight will
be an absolute requisite for appoint
The good folks of Damascus give them
selves airs IN virtue of a street "that is
called straight" If we are to believe
an American traveller, it is little
straighter than corkscrew and not
quite SO straight as rainbow. What
the others are like, we may imagine
Butte men will probably be in demand.
The atmosphere of the greatest mining
camp on earth has taught Thorn to rive
by faith. and nothing less than that ac-
complishment will pull man through
the streets Of the eastern city. Still the
spirit of progress is in the air, and it is
just possible that when the company
has built it's new road to accommodate
the city. it may rise to the exigencies of
the situation and build new city to
accommodate the road.