The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-28
THE NOTE BOOK.

When looking for distinguished men
usually drop in the lobby of The Helena
Last evening my eye fell on the short, ro-
tund form OF pleasant faced gentleman.
He was dressed in an ordinary pepper and
grey business suit, covered by blue great
strCcted head was covered by q silk tile.
He might have been mistaken for an actor
had it not been for the half gray mustache
dropping over the corners of an expressive
mouth. There is something about noted
man that leads you to his identity and
therefore 1 was not surprised when I
learned that the parsonage in question was
A. Miner Griswold, the famous Fat Con-
tributor" of the Cincinnati Saturday Night
and now managing editor, and one third
owner of the Texas Siftings.
~
found Mr.. Griswold quite willing to
talk, and indeed do not know of one who
can talk more entertainingly. He has en-
joyed ratl or varied experience. From the
first rounds in the fame of humor he has
risen to the top Life in two continents
usually carries an appreciation Of all phases
of human nature. Mr.. Griswold tells me
that bis work, aside from the lectures, is
the squibs in the first column of
Siftings under the head, "A Minor Key
These ideas come to him as he travels
through the country, and he is never with
out note book and pencil. It is doubtless
the best column of bright things served to
the public in weekly paper. But in addi-
ton there are always two columns or more
of entertaining matter from his gifted pen.
The thousands Of Siftings readers remem-
Der the humorous parodies ON French his
tory with the familiar signature of "Gris''
at the foot of the column.
"
Mr.. Griswold referred to his habits Of
writing. He said his work was largely the
result of ideas suggested by incidents
from real life. He has never yet been able
to sit down at a table with the serious in
tention of writing humor and succeed in
the effort. A single illustration will tell
how his work is done. Sometime ago
while riding from Indianapolis to Chicago
on fast express he noticed a man sitting
hanging over the door. 1t was an ordinary
incident with no particular significance to
the ordinary traveller. 1t was, however,
full of suggestion to the observant Girls
void. The next issue of the Siftings con-
tanned page cartoon from the now famous
pencil of Thomas Worth. A man was sit
ting on mail car with his feet hanging
over the door. The hooks on little plat
form at some rural station picked him up
and held him until the next train few by
when he was again dropped in the car. In
this way the best of the SiftinRs' cartoons
as we'll as the best efforts of Mr.. Griswold
have been given to the public.
Last winter Bill Nye visited this city and
incidentally threw SHOE" The high
altitude and the superiority of Helena's
beverages prevented Mr.. Nye's second ap-
pearance. He did not remain in town long
enough to became acclimated. Concerning
a good story on Nye never before printed.
Nye and James Whitcomb Riley travelled
together some time and made barrel OF
of money for themselves and their man
ager, Major Pond. Riley's weakness was
an over fondness for stimulating beverages.
Sometimes this interfered with the success
of an entertainment and Nye was compelled
to come on alone. When Kentucky was;
reached matters assumed very bad shape
and Nye grew very tired of the combina-
ton. Major Pond kept the wires hot with
kilograms, but dissolution was finally
effected, the facetious Nye going one way
and the poet Riley the other. In explain
ing the affair afterward to the major. Nye
wrote that the only man he would travel
with again was Father Matthew.
~
The other day heard a remark from a
bright youngster who has lately arrived in
town. He came from an eastern city with
the full expectation of finding big bears
about on the streets Of Helena.
He kept very close to the house for q few
days. but finally ventured out on the
He met friend, who enquired:
George, have you killed any bears YETI"
The younRster did not care to give up all
hope, 10 he remarked:
mo. but I have seen lots Of them"
Mr.. J. R. Maeinnis. the immigration
agent of the Great Northern 70 ad, is in the
city. He is bright young man. and is said
to be one of the most successful immigra-
ton agents in the country. In discussing
the prospects for next year he said: 81
think Montana will get large part Of the
new population. You see the people are
leaving Kansas and Nebraska and they
must necessarily strike into this new north
western country. The boom for Washing
ton has settled down into good healthy
growth and there 10 no special drive into
any one section Of country. There is a
splendid field here for immigration and I
feel confident that the population of this
state will be greatly increased during the
next year."
"You see." added MI. Maginnis, s'the r.
sources of the state are not properly under
stood. The climate il lied about in the
east to such an extent that thousands think
Montana the coolest corner ON the
American continent. Then again, an east
ern farmer has holy horror Of irrigation
because he does not understand it. He
thinks country that gets little rain is Sec
ond only to the Sahara desert for produc-
tiveness. Very naturally the prosperity of
Montaua will increase as the splendid re-
suits of irrigation become batter known.
am delighted to learn the good done your
city by advertising. While ON recent trip
east visited small Illinois town. In the
conversation mentioned HELENE. "Oh,
yes" said one OF the party. shat is the
town We were reading about the other day."