The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-24
Members of the City Council Present
the Mayor With Token
of Esteem.
Prasid emit Steele Also Comes In for
Beautiful Gold-Headed
Cane.
Both Recipients We're Wholly Surprised
What Took Place at Last
Nights Session.

Whatever business the Guy councll uau Oh
hand last night was very promptly disposed
of. The bond question did not come up
as the city attorney asked for more time to
look IN the law on the subject. There was
a mora pleasant task for the aldermen,
however. than the disposition of routine
business. Known only to themselves the
CITY solons dubbed together and concocted
q surprise for the mayor and DR.. Steele,
president of the city council. An occasion
came up for recess and upon reconvenlnP,
]. G. Sanders, police magistrate appeared
in front of the mayor with a dignifed and
awe-inspiring gaze. AS all eyes were in
tently conferred on the judge, he said:
Mr.. Mayor-I think that you will agree
with me when | make the statement that
the position of a public servant IS not
always a pleasant one: but with all its an
moving vicissitudes there are occasions
when he who wears the crown may ENJOY
and reyel in the appreciation of his assocl-
ates and fellow citizens.
Such an occasion as this believe to be
yours tonight. You see assembled here
your associates, the common council OF the
CITY of Helena, impelled by desire to do
honor to their chief and to express to you
in some substantial manner the high regard
in which they hold you as an officer, and
the personal gratitude which they feel
toward YOU for the many acts of kindness
which you have extended to them during
the time which you ana they nave been a
it now becomes my pleasing duty to present
Won with this beautiful umbrella. We know
you will accept it in the spirit in which 1t
is given. not for its intrinsic value. but
rather as momento of the happy assocla-
tions which cluster around this hall. May
winter
and the summer heat and water spouts on
Main street. and when you shall have
climbed the hill of life and shall be found
pursuing with uncertain tread the thorny
trail leading down on the other side
of the range, may you look back with
pleasure to the associations which cluster
around this eventful year of your life when
you were mayor of this the Queen City of
the northwest,
So completely was the surprise to the
mayor that he hardly knew what to say, but
after he gathered his thoughts together he
said in response:
Gentlemen of the Council: l am taken
utterly by Use and hardly know how to
express to you and my other friends who
have joined together in presenting to me
this beautiful token of your esteem. shall
always bear in mind with pleasure the times
We have spent together in carrying to a
proper fruition the interests of this city.
While we have on occasion had differences
of opinion upon various subjects brought
before you, am satisfied that all of us
have acted thereon as each thought proper
and that no animosity is harbored in our
minds because of them. TO preside over
such an honorable body as this, representa-
tlves of the richest city i'll the world of its
size, the metropolis of the northwest, is an
honor that any one should feel to the depths
Of his, heart. This is happy opportunity
presented to me to express to you the high
ssteem in which l hold my coworkers in the
government of the city of Helena. As our
honorable city judge has we'll said, there
are times when troubles arise, but sunshine
always follows the dnrkening clouds, and
the sun has not fo.saken us on this glori-
GUS eve of the glorious Christmas day, when
all should join hands in the praise of Him
Who gives us the sun to shine and blesses us
with remembrances of days when we were
boys. when no care Swallowed our minds
and all our endeavors were prompted by
kindness. l thank you one and all again
for your friendly feelings so beautifully ex-
pressed, and hope, in fact | know that no
occasion will hereafter arise that will mar
in the slightest degree the remembrance Of
this moment.
But there was another surprise in store
and the task OF divulging it devolyed upon
the mayor. He said he was happy to have
chance to express the sentiment If the
city council of Helena for their high regard
for a member who had been honored by
the people with an exalted position; man
who has always been above reproach
among his fellow men, and one for whom
there are only the most kindly ex-
pressions of regard. II refer to
DR.. w. l.. Steele he said, land
have been assigned the honor of presenting
him with this beautiful cane. hope that
We may often 60 together down Main street.
he protecting himself with the sturdy
stick from the bad walks and pitfalls and
I with this beautiful umbrella will protect
him from the water spouts to which refer
ence has been made"
Alderman Steele in accepting the token
said that it was more than he expected and
would like to be able to return the compli-
ment to each member of the council. But
he would always cherish the gift. not rs
much from its intrinsic: value, but for the
spirit that prompted its donation and he
will. after he steps aside, hand it down to
posterlty rs Il relic of one of the happy
events of his life. He cordially thanked
the aldermen again
Both Christmas gifts were appropriately
inscribed and they are beauties. The may
0F's umbrella, with u beautiful head of
gold, is rare specimen of the jewelers. art
The cane presented to President Steele is
of ebony and gold head. After adjourn
ment cigars wele passed around and the
council repaired to the International hotel
and the Arcade, where the health of the re-
cipients was drank in bumpers Of soda wa
ter and lemonade.
THE DULL ROUTINE.
What the City Fathers Did Last Night fol