The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-29
THE FUNNIEST OF TOWNS.
Battle Creek, Mich, Where the Seven
Day Adventists Live and
Flourish.
A Peaceable, People Who Believe
Themselves Right and
Others Wrong.
Running an Immense Printing Once on .
Purely Religious Basis Every
Working Day.


Working Day.
For two DAYS in the week-Saturday and
Sunday-Battle Creek is the funniest town
on earth, says Detroit Times letter. Let
man wander about for an hour in the
main part of town, and then saunter out
toward the west end, and he will wonder
what is the matter. From the mild crowd
ing and surprised lush of busy salesmen
which always marks the close of the week
in county seat. to the quiet that reiens in
the division farther west, is indeed a con-
trast, fer the west end is the possession Of
the Seventh Day Adventist, and Saturday is
his Sabbath. On that day he rests from
all his labors, and hallows every hour with
calm communion and a sort of irritated
wonder why all men do not think as he
does about matter SO plain. The east
end-the largest part of town-is just COM
mon, and the people there follow the habits
that have been observed in ordinary COM
munities from the beginning Of settlement
in the country. -E
It ia hardly safe to put the statement
that way, for the Adventist is great fellow
to argue. He has the Scriptures at his
fingers ends, and at his tongues end, too,
for that matter; and any man not similarly
equipped will better preserve q golden sill
ence when he comes into the presence, for
he is liable to be smitten hip and thigh in
an argumentative tuesle. There is no more
doubt in their mind that Saturday il the
Sabbath than that fire will burn. An Ad-
ventlst will stop in the middle of good
meal and let his dinner get cold while he
gives you proof strong as holy writ that he
is right and all dissenters are wrong.
But there is one fine thing about him.
He is peaceable fellow, and If you don't
trouble him he viii leave you alone. He is
as industrious and as orderly as Puritan
and he has no sort of use for the frivolities
of tho world. To him life is indeed real and
earnest, and while he may feel in some mea-
sure responsible for the spiritual welfare
Of his brother, yet he seems , also to feel that
daily walk of rectitude than by the most
fowory end persistent of harangues. He is
as industrious as Dunkard as sober as q
Quaker, as thrifty as a jew, and mixes his
fervency of spirit with his diligence in bust
ness in a way that would have satisfied
intense, his faith is SO close to him, so
much part of the breath he draws and the
food he eats. that he cannot be severed
from it. He knows its teachings are that
he must lead a pure life in every way and
keep the body ready for the coming of the
must abstain from all forms of alcohol, to-
bacco, opium, tea, coffee and things of that
sort. He must find in the simplest food
and the plainest habit the conversation of
the forces Entrusted to him.
He had a badge of countenance as marked
as is that of the Jew. You can tell him as
far as you can see him. His trousers always
bag at the knees, and he doesn't care cent
if they do. His coat was purchased for the
good it could do him, and not with an eye
to it's beauty. His hat has seen its second
summer, and is good for many more. His
shirt is bingham with red flannel under
meath. But he il honest, and sober. and in
dustrious, and as faithful to the require
ments of his religion as ever the MOST de-
voted Mohammedan could be. He 10 true
to his family obligations, and as pure man
in all that makes up citizenship as ever the
world will see. He was prohibitionist till
he saw it was hurting the republican party
faith, and since then he has had nothing
but contempt for those who mingle their
politics and their religion.
But there is lots of Battle Greek beside
the Advsntists. Indeed, of the L., 600 resi-
dents in the town, the Adventists only num-
hearty. busy, pretty place. with water
works and electric light. and all those
things which make metropolis of the
smallest places. 1t takes its name from the
fact that cook, left in charge of the din
ner and things belonging to party Of
of Indians who Thought they were hungry
enough to eat him out of house and home.
The fight didn't amount to much, but the
name did, and SO the settlement has carried
the title even to this day. The Indians in
their day used to call the stream on which
tho krvu so h1,S1k
Light in the Sky.'' The first white settle
ment was made in 1882, and there has been
steady growth from that day forward, till
now the people call the place 1.-The Queen
City of Michigan
Take it altogether. Battle Creek is Curl
ous town: Think of printing office en-
ploying 200 hands, whore not one of them
uses tobacco, where all of them belong to
the church and spend fifteen minutes every
Monday morning at prayer in the chapel
Just back OF the composing room. Why,
you couldn't run bigger place than that
n Detroit ii II You had al the printers in
emit Preparations of grain, all without sugar
Or salt. and running from light but cool
tea biscuit to charcoal wafers.'' Think of
the intense devotion to church which per-
vades all the lives of {, 900 people, and think
OF the business ability which has made and
kept the town great in the midst of much
competition and in spite of its unfortunate
politics.
Most of the stores have two big clocks,
and one of them is labeled standard time''
while the othe has "local time' craven on
its face. But whether you go by the sun OF
the chronometer at Washington, these peo-
pie are honest. A pair of new shoes were
hanging against mailbox last Friday.
Somebody had lost them, and the finder,
not knowing anything better to do, had
hung them up there. thinking the owner
might come back and find them. They we're
there Monday morning. In Detroit they
wouldn't have hung there any time. The
first man that found them would have TAX
en- them home.
Winter Excursions.
Southern tourists are already going to
warmer climes--Florida. and all southern
states. Texas. Mexico. Hot Springs, Ark.
and to California. Passengers going
through st. Paul or Minneapolis can be