The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-10
THE SnADOWGRAPHER.

I1lE Nu1NsAl
Even tho hieroalyphics Of the Pharaohs
do not carry more hidden mystery to tho
average tendarfoot than the figures 3-7-77.
IL ia not altogether clear to him after no
has heen told that tho symbols mean
simply the vigilante warning to all suspioi-
ons characters to clear the camp. We have
thus far failed to find nm old timer h can
toll Just why these fgNes are used
to convey the threat. u Ia certain, how
ever, that they mean business for convio-
tion came to the majority of the unbeliev-
ing when they were lover a barrel With q
rope dangling from a limb above. The tg-
ures are not yet forgotten. A faw weeks
ago a party Of surveyors we're working over
, III Jefferson county and aa usual were mum
bering the stakes III order. 1t SO happened
that a certain stake near u small camp was
numhered 3777. A ranohman near by
reached the party Just as the stake was
passed but caught the number.
what in the devil do you mean by
that, he asked pointing to the figures.
"That's only the number" said one.
"Well, do you want to drive all the boys
out OF the camps 4
The old mar then was obliged to explain
to these newcomers that the figures 3777
would cause some excitement in any camp
and might depopulate it. In the interest
of the local community they therefore
changed the figures to avoid the possibility
of n stampede.
Mr.. James u. Sanders read all that was
printed of the presidents message IN last
evenings Herald but failed to ind a de-
clination OF a second term. This will be
found at the end of the last column III this
issue of I'm INDEPENDENT.
The efficiency of the local Western Union
telegraph force was appreciated by tele-
graph editors Yesterday. The presidents
message, covering eighty-two pages OF
manifold paper, or $1,000 words, was as
clean and we'll written copy as could be
wished for. .
Christmas windows have charms for all.
Yesterday afternoon there was a small
crowd of street travellers before the plate
glass front OF a big down town store.
Among them were a judge OF the
supreme court, two we'll known gamblers,
a pastor of a leading church. several society
ladies and small children galore. What do
you think they we're watching2 Two
steam engines in active operation and a tin
railway tram running on a circular track.
Probably the most independents trades
man in this city is a certain China
man who owns a store in the First
ward. Though admitting that bust
ness was not what it should be he does not
propose to lower his dignity to the point OF
banteriue with customers. A newspaper
man was looking over the stock of curios
and brio-a-brao in this Chinaman's store
yesterday when the proprietor called out
from the end of the room:
"You buy?"
"No, just looking around. What Is the
price of this cigar casa?'
Zone dollar, six bittee."
"That is too much"
"Too much? What you do?'
II am in the newspaper business"
"How much sell papah?'
Five cents"
ITO much" was the Celestial's logic.
''You no buy, you go to more place.
A serious problem is troubling our CITY ed
ucators in tho introduction of meteorology
az a study in the public schools. They find
that only one kind of weather can be found
in Helena for practical experiments. Down
east, where the mercury jerks from the
bulb to the summit at every hour during
the day, with intervals of snow, sleet, rain
and hail between, admirable opportunities
are offered for a complete course in this
Important branch, but in Helena things
are different. With the exception of an
occasional off day, it is one round of sun
shine.
Col. Curtis is now able to move around
on crutohes and get out of the house for q
breath of fresh air. 1t will not be long be-
fore his friends will be Rratifed by the ap.
p~earance of his familiar form on MAR
street.
A tall, good-looking and well-dresse6
young man who occasionally visits The IN
DEPENDENT building docs collecting fol
thirty-two different firms in this city ant
is therefore kept very busy. In the course
of his travels he has developed SO mucl
nerve that he is O thinking OF running
for office next fall. The man who can snul
him can take a contract to turn down
the czar. He is now pretty we'll known *
the majority of creditors in town. A weel
ago four young men were standing on
Main street corner chatting OF local sub
> jeets when this collectors cape o~vercoai
was seen approaching from the corner
above. It was visible to all at the sam,
) time.
"Well, boys, l must Do going" said one
turning down town.
I IT have got a date" said another looking
at his watch and starting for an ofic
. building.
3 AND I promised to meet q man at Tn
Helena remarked the third turning q,
a Grand street.
The collector glanced in three direction
4 when he reached the corner, with no vic
, Tins in sight.
THE BOOK TABLE.