The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-10

sing with ono OF These Wotheu.
The Bucket of Blood is reached. II ia
conveniently near tho City hall and within
short distance of n police whistle. II Ia a
low white washed building with a single
entrance. We step within. 1t is dance
night and therefore n good time for ohser-
walton. Behind the bar in his shirt sleeves
ia our old friend James Mack, the former
porter of the Cosmopolitan. lie Welcomes
us with u pleasant smile and an invitation
to drink. The ceiling IL low anA covered
with smoke. The bar il quite rs cheap
looking though 1t il oruamantet with the
usual gew gaws and cut glas y bottles. The
floor is so greasy that we walk with some
degree of temerity to the next room where
tho grand ball is progressing.
"Fancv the surprise of some of our So
ciey friends if they were to look at til lis"
suggested my friend, the Bohemian.
am forced to admit that the affair ia not
exactly like a west side German. The ball
room is no larger than the saloon. The
walls were once white for n brief space of
time. Now they are all but black with
CRIME and smoke and dust. The floor ia
perhaps been waxed for the occasion for it
is SO slippery that the dancers at times fall.
Possibly the ingredients dispensed in the
Bucket of Blood may have induced this,
The only furnishings are IN old stove. a
rickety piano and a few chairs for the mu-
sicians. TIL prince called my attention to
the orchestra which consists of a piano
player and two violinists or rather tiddleis.
The music. however, is not so bad. The
artists" have the good sense to leave Men
delsohn alone and contine their efforts to
American airs.
play oil essence yelled a young lady
from one corner of the room. and OF es-
sence it is.
The orchestra begins with a lively air.
and the dancers take their places. count
three colored men, a white man whose face
is SO black that his color might be mistaken.
Their partners consist of two colored and
two French women. They are dressed in a
loose wrapping of the Mother Hubbard
order.
It is really refreshing to watch the ener-
| getic enjoyment. The dancers kick in the
air, stamp the floor, and way their bodies
as though in the last dance on earth. One
Young fellows face is in a broad grin. His
knees bend down almost to the floor, and
then he suddenly stralg htens in the air and
almost throws both heels, as a Young
woman falls in his arm for the last swing.
"hi, hi!' yells the audience, and Ii girl
cries: s'Wish my man dance like that boy
Jawge." A waltz follows. Four men rush
to get the favorlte lady waltzer, who is in a
rather abbreviated dress. and three stand
back in disappointment as the other bears
away the prize. After the dance all turn to
one corner of the saloon and drink. Whisky
is the ~favorite beverage. A few of the
tougher women lean against the bar, sur
rounded by admirers.
"We have had enc ugh of the Bucket of
Blood,' said my friend, as we walk out for
a welcome breath of fresh air.
A two-minute walk brings us to the city
hall and in the marshal's Office. We glance
at the register and find that several persons
who, %curiously enough, have the common
name of John Doe have been arrested for
D. and D.-drunk and disorderly. A
bulldog sleeps under the desk. which
is surmounted bv q companion
piece, a bull dog revolver. The genial ser
geant informs ut that the town is quiet and
we walk back to Main street, keeping, how
ever, on the left side of the street. 1t is
now nearly 10 o'clock and the own is fairly
q n .HtlolSbI q NotSo v Il |
other side calls out:
'They are red hot and each and every
one contains a prize-a piece of ham,"
The character of this attractive offer is
made known a moment later when his call
is supplemented BY:
Ham and egg sandwiches. Who's been
here since I've been gone. the little girl
with the hoop shirts on
We walk over and test the chefs skill.
is in sight. A little two
cart contains an oil stove covered
with a flying pan. The eggs are dropped
in, a piece of ham is fried between and in a
moment the steaming mixture is beneath
the folds of a generous bun ready to eat.
In the crisp night air it is exceedingly
good. The cham and egg'' man
is a character worth studying
and we are RECALLED for a moment
by a few entertaining stories of a cooks
on the Mississippi in the old days.
The prince seems to make an impression by
his characteristic courtesy and we are in
vited to take a steaming cup of Mocha with
the proprieto". | am studying for the next
point of observation when our attention is
for a moment by & group of Chi
III INV NJ t'NtIN pHo Stby NAN . llf |
are chattering away with great gusto while
their flowing blue gowns are moved gently
by the wind.
LET US follow those fellows suggests
Prince Kashima, and We move to China
a community which to my mind is of
most striking interest to n stranger in
search of unusual scenes. Chinatown ia as
quiet at midnight as lower Main street.
The low weather beaten houses are closed
and might seem uninhabited except for the
glimmering of a single lamp through the
small windows There are two buildings
of more pretentious appearance. Each is
IL three-story brick with a modem frontage.
One or two of the shops is furnished with a
lantern to show the passer-by that the
place is inhabited by Yee, Buck Lee II Co.,
Wing Hing Lung y Co., or other firms of
c~nterprising shop keepers. At one corner
is Dir. Gee Lows sign which carries the ad
ditional Information that 81 drug store is an
adjunct to the establishment While look
ing about in a general way we have lost
sight of the Cinnamon who preceded us.
A chatter of voices from g small building
across the way suggests some excitement
and we sep across the street TO the en- |
trance. The prince opens the door and we
find Ourselves IN Il gambling house. so in
tcrested are the players that our presence is
~, t,etInaR frr u Frup ,,ynntap afl thar ,-a