The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-04
START THIS REFORM.

AlAR IHlS heEoItW.
To-day notice will be given in the
house of a bill for the relief of the people
OF Montana. 1t is a bill, novel in its
purpose OF tremendous personal inter
est to every citizen and, indeed, when
compared to the mass of Legislative
measures, of overshadow,ng and porten-
tous Importance. 1t proposes to substi-
ute common sense for nonsense, Amer
lean individuality for foreign apery,
homemade bean soup for consomme
mulligtawny. The people who don't
like it can 60 back to France.
But this much is proposed. An
landlords act will make it a misdemean.
or punishable by fine or imprisonment
for any landlord or restaurant keeper to
advertise his wares in any language but
the Anglo-Saxon revised up to date. 1t
will permit Montanians to know what
they want, and know how to get it
without employing a French teacher or
betraying their ignorance of the French
language. More than that, it will give
to the honest going and loyal citizen Of
this state a patriotic pride in a home
institution, a sentiment like that of
James Whitcomb Riley's contented
Hoosier, who had heard of the changing
seas and the craft covered Venetian
canals, but concluded:
"The banks O. Deer crick is good
Enough for me-"
Now, then, the "menu" is all very
we'll in France, and it will do very we'll
as an object lesson in young ladies' sem
inaries. There its usefulness ceases. 1t
becomes the apex Of tomfoolery when
employed in other countries. The en-
peror Of Germany recognized this alb
surdity when he ordered it out Of that
country forthwith.
For the information of legislators who
think they know 1T all the following card
has been prepared for a banquet to be
given later on:
Frioassee de jeune lezsrd.
Araignees aux roties.
Omelette aux cigaies
Pommes de raauette. Chardon bouiili.
Salade de pattes de mouches.
sorbet d'encre rouge.
Tarte de poussiere dor. :
Eau de 10 Vile de Fumee.
1t reads we'll, doesn't it.; makes your
eyes dance, your tongue roll and your
lips smack. At the same time we
fancy your stomach would have some
thing to say when you found you dined
on a stew Of young lizards, spiders on
toast, an omelet of grasshoppers, cactus,
boiled thistle, a salad of tly's feet, red
ink punch, gold dust pie and all washed
down with Butte City water.
Think of that, you cormorants and
chefs before you oppose this bill. Is gu
losity a %soience SO advanced that you must
needs deceive your stomach for fashions
sake? Is honest food the less pleasing
because it bears an honest name?
We recall the all but tragic results
when, in a moment Of wrath, thai
honest miner OF Eugene Fields rose tc
smite the fellow who damned charlotte
russo on the ground that no one could
insult a lady in his presence. 1t beau,
tifully illustrates the absurdity Of this
abominable custom. We would like te
find this mans compatriot in the Mon
tana Legislature.
1t must not be thought that this mat
ter is beneath the dignified conside-a.
ton of representatives. The Arkansas
Legislature years ago earned the graft
tude of every constituent by passing
bill fixing "Arkansaw" as the right an
only legal pronunciation OF Arkansas
"To the dogs with photographers, philo
logists and their ilk," said they, I'VE ar
a here to leglslate for Arkansaw."
. 50 we say to the Montana legislature
Start this reform now, that others ma,
n follow. Make Montana set the pace i
, the new growth OF patriotism. Sh
furnishes the worlds first silver statue
k she first sprung the Australian ballot i
this country. Let her show the worl
/, that her people take their dinners @
Kentuckians take their whiskey
: straight.