The Colored citizen., 1894-09-03
HELRNpS 800 COLORED CITIZENS.
They Are industrious, Prosperous and Re.
Spec.ed,

THE CoLoRED CITIZEN takes pleas
ure in introducing to the outside world
a model community of about 500 col
ored American citizens resident with
in the city of Helena. From the fact
that they have been without an organ
till now accounts for the long hiding
of their light under a bushel, as il
were. We assert without fear of sue.
cessful contradiction, that nowhere
in this fair Northwest exists there
body of citizens so we'll situated and
surrounded by the ordinary comforts
oil life as our people are in this lovely
city, well and deseryedly called the
Queen of the Rockies. Surrounded on
all sides with rich producing gold and
silver mines and with sapphire gems
glistening in the near distance, our
people have not been idle nor slow to
catch the all-pervading desire here
abouts to accumulate goodly amount
of worldly goods. Should it then sur
prise our readers at distance to
learn that our people here are well
fixed financially-that they are own
ers of numerous gold and silver pros
poets and mines2 Yes, tits true :;
numbers of our people own valuable
gold and silver properties whose hid
den wealth will yet make opulent
those who have the nerve. persever-
ance and capital to properly develop
them. Aside from the sanguine mine
owners we also have a number of cit
izens who have invested their earn
ings in city and suburban real estate
that to-day is valuable and steadily
on the increase. Some of these prop
critics lie within the business or pros
pective business districts of the city.
ane If held. will make the owners in
dependent in time. Some of these
properties are improved and that, too,
with substantial and tasty structures.
A number of our people own their
| own homes which are among the
handsomest that adorn our beautiful
resident thorougbfares. Our people
are engaged in numerous business en-
terprises and callings of more or less
Importance, from the professional
man down to and including less pre-
tentious vocations. 1t matters not,
however, in what sphere we find them
they are at all times thrifty, indus
trious, sober and self.respecting cit
izens. Hence it follows that our peo-
pie here are held in high esteem by
their fellow-citizens, and that they
are rated we'll up among those of our
city who have contributed to and have
made the "Queen of the Rockies" the
envy and rynosure of an admiring
outside world. Our citizens are also
patrons of the church ard emulators
of high standard of morals, as evi
denced by well sustained, largely
attended, substantially built, eligibly
located and pretentious edifice OF
worship, presided over by an earnest
divine of the A. M. L. denomination
and also by attendance among the
various other churches of the city OF
a few of our people. Connected with
L hn hnr hn ii
tants incident thereto, such as a
hourlshing Sabbath School conducted
by trained and earnest Christian
teachers. A choir of trained voices
presided over by an exceptionally fine
professor CT music and vocal culture,
ably assisted by a young and talented
organist. Of the various orders and
beneficiary societies onr people are
ardent patrons. A large, bright,
wide-awake Masonic lodge, including
many of our best, most substantial
and respected citizens, is the pride OF
the city. Connected Herewith is a
aourishing Ladies' Court, comprising
many of our respected wives, daught
ers and relatives. The Odd Fellows
also have a very prosperous lodge
composed of many of the best ant
most respected men of the city
They are justly proud of the House
hold of Ruth, which is made up OF
many of our most respected ladies'
who take deserved pride in keeping
abreast of the times. Two hourishine
councils of the American Order O.
Home Protection, about three hun
dred strong, are doing a noble work
This order is similar to the A. O. U
w., and gives to the beneficiary O.
each deceased member a good rount
sum OF money. Our young men, too
are well provided for in the shape o.
two well-regulated and eminently re
spectacle club rooms, provided will
simple and harmless amusements anC
with periodicals from all sections o.
the country. 1t would no doubt be in
teresting, were space available, to in
dividuaHze and give details concern
ing many of our most prominent cit
izens, male and female. but when We
| scan the bright galaxy that confront