The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-06-22
PRESS Entertainment,
A Brilliant Entertainment Given at
the Opera House Tuesday Nightto
Our Editorial Visitors.
Addresses Made-GoOd ,Music-The
House Convulsed by Press
WOOdruff's HumOr.

A fair-sized audience was present at
the opera house Tuesday to enjoy the
entertainment given to the members Of
the state prees association, now visiting
our city. The press was thore in force
and the program was we'll rendered.
Nine. Ericke's orchestra opened with
Suppe's Poet Peasant" which elected
great applause from the audience.
Mayor Gelsthorpe, on behalf OF tbs
city, then made an address OF welcom
to the members OF the press association
He stated that he was not the funny
man of this show, but he was proud to
welcome the gentlemen, their wives, and
s~weethearts. IL they wanted anything
all they had to do was to ask for Il and
it was theirs. Six years ago when they
were here Great Falls was in its infancy.
Railroads had arrived less than eight
months previous. Tho speaker referred
to the developed water power. the
amount Of freight handled by the rail-
road, and the present population OF the
city. He stated that when the whirli-
gig OF time, not more than six years, re-
turns again Great Falls will have a pop.
ulation Of 25,COO people. The mayor
concluded by saying that he wanted
them to make themselves at. home, az
they werc as welcome as the flowers il
spring.
H. P. Rolfe then on behalf. OF the
local press bid them a hearty welcome,
that they knew editors were noted for
being timid and difiident, that when
they got off the train yesterday he
thought the president had changed his
name and in place of Yerkss II " xerxes
army. II it was not Xerxes army, the
press represented a force of men equal In
numbers. He again welcomed them,
and stated since their last meeting Great
Falls had not been at q standstiTl, then
there was only n railroad, now there is
two, then We were talking Of dam and
since then have damned 1t. The speaker
made reference to the Increase Of schools,
scholars, ETC., to the silver and copper
smelters; he wished them to ride on the
street railway, and the ladies to take q
trip on the steamboat up the, bay with
the special committee to be appointed by
Mr.. Xer. Yerkes. Referring to the city
papers he said The TRIBUNE had plenty
OF Gray matter, the News had some
beautiful Holmes, the industrial com
pany had p'enty Of Sheets. and the
Standard is all Wright. Mr.. Role then
referred to the power Of the press, and
the help it could perform in advancing
the development Of the state.
j. d. Mathews of Billings, then made
a happy response on behalf OF the ssso.
citation. He said Billings had aepired to
be the city Of Mountains, but had suffered
from enlargement Of the suburbs. He
thanked the mayor and the city for the
reception given. The speaker paid q
graceful compliment to Gress Falls, its
resources ana industries, and referring
to the Burlington railroad hoped that t
would soon connect Billings and Great
Falls. -, -
The exercises afterwards consisted of
selections by the orchestra, which re-.
ceived unbouuded applause. Mr.. j. G.
Jones gave a vocai solo in his usual
happy manner. A violin solo was given
by Nine. Ericke, which was, received
with enthusiasm. Press Woodruff gave
several selections which were brim full
OF wit and humor, he being a central at
traction, bis collection Of jokes being q
special brand got up for the occasion,
and it 10 with regret that our limited
space this morning prevents us from
.enumerating them In detail. !.