The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-31
HARTLEY's is CLOSED.
The Boys Favorite "Hsng-Out" Is No
More, and There's orrow.


Missoula, Dec. 3o-"Hartl-v's is clos
ed" That was the word " Itch was
passed around last night among the
boys. And sure enough, Hartley's was
closed. Hartley's, where every evening
for years the boys had found warm
welcome, comfortable seats and good
company awaiting them. Hartley's,
where they had dropped in for an hour
every evening after dinner and, over
their cigars, had discussed the latest
opera, the recent political news and
the thousand and one little things that
come up when kindred spirits meet In
conversation. Hartley's, where there
have been told more and greater hunt
ing stories and dog tales than would
I'LL a book. Hartley's, where sociabdhty
and good fellowship always prevailed
and where discord never entered. Yes,
Hartley's was closed.
Hartleys-there's magic in that word
to the members Of the little circle who
have been accustomed to gather there
In the back room in early evening. the
word will always recall many pleasant
hours. 1t will conjure up a vision OF
the little room, as il always appeared.
The desk in one corner; the boxing
gloves near by; the row of stools and
the single chair with its broken seat
they say IL was whole once, but no.
body remembers when; the big framed
picture of Salvini on the the wall; Bob,
the cranky little spaniel; the cigar safe
against the back wall; the curtains
that draped the archway into the front
store-all these, enveloped in fragrant
cloud of tobacco smoke, curling slowly
up from half a dozen cigars, will APP
pear at the very mention of that word.
And always. when the word Is spoken,
the boys will see the quiet, pleasant
face of him whose name the place bore
Hartley, himself-sitting lazily in the
chair with the frayed seat, not saying
much, but enjoying the hour as much
as any OF the visitors. II will he pic
ture which will linger long in the men,
Dry of all who have seen 1t so often.
Hartley's was closed. That was GER
tain. The boys knew that II was COM
ing. but not one OF them was prepared
for the full significance of the closing
and when II came II was almost as II
every one of them had been turned out
of his home. Weeks ago.. when the
closing was first announced, the boys
had planned to have a little jollificatior
on the last night, but when II came tc
a showdown, none of them had the
heart to feel gay. SO the closing was
unaccompanied by any demonstration
| 1t was o'clock when Hartley turned
| the key in the lock for the last time
| A little while before some of the boys
! had dropped In on their way to dinner
to look around, for they knew what
| was coming. They came in looking
merry enough but somehow. when they
| looked around and saw the empty
shelves and the back room all dreary
they stopped smiling and walked out
1t didn't seem natural to see the boys
| coming out of Hartley's looking sol
emn. Everybody always smiled In
| Hartley's.
SO, when the closing time came
| Hartley was alone. The boys had al
left him there. He turned the key and
went to dinner 1t was all over. There
was an end to the whole business. The
place was closed and the favorite ev-
ening resting place of the boys had
ceased TO be, as completely as If fire
had wiped II out. During the evening
some of the boys went TO the door and
turned the knob before they realized
what had happened. Then they saw
that the place was dark. Hartley's
| was closed.