The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-07
TIMES HAVE CHANGED
Butte Will No Longer Support a Place
Like the Old COmique.
NO BIG BLOCKS THIS YEAR
The Coming Summer viii Probably
Be Dull I'm the Building Line
a Lady's Funny hxperi-
ence at Bozeman.

BETTE. Jan. Cit seems 10 be n settled
fact that in the new Butte which has de-
veloped during the past few years there is
no room for n Comique. There was n
time whom the Comiquc was the city
center OF attraction. No one mad seen
Butte until he had spent night ut the
Comique. The newspaper reporters had
not covered their rounds without n trip
there, for almost every night furnished
shooting scrape, an attempted suicide, n
robbery or some lively police item. The
proprietors used TO make more money
than any other firm in Butte. But that
has all passed now. II began to decline
and no one could tell why. There were
changes of managers and changes OF pro-
prietors. 1t was thought the name might
be n hoodoo, and changes in the namo
were made several times. But all without
avail. Ono failure followed another until
now all seem to have abandoned the idea
of making tho place pay. 1t has been
closed many months now and seems
likely to be closed for good.
In place of the Comique, however, there
are half dozen beer halls where enter
tainments on a minor scale, but patterned
after the old Comique, are given.
4 Butte lady tells an amusing story of
her trip TO Butte over the Northern Pa
cfic one day last week. She had been
cast and reached Bozeman, where she left
her warm berth and got out on the cold
platform TO change cars for Butte. There
was some delay ut Bozeman, and she
grew as impatient as she was cold. There
were no other passengers present, except
two men of doubtful appearance, who
stood on the platform near her.
The Butte lady could never tell exactly
how II happened, but tho first she knew
she was engaged in an animated CONVEX
sation with the two men. IL struck her
that they bore n rather hard appearance,
but they were so courteous and gentle
manly in their manner and refined in
their conversation that she became quite
interested in them. They discussed,
while waiting, most every topic from the
silver question TO the bicycle craze. She
told them she was going TO Butte, and
they assured her they were going the same
way.
At last the train steamed up TO the plat
form. The lady's two new acquaintance
then tipped their hats very respectfully
and announced that they were going to
Butte on the brake beam, and disap-
peared under the car. The lady was so
amazed that the train had almost pulled
out before she recovered sufficiently to get
on board.
Usually at this season plans arc being
drawn for building operations of the COM
ing season. Those contemplating build
ing consult architects and contractors.
From present appearances the year is GO
ing to be a poor one in the building line.
So far as known there will be no big blocks
or other improvements OF n substantial
character, but several private residences
will be erected.
A jolly party, which included Judge
Naughien and Marshal McNIchols, cele-
brated New Years day by drinking cham
payne cocktails at the expense of an out
side party who was not aware that he
was "setting 'em up" A few nights be-
fore tho close of tho old year a promi-
nent young upper Main street business
man, who is intimately acquainted with
the "little Judge" and marshal. became
SO filled with enthusiasm and wine that
he had to be carried home IN n condition
of complete Oblivion. The next day the
marshal met him and expressed regret
that he had been arrested the night be-
fore. He Indignantly denied that he had
fallen into the arms of the law, but as his
mind had been complete blank some
time before he was taken home, the mar
shall finally succeeded in convincing him
that he had actually been arrested and
there was a charge entered against him
on the police blotter. Thinking that the
quickest way out of tho trouble was tho
best, the young business man wendell his
way down to the police court and asked IL
there was n charge against him.
"Yes," replied the judge, who had in
the meantime been posted by the mar
shall. II am sorry, but the charge has
been regularly entered and the best / can
do is to lei you off with the costs, which
will be So"
"Well, that suits mo all right, aud I'm
much obliged TO you,n replied he as he
handed over the s. without thinking of