The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-26

srSeeding was more exciting than any
thing of the sort that was ever seen
here before. Every horseman had out
his best animal and the racing was ex-
citing all the while. DIR. III. III. Ham
son brought out Chris Peterson. Tylar
Thompson held the lines over the mag
nificent Dr. Puff, Fred Sterling drove
Little Frank and Mayor Keith sent
Rexie along. Everybody who had a
good horse had him out to-day and
there was never a better lot of animals
shown in the state than those that
were driven in Missoula to-day. It was
Christmas parade to be proud of.
Those who attended midnight mass
last night simply from a curiosity
seekers motive. received the medicine
which they deserved, while those who
were prompted by a spirit Of devotion
probably had ample satisfaction. The
celebration of the Christmas mass be-
gan promptly at midnight and IT was
nearly o'clock before "Nunc Dimit-
tus" was chanted. AS result of this,
there were numerous sleepy faces on
the street this morning. Among the
large audience that crowded st. Xav-
ier's church at the mass were two well
known young men, who are not noted
for regular attendance at church. They
went for the novelty of the going and
they found 1t novel enough. Finally,
during the sermon, one of them went
TO sleep When he was well started
on his nap, his companion took his de-
parture and there was a scene when
the sleeper awoke. Another prominent
young man distinguished himself by
applauding one of the orchestral selec-
tions.
A clergyman was speaking to a
Standard reporter to-day regarding
Christmas services and narrated an in
cident which occurred some years ago
in struggling western parish over
which he presided. The hymn books of
the church were tattered and worn, but
the congregation couldn't afford to
purchase new music for Christmas,
much as 1t was desired. At last, how
ever, the pastor was offered the COW
eted music free, IL an advertisement
was allowed on each page. The diff
Guilty was solved by the acceptance of
the offer and joy reigned supreme. 1t
was with pride that the congregation
opened the books on Christmas morn
ing, but 1t was with CONSERVATION that
they heard the choir sing:
GLORY to the Heavenly King,
Pinchem's pills are just the thing;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
Two for a man and one for a child"
At restaurants and hostelries to-day
Christmas cheer has been prominent
Frank Weaver, at the Florence, had
the most artistic sample of work in his
line that has been seen in the city for
many day. 1t proved good draw
ing card, too. The Christmas dinners
served in the city to-day were all that
could be desired and If anybody went
hungry in town to-day, 1t was no.
body's fault but his own.
In this connection II may be well to
remark that the clergymen OF the city
have for years organized a sort OF
Christmas board of charities that has
looked after the needs Of any poor
families in town who deserved assist
ance. They did this Christian work
this year as usual and 1t must have
been very gratifying to them to read
in the local morning paper to-day that
this movement was the result of sug-
gestions made by that periodical.
Sheriff Mclaughlin, too, must have
been highly gratified to read in the
same paper that he intended to give
his fellow citizens in durance vile" a
Christmas dinner. OF course the
sheriff lives in the Jail building, but 1t
has always been believed that his home
was a happy one and 1t is sort of heap
ing II on to suggest that he is in du-
rance vile with a lot of vags and
drunks. He gave the prisoners splen-
did dinner just the same and there
was turkey and cranberry sauce for
everybody that is behind the bars.
There was not much hilarity about
the Christmas celebation here to-day.
Everybody seemed to enjoy himself,
but 1t was in a quiet sort of a way
that created no disturbance and left
no dark green taste in the. mouth.
And this, by the way, is rather a re-
markable and unusual record for Mis-
soula.