The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-17
AN EXCITING MONTH
Everything From a Ghost to a Chi
nese HppodrOme.
A RACE THAT WAS NOT RUN
The Leiderkrenz Ball Was the
Growing Event of the Past
Fortnight Echoes of the
Fair-Wanted to Die.


Fair-Wanted to Die.
Missoula, Dec. 16-December has
been an exciting month in Missoula
thus far. There have been any guam
tity of startling incidents since the
last leaf on the calendar was turned
into sight and the University City has
surpassed itself as an excitement cen
ter. First there was the discovery of
the ghost in South Missoula that
caused considerable excitement; then
came two church fairs which kept the
youth of the city i'm a state of dread
for two weeks; then there was the
Chinese prize fight that didn't occur
and the horse race that failed to
come off: Saturday night with one at
tempted shooting, one alleged attempt
ed suicide and numerous free fights
and the Leiderkranz ball OF Friday
night formed a fitting termination for
a fortnight that has been one con-
tinual round of gaiety. There are in
dications that the remaining half of
the month will furnish sensations fully
up to the high standard set by The
preceding fortnight.
Missoula's sporting reputation is
liable to suffer exceedingly, however
IL local sports do not cease to adver-
tise events that fail to materialize.
On Friday evening everybody was told
the horse race Saturday morning
would be the sportiest kind of an af-
fair 1t was said that the owners had
wagered the horse, buggy, harness,
robe and whip of each outfit against
the other. and a stranger who was not
"onto" the peculiar sporting propen-
stiles of Missoula would have jumped
to the conclusion that these were hot
sports indeed. But there was no great
crowd at the track and so there was
no great disappointment when neither
of the horses showed up. OF course
such incidents create brief excitement
and cause some little amusement, but
they should be kept among those who
understand the play and not be al
lowed to get abroad, as Missoula will
suffer in the estimation of the state at
large.
The principal excitement that was
caused by the church fairs was among
those who were kept busy lodging the
rustling solicitors for votes and busi-
ness Fortunate was the man who
got away free. 1t is doubtful If any
body escaped entirely. There is one
clergyman I'm the city who deserves to
become immensely popular among the
male population for he has declared
himself against the church fair. He is
so sincere in his opposition that he
will not accept any of the proceeds Of
a fair. and the other day, in an un-
guarded moment, he dropped a re-
mark about 'sanctified bunco steerers''
that struck his auditors as singularly
appropriate. Such clergyman as that
fills a long felt want. His name is
not given here for the sake of preserv-
ing friendly relations with the ladies
of his parish. but IL any ran wants his
name he can learn IL by applying at
the Standard office during business
hours.
The Leiderkranz ball will go down
into history as one of the most pro-
nounced of local social successes. II
was a hummer from first to last II
Kaiser Heckler could only have been
there he would have been proud of
the success of the event that he had
planned and which he would have di-
rected. had not illness compelled him
TO be absent. AS IL was, Otto Siegel,
Joseph Wagner. Jim Walsh, Bob Men
trum. c. A. Barnes, Sheriff McLaugh-
lin. /. T. Hosey, Jim Pussy and other
prominent German citizens did the
best they could TO fill the vacancy
caused by the kaiser's absence. They
did well. and the only fault that any
body found with the ball was that
there was too much of a good time
Everybody was tired out before the
affair was over.
The harmonies of West Front street
were unduly disturbed Saturday night
by the discordant elements which
clashed In personal contests and the
combined efforts of the ladies' orches-
ira. the sweet singer of johannesburg,
the music boxes. the fairies I'm the
Cremone and the sirens in the Gem
could not drown the thud of blows
and the crash of chairs. 1t was a hot
time while IL lasted, but IL was a case
where the savage breast positively re-
fused TO be charmed by music. and IL
Under Sheriff Curran had not come 10
the rescue discord would probably stin
be drowning harmony
The officers arrival saved MissoIua's
reputation as the center of music and |
the penant still floats