The Anaconda standard., 1895-03-04
KEEP en- j..
Tho Mandolin Club Has n Rousing Meet
ing fn "a Quiet Way.

Tho Mandolin club HIS a Rousing Meet
ing fn "a Quiet Way.
MIssoULA, March 3.-There was a rous-
ing meeting of the Mandolin club this
even ng. There was no hilarity, because
the members are all keeping Lent. Even
The Presidents silver flask was laid away
and will not be seen until after Easter.
That is the denial which The President is
practicing aud those who know him we'll
will realize how great a sacrifice he is
making in his Lenten observance. The
Professor has also an original manner of
observing the season of self-dcnial, and il
is having a serious effect upon him. He
has promised to eat no beans and brown
bread until the 40 days set apart for the
subjcction of self have expired. Fat Bill
has had the crcases pressed out of his
trousers since Wednesday and has become
so modest that when he was asked in
court the other day as TO his occupation.
he replied, "a stenographer," instead of
ian attorney" as recent events entitled
HIM to. Lean Bill has torn himself away
from all tho evil devices of the town and
spends his evenings in South Missoula,
where the wailing of the wind is a con-
stant reminder to him of the weaknesses
of humanity. The Scribe has so few
faults that he couldn't find anything to
give up. So he, after consulting
The President, decided to do PEN
ance by chewing gum for an
hour each day. His punishment is the
most severe of any of the infections
which the members have placed upon
themselves. He feels the indignity keeniy
and really doesn't chew his gum very
hard.
Tho Secretary, being in Now York, has
been granted special dspensatIon by
The President and will not be obliged TO
observe Lent until he returns TO MIssoula.
Then he will get n double dose.
The members of the club appeared this
evening all wearing black cravats and no
jewelry. Tho black neckties were in re-
cognition of tho season, and the absence
of jewelry was in sympathy with Tho
President, whoshas been obliged to pawn
his to pay for his flask assessment. The
members all entered the cub room
quietly and took their accustomed seats
with dignity and propriety, and on every
face was the peaceful look, which only
comes from a consciousness of duty we'll
performed and an easy conscience.
1t was unanimously decided that, dur
ing Lent, the singing of "Moly and l and
the Baby" and "Maggie Murphy's Home"
be dispensed with. The opening music
this evening was rendering of "Come
ye Disconsolatc." 1t wasn't very we'll
done, as the meter is little long and the
time, little slow for the members of the
Mandolin club, and The Professor had a
little d difficulty with the accompaniment.
They all struggled through it, however,
and when it was over ali felt that one
more Lenten duty had been performed.
laI
TO report what he had done in the way of
arranging some plan by which the club
could act with the Board of Trade in inn
proving tho city. Fat Bill arose grace
fully. unconsciously reaching down to ar
range the creases in his trousers, forget
ting that thoy had been pressed out. As
soon as ne had recovered his presence of
mind, he said: MAY it please your
honor-l beg your pardon-Mr. President,
l should say, ] have but little to report.
The Board of Trade isn't doing much
just now, but its officers informed me
that, as soon as they are ready for busi-
ness. they will be glad TO consult with
representatives of this club with a view to
improving the city. They realize, Mr..
President, that the mission of this club
is to raise the moral tone of this COM
muniIy and to glvo it better reputation
abroad.
"They informed mo further that they
realize that there IS plenty of room for
improvements in the moral tone of the
town. They believe that this club has
done great deal IN this direction and as
sert their conviction that it can accom-
plish much more. 1t is a recognized fact,
Mr.. President, that you can't do much for
the commercial interests of a town, where
the practice of sending anonymous letters,
as n practical joke, prevails. This the
board of trade admits. If they can get
this evil stamped out. they have some
show 10 bring business men here TO in
vest. l discussed the question with them
and they agreed with me.
~ informed them that this club could
bring before them the person who
addressed the envelopes in which n lot of
scurrilous valentines were sent out last
month, and that this person could give
them some valuable information regard
ing tho senders, If the board of trade pro-
posed to go into this question TO find out
all about it. This, Mr.. President, is the
result of my interview"
On motion of Lean Bill, Fat Bill was
continued as committee OF one to
further cooperate with tho board of trade,
and the meeting adjourned after singing
There Are Good Times Coming"
THE MINES.