The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-23

ances Of those days. given. as they
We're. with the most crude surround
ings. were to h people of that time
much more pleasurable and delightful
han are the most artistic performances
of many celebrities to "a blase audi
ences OF the present.
IL was at this period that a lady who
possessed considerable talent both as
an actress, musician and vocalist, made
her appearance i'm Montana. Her name
was Laura Honey Stephenson. Her
mother was a very famous actress. and
the daughter certainly inherited much
OF the mothers beauty and talent. In
private life she was a Mrs. Church. The
husband was a miserable creature. un-
able TO make any kind of a living. and
entirely depended upon his wife's in
dustry and energy. Church In later
years become a millionaire through the
death of a relative and Mrs. Honey
Stephenson Church dying, he has since
become notorious and a bankrupt as
well. through too swift a measure Of
the pace that kills"
The little party arrived on IA prairie
schooner" from Corinne and destined
for Deer Lodge. The freight teams
camped a little way outside the town.
There was an adjoining creek, and a
hasty toilet was made by our wand
ering minstrels." and In due time the
signatures OF Europe's most famous
prima donna and that of her impressa-
rio, w. A. Il. Church. Il. A. II. A. ETC.,
were duly grazing the hotel register.
Ii did not take much time for Mad-
am Rumor to get her poke bonnet In
order. and confidential whisper TO the
nearest listener how the great singer
happened to h6nor Deer Lodge by her
presence. She was suffering from an
affection OF the lungs and an enlarge
ment of the heart. which only the ozone
OF the Rockies and the lnhalations of
The simultaneously perfumed breezes
from the pines and sage brush coupled
with a gypsy style of living could
bring back the regular p~ulsations OF an
artistic heart and the thrilling birdlike
MARBLES which a looked-for lung expan-
sion could restore.
BY petition of the prominent citi-
zens." Madame Laura Honey Stephen
son was prevailed upon to give one OF
her Shakespearian readings I'm charac-
ter. a great condescension ON her part.
OF course. Impressario Church secured
the court house for the appointed night.
The beauty, culture and fashion Of the
then lively. and h%ospltable little city
were out I'm full force. Then went TO be
amused and entertained. and l am sure
they were not disappointed. As ! have
before stated. she was an exceptionally
titNtf tnttftdtrtfs DOCilllN, aftlcllcal-
ly m financially the lady scored an
u~ndoubted success. Her next stand was
Pioneer. then a live placer camp. not so
very large In the way of population,
but the big hearts OF the fellows that
were there made up for the paucity Of
numbers. Pioneer and Bear Gulch were
then the only typical placer camps in
Montana that brought back the early
days of California to the visitor from
The Golden State Tho sam happxr a.
lucky life. the same good-natured. joy
Gus gangs, especially Pm the Sunday af-
ternoons when the boys got together
from the surrounding gulches for a
good tins and drank. and played, and
danced together. Pioneer. its
glory has vanished Some OF
the quaint characters it boasted
81 and many Of those a%rgonauts
who are now resting on the hillside. and
when the sun going down lovingly
fingers over the little mounds and
throws the shadows or the little cross
or headstone which mark their last rest
ing place. and the gentle winds sough-
ing through the pine branches and the
tall bunch grasses for them a
gentle requiem. may their awakening
be where there Ii no night and their
claims be everlastingly staked in that
city whose streets are paved with gold"
IL was TO Pioneer. then. early one
morning the Gilmer and Salisbury stage
nae conveyed the celebrated Laura
Stevenson. Pioneer had what few other
places in Montana possessed In those
early days-a public hall. IL was sit
usted about so feet from the little hotel
on the same side OF the n little street
which constituted the place where
most do merchants c~ongregate." IL was
called FenIan hall What a magnificent
lot of Irish Nationalist must be there.
and what "a hot time In the old town
the night IL was first opened. Bills were
duly distributed announcing the ar
rival Of THE peerless Shakespearean
actress. Madame Honey Stevenson. who
would By request Of the citizens Of Pio-