The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-07
EVENING or RARE PLEASURE
Feasting, Song and Story Combine to
Chase Dull Care and Cement
Friendships Bonds.
From Mondays Daily Gazette.

/
Maverick Hose company. The last one
to be added to the many successful
ones held by the Organization took
place Saturday evening. 1t was the
first to take place in the new corral,
and it was a good n Its memory
will afford many pleasant thoughts
to the participants for years to come.
But in this respect it differed in no.
wise from those nat preceded it, for
il there is anything the Mavericks
Gan do better than fight fire it is to
entertain. Those who have been hon.
ored by being their guests know this.
AS has been the custom for years,
George M. Hays presided as master
of the banquet with which the round
up opened. The rare wit and felicity
with which he graced the position
was characteristic Of him and showed
that cares of state and the worries of
official position do not burden his
mind to the extent of making him less
responsive to the requirements OF
the amenities when a band Of good
fellows are assembled for the purpose
of smoothing the sharp of
life. III
Much to the disappointment of all
two of the gentlemen who have al
a added to the pleasures of the
roundups we're unable to be present.
They we're Judge Milburn of Helena
and w. M. Johnston of this city. Both
were ~unavoidably detained and were
compelled to send their regrets. Their
absence caused a change to be made
in the programme. Mr.. Johnston had
been selected to make the address
of welcome. This was assigned to
Doctor Rinehart at the last moment.
Fortunately the doctor is a ready and
entertaining speaker and he discharg-
ed the unexpected duty in the happi-
est possible manner.
Mayor George responded to the
sentiment, "Our City" 1t is needless
to say that he did it aceptably and
well. Fred H. Foster spoke on Past
and Present Corrals of the Nav
ericks." The subject was n with
which he was thoroughly familiar and
could not have been assigned to a
more pleasing or interesting speaker.
Humor and pathos were blended in a
manner that touched all, while the
address in it's entirety was a gem.
Alderman Bennington spoke for "Our
City Dads" and did it in a
that reflected credit on the august
body whose spokesman he was and
pleased his auditors. "The Ladies'"
had a gifted champion in F. P. Rixon
and could they have heard the many
complimentary and pleasant things
he said about them their hearts would
have been filled with joy and their
vanity increased t the danger point.
Judge Matheson, a veteran OF the
guild, spoke for 1.-The Press" If he
overlooked any of the good points Of
the gang" it was through no fault
of his. He tried hard to make it's
members appear in the best possible
light. .
j. e. Hughes, a Maverick who has
made the journey owe the dread
White pass and flirted with the bash
full Esquimaux maidens of the arctic
regions, responded to "Mayericks in
the Far North and the Widows of
Billings" He did it we'll and neither
of the subjects in his composite senti-
ment suffered through lack of ability
on his part to extol their virtues and
sound their praises. Chief Bond told
of the "Past Years Work" and gave
an interesting and instructive talk on
the accomplishments of the depart
ment since the last roundup had been
held. Other toasts were, "The Keg,"
responded to by George Robbins and
.St. Bernard Dogs" a subject given
to Phil Grein for explanation and
calculation.
During the progress of the banquet,
which began at 1920 and ended al
1870, songs were sung by Messrs.
Hays, Allen, Calhoun and Burton, all
of whom sang solos and also joined
in several decidedly musical quar-
tettes. The instrumental music was
by Vests orchestra. At the conclu-
sion of the banquet the tables were
removed and a social session follow
ed. Over this w. B. Ten Eyck pre-
sided. Stories were told, recitations
given and jokes exchanged, while the
unsteady inclined were called upon
tn contribute in the way of songs and
instrumental selections George Ben