The Daily Missoulian., 1911-07-09

though the house was not moved. the
sons were, respectively. natives OF
Oregon. Washington. Idaho and Mon
tana. And the old house Is yet there,
near the famous spring which Is the
delight OF p.cnickers and fishermen
alike.
Halfway down the Frenchtown trail
is Grass Valley which remained for
so many years contented prosper
Gus community of farmers. near
enough to railway to be comfort
able, but far enough away no: to he
annoyed, until the Milwaukee, push
ing westward. threw up high EN-
bankment which separates the valley
into halves. its rude, gray walls rIs-
ing like a bulwark. cyr, Deschamps,
Dussault. Palm, Hamel-these are
names which ut once suggest them
selves as you see Grass Valley or as
you read of II. These and many 9TH
ers are intimately connected with the
delightful pastoral history of this sec
tion. where have been bred fine horses
and where has been raised fine grain
for almost half century. Sturdy
men and beautiful women are here.
born and reared within the confines
of this pleasing vale. The Cyr hotel.
celebrated road inn. stands pleas
antly beneath the shade OF tall pop
lars and. across the trail. Is the sub
stantlal schoolhonse of the district.
AT two worlds fairs the gold medal,
won in competition with the farmers
Of the whole earth, the gold medals
for oats and hay have been awarded
to the products of Grass Valley; 1t is
n famous piece. OF farm land but it's
people bear. their ! honors smodestls'
They knew. for a good many years that
they had the best oats and hay In the
world and they, do not see any reason
for making "a fuss. about. 1t just be-
cause, the world at large has discov-
cred what they knew for so long.
A few miles. below the Grass Valley
hotel. the, basin narrows almost to. the
width of the river channel. Then
suddenly 1t widcns again into the
broad expanse Of the ,Frenchtown val
ley, a replica OF the one above. In
every direction, even up on to the hill
sides. stretch the waving seas of
grass and grain. There are substan-
tial farm homes scattered all about.
Thrift Is everywhere visible and mani
fest. And In the midst of II Is French
town, a place that Is worth knowing.
Frenchtown-the name suggests Jack
Demers and his gracious hospitality,
nd n hiu nptlx,
ing-these and the Old-time ceebra-
ton of ST. Johns day. Never can
celebration of this holiday be the
same he'd anywhere else than at
Frenchtown, no matter how elaborate
the preparations or how modern the
facilities. For st. Johns day be-
longs to Frenchtown. There it en-
counters no alien atmosphere. There
II Is in it's own environment. There
nothing seems strange that looks Pc
culiar elsewhere.
Nobody who has had the enjoyment
of participation In Il celebration of the
French holiday at Frenchtown will
question this. Frenchtown and St
Johns day are inscparable in the mind
of all who have shared the happiness
Of this occasion. For nearly half a
century, once year. the Frenchtown
trail has been hot with the rush of
travel on the oath of June This year
found the trend of travel away from
Frenchtown upon this occasion. but it
Is not Likely to occur again. The
Frenehmen had a good time. but it
was not the old Day of st. John.
Frenchtown has changed but not so
much that there are not reminders OF
the old town: on all sides there are
suggestions of the joyial Jack Demers,
whose hosptable home was always
open to the wayfarer and at whose
table there was ever pate for the
stranger or the friend who came un-
.announced; of General Joe Marion,
who will be remembered as long as the
maine of Frenchtown endures; of Peter
Scheffer pioneer farmer and success
full business man; of scores of the old
timers who have been making hay.
history and happiness in this beautiful
valley for two generations.
Frenchtown has grown. 1t has
grown attractive and prosperous with
the continued development of the won-
derfully rich region about it, But 1t
retains enough of its individuality to
make It Frenchtown still. II you are
in quest of local color and human in
terest, visit Frenchtown. Visit the
Old place as a friend, not as a critic.
Its people will receive You with the
rare hospitality which has ever char
acterized the place: they will bid you
welcome and they will share with yol