The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-10-24
CHAPTER I.

49,
Major Anderson had "made for
tune" in 1873, when other people were
l0e'ng fortunes, and the magnificence
Of the Ambersons began then. Their
splendor lasted all the years that saw
their Midland town spread and darken
into a city. but reached its topmost
during the period when every prosper
ous family with children kept New
foundland dog.
In that town in those days all the
women who wore silk or velvet knew
all the other women who wore silk or
velvet. and when there was new
purchase Of sealskin sick people were
got to windows to see it go by. Every
body knew everybody else's family
horse and carriage. could identify such
a silhouette half a mile down the
street. and thereby was sure who was
going to market or to a reception or
suming home from office or store to
E,oon dinner or evening supper.
During the eafk.A years Of this Pc
riod elegance Of personal appearance
was believed to rest more upon the
texture Of garments than upon their
shaping. A silk dress needed no re-
modelling when 1t was year or so old:
1t remained distinguished by merely
remaining silk Old men and COVER
y,orS wore broadcloth full dress" was
l,roadc,o,h with "doeSkin" trousers;
sind there were seen men Of all ages
80 whom a hat meant only that rigid.
tall silk thing known to impudence as
a "S.ovepipe." In town and country
these men would wear no other hat.
and. without self-consciousness, they
went rowing in such hats.
Trousers with a crease were consid.
cred pieheian: the crease proved that
the garment had lain upon shelf. and
hence was "ready made" these be-
traying trousers were called "hand-
me-downs," in allusiOn to the shelf. In
the early eighties, while bangs and
bustles were having their way with
women, that variation of dandy known
as the "dude" was invented: he Wore
trousers as tight as stockings. dagger
pointed shoes. a spoon derby" a
Sinyle-hreasted coat called a "Chester-
deld." with short fla-ing skirts. tor
turing cylindrical collar. Numbered to
Il polish and three inches high. while
his other neckgear might be heavy.
lpufTed cravat or a tiny bow fit for a
DOTS braids. With evening dress he
wore a tan Overcoat so short that his
black coattails hung visible. five inches
below the overcoat; but after season
cor two he heightened his overcOat till
Vt touched his heels. and he passed out
of his tight trousers into trousers like
CREST bags. Then presently he was
seen no more though the word that
had heen coined for him remained in
the vorahularies Of the impertinent.
Surely no more is needed to prove
that so short a time ago we were liv
ine in another age!
At s.,e beginning of the Ambersons
y.rcat period most Of the houses OF the
Midland town were of a pleasant ar
.sMitAr-nre. They lacked style, hut also
preeen tiouSneSS. and whatever doe:
moi ptetcnd at all has style enough
They stood in commodious yards. wei
shaded by leftover forest trees, elm
and walnut and beech. with here anG
there line Of tall sycamo-es where
she land had been made by filling
bayous from the creek. The house o.
prominent resident" facing Mill
tnry square or National avenue or Ten
nessee street. was built Of brick upor
q stone foundation. or Of wood upon ;
brick foundation. Usually it had .
''front porch" and a back porch :
often 'side porch" too. There wa
n "front hall :" there was ''side hall.
and sometimes a black hall" From
the ''front hail. opened three rooms
the ''parlor." the "sitting room" an
the ''library;" and the library coul
show warrant to its title-fOr som
reason these people bought books
Commonly the family sat more In tn
library than In the sitting room,
While callers. when they came fOl
sally, were kept to the ''parlor."
gsaace Of formidable polish and discou
oogG The upholstery Of the librar