Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-06-22

Miss Florence Minis Writes
From Billings, Montana.
Dear Advertiser: :.
Lam still in the city of Billings, Mon
tana, which is situated in Yellowstone
county on the Yellowstone River, in
close proximity to Yellowstone Park.
river, true to its name, is of
avery yellow color, and at present
is$almost overfowing its banks, due
Itosthe great amount of snow melting
|in8the Rockies. Billings, however, is
more fortunate than Pueblo, I am
glad to say.
Sometimes my visits to places con-
|;sist in sightseeing excursions, and
sometimes they consist in social en-
Egagements. have friend here, be-
sides the friend / am visiting, whom /
knew in the East, and it was a great
pleasure to see her and talk over old
times in Boston. There is hardly a
state in which does not live some
friend with whom have studied or
been associated.
|! Il have made the schools my head
quarters, in a sense, since the friend
+ am visiting is teaching, and having
taught all winter in the schools of a
state which ranks very high in the
educational world, it is interesting
tos investigate those of Montana,
which is even nearer the top of the
list than Minnesota. 1 am spoiled,
however, having taught in the Iron
Range District of Minnesota, and
could not be easily induced to teach
in any less wonderful system.
AS though it were writ large on
my brow, the news spread rapidly
abroad that I sometimes read, and
forthwith was marshalled into SER
vice, reading all the dialect I know,
and especially all the negro dialect
for the entertainment and amusement
iof the grades in the Jefferson High
School. Children are always respon-
,sive, so much so in fact, that one
wonders how much is pure enjoyment
and how much is produced by a mere
love Of clapping the hands.
On Friday afterno on the children
crowded the stairWays, doorways and
every inch of their hall for their last
sing of the year, and had the privi-
lege Of reading to them, and it was
indeed an inspiration. "The more, the
merrier," at least for the person per-
forming.
Tomorrow afternoon I shall read
again to the eighth grades, who are
graduating from the Junior High
School.
One would be apt to think that the
schools this near the Canada line
might well stay open till late in June,
but it has been suffocatingly hot here,
and 1 dare say the "bare foot boy
with cheek of tan" will soon be leav-
ing for the very nearby Rockies to
camp as soon as the last lessons are
said and the welcome or unwelcome
marks are received.
Billings is surrounded by rock
wall, natural formation that looms
up above the houses and the tree
tops. This enclosure is known as the
Grim Rocks" very appropriate
name, since Billings lies within a low
basin spreading within these stone
barriers.
Montana is great cattle and
sheep raising state with Billings the
largest sheep market in the United
States, and a great grain producing
state.
Large coal mines are found in the
Southern central part.
Most of the scenic grandeur is yet
to come. This next week I shall spend
at Red Lodge, a summer resort in
the mountains, and from there I go
to Yellowstone Park.
My next letters may contain more
descriptions which may be of interest.
This is merely bare communication
to connect the chain of letters which
promise shall all be better than
this one.
FLORENCE MINIS.
June Is, 1921.