Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-10-31
SOCIALLY HELENA
REIGNED SUPREME
DELICATELY RELUCTANT TO MEN.
TION FACT UNTIL BATTLE
AROSE OVER CAPITAL

Although q few fights reached
the fis4ic stage during the con-
tention over the location of Mon
tana's capital back tn the eighties,
the strife was largely battle of
words. The written and the spoken
word were freely employed as Hell
ena and Anaconda fought for the
honor of being named capital of the
Treasure state. Marcus DAILY was
backing Anaconda and had a bold
battalion Of writers and speakers
carrying the torch for his cause.
Helena likewise had it's army In the
field and one of the most amusing
pieces Of literature 70 come out Of
the fray was n pamphlet entitled,
"Helena's Social Supremacy" which
was written 30 show that Helena
was the social center OF the state.
The book was a buriesque, designed
to poke fun at Helena's claims TO
social distinction.
I'm two former pamphlets issued by
the Helena capital committee" said
the author, Occasional allusion was
made to Helena's commanding position
in respect to social attractions and adj
vantages. These references having ex-
cited the sneers and ridicule Of the
low, coarse, Doodle press of Anaconda
1t is fitting that the committee should
set the facts before the intelligent
voters Of Montana for their calm, de-
liberate, judicial consideration.
That Helena is the social as well as
the commercial financial, agricultural
metallurgical, meteorological, apostolic
al, political, intellectual. literary, edu-
cational. musical theatrical, legal, med
ical, metaphysical, artistic, hygenic and
esoteric center of Montana, is a fact
which should admit of no dispute.
There is a difference between Hell
ena and her sister towns but that diff
ference Is simply the difference be-
tween civilization and culture. Helena's
sister towns already possess the one,
and through it may hope in time to
possess the other The distance to be
travelled is considerable but they need
not despair.
THE good people composing the rural
and mining regions Of the state have
only to study and reflect upon the con-
ditions that give Helena society its
powerful prestige to concede, freely and
reverently, all the claims which Helena
has felt 1t its duty TO make Ia her own
behalf But for her virgin delicacy, her
shrinking, sensitive disposition, Hell
ena could say much on this score. AS
It is, all she asks Of the people of Mon
tana is to bear in mind that hers is
the best society on earth. There are
people in the city of Helena who can
trace their ancestry back two or three
generations without discovering q
single flaw in the form Of q days work
or a nights soloriety. Helena's society
has enjoyed communion not only with
the sons of American presidents, but
with French, Italian and English noble
men, some Of whom come from the very
oldest and best jaiIs Of Europe.
A Striving HinterAand
sIet there be no mieunderstandin
upon this matter. II would hurt Hell
ena to the quick TO be thought naughty
on arrogant or proud Helena is high
souled and Iarge-heaTted. She claims
simply what Is her Que azad 70 all other
coununities In the state she ladies out
that which Is ffseir due with lavish
hand. She is not ashamed OF them and
has learned with gnnxzlne delight that
Ia Butte. mining caKlp that 1t Is. there