Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-06-05
1866 CELEBRATION
WAS GALA AFFAIR
HELENA REALLY WENT TO TOWN
ON HOLIDAYS DURING
EARLY TIMES

National holidays were few ana
far between in 1865, and IA Mem
fana the inhabitants made the
most Of them. Their enthusiasm
did not become attenuated. When
| they celebrated, they celebrated,
! as is plainly 70 be seen from an
account of the manner La which
the two leading towns Virginia
CITY and Helena, observed the gl0r-
iOus Fourth Of July.
An early-day correspondent Of the
Montana Post began his c0mmunica-
ton by stating that 1.-THE weather was
as cold as the Frozen Quadrille' which
opens an aristOcratic ball." Whether
he wished it to be understood that all
uuadrilles we're cold affairs, or he re-
ferred to some particular quadrille
it Is hard to say Square dances were
then in fashion, yet they were not SO
popular with the young as the round
dances, such as the waltz, polka and
the like. The writer continued: The
streets were nevertheless alive with
people determined to have their share
Of the celebration, in spite Of wind or
weather.
"At II o'clock a. m. the procession
started for that lovely oasis, the gem
of the mountains, Owyhee park. At
this spot, about five miles distant from
Helena, ample accommodations had
been provided by the committee. Also a
pavilion go by so feet, with an arched
roof 30 feet high, handsomely deco
rated with the national colorS, and q
raised stand for the speaker, about five
feet high" The writer wished to in
dictate the height of the stand, it is
inferred, not that of the speaker who
was to occupy it,
AT one o'clock the procession reached
the ground headed by the marshal and
assistant. Next to these rode gay
squadron of ladies on horseback, fol-
lowed by the band wagon, ladies in car
riages, and three of divers coaches,
the largest enveloped in mammoth
American ensign, the horses being
tastefully adorned with smaller flags.
Egnells coaches, private carriages and
buggies brought up the rear"
Can not one readily visualize it? The
and assistant in their gay
colored sashes, the squadron of ladies"
riding modeStly on side saddles, their
long riding habits fluttering in the
breeze, the band wagon, probably oc-
cupied although this is not stated, the
decorated coaches, adorned horses, and
all that2 The very sight was enough to
make one feel patriotic.
AT 2 p. m. the program opened with
prayer by the Rev. j. w. Mclaughlin;
The Declaration Of Independence was
read by E. Warren Toole, Esq, and
George M. Pinney delivered the ora
ton. The exercises we're interspersed
with music by the band. The cere-
monies being concluded, everyone who
was sufficiently favored by fortune
seized the opportunity for q stroll IN the
groves, enjoying that rar-
ty In mining town, pure air, and the
nestimable felicity Of female society
arranged as q duet" In the foregoing
Il is taken for granted the contributor
referred to women, although he does
not say so. Women were then spoken
Of as either ladies' or females" and
The latter term was not held to be de- |
-ogatory.
1.-THE shr1ll call Of a bugle soon sum-
noned the votaries OF TerpSichore to |
he pavilion, which had been in the |
meantime prepared for ball, and soon
he gay and happy crowd were whirling |
along in the dance. Comparisons are |
1dious and selections invidious. We /
therefore content ourselves with say
ng that the costumes Of the ladies /
rom the banks Of Last Chance creek
md the surrounding country were as
beautiful as they were varied. and as
or the wearerS-
Let him the weakness of his soul
who knows,
Pray Heaven to keep him from such
eyes as those"
We shall hear more Of those eyes
hereafter, and discover their color. This
will lead us to believe that the one
rom whom we quote, could not be
lassed with those gentlemen who pre-
er blondes"
Everyone Celebrated
Everyone was celebrating to the eX-