Glacier County chief., 1940-04-19
hurdy Gurdies Were First
might Clubs" in Montana
By T. J. KERTTULA

ment were their ruling passion, but
drinking and dancing, with an occa-
sional fight on the side, were about
the only amusement that they could
find in the early day gold camps such
as Virginia City and Bannack. Open
doors and loud music were used to
attract the prospectors into the dance
halls and saloons.
The most notable of these were the
so-called hurdy-gurdy houses, which
might be called the forerunners of the
present day night clubs. They opened
afternoon and dancing commenced
Immediately, continuing until the early
hours of the morning.
Upon entering one of these one
found himself in a large room with a
bar at one end. Here champagne sold
at s12 bottle and drinks at two-bits
to four-bits, all payments in gold. The
vicinity of the bar was usually crowded
with men dressed in every variety of
garb from rough buckskin leggings and
flannel shirts of the miners to that of
the Immediately turned out gamblers
On one side the orchestra occupied a
raised platform and against one wall
girls, known as hurdy-gurdieS. They
were frequently dressed in uniforms
but some wore the most expensive and
attractive styles of the day. A tour of
the dancehalls, in an early day town.
would have shown one a variety of
costumes ranging from the most mod
est to the loudest eastern style centers
could supply.
The men paid a dollar in gold for
a dance ticket. These tickets were COL
lected by the girls, who were paid ac-
cording to the number of tickets they
had accumulated by the end of the
evening; probably a certain amount
from the price Of the ticket and a
rakeoff from the drinks each had
coaxed her partners to buy. After each
dance everyone flocked to the bar for
a little liquid refreshment and it
wasn't pink lemonade. Due to the fact
that there were probably 10 men for
every girl, the hurdles" seldom missed
a dance because of the lack of part
ners. One girls evenings earnings av-
eraged between $50 and $50, but the
managed to keep wild Bill from the
hills" from tearing the place down in
his enthusiasm.
Don't Tell Emily Post!
After purchasing his ticket the pros
pector approached the ladies' bench
and invited the one of his choice to
dance; sometimes in a language which
some might call picturesque and ex-
pressive but probably not current in
the required number Of couples were
ready they took their place in the
center of the floor, the dance started.
The first-class dancer has been de-
scribed as sure of a partner every
time, of middle height, full and
rounded form, complexion pure as ala
hazel eyes (and dangerous they were
for the boys who hit town once every
two or three months, a slightly
Roman nose, prettily formed mouth,
auburn hair neatly banded and gath
cred by an ornamental net with roll
and gold tassels at the side, sedate
until the termination of the prom
enade eight"
They were undoubtedly excellent
dancers, anyway, they got enough
practice. Self appointed authorities of
the time stated that with few excep-
tons they were definitely the reverse
of good looking-a statement to which
the prospectors protested vehemently
But her more picturesque looking
with long black hair hanging down
from beneath battered wide brimmed
felt hat. A pair of sparkling black
eyes and sunburned tip of a nose
peeked family through luxuriant
growth of Slightly CRAVING whiskers,
and in the corner Of his mouth was
the ever necessary cigar which he
rolled like 1.-The lever of an eccentric"
as he unconsciously attempted to chew
it in time to the music He was shod
In a pair of heavy, knee high boots to
which were strapped the usual pair of
belled Spanish spurs. These he seldom
took the trouble to remove when en-
tering house. However, they had 9TH
er uses except an accelerator for his
cayuse as he could conveniently remove
his boots simply by hooking the spur
behind something solid and yanking;
thus saving himself a lot of bending
over and Juggling. He wore a pair of
fringed buckskin leggings cinched up
at the waist with a U. S. belt from
which also was draped his shooting
iron and sheath knife A flannel shirt
and perhaps a bright colored bandana
completed his outfit
But the dancers are ready on the