The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-02-20
Explains Pine Tree
Club Hall Dances

There has been much interest
shown by Libby people in the dan
ces held at the Pine Tree Club
hall and so many inquiries as to
how they are managed and made
SO successful that it appeared to the
club members that an article should
be written and its publication in
your paper requested explaining the
why's and wherefores Of the dances
and the management policies by
which they are governed, therefore
the president appointed me to write
this article.
a little over a year ago some
OF the club members requested the
use of the club hall to give dance
for the pleasure of the young folks
of the community, explaining that
they would furnish the music for
dancing and that each one that
came would bring sandwiches, cake,
coffee, or some other item of food
for a midnite lunch, also that no
charge would be made for anything
The dance was success, everyone
having a grand time Permission
was then asked to have the use of
the hall for another dance, it be-
ing granted, another dance was
given and another very good time
enjoyed.
These dances seemed to call to
everyones mind the fact that there
were quite a number of young folk
in the community who were at the
age where amusement is essential
and is going to be had, if not at
or near home then wherever it is
to be found. Now it is certain that
the amusement (?) to be found at
most dance halls is hardly the kind
that most parents care to have their
children come in contact with. True
there are a few dances where liquor
is not allowed that is, excessive
drinking is not alloWed-but they
are all too few.
The ACCESSIBILITY of holding dan
ces at regular intervals was dis
cussed at a club meeting, the mem
bers expressing themselves in ia
vor of it and the president of the
club appointed two club members
to act on a dance committee with
instructions to choose two others,
not club members, TO be on the com
mittee thus making it a community
affair rather than club affair It'll
is a well known fact in the COM
munity that the dances are held
every two weeks Each couple
brings sandwiches or other articles
Of food At midnight tables are
set up and with the plates of food |
and cups for the coffee made in
the kitchen, everyone enjoys the
lunch hour
AS TO rules governing those at |
tending, they are few tie main one
being NO DRINKING" ard we
mean ius' THAT! We don't alluw /
people to come and drink until they |
either insult someone or start a row. !
just as soon rs we find that a per-
son has i'guor and S drinking, that
person IS politely pested 20 /
leave.
ere is never any charge for
the dances The music is furnished
by a few public spirited local Husi-
clans, to whom, / must say most
of the credit for the success Of these |
dances is due. The wood has been
brought so far by those attending
the dances and the electric lights
furnished free by very public
spirited member who lives near the
and has a lighting plant. Such
money as has been needed for i'm
Srovement Of the hall and miScel-
laneous expenses has so far come
thru donations,
These dances have been a very
fine thing for the community as a
whole. the older folks as well as
the Young folks and there seems
to be no insurmountable barriers
to other communities doing the
same thing, should they care to do
so. There is no question but that
1t would be an aid in combating
juvenile delinquency, not that It'll
is a cure-all for that, yet it can
be made a powerful influence in
the right direction.
There are, however, a few things
which parents must do even as par
entS here are doing, and by that
! mean sacrificing some of their own
entertainment to get behind the
thing personally and make it go, get
out on the floor and dance. first
thing you know you TOO will be
looking forward to these dances
with as much enthusiasm as your
children
Should anyone wish to avail
themselves of further information
regarding these dances, come and
see for yourself, there is no for
NAL invitation necessary and any
one here will be glad to answer
all questions to the best of their
ability.-Bert B. Davis.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS