P a g e 6 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r the company as only western people can enjoy social parties. With all the freedom of western life I have never seen a man intoxicated at a ball or other social meeting; and the sincere cordiality evinced by the ladies toward each other would be an improvement on the more cultivated customs of the east. Between Christmas and New Year the city was unusually lively. The streets were gay with beauty and fashion, and in the evening merry music and the dance were always to be found under some of the many hospital roofs of the town. Col. John X. Beidler (then collector of customs at Helena) was here, having a good time visiting old friends; and Col. Nell Howie (head of the Montana volunteer Indian fighters at that time) was also among the guests enjoying the festivities of the capitol. We spent many pleasant hours, during leisure afternoons, hearing Colonels Sanders, Beidler, Howie, Hall and others fight over again the desperate battles they had had to give in order to make safe the victory over organized crime. Finally New Year’s morning dawned upon the little mountain capitol, and it was by general consent laid out as a field day of frolic. A party comprising the heads of church and state—Bishop (Tuttle), chief executive (Governor Green Clay Smith), Chief Justice (Hosmer), secretary, (Marshal), Professor (Eaton, geological expert), and some others of us who classed as high privates—started out to inaugurate New Year calls. We naturally enough first paid our respects to the family of one of the distinguished officials, and found that our call was not expected. A huge bowl of foaming egg-nogg was set out on the center-table; and we were made welcome, and accepted accordingly. We spent all of sin hour with the fair hostess, when the professor decided, from the confusion of tongues, that an analysis of the beverage was a necessity; and, after a careful and scientific investigation, he reported that the egg-nogg consisted of three gallons of whisky, one egg and a little cream. I can vouch for the bishop retiring in as good order as he came; but of the others, including the writer, it is necessary to speak. There was some inexplicable confusion in fitting our hats as we started, but it may be explained by the very thin air of the mountains flying to our heads. We did not get over half the city until the walking became very hard for our party, owing to the condition of the streets and other causes; and it was found impossible to conclude our calls on foot. A few inches of snow had fallen the day before, and Colonel Beidler, always ready for an emergency, called out a fourhorse team and sled, in which we completed the New Years calls. It was not so difficult to get from house to house, but it was very tedious and tiresome getting in and out of the sleigh so often—so much so, indeed, that several of the party turned up missing on final roll-call. We had many a song and many a speech and the jingling glasses told of the gushing hospitality that welcomed the party at every house. The chief justice gave a story and a song and was gravely lectured because there was no baby in the house. Neither host, nor hostess, nor distinguished guest, received the lavish compliments of the season that were given to the future statesmen and mothers of the mountains, now boasting of swaddling clothes. One not yet a week old received the homage of the distinguished party, as the nurse guarded the cradle with mingled devotion and pride. Several were christened in the round—not by the bishop in an official way, but in most instances with biblical names. At last the team was brought up before the hall used by the house of representatives. Colonel Beidler was sitting with the driver, and, with a merry twinkle of the eye, he said "Fun ahead, boys; let's have a hand in it;” and he called our attention to a rude placard on the door, stating that a sparring match would come
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