Sarah walked into the newspaper office having survived another lecture from Mrs. Parsons on good housekeeping. Some of the younger ladies eagerly lapped it up but as a widow, Sarah had no interest but still she had to show it as a representative of the only newspaper in town. Maintaining goodwill was important since Kalispell was a growing town and another newspaper could start up at any time. McVay was a good man and he didn't deserve to have his business ruined.
She greeted both McVay and Tully before taking off her hat and coat. "Well, I'm pleased to say that another Kalispell Ladies Society meeting has gone off without even a whimper. It makes me wish that something interesting would happen just to liven things up a little bit."
@ [Flip] @ [Bongo
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"I don't envy you that meeting. Coffee's on and we've had us quite the morning around here." Phin said with a wide smile. Seems we were talking with the Marshall and Addy about some sort of Founders Day celebration and the next thing you know, Tully here has the idea of bring in a circus, ain't that right Tully."
"She can tell you all about it. Marshall Guyer is off to send a wire to the company with the circus, so we should know something pretty soon." He added. "Won't that be something? A circus right here in Kalispell, Montana!"
~0~
As Sarah, Tully, and Phin were discussing the celebration details, Marshal Guyer was just reaching the telegraph office. with a bit of trepidation, he turned the knob and pushed the door open, stepping inside. Hector had the stove going, and the room was nice and warm. His apprehension, of course, was a young man's exuberance with that kind of information.
"Mornin' Hector. Need to send a wire and I need your absolute silence on this matter. This is not to get out, not to anyone. That includes your family." He said firmly.
This is going to 'The Harry Orman Traveling Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus. Baraboo, Wisconsin.'" He paused.
@JulieS @Javia
Tully was mulling over the options that Phin had laid out, disappointed that it sounded like she wasn't going to be able to make something for the paper, but that wasn't going to deter her from making some drawings on her own and maybe putting some around town, if, indeed, the circus was coming!
She smiled and nodded as Sarah came in, complaining that there was nothing exciting going on. Just wait! Tully thought to herself as Phin broke the news about the celebration, and the possibility of a circus, too!
"I seen...saw a picture in th' paper from Helena," she explained, "with th' circus, an' a lion an' tiger an' elephant, an' there's ladies in hardly no clothes walking on rope above th' ground..." As she rambled on, Tully grabbed the paper so she could show Sarah the advertisement that took up most of a page. "Look'it there! A man as tall as a house, an' a little man, barely taller'n a stair! Marshal Speed's gonna send an inquiry, an' hopefully they'll come here, an' we can see all that an' more with our own eyes!"
That was more than Tully had spoken in all the month!
"A celebration is a grand idea," Sarah said as she sat down on the chair near her desk, "and it will certainly give the ladies in town something more to be excited about than just the latest Montgomery Ward catalogue."
She leaned back in her chair, "I also think a circus would be good for the families in town as the plays they have been putting on at the White Rose aren't exactly suitable for children. I'm sure that the town council will no doubt be happy to help even if they didn't come up with the idea themselves."
Turning to Tully, she smiled, "Has Mister McVay asked for your assistance with advertising this event? If he hasn't already, I think he should as I think this would be wonderful opportunity to showcase some of your work."
@ [Flip]
@ [Bongo
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"We have discussed the methods by which we would print in the Union, but before you came in I had thought perhaps once we have word on the availability of the circus she could be induced to produce some large posters to hang around town, and she has said she would like to do that sort of thing." Phin explained, "So that piece of the puzzle is in place, we just need the paints and poster paper, which is nothing."
"Of course, we will be expecting your great writing for the run-up to the entire celebration. It really looks to be a great big affair!" He smiled wide, "Gotta say, Tully's idea got us all fired up to do this, no matter what it takes!"
" ... - - - ... "
"Mornin' Hector. Need to send a wire and I need your absolute silence on this matter. This is not to get out, not to anyone. That includes your family." He said firmly.
"Please, Marshal Guyer, you insult me! What goes through Western Union Telegraph Company stays within Western Union Telegraph Company!!" Hector replied, a bit annoyed "That is Company Policy!" he added, as if that put the lid on it.
"Addressee, please" he asked rather formally, still a bit miffed.
"This is going to 'The Harry Orman Traveling Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus. Baraboo, Wisconsin.'" He paused.
Hector frowned, and reached for a gazetteer. "Hmm, I can put it through to Madison, Wisconsin; a courier will take it from there, that'll be extra. What message, please?" he asked quite formally, but all the time wondering what on earth the town Marshall was writing to a Circus for. Was he going to adopt a monkey?!
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Need cost and available dates for Kalispell Montana, stop. Preferred date July 4th, 1877. My name." He said, then looked at Hector, "We're laying the groundwork for this event, and we don't want folks to get all excited only to have it not happen. Going to be a big deal all around. Dance, food, contests, maybe a rodeo. Going call it Founders Day."
"There'll be a lot going on, could last a week, but we have to get the word back from Harry Orman, as the circus is the big deal. There'll be a lot for you to do as well, as there will be a whole lot of plans that'll need making." He laid a dollar on the counter and smiled at the lad, "Going to be a big deal! You get me the message as soon as you get it, please."
@Javia
" ... - - - ... "
"Need cost and available dates for Kalispell Montana, stop. Preferred date July 4th, 1877. My name." He said.
Hector's mood brightened as he took this message. He read it back to Guyer to check he'd got it down right.
"This is going to be great!" he grinned, once the lawman was happy with the message.
"We're laying the groundwork for this event, and we don't want folks to get all excited only to have it not happen. Going to be a big deal all around. Dance, food, contests, maybe a rodeo. Going call it Founders Day."
"Don't forget us for the music, Marshal!" Hector reminded him. He played fiddle at local events, often accompanied by Frances Grimes, who could frail a five-string when a piano wasn't available, and Arabella Mudd, when available, mellowing out the sound on a big fat-bellied Spanish guitarra. With Miss Mudd becoming more tied up with theatre performances, the little trio would eventually hook up with one of the myriad Patterson-Forde girls in her place.
"There'll be a lot going on, could last a week, but we have to get the word back from Harry Orman, as the circus is the big deal. There'll be a lot for you to do as well, as there will be a whole lot of plans that'll need making." He laid a dollar on the counter and smiled at the lad, "Going to be a big deal! You get me the message as soon as you get it, please."
"You bet!" panted Hector. Boy, this was the biggest secret he'd been let in on since he'd been the first person in town to hear about the Custer massacre last year.
The Kalispell String Band, July 1877, L-R: Miss F. Patterson-Forde, g.; Mr. H.M. Wigfall, f.; Miss F.H. Grimes, bj.
"Paint an' poster ain't nothin'!" Tully declared, not understanding that Phinn meant the expense. But at least he had agreed and trusted her try the posters, and she was excited about that! Even better, Miss Sarah supported her as well.
"I'll wanna try some first...ta practice." Art was something she was eager to talk about. "I ain't never had paint before...just some chalk an' colored pencils. An' somethin' so big as a real poster!" It had to be perfect, as much as she could make it that way, and another reason for practice.
"I could use yer help, Miss Sarah, ta know what ta put on it...besides elephants an' giraffes, an' people. What kinda people they got at th' circus?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"A band! Yes, and who knows how many players might show up, but whatever happens, The Kalispell String Band will be playing on the Fourth of July for Founder's Day. That's what we're calling it." Speed said. They had musicians, now they needed luck in the form of the price, and the availability on what was Independence Day. A tall order to be sure, but not one that was impossible. It was still early yet.
"So, what do you think of being part of our committee with Tully, Phin, Sarah Thornton-Carlton, and I? Won't be a lot of meetings, but we will be having them. I won't lie about it, there'll be a lot to get done once we get word on the circus, that's what we want most of all."
He would wait on the reply first, before taking it to the others. Then, depending on the cost, see what could be done to raise funds for that as well as the hoped-for fireworks display. He had some money he could donate, but he knew it would take more than he had available, or could afford, what with the mine and the upcoming wedding. But he'd get it done one way or another!
Javia