The Penn's Grove Record

A Ranch in Montana.

A large one-story and a half house built of hewn logs, and neatly chinked and mudded, stands in a group of pine trees by a roaring trout stream. An irrigating ditch brought water into a blue grass lawn, which was kept closely mown. There was not a particle of litter around the house. It was in October that I visited this ranch. Wood fires blazed on wide hearths in almost every room on the ground floor. A pair of handsome Irish setters lay in front of the sitting room fire. Handsomely mounted deer and elk heads, full antlered hung on the walls of the dining-room. Illustrated papers, magazines and books were in every room.

The house was beautified by the presence of a handsome and agreeable woman. The windows and doors were protected with wire screens.

There were excellent servants in the house. The employees of the ranch were housed and fed in another and remote building. This ranch was the home of a Philadelphia gentleman. He said that it was not necessary to live like a Digger Indian to succeed in cattle raising. He and the wife were intelligent persons, who could live in the fore parts of their heads. They were fond of out-door sports and were not oppressed by solitude—rather enjoyed their isolated life. The meals I ate in this house were well cooked and handsomely served and the claret was most excellent. My host had a passion for grouse and black tailed deer shooting, and gratified it during the three days I spent with him.