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161. Social Life in Miles City in the Eighties This story will have to do with the social life in Miles City in the early eighties as described by Josephine Decker, who at one time was a resident of Miles City and operated a millinery store on the north side of Main street in the 700 block. Her name at that time was Josephine Miner. Mrs. Decker says: "Social life in Miles City at that time was a rather magnificent affair. Formal balls were held at the Macqueen hotel, with canvas spread over the beautiful rugs in the dining room for the dancers. Usually the Fifth Infantry orchestra from Fort Keogh two miles away furnished the music and the young officers in their resplendent uniforms added color to the scene. The Miles City girls always wore elaborate ball gowns, often with diamonds sparkling on their smooth white throats, and their escorts came in full dress with white kid gloves. The Macqueen hotel afforded the natural center, around which Miles City gayeties gravitated and when a few years later, it was burned, the young folks who had such good times there, stood around crying as they watched the ravaging flames, feeling as though some of their carefree joyousness was being destroyed with it. Often the Fort Keogh officers who enjoyed Miles City hospitality gave balls in return and sent the fort ambulance down to be loaded with young folks. On one particular night Sousa's band furnished the music. It was a snowy, wintery night, bitter cold, and through some oversight the ambulance did not come for them. However, not at all daunted, the Miles City boys and girls muffled up, put on overshoes and walked the two miles through deep snow, and then danced all night. Thus the close proximity of the fort not only guarded the town from all threat of Indian invasion, but also added color to their lives. The clear notes of bugles sounding reveille floated to them across the plains, making a beautiful beginning of their days, while evenings, the bands playing the military formations made a fitting close."
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