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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1876)
May. THE WEST SHORE. a safely through. The next spring Fulton dug out the wagon, mended it and took it home. When we apologized, he laughed, and said that was just the way everybody served him and the way he served them. He said" When I borrow a team, I drive home, unyoke the cattle, throw the yokes, bows and keys around loose on the ground, and when the owner comes for the team, he finds the children have generally lost the bows and keys, and perhaps one or two of the log chains, but he don't care for 'this is the Oregon style Ha! Hall" IN THE MATTER OF CULTURE. MRS F. F. VICTOR. It has as many shades of meaning as there are degrees in a circle. Culture to be complete, should be well rounded, and in clude every degree; but it very rarely is complete. Knowledge is a large element of it, but it is not the thing itself. It is rather the proper application of knowledge that constitutes culture. There arc plenty of people who really know a good deal, to whom it never oc curs to us to apply the meaning contained in this word. Hooks cannot confer it, nor is it always to be extracted from the at mosphere of a university, though we cer tainly have a right to expect that it should be. Universality of travel is not sufficient to secure it; polished manners are only a part of it. Religion, justice, morality, arc only parts of it. Evidently it is subtle and hard to define. There is, for instance, a man you dis tinguish by the appellative gmtkman. He is in a high position, has mixed with what is popularly known as "the best society," is liberally educated, according to the well understood and accepted meaning of that phrase; and, though you wonder why it is, you recognize a certain deficiency, that to your consciousness deprives him of the right to be called ailhireil. He hasdeceiv ed you, has told a "polite" lie, has shown a disregard for your feelings or your con venience, a disregard of your claim to con sideration, whatever that may be, has, in short, come below your standard, in one or several things. In the same way, the woman from whom you had a right to exiicct breadth of char acter, calmness of judgment, and the poise and self-possession that enters into true cul ture, disappoints you by an exhibition of petlishncss or nervousness, and you receive a disagreeable impression of the emptiness of the shell in that instance, also. Although you say to yourself over and over that hu man perfection is not easily attained, and that a margin must be left in every char acter for its specific blemish, the same re mains that there must be a lack of culture, as well as a presence of peculiar traits. For the use of culture "is to reduce id iosyncrasies, to soften pronincnccs, to broaden narrowness, and elevate littleness. It makes impossible falsehood, affectation, (to use an expressive cant phiasc) the "put ting on of airs;" at the same time that it may, by common consent, assume a quiet 'dignity of its own, altogether defensible, upon the ground that it injures in no way the self-respect of another. From such premises as here given it might be concluded that it is character itself that makes what we call culture. Or iginal traiu certainly may have a good deal to do with it; as one person is more easily taught than another. Susceptibility to im pressions and a quick 'observation, un doubtedly greatly assist its growth; but an experience of considerable time and extent is required, where culture must be obtain ed entirely through our own observations; and where so obtained is rarely very per fect, on account of the difficulty of eradi cating early habits. It is a good deal a matter of inheritance and cqnstant daily training. . A person of true culture is never op pressed with the consciousness of knowing a great deal. He docs not belong to the pamnu class of knowing people, and his attainments sit easily upon him. He does not lie in wail for your slips of tongue to constitute himself your critic, nor does he loudly declare the laws of etiquette as a matter of much importance to hiin and to everybody; because he lias learned that there is a politeness above etiquette, which ignores the mistakes and ignorance of oth ers. Your cultivated man or woman has the art of duing the right thing in the right place, without attracting notice to it, or demanding recognition of the fact; at the same lime, he or she is quick to recognize the services or atten tions of another. "Loudness" in dress, in manners, even in the tones of the voice, betray the absence of culture, as does lav ish display of any kind. Too much mon ey, too many jewels, on unimportant oc casions, are equally traitorous. Assuredly the gradations are very fine, and the qualities subtle; but they are un mistakable for all that. You recognize them when you :ce them as quickly as you know a rose by its odor. The glance of the eye, the inflexions of the voice, the turn of the head upon the shoulders, even the movement of a hand gestures, gait, the whole make-up goes into evidence of the amount and quality of the culture you possess. Its value is acknowledged, the world over; it is supposed to confer upon its possessor more happiness than the pos session of riches, as it certainly docs more grace; and to be as desirable as beauty. It could not then be an important ques tion to ask, why so many people seem in differenno it in the training of their chil dren. It is not at all incompatible with good health or with usefulness, even with hard work, especially if transmitted from father to son, or from mother to daughter, with the daily education. Derived in that way it becomes the "second nature" which is often quite as strong as the first nature. Probably the neglect comes from many causes. Imperfect education in the par ents, business cares, want of the governing faculty, etc. The "line upon line, and precept upon precept" if not sufficiently regarded. The mother, particularly, wear ies of the frequent admonition, the con stant necessity for watchfulness and exam ple wearies of correcting the speech, the movements and the sentiments of her children. Yet eternal vigilance is the price of this blessing, as it is of so many others. The rose-vine must be bent and fastened in a certain form till it grows there, if you ex pect to give it the shape you desire perma nently. It is fortunate that roses and chil dren are pleasant to work with, albeit they art a little thorny. It is surprising how much there is spent uion education that has no culture in it how many atrocious little Arabs there arc who are ready with their school tasks, but who, both at home and abroad arc looked upon with dread, mingled with compassion or indignation, as the case may lie. It would appear that there must lie some thing wrong in our educational system. Perhaps it is taken for granted that peo ple with sufficient book-knowledge toteath the general branches provided, also possess a very considerable degree of cultivation in manner, and elevation of character. Hut it does not necessarily follow. And hence it turns out that between the parents and the teachers, a great many intelligent ruflians are turned loose upon society at the irre sponsible jieriod of their lives, wlicrc as minors they cannot he visited with the punishment their behavior merits. Not that they were educated to be ruffians, but that they were allowed to be such. Hoys go from our common schools to our colleges; and arc there compelled to obey, as at the common school, a ccruin set of rules having in view the safety and comfort of their teachers, rather' than their own education into the practice of a high er refinement, and more advanced senti ment. From colleges these young men go next into the professional ranks, and finally occupy the first positions in the country. Put when we come to see them in contact with the cultured gentleman of other nations we have often occasion to blush at the disparity. I presume no one would contend that American youth are radically worse than the youth of England, France, or Germany. What we may safely insist upon, however, is this, that from a lack at training both at home and at educational institutions, thev fail to impress us with a gratifying sense of the benefits conferred upon them by an education. Being the best or most uni versally taught eoplc, except the Germans, we ought to make an impression as a peo ple of refinements in manners. On the contrary we arc too often ridiculed for ex- mmting a total inditlercnco to, or happy unconsciousness of some of the nicer dis tinctions of Xouncsy, of sentiment, and of honorable dealing that should belong to the character of a gtnlkma, and especial ly to an Anurujn gentleman. It does not matter whether those who laugh arc really any better than we arc. But it shall concern us that they, whether they be good or bad themselves. discover the incongruities in our national character, and find them subjic s of ridi cule. And still that is of less importance than what we say about each otheral home. A gentleman or a lady is so much more an agreeable person to have any kind ol dealings with or relation to, than a per son not entitled to be classed as cither. In their hands we have a feeling of safety; a conviction that from tliein we can ex pecteven when greallv our superiors a consideration not granted, always, by an inferior class; quick sympathies, delicate behavior, and the absence of those rude shocks so often, though unintentionally, given by those not possessing culture. Thorough culture must include a consid erable degree of knowledge of men and things, as well asof books; high principles; the essence of Christianity, f. t. doing as we would be done by; and courteous manners. The constant practice of rules of action looking toward the perfection all these things imply, imparts that air so difficult to describe, and which we know by the name given above. It is slow of growth, but strong and durable, as slow growths are sure to be. It cannot be commenced too early, nor cherished too unremittingly. Neither can it be valued too highly; for it is the (lower of all the mostdcsirablc things that men pursue, and marks the degrcs of their attainments with unerring certainty. To woman it is more than beauty, because while beauty of the perishable kind is fad ing, this other loveliness may be all the time increasing. It gives to youth a charm greater than youth itself; and iniiarts to age a softness and dignity that wins from us admiration and respect. HINTS TO IMMIGRANTS A CHAP TER FROM MRS. STUART'S PAM PHLET ON WASHINGTON TKR. There is no portion of the country, per haps, that olfers all the advantages to an immigrant equal to this 'Territory. 'The lands along the water courses arc extreme ly fertile, and these arc very numerous, lis tide lands make the finest gardens in the world when diked, and produce exten sive crops; its limber lands are useful both for agricultural aud commercial purposes ; and iu prairies afford good pasturage for all domestic animals. These lands, of all grades, can be found in the 'Territory. They can he purchased, pre-empted, or la ken up under the homestead act, so that he who desires lo labor, and is willing to make a home for himself can find id means in this genial country. The person ! desiring to take up a farm along the tours, j es of the rivers ran Ibid plenty of room ; arid land, from ll.e l.umnii on the north to the lower portion of the Columbia. ! Timber land can I found my where in ! Wcsieru Washington, except near the mill-' ing towns, and, if adjacent to water, it is valuable, as loggers get about five dollars a thousand for saw-log, and they select smh land as will aflord ihcm ready facili ties of gelling their timber lo water. '1 hey pay fifty cents per thousand feet for stuntp age, so that a person having heavily tim bered land can receive double compensa tion from it; first, from the lumbar, and then from the products raised. Sonic ol this class of land is difficult to clear, but much of it is comparatively easy and inex pensive. The principal prairies arc in Eastern Washington, aud they are undoubt edly the best grazing lands in the world, being covered with the large and abundant bunch grass, which retains it nuiriton Iho year round. These prairies arc traversed by thousands of domestic animals, who roam at large, with little or no care from their owners. The immigrant desiiou; of following the business will find plenty ol room. 'The smaller prairies afford excel lent opportunites for engaging in the wool business. Wool brings a good price, mut ton is alwars sought for in the market. and wild animals destructive to sheep arc scarce. Were an immigrant to ask, "Where can I find a good farmi" We would say; Almost any where in Washing Ion Territory, Go where you may, yoti can find land in its primitive stale or under cultivation. As to the healthfulness of the country, it is unequaled, by any portion of the Union, and the truth of this s'a'.cmcnl can be learned, at any time, by reference lo the report of the Surgeon General of ihc United Stales. Commerce, with excep tion of the lumber and coal trade, is dor mant, ami manufactories comparatively unknown. 'The 'Territory does the laigcst lumber trade in ihc world, and ships, laden with spars, masts ami lumber can be seen daily on their way through the sound. The minerals of ihc Territory, which arc rich anil varied, have not, witii the cx pepiion of coal, been developed al alL House rent is couiiaralive!y small, churches are plentiful, and iho facilities for education are excellent, 1 hose desiring to furnish their children an ample educa tion can do so, as all the larger towns nrc liberally supplied with private and public schools. 'The population of the 'Territory is composed largely of natives of the New England and Middle Stales, but like CVC7 other portion of the country, representa tives of Euroiiean nationalities are found here. A more orderly and law-abiding population cannot be found in America.. Private and benevolent societies are nu1 mcrous and large in numbers. All the princqul denominations have churches throughout the Territory, so that the im migrant can find here, as well as in hl native land, the consolation of his faith. While thus showing the advantages ol the country, we would not advise all who de sire to better their conditions to flock here unless Ihey are willing lo toil, and aic possessed of courage anil endurance to hew themselves a home out of the forests and labor for the advancement ol the country. Those persons engaged in the lighter occiiialiins, such as professional men, book-keepers and clerkH, will not find much cniploymcut until the com merce and population of the Territory in crease. Farmers, mechanics, carpenters, masons and blacksmiths arc most necdedy. as they arc useful in every community. Gentlemen of leisure and their kindred! arc nut wanted. 'The country is yet too. young to support drones of any kind. People wanted, ihcn, are ihc earnest, hard working kind, wdio have an object in life and wishing to make preiraiions for their family and old age. Those who come need not expect lo find all they desire im mediately; they must be content, if they take farms, lo live somewhat isolated for 3 short lime, unless they have means to pur chase land in more thickly settled districts. Hut this isolation must he for a short time only, as these fertile lands cannot remain long nnsellled' 'The inhabitants of Europe and the Eastern Slates arc seckitg more elbow romn, and to the "Great West" ihey must come. I le is the best off, them who comes first and has the privilege of making a selection of the lands, and he will find lhat Washington possesses all the elements of a great and piosperous Stale, and offers superior inducements lo lliose seeking homes. Laiikls f jR Ociiioor Pi.ams, A con venient method of preparing outdoor labels for plants, capable of resisting any weather, consists in first cutting them out of smooth pasteboard, and wilting upon, them vihilcver may be dcMrc I in ordinary ink. When this is dry Ihey are iminenieil in linseed-oil, or, what is mil better, linseed-oil varnish, until ihry arc com pletely iicrmealcd by ihc liquid; afler which they are li'ing in the open air upon threads lo dry. 'I hey become like Iron, and resist wet for a long t'fr.o, and are. more durable llun sliis of n.ttal.
