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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1876)
I 4! The Wits Jdww, A Twel Page Monthly IHuMraled Paper, publirfieJ at i'UKTI-AND, OKKiON, by I.. SAMUEL, i Wahinton-. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, (Including Pottage lo any part of the United Stalei:) One copy, one year, - 5 Single Number, nM- BBHtilwTlpIlon miml t ritilil In nilvaiicf, m nil iiktn will positively In1 ttot''u ut Hit) i'im nf Hit tlniu they lire puld for. Printed by ;. H. Hm, cor. Kront ft Waihinat'in M THIS FOURTH OF JULY FROM Till: STAND POINT OF T1IK FAR FUTl'R K. Two thousand years from now when some devoted areluelogian of the far future shall lie engaged in the laborious und uncertain task of bringing to the knowledge of his contemporaries the long forgotten history of the once powerful and self-asserting Americans, and deciphering and explaining the then scanty remains of their labor and learn ing, if lie shall chance to come upon some fragments of the statuary, paint big, poctrv, advertisements, essays ami oratory of the remote period of 1S70, he will naturally enquire why did this remarkable people make so much ol this hoi and disagreeable day The Fourth of July? I'pon pursuing his researches he'may be able to make a report to the archa ological society, from which it will appear that on that day one hundred years before a small assembly of the ambitious and aspiring youths from the English Colonics 'm North America had ruthlessly resolved to cut the apron strings which hitherto hound them to their Insular mother HUaiinia anil set up for themselves, and that in pursuance of that heroic purpose they then and theie pledged to each other I heir lives their fortunes and their sacred honor; and also published a remarkable broadside or manifesto tfrvhiring that these same colonies are and of right ought to he free ami independent states. From this circumstance this production tame to be known as ' hula rat ion vt' ((() (7cc, and regarded by many people as a political gospel and a vent able enumeration of (he rights of the Mclicati man and the wrongs of the l'nglMi man. The I Hvlaralioii was written or coin pi let I by one Thomas Jefferson, a son or descendant of one Jcllcrs, a Welshman who left the poor land of Curds and Goals to cultivate niggers and tobacco 011 I lie virgin soil of Virginia, a country once famous for 1 gentlemen and the Resolutions of 'yS. As our worker in the ruins of anti quity explored the lives of these illustri ous "sigiu is," he might stumble upon the singular circumstance, which he would triumphantly cite as another in stance of the difference hetw 41-11 precept, even in the good old days of the tSth century, anil practice, that the Jefferson who appears to have penned the im mortal line, that all men are created (not born) equal, and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights among w inch are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, was at that erv lime the ow ner of sundry negro slaves vho.c liberty and pursuit of ha f fitness belonged to their master, the said T.J. ! This convention of rebellious sons,! w ho thus disinterestedly declared them-1 selves absolved from all fmlher filial! obligation lo the mistress of the seas, w.h presided over by .me John Hau eoek. This J. 11. is said to hae w ritten i a singularly bold and beautiful hand, so I lint his signature lo the Declaration ! came lit Ik considered us n type of manliness and a rare specimen of the ' art ol Calligraphy, lie bailed from the colony of the Puritans called from the Indians with whom they for it, ' Mas-su-tvo-setts,nd afterwards corupt ed into Massachusetts, This singular jvople were distinguished for their reg.ml for the rights of the aborigines THE WEST SHORE. which led them to acquire their lands Kmnth ot July tor the hrst century arter bv peaceful ofieraioiu rather than war-, the Declaration was the most singular like ones. It is related of them that at , !im incongruous compound of elo. one time they purchased of the Indians muikv, egotism, conceit, learning self) a lan'c track of valuable land, for which laudation and local exaggeration that can be found in the remains of any peo ple. It was a school for political pro phets; and many persons w ho attained the latter would take nothing less than . .... .i..t gun powder. I no powoer was mut delivered, but self preservation being at that early day the first law of nature, they at the same time ingenuously as sured the credulous Indian that the black grain was a vegetable product, which if he would only sow in the ground , in clue time he would obtain an abundant supply for the few pounds then furnished. It is not necessary to add that the powder seed never sprout ed and that the Puritan continued tt, dwell in peace with the red men whose lands they hail honestly purchased and paid for. From this and other like cir cumstances their less ingenious neighbors in timcapplied the epithets cute and sliarf to this people. From the shores of the Chesapeake came a delegate who sign ed himself Charles Carrol of Carrolton. This patriot was descended from a family of Knglish ballad singers, and hence the name Carrol. S hoc lines arc vet extant of an old Christmas song of theirs. The refrain ran "(turn!, Ilrutlifrs Carol, Ciiul y y:-t. :;,.' , The people of 4 Carrol's prov ince appear to have been some what infected by the hilarity of the "Carol Unit hers " a n d I h e i r country w as therefore called Merry land ,V the peo ple Merry-land ers. At one time they drank ap ple toddy, and indulged in the profane sports of eoc k - lighli 11 g a 11 d horse - ra cing. From t hesc ci re u in stances they were re garded by their serious Puritan associates as cal culated to pro voke the Divine displeasure o 11 the cause of In dependence. 1 low ever, in the desultory war that followed high portion anil great power in the Stales took their first lessons in tickling the public ear and w inning public favor on the Fourth of July platform. T FORGOT TO FLOP. Mr. M. L. Nichols, of Ueavcrton, furnishes the following: Manv years ago there lived in the classic shades of Yamhill a young man with a very ingenious turn of mind, lie had a remarkable faculty for invent ing and experimenting. In latter days he became known ns 11 manufacturer and dispenser of pills, and in the direc tions for the use of said purgatives ap pears this very singular injunction: "Take three on going to bed, and put your trust in God.11 He was also noted as a mechanical genius, for many are the crude an. I unique articles of his. in vention and construction. There are at this time a number of rustic chairs scattered about the metropolis of Oregon which stand as living monuments to his genius. Long before any silver locks graced his in ventive brow, he con cei veil the bold idea of thing. In his p h i losophical musing, he solil oquized thus "Frn nklin bottled light ning; Morse in vent e d t e 1 c- graphy; and Fulton made the first steam boat ; hut it re mains for me to demonstrate to the civilized world that man can lly, for which an unborn gen eration of po ets will sing my praise." Sosuit- TAYLOR STKKRT M. E. CHURCH, PORTLAND. his action to the Declaration,! this immortal thought, he set about the in the troops of the line, called the Con- consummation of this sublime project, linentals, these Merry-landers were 1 In the course of time, hv indefatigable always distinguished tor not running away and being in at the death. For some centuries arter the Declara tion of Independence, it was ihe custom for the people lo get together in the tow ns and villages on the anniversary of that day ami exuberate over their freedom and success. Generally the sehiol ma-tcr read the Declaration ;uul labor and untiring energy, he brought forth a pair of full Hedged wings, ami wishing to test Ins new invention, he mounted a gale j.ost and made the at tempt to lly, hut straightway went he to the ground. This Hat failure somewhat discon certed our knight of the wing, hut arter deliberating a while he came to the the attorney or the minister made an j conclusion that by getting high enough oration, justifying the rebellion ami . he could get under way before striking magnifying the glory and greatness of the ground. Therefore acting upon a the country. In time this became suggestion of some of his wagisb monotonous the story grew threadbare friends,(;) he decided to try it again, and the celebration of the Declaration ' this time, however, from the comb of lieu out. 1 lie day remained as a1 the hiirhest neiir hhr n.r Wn Ti,.. holiday, but its patriotic observance ceased and its original significance w as tost. The enterprising inhabitants of the country called China came over to the wintry in great mini I vers and settled in it. Being industrious, frugal and temperate they junm acquire I a strong fi"it-hold in the country and gradually introduced the fin; cracker and the kite in the place of the Declaration ami the Oration. It is K lieved thai the literature of the news spread like wild-tire. The ap pointed day came, and present on that memorable occasion was all the people far anil near, to w itness this wonderful performance. At the stated hour our winged hero w as seen perched upon the barn, calm ami serene. The crow d gazed up with breathless anxiety, and as the moment drew near our friend raised himself to a standing posture, and after adjusting his wings a smile of contentment lighted July. un his philosophical brow. A look of self-satisfaction and a consciousness of success reigned supreme. Everything being in readiness, at a given signal, off he went, landing a few yards from the base of the barn, making sad havoc with a chicken coop and an unfortunate pig pen. By the liberal use ot camphor, a profuse dousing with buckets ot cold water, and a vigorous rubbing, he was I brought to his senses. On his complete recovery, some people laughed at him, while his more serious friends re monstrated with him for indulging in such reckless and foolish experiments. " ell, now, says he, "the experiment would have been a success only I Forgot to Flop!" PORTLAND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Our grand Centennial celebration just closed can safely he pronounced a success. It is estimated that no less than 12,000 strangers visited this city between the 3d and Sth to take part in the festivities of the week. About S,ooo were here at one time namely on the 4th. Visitors from neighboring towns generally went home in the evening and returned on the early boats and trains next morning, To the credit of the inhabitants of this State and neighboring Territory be it said that not a single disturbance of a serious nature took place; but few arrests were made and those mostly for an overboiling of pal rot ism. But one or two accidents took place, and those not of a very serious nature. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the Cen tennial Committee of Arrangmcnts, and especially does Mr. II. D. Sanborn, of said Committee deserve special men tion. His untiring energy has without a doubt secured all the success attained. He personally supervised the carrying out of every detail of the Programme as announced in our June number, in fact inventing many sports not an nounced, and doing everything in hisg power to make it agreeable and pleas ant for visitors and enjoyable for every one taking part in the celebration. The fire-works burned on the night of the .fth, under the supervision of Prof. Hughes, were the grandest affair of the kind ever attempted in this State. The buildings were most beautifully decorated and long will this week be remembered and serve for years to meas ure future demonstrations by. In our June number we gave illustra tions of the Silver Cup and Gold Medals offered as prizes for skill, strength and endurance. We now take pleasure in announcing the result. YACHTING. Silver cup, valued at $70, and jo in coin, awarded to the Iiaiubou sailed bv II, E. Pattce. 2d. prize, $35, to the Julia Milliiiit ailed by John La Chapelle. 3d. prize, $25, to the Oregonian, ailed by Richard Harper, 4th. prize, $15, to the Owl, sailed by Peter Blankholm. ikhiii.k scux HACK. Two Gold Medals, each valued at 75, awarded to Messrs. II. B. Love ridge and J. R. Carr, the Oxford crew. STEAM JIKK EXdlNKS. Two Gold Medals, each valued at 7s. 1st. prize, awarded to Linn Engine Company, No. 2, of Albany. d. prize, to Willamette, No. I, f Portland. HAND K 1 INK. Gold Medal", valued at to Tiger Engine Company, No 5. BASK bam.. Ten Gold Medals valued at 300' awarded to the Pioneers, composed of Messrs. R. II. Thompson, M. Lownsdale, John Raleigh, Howard B.