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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 1890)
10 WEST SHORE. Emily A.Kello I)KAR " WkT HuOHt " (JlRU AXD BoYS I greet you m (riendii, and prophesy delightful timet we will have to gether. " Together " does not imply " in the same place," does it? Does not "together" mean "in the tame mind?" If bo, I am sure we are together, (or are we not all of a mind to get great good and grot fun, some wisdom and true progress in I lie grucea of living, through this bright page which Wist Hiioki baa opened to us? This ia our own page, where we are at home, In It we will aing our songs and tell our stories, play our games and talk together of the great, big, wonderful world and all its doings. We will talk of our own work and play, our studies and amusements. We will discuss the books we enjoy and the country we love. I dare not begin to name all the good times which we will have together, but remember, girla ami boys, large and small, that this is your own partic ular corner and I am your particular friend. Emily A. Kiulouu. A party was to be given (or Gertrude and Jennie ; so their aunties put on their thinking cae, with intent to make it a very nice time. Uf course they would themselves be present to see that all went smoothly and to aid the girls in making everything pleasant for their guests. The house was re-arranged for the occasion and the art treasures brought out for entertainment. The tiny parlors were cleared of all unneces sary chattels, and one bedroom (where the bed was a folding one) was transformed into a tasteful refreshment room. There Aunt Louise would preside at the cake table and ladle Iced lemonade from the huge bowl, and thither the young people would drift, a (ew at a time, (or the simple but refreshing luiury. Hut some novel entertainment must be provided (or the diversion of the boys and girls, and " predicaments " was the choice. Ho one evening, a week beforehand, the (amily had sat down together and concocted the ques- 0 4 lions and answers, or " predicaments " and " remedies." These were made, of course, aa almird as good taste would allow. Kach question was writUm on a slip of par, about 51 Inches. To the center of one end of this strip was sowed a pink-tinted, paper flower, of the shape shown in the tint cut, and alwiit Ave Inches across. The written paper was neatly folded from each tide towards (lie renter, to conceal the writing. It then formed the long, slender stem of the posy, aa It apiwara In the second cut. These pawr (lowers the aunties found already prepared at the stationer's, but they could easily lie cut from iheeta of bright tissue paper. The answers were prepared in the same way, only that they had purple flowers to distin guish them. An equal number of each was provided, and as many alto gether aa the numtier of e icled guests. The pink-tipped " predicamenta " were arranged aa a rosy bouquet In a charming blue and white glass pitcher, while the purple " answer blossoms," or " remedies," were gorgeoua in a vase of green and gold. " Predicamenta " proved a success. Each girl picked at random a pink posy from the pitcher and each boy took a purple one. They were asked to choose partners before unfolding the " stems." Then each couple in turn was called upon to rise and read their papers aloud. The novelty and Die accidental hits caused great merriment. Mollis asked John, " What would you do l( you should become an Inmate of the county wor house? " and received aa answer, " I would eat Ave watermelons and ill pies for eupiwr." Then Flora asked Sam, " What would you do If forced to live without wkete?"and was answered by, " I would eat my soup with a fork." A blue-eyed, red headed boy was asked, " What would you do If your eyes should turn green and your mustache grow out blue? " and he promptly refunded, " I would rub the sot with sapolio," Margaret mournfully inquired of Wilbur, " What would you dojf .11 the soda fountains ran dry and all the lemonade trees were blighted ? He replied, I would buy a string and a little dog to lead me about the streets. To the query. " What would you do if you had no visible means of support? " Henry declared that he would " Swallow a pint o( kerosene and one end o( a lamp wick and light the other end." When Ruth asked Randall, " What would you do i( you were elect'd mayor? " be replied, " I would take a bottle ol Radway's Ready Relief. The question, " What would you do if you should become bald? elicited the answer, " I would wear a porous plaster." Mary asked, " What would you do if you were suddenly attacked with a mania for writing poetry? " Jack answered, prudently, " I would sew on a button." Louise saucily asked Will, " What would you do if I should never smile on you again? " and received the pathetic reply, " I would take Wizard Oil three times a day." To the query from Sadie, " What would you do if you should suddenly become a giant?" Winthrop answered, "I would take Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup." This inappropriate application of an infantile remedy to a gigantic suf ferer quite overcame what little gravity remained, and music was in demand to give vent to the good spirits of the party. The boys and girls went home voting " predicaments " a jolly game. If you and I bad been on a certain Welsh highroad some thirty-seven years ago we misht have seen a boy in the gray garb of a pauper, trudging cheorfully along the road, seeking work. He is just leaving the poor-house, the only borne he has known for ten years. A cloud of dust heralds the approach of a splendid coach and pair, attended by liveried coachman and lackeys. John Rowlands stands to one side, hat in hand, to make the sturdy bow with which the courteous English poor greet " their betters," and Sir Charles Tennant and bis stalely lady condescendingly acknowledge the obeisance of the boy and straightway forget bim. Years have passed by since that day, and only last month both hemis pheres were astir over a wedding, the greatest social event of this or many a season the wedding of Dorothy Tennant and Henry M. Stanley. One of the beet known and most admired women of England, one accomplished in both artistic and literary work, a daughter of Sir Charles Tennant, weds the hero of four tremendous African explorations, the deliverer of Livingstone, the man who has opened to civilization " The Darkest Continent," and whose splendid fame is known to more millions than is that of any other human being. Ry special request of the Princess of Wales this marriage is celebrated in Westminster Abbey, the Dean and Archbishop of Westminster assisting the Bishop of Ripon in its solemnization. To this notable occasion come as personal friends of both bride and groom the highest dignitaries of church and state, of army and navy, representatives of royalty from various lands yes, the future King of Great Britain and Emperor of India. Autograph letters of congratulation pour in upon the honored pair from the crowned heads of Europe. Countless and priceless gifts are theirs from the world of wealth and rank and royalty. The bridegroom thus honored is he whom we saw as little John Row lands at the roadside, covered with dust from the coach of Sir Charles Ten nant. Have we, then, returned to the times of magic? Had this pauper boy Aladdin's lamp with which to open before him treasure houses and kings' palaces? Yes. The magic ol our age surrounds every boy and girl with an atmos phere which makes all things possible. The Aladdin's lamp which trans formed poor John Rowlands into the world-famed Stanley, and that trans ported him from Denbigh poor-house to Westminster Abbey (by way of an American newspaper and Central Africa), is to be found alone in the char acteristics with which nature endowed the lad, and of which he has made the beat use he could, day by day. He had stubborn courage, endurance, patience and determination. He was slow to grasp his life-work, but with great deliberateness, and growing out of It there was a wonderful insight and an ability to manage men. With all this there was a tremendous and steady puin. Had he been satisfied with the life of a Welsh peasant, a Welsh peasant he might have remained to this day. But a noble discontent sent him over seas to Amer ica ; found for him a friend In Mr. Stanley, who gave him his name ; another in Mr. BenneU, of the New York JVrad, who opened to him his life-work and a better one than all In Livingstone, who ' showed him the Father and brought him to God. Out of the heart of Africa he came with the Light of the W orld shining for him, above all other lights, inspiring him anew to effort and success. Out of Africa's blackness of darkness he came, with banner aloft bear ing the legend, The slave trade must down I Open Africa to light 1 and overs gns and money-kings have ranged themselves beneath his colors for the redemption of Africa.