FRIDAY. ......APRIL 12, 1872. OUE SECOHD VOLUME. The season Js now near at hand when many hundreds of our subscriptions to the New Northwest will expire. We urge upon our friends everywhere the importance of immediately renewing their subscription fees. A little effort now upon the part of each of our numer ous readers will enable us to start out with the Second Volume with debts all canceled and in the enjoyment of safe financial prospects for the future. We could then bring a light heart to our work, to which, since we took up the load of financial care that a large news paper business requires, we have been a stranger. There are also yet many de linquents upon our list men and women who have regularly enjoyed the products of our toil for the past year, and yet neg lect to pay for their paper. To all such we say in respectful solicitude, wc need the money. The sum of three dollars is small to each of you, but the aggregate indebtedness of several hundred delin quents makes a sum of much import ance to us. We trust that tills call will not he passed unheeded. We have toiled diligently at dress-making, millinery, lecturing, story writing, editorial work and canvassing, doing faithfully the work of half a dozen to keep up the ex penses of the paper, and our strength is severely over-taxed; and we now ask our friend1?, one and all, to cheerfully put slioulder to the wheel and help us through the Second Volume, which shall be in all respects superior to the first. A PIOTUBE. Passing an humble tenement in squalid portion of the city of Portland the other evening the placard, "AH kinds of plain sewing done here," met our eye. The door being open, wo glanced in. A fragile woman, pale and careworn, and evidently looking old far beyond her years, sat in a rude, unfurnished room, scwily busily aud yet with a tired, weary effort, as if the work were far beyond her strength. A six months old baby was playing on the bare floor at her feet, and five or six children were scampering through the the room, the oldest not being more than seven or eight years of age. Near the door sat a strong, healthy but lazy looking man, whom wc at once recog nized as the "head" of the household. He was filling a dirty pipe with tobacco, sitting there taking his ease, preparatory we suppose to filling- the room with nauseous fumes of poisonous, putrescent tobacco-juice smoke. Our heart revolted at the scene, and we passed on. It may appear to some that we have painted the picture too black. To sucli we would say that this case is by no means an isolated one would to God it were! Thousands and tens of thous ands of women all over our country are living thus in a state of legalized lust and abject slavery. Women, havo you all the rights you want? MAEOHING OH. It is exceedingly gratifying, looking back and pondering the events of our first year of journalism, to note the wholesome change which has developed itself in regard to the demand of womau for the ballot Many who scoffed and jeered at It then have since Investigated the matter, have seen the error of their ways, and are now enthusiastic advo cates of the doctrine of equal nnd exact Justice and liberty to all. One year ago the question had re ceived scarcely a passing thought To day it is the one subject of considera tion, and whenever it is discussed large, attentive throngs of intellectual men and women are always assembled to listen. Politicians already begin to see the strength the cause Is developing, and while a few are non-committal or tender-footed, none dare express them selves as opposed to it, and the great majority of these sure indicators of tho hhlfting breeze of public sentiment have declared themselves on our side. Labor on, O men and women. Yet a little longer, and success shall crown your euorts. The cause Is marching THE "TBIBUNE'B" OPINION. In pleasing contrast to some of the captious, snarling and contemptible no tices of our struggles, toils and triumphs, with which some of Oregon's weak- minded editors seek in vain to snub us, we note the following from thcOlympia Tribune: Mrs. Dunlvray announces that she Is abont to enter upon the wcond volume of the New VmmtTr fjt- Trip venr drawlnc to a do has abundantly proved lira. Dunlway' ability to edit ably a newspaper, wiring inai penxi sue has displayed a talent and spirit in Its columns that ironld reflect great credit upon much more pretentious Journals. Sbo has very bravely championed the cause of women's rights, and merits therefore the most generous return It Is in their rjower m mnkc Her naner Is every way worthy of the largest support and counte nance ironi ner own sex, in wnose interest n is I'uuiimeu, anu tuey snoum not suner ii 10 lan gulsh for want of support. The Tribune lias sometimes combatted with ur, but always in a manly and gentlemanly spirit, and is one of the few exponents of man's rights in the Northwest that dares to be just toward a successful opponent Long moy it wave, s BEFEESHTNG. Our friend of the Olympla Standard. who has a happy faculty of always be ing ready with the right idea at the right moment, thus comments upon an original poem which appeared in his paper recently: We know nothing about poetry, and cannot thorefore express an opinion upon It literary A.-4te ta imivo that for our six rontfrnnnn.. rles and a charitablo public to do, merely pre mising that we are Informed that ilr. Lover- idee' poems have Illumined tho pages of "Graliam,""Arthur,"ana a nosi oi ouicrsiana ard publications. . We pronounce the above a specimen of journalistic frankness that is rarely equaled. WOMEN SLANDEBEBS. The most insiguincans creature on earth is the woman traducer. And yet this class wo are sorry to say it is not very small as regards numbers, though certainly so in Teference to Intellect. Men never gossip! O, no! It is wom en who always do that Men never gather arouud the stove in a hotel bar room, aud, with cigar, meerschaum or tobacco' quid In mouth, and legs ex- tended at an angle of forty-five degrees n order to allow their feet to rest on tho atove-top, proceed to canvass the various rumors they may have heard about womoa in their neighborhood No, bless their dear, innocent souls, men don't do such things! Don't they, though? The testimony following, which we clip from a man's paper, and which we commend to the consideration of all, may possibly throw a little light upon the subject. "Gen erally," says our witness, "slanders upon women by men have their origin in either of three causes, or in all three combined. Difference of social station, where tho man is the inferior, and fa miliar acquaintance is precluded, al- most invariably prompts a base nature to emulation of the fox in the fable, which reviled the grapes because they hung out of reach. The victim may be beyond the material ken of the reviier, but she cannot get beyond the reach of his venom. Another leading cause, and it is entirely independent of the other, is jealousy for we shall not out rage a sacred feeling by calling it love. Let an average girl reject the advances of an average man, and it is ten to one that Dame Gossip reminds her un pleasantly of tho fact, no matter how late afterward. Base natures lead to revenge as naturally as jealousy prompts it. Once rejected, your average man abandons the role of the injured swain aud adopts that of tho dog in the man ger. To him it is a natural metamor- phis. If he may not drink from the stream itself, he can poison its waters so tltat others may shun it with dread The last cause, since we havo reduced the subject to three separate headings and it is a blacker motive for a dastard ly deed than either of its predecessors- is baffled lust To tho base mind pure woman is an easy victim. In the logic of such men tho purity of a worn an and tho facility of her destruction bear relation to each other In direct pro portion. Against all these classes con stantly arrayed against her constantly waylaying her footsteps and springing upon her from unsuspected ambuscades woman must struggle alone. Let the subtle poisou of falsehood touch her ever so lightly, and her social damna tion is assured. It matters little that father, brother, lover or friend de plore a slander of which she may bo victim even vindicate her honor with blood. It is enough that tho slander finds utterance, and no power may re store her to social grace. This may, perhaps, sound like exaggeration, but let each reader ponder the proposition as it is presented in his or her observa- tion and experience, and its truth will at ouce bo recognized." Reader, is the picture overdrawn? BILLY THOMPSON, LOOS HEBE. While you are an older man than our friend Sylvester Simpson, whose inde cent attacks upon ourself cost him his editorial position, you are not equal to him in intellectual ability; therefore wc can make due allowance for your want of sense when you seek to Te 'fsmart" by calling us scurrilous, thereby exhib iting your own shallowness. But as we are a conscientious friend of all unfor tunate men who place undue estimates upon their own ability, thu3 making fools of themselves in tho estimation of tho respectable public, we now proceed to take you quietly across our journalis tic kuec nnd with a rule of righteous ness administer much needed flaggella tion. Doubtless you know more about Skoo- kum Klootclimcn than we do, Billy, but we know enough to be certain that when you apply that epithet to the edi tor of the New Noiithwest you are guilty of a willful attempt to cast op probrium upon ourself, which rebounds upon your own poor, tender, shallow pate. If we should in cold blood, and unprovoked, call you the "Digger In dian of the Mercury, hlgh-henolorum of the Salem Mazcjipa, and bell-ewe of the Oregon Democrats," what would you think of our journalistic dignity, eh? Now, Billy, stop blubbering and look here. Of course you can't look us stead ily in the eye, but do the best you can Do you suppose that enlightened public sentiment Is going to sustain you In a position where you can exhibit such to tal disregard of decency and dignity as is displayed in your uncalled-for attacks upon ourself? We only rebuke you for your own advantage, Billy. Sylvester Simpson lost his editorial position be cause ho could not behave himself with decency and dignity, and the battle-axe of public opinion is now elevated and ready to cleave your journalistic skull for tho same reason. Bo warned in time, wo pray you. It is useless to appeal to your moral nature, for you haven't any that's perceptible to our unassisted op tics. But you have a bread-and-butter nature, Billy, and to that wc appeal, that we may be able, if possible, to pre vent the man who has no more sense than to bo scurrilous from losing the only position where he has any chance to keep his family from starvation. ME. LAW80FS PLATT0BM. Attention is called to Mr. Lawson's announcement In which ho declares himself an independent candidate for Kepreseutattve of Marion county In the next -Legislature. His declaration of principles particularly his views on human rights arc unexceptionable. Marion county cannot be better than honor Mr. Lawson by an election. EDITORIAL N0TE8. i Every, man in Marion county wants an office. . Politics are in a pretty muss up that way. ? The Albany $10,000 jail is to be re modeled. If the county officials keep on tinkering at It it will soon be a $20,000 jail. Ben Holladay has the Willamette valley In-thosauie fix-the-rebela had Ben Butler "bottled up." He is now putting the cork in. Victoria Woodhuli intends lecturing extensively this year. She will visit the Western States, including California and probably Oregon. A card from the Republican Associa tion of the Pacific States and Territories, franked by Senator Kelly, has reached us. Wonder If Kelly is turning Repub lican? The editor of this paper Is now lectur ing In the West Side counties. Large audiences greet her wherever she goes. The doctrlno of eoualtty for all is steadily but surely gaining ground. The "possum policy" is daily gaining ground. Should a candidate be brought forward who can command the entire strength of tho opposition to Gen. Grant the Presidential contest will be a hotly contested one. Otherwise Grant's re election is inevitable. The Jfcrald had considerable fun over grammatical mistakes in the Republi can platform. The following appears in the Democratic platform as published In Its own columns: "Tho corruption and fraud which cJiaractcrizcs,1' etc. Where Is the schoolmaster? Echo an swers, "where?" Maty' A. Llvermore, late editor of the Boston Woman's Journal, was one of the most effective orators on tho Republi can side In the late New Hampshire campaign. The State gave a large Re publican majority against a Democratic one last year. Who says woman has no Influence in politics? In this State the Democrats aro al most sure of a triumph next June, ow ing to dissatisfaction in the strong Re publican counties. The impression is also out that Mr. Holladay is using the Republican party to suit his interests, dictating its nominations, etc., and as "railroad kings" are seldom very popu lar with tho people, it will not be a sur prising matter if many votes aro lost to the Republicans on this account. In deed, wo think the Republicans would be stronger without tho alliance with Mr. Holladay. The platform adopted by the Oregon Democracy endorses the corruptions of tho present State Administration, op poses the course of the Republican par ty, and prates about the "C-o-u-s-t-t-t-u-t-l-o-n" and State Rights. It docs seem like the Democracy of Oregon are inca pable of progressing. Nothing is said about temperance legislation. The whisky element in tho Convention was too strong. Tho platform pledges the Democratic party to opposition to mo nopolies, but Mr. Holladay need have no fear but that he can buy all the Dem ocratic legislators lie chooses to next fall. THE DEH00BATIO STATE CONVEN TION. The Democratic State Convention met at The Dalles on Wednesday. Hon. James W. Nesnilth was elected chairman, and made a few remarks, de claring his confidence in the Democratic party to carry not only tho State of Ore gon, but the entire United States at the next election. Mart V. Brown, of the Albany Demo crat, was elected Secretary- Burnett, of Benton county, was nom inated for Congress. We thought the Republicans made an awful blunder when they nominated Wilson, but the Democrats have made even a worse mistake. This campaign between the Democrats and Republicans scams to be competition as to which party can make the most mistakes. Wo would like to see both the candidates defeated, and so, we think, would the great ma jority of tho voters of Oregon, were they not "whipped in" by the party lash. Lafayette Lane, Geo. R. Helm and N. H. Gates were nominated for Presiden tial Electors. The following gentlemen were selected as delegates to the National Conven tion: Al. Zlcber, Jos. G. Lent), Jas. Vir tue, O. S. Savage, F. Colby and Asahcl Bush. Dr. Chapman was selected as chalr-mau-of the State Central Committee. Portland was designated as tho place for holding the next Convention. The following district nominations were made: First district Judge P. P. Prim; Pros ecuting Attorney, J. R. Neil. Second district Prosecuting Attor ney, a H. Fitch. Fourth district Prosecuting Attor ney, C. B. Bellinger. Fifth district Prosecuting Attorney, W. B. Laswcll. NEW SERIAL ST0ET. A new serial story of extraordinary merit by Mrs. Josie AVitherell of Port land, Oregon, will begin with the Sec ond Volume, and continue from week to week until finished. The following extracts from Its table of contents will euable our readers to form some estimate of its merits : The Fortune Teller; A proposal, and what came of it; The moonlight sail; Clarence and Blanche; Mcintosh and Old Katy; A New Year; The half made Bride; The White Stan Incognito Lover; The plot revealed; Sonora a captive; Plots and counterplots, etc. Thero aro six persons in New Hamp shire wuo are one uunurea years uiu. OUE GONTBLBUTOBS. Among the contributors to our col umns are Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cadv Stanton. "Laura DeForce Gordon,! Mrs. F. F. Victor, Mrs. Bello W. Cooke,' Mrs. M. M. Miller, Mrs. Carrie F.oung, M. D., Mrs. Nellie Curl, Mrs. S. J. Bum sey, Mrs. S. E. Bates, Mrs. C. A. Co- bum, and various other ladies who do not desire to be known; and Hons. Jesse pplegate, J. H. D. Henderson, G. w . Lawson, T. W. Davenport, Joseph Ma- gone, Geo. Venablo Smith, and a score of other gentlemen who, for political reasons, prefer for the present to remain incog. With such a list of contributors tho New Northwest can hardly be otherwise than interesting. We cordially invite all so disposed to contribute to our columns. HUMANBIGHTS. Editor New Xortuwest: I notice your columns are quite loaded down with correspondence, yet I would beg a small space for the suggestion of a few thoughts on the woman movement re women entitled to human rights? If they are human beings (and I think no one is foolish enough to deny that they are) they should be allowed to ex ercise all the rights that other human beings enjoy. And It is no argument against It to say that they are not capa ble, that It will breed family quarrel?, cause men to lose their respect for them, and a thousand other objections equally as nonsensical which our opponents are continually sending forth as wonderful ly wise sayings. It was also said the right of suffrage, extended to the negro, would degrade the white man without benefitting the negro, and that ho was not capablo of exercising it to his ad vantage; hut time has proven other wise, and all these objectious have melted away like the dew before the morning sun, as also will the objections now raised against Woman Suffrage. Time and the Intelligence of the Ameri can people will regulate and modify all the evils that may follow if there should be any. But nunc should necessarily fol low, and we believe, instead of evil fol lowing, much good will bo accom plished. Are we not to-day laboring under the same mistake in not allowing women to vote as were our forefathers when they proclaimed this Government tho land of the free, and bo designated our flag as its emblem, when at tho same time they held bound by the chains of hu man slavery thousands of human be ings? Yes, wo are more at fault than they, for wo arc further advanced in civilization, and have tho advantage of having seen all the arguments and ob jections raised against one class of citi zens voting explode nnd vanish in thin air; yet we persist in withholding from the women of America an inalienable right that all other citlzcus enjoy. For why? Merely because they are women, or, on account of sex. While wc welcome to our shores tho foreigner, aud he, together with the ne gro, can go to the polls and vote the next day after he gets his naturalization papers, no matter whether he know A B C from the side of a barn or not, it is all the same. But tho widow of the poor soldier who laid down Ids life to preserve the liberties which the for eigner and negro enjoy to-day can't vote because she Is a woman. But she can pay taxes on. her property conse quently she pays taxes without repre sentation. Now we don't say the foreigner and negro should not vote, but that women also should be allowed the samo prlvil ege. There is no justice In outraging human rights in longer withholding the elective franchise from them. A Citizen Gekvais, Oregon, April 10, 1872. EEP0EM AND PEOPLE'S CANDI DATE P0E BEPBESENTATIVE. To Oic Citizen of Marion County, Ore gon: There being now no great Nation al Issues before the American people, but only an cfllminatc and corrupting struggle between the old parties for the spoils of office, totally Ignoring the grand matters of reform aud legislative needs that arc now agitating the breasts of the people, and that ought to bo out worked into practical legislation, I have concluded to offer myself as a candidate for Representative in the State legisla ture and to present, as I may have time and opportunity, the following grand reforms and legislative questions for the consideration of tho voters of Mariou county. 1st Tho subordination of Railroads and all other monopolies of the carrying trado to Legislative control, aud the regulation, by law, of rates of passage aud affreightment, establishing at least a maximum price therefor, and the pro vision of a speedy and easy mode of trial to the citizen for damages to person or property in tho vicinity where such damages occur. Justice and adequate compensation for all public improve ments, but slavery to monopolies, N'evek! England, France, Prussia and all good governments subordinate the Railroads to laws. Are tho American people less sovereign? 2d. The reduction of lucrative offices to compensation by fixed salaries, not exceeding the pay of other skilled labor In the higher order of mechanical pur suits. No man to be his own successor In office. Tho taxation of Marion county reduced by the above system six thous and dollars yearly. 3d. The legalization of meetings and votes of precinct primaries, and punish ment for frauds perpetrated therein by nne and Imprisonment and disquallfica tion for office. Delegate bodies to voto viva voce. 4th. Universal and equal education. All professions and pursuits of business open to competition for the best talent of both sexes. Equal wages for equal worK to all, without distinction of sex. All voting of the people to be by ballot, Tho right ofjuffrageto bo sacredly guarded to tno employed, and every in fraction by employers punished by fine aim cuwik.-ii:hiiuij- uamages. .Labor protected by adequate legislation against the oppression and tyranny of capital. 5th. The withdrawing of the election of United States Senators from the Leg islature, now so ratal to the interests of the people. ' " Gth. Effort, first, last and immitiga ble, to obtain an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars or more, from the Swamp Land or other funds of the State, to commence the erection of State Capitol uuiuinigs, now ior nine years sacrificed to the election of United States Senator. Will the people of Marion county any longer neglect their own In terests In securing the Capitol of the State, and suffer themselves to be played "upon that harp of a thousand strings" tho U. S. Senator! until the Capitol is lost? It Is now or n'eveh! I do not expect to receive the vole of any person not favoring some one of the above reforms; and I have neither time nor inclination to speak upon the dead issues of the past. I therefore take this method to place my views before the people, promising, however, to ad dress them upon these subjects from the stump, If they desire. Rouse up! friends of Justice, of Right, of Humanity! It is only by sleepless vigilance and untiring energy that we can preserve the priceless, the impre scriptible liberties of the people. G. W. Law-son-. PE0QBESSIVE MOVEMENT. Editor N7:w N'oimiwEs-r: I have frequently had an opportunity of seeing your valuable paper, and can say without hesitation that in regard to spiclness, liveliness aud common sense it is rarely excelled. No family should be without it on this coast, for it con tains matter of interest to everyone. The movement of which you claim to be an advocate is decidedly a progrcs sivc one, aud one that will, at no distant time, bring a great revolution in the history of the human family. That this change will take place there can be no doubt The people aro beginning to awaken from their slumbering lethargy on tho great question of Human Rights. This question is now fully before the American people. Tho vchole people are watching with breathless interest and anxious Impatience the great discussion upon which the final decision of its merits will be made. There are many highly intelligent women now engaged in making a grand and noble effort to give a full and complete diagnosis of the question so that thero can be nothing left undone to accomplish the one grand object that of Improving and elevating the conditions of man aud woman. Every new question, or every new re form, must meet with more or less op position, and so has the Human Rights question; but nevertheless wc find that it grows stronger and stronger in conse quence of that oniwsition. Wc must expect to meet witli determined opposi tion in nearly everything we undertake, but we are always better off because of it Opposition has greatly advanced the interest of the Woman Movement In en gaging the attention of those not ma terially Interested in it. That the ultimate result of this great reform will be success there can be no doubt The people are beginning to see the necessity of doingsomething toward renovating tho many evils entailed upon humanity. Every sensible mother nnd daughter will clasp hands with this Progressive Movement. The great work of which the New Noiithwest is leader In Oregon is daily gaining popularity throughout the United States. Every mail brings news of the action of some Woman's Rights convention and the conversion of some great statesman to its interest It is steadily growing and increasing tho al ready large number of Its advocates, and ere the next decade takes its departure victory will perch upon the banner of universal reform. Felix PoiiTiiAND, April 7, 1S72. Wosiax ix DisorisK. The White Pine Acim says: There is no class of men among us moro industrious than tho wood packers, or woodbiners we will can them, i n early and out late, they and their donkeys wade and tumble through the snow, with cargoes of fuel from the mountain side. For several months past a slender, boyish-looking wooduiuer has been noticed with one of the wood trains. This woodblner had but few words to say to any one, attend ed to ousiness uinving tho animals) ralthiully, and when the day's work was done disappeared to be seen no more until time for the next day's labor to oegin. a wees ago the train was com ing down the mountain loaded witli wood as usual. The animals pushed through the snow-drifts with difficulty, and it. required constant attention to keep them from throwing their loads. On tho grade above Moody's Point sev eral of them mixed up together in a snow-drift scatterincr fuel in all dlm- tlons. Our woodblner, In endeavoring iu u.un..iiu iuc minimis, was thrown down and trampled on, and when taken out of the drift by one of the packers was insensible, and packed to the house on tho edge of the town. The coat and vest were taken off to ascertain the ex tent of the Injuries received, and it was discovered that tho young woodbiner was a female. Painkiller and camphor hu uiuj ii-iuraira iil iiuuuj were ap plied, and she was restored to conscious ness. In the evening she was removed to the house of the sister of one of the packers, where she now remains. We visited her last evening for the purpose of learning something of her history, but could not learn anything beyond the fact that she once lived at Folsom, California, and had run oil from home in consequence of brutal treatment from her step-fatbor. Apoorgirl of the demi-monde in Paris, opened a vein in her foot and bled to death, the other day. And yet It Is falsely asserted that for such unhappy wonien reformation is impossible. Could a repentance be more complete and a repugnance to a life of shame be more pronounced than this deliberate choico of death implied ! Will not a just God punish the heartless public sentiment which drove this woman to despair? Woman's Journal. I From the Exceptor. What Oan VeDl'forlDnr Girls? I had nloddfd through n. wpnrv Anv and gladly turned from the business world to seek the rest and refreshment of home. After partaking of a well served supper, and reading the evening pajH-T, l threw myself down upon tne sofa, before tho cheerful fire, dozed and almost slept. Then it was that my five daughters conversed together more un restrainedly than they would otherwise have done In my presence. "Poor Pana!" murmured Grace. "How tired lie la ! How I wish I could help him in his life-work !" . "When I aua woman, I tctll," cried Helen, who, though but a school girl, has energy and spirit enough for a dozen women. "Hush, child, what can won do?" said Grace. "Women can economize. and make thiucs pleasant at home. but" " "But what!" cried tho imnaticnt girl. "Whv mav I not do more than tiiat? Our teacher says lam his best pupil in mathematics. I am reading hard in the languages, and I long for improvement, and an opportunity to mane an my acquirements useiui." "Still, in anotfi er vear vou must leave scnooi," said Grace, "l'ana must strain every nerve to educate John, as you well Know." "Yes, that is the way of the world," said Helen, "i" must stop. John must be educated. Wliv? I wish I could see either sense or reason in it, that I mignt oe more reconciled to it." "John i3 an onlv son. vou know," said Grace. "After Papa, lie is the head of the house." "Nonsense!" was the impatient reply 'John hates study, and I love it I can excel. He never will. Yet, he must have the advantages and opportunities which are denied to me. I lose my temper whenever I think of it." "Keep your temper, child, nnd curb your tongue;" said ICachcl, who has been just iii;o a mother to the vouncer gins, since tneir own dear mother was taken from them. ".Self-control Is a womanly grace. You must not allow your school triumphs to unfit you fpr youractual life." "uut what duties will my actual lire offer?" said Helen. "Can it be that the cultivation of my intellect will render me less capable orpertbrminrr them V" "Then come out in society," said the placid Rachel. "Enjoy your girlhood as others do, my child, and enjoy that, aim tneii" "Well, and then," said Helen, bit terly. "Go on with your sketch. wait to hear you. What am I to do then ?" "Then perhaps you may marry said Rachel. "Hush!" she cried. "Do not place marriage before me in such a light as that. I cannot bear it I would work to secure myself a proper support, oh, now giatny: liut, marry to secure home? Nevek!" At this a book was thrown upon the table in so ungentle a manner that it quite startled me. It came from the hand of my restless, beautiful Bella, and her eyes flashed with excited feeling, which brightened her beauty wonderfully. "Rachel, you do not understand Helen," she said, "and you never will. It Is such women as you who block the wheels of progress. You hang your truisms nnd your matter-of-fact sugges tions upon every woman who would rise to a higher life or a higher endeavor to hold her down." "Bella," said Rachel, mildly, "I have j not deserved this from you." In an instant the penitent girl was on her knees besideher sister, and throwing her arms around her, said : "Forgive me, Rachel, l nad just been reading an article in the -Ecfcffc which stirred all the fountains of bitterness in my nature. In that mood your speech to Helen so iarred unon mvfeclinifs that I spoke too hastily." which has so disturbed you, Bella," said uive us tne ucneiit oi tne article Ruth, who had hitherto plied her needle in silence. "Listen then to one or two choice sentiments," said Bella, taking up the book. "I will not iutlict the whole upon you : "No one is so well up in the last novel and the latest scandal, as the Old Girl. Not that she is very scandalous or ro mautic. What she really wants is occu pation. And so she flings herself with an intense energy into the chaosof little tilings. Little engagements, little pleasures, minute particles of business, the tiniest tittle-tattle, all are so many weapons against the dreary inactivity of her nuv There, girls, I will read no more. Wiiat do you think of it ? "I think," said Ruth, "that for once a man has blundered upon a truth in re gard to women. It certainly Is the want of occupation which makes so many women peevish, or foolish, or vain." "But now unfair it is," said Helen. "For it is their own decree that a wom an's place is only 'by the fireside of the heart, feeding its flame,' that 'woman's world is her affections, not her intellect,' and so on through all the beautiful, ideal theory." "It Is an attractive theory," said Grace. "In a happy marriage, woman finds a sphere of action where all her powers, her time and thoughts are fully taxed." "But what is to become of tho 'Old Girls,' as tills writer so respectfully terms them." said Bella. "Is there no sphere in which they may employ their energies with proht .' x am anxious to know, for I feel an inward conviction that I am doomed to rank among the Old Girls' myself." "Oh, Bella,'" said Rachel, with a sigh, "if you only could bring yourself to like James Lorimer !" "Not even to escape being an 'Old Girl' can I do that," said Bella. "So I must face my doom as best I may." "If these men would only condescend to look at the world as it is. they would sec that more than half the women in it struggle for their own support, only that, being women, they do it at a dis- iiuvjuiuige," said Jtuth. "Yes, and for equal work with men, they receive uuequal wages," said Bella. the old farmer was a keen observer who said he was iu favor of 'having a school-marm in tho winter rather than a school-master, for sho taught tho chil dren twice as much for half the money.' " "It Is a shame," said Helen. "Still I am determined that my support shall never be a bunion to poor Papa. I will earn my own living." "Helen! Helen!" cried Rachel. "You should have been a boy." "But, being a girl, why may I not work ?" said Helen. "Why could I not take a situation as book-keeper, for in stance, and cam a good salary?" "Papa would not allow it, in tho first place," said Rachel. "In the second place, no one would emnlov vou." "And what is Papa to do with his girls?" said Ruth, quietly. "I have a iiicury WHICH 1 WOUld 1IKC tO SUDSlllUte for the ideal one. Let every woman, who lias not full cmnlnvmcnt for all her energies at home, rise to as high a grade of labor, and of compensation, as her capacity warrants. Let girls be thor oughly educated with this aim. Let parents Strive in sfnrk Mieir dauirlitpiii as they do their sons, In an Independent career. Wc should have fewer idln. peevish women; we should have fewer. ungrafefpli clitldre n.lfangry tha t2ey are uenieu luxuries wnicnineirparciiia cannot supply." "There would be lewer marriages en tered into by women from sheer ennui," said Bella. "There would be more love marriages; girls would not be rendered mercenary through fear of poverty; young men would not shrink from mar riage turougii learoi tne meiiioney aim extravagance of the girls who attract them. There would be fewer overbur- u ed men, whoso" hearts are turned from home, becauso so many claims meet them there, which they cannot satisfy. There would be fewer domestic jars. Each child could aid in sustaining the home. - JSacu couiu,jn some degree, repay parental love by helping to lighten the cares of life.as advancing agocauses them to press more neavny." "An attractive picture," said Helen, and then there was silence. Idle J, finding myself suddenly confronted with a perplexing question, gave up an pretence of sleep, to study the group be fore me. Rachel, with her faded face and placid contentment; Grace, so like a pearl in her pure loveliness, so timio, sosnrniK ing, so tender; Bella, In the full bloom of her wonderful beauty, so spirited, yet so sensitive to praise or blame; Ruth, so lirm, so quiet, witu that aignincu cairn beneath which slumbers so much force of character; Helen, so bright, so willful, with so much genius, such pride and sucli ambition. I, a most tender father, gazed upon these girls with the question ringing through my very heart "What is t'apa to no with his gins Had I only educated them inviewof a probable marriage? Must thoy marry, or lead a life of loveless dependence, or die? Must they live to be sneered at as "Old Girls." and find in frivolity and vain pursuits their only refuge from a dreary inactivity : Tmlesnalrof solvimr this problem my self, I place It before the public. We, Who nave cultivated uaugnters, tenderly reared, for whom we can make no future provision : We, with daughters who are capable of anything, who arc willing to exert themselves, but who are doomed by our own prejudices, aud tho prejudices of so ciety, to do nothing: "What can we do for our girls ?" An Akxiocs Father. The Raii.koads of the Would. The New York rost has collected a quantity of valuable statistics showing the progress of the railroad construction in the world. In the United States in 183S we had 1,235 miIes.of road in opera tion, 4,002 then building, and 13,131 "projected." In England there were then 184 miles completed, 412 building, and 994 "projected;" In France there were 91 miles built, in Belgium 13 miles, iu Germany 1S9 miles, in Austria 282 miles building. In Russia only one short railroad, from St Petersburg to Zartkoje.was actually built. .The change in a period of about thirty-three years is very striking. Iu 1871 there were 124,115 miles of railroads in the world; at the close of 1SC9 there were 113,559 miles. Of the increase, 5,55G miles, about one half, or 2,740 miles, were m the united btates, while In the previous year we had built 5,000 miles of new road. Tho lines that have actually been built in this country exceed 50,000 miles iu length. This, it will be seen, is about four-fifths of the amount credited to all of the European nations. In 1SG9 the entire costs of rail roads in the world, with equipments, was estimated at $11,4(50,000,000, averag ing $90,019 per mile. Of this amount we represented $2,207,000,000, averaging $42,533 per mile. In England it is $176, 2G9. The average cost of construction only in the United States is as follows: Iu New England, $40,000 ; Middle States, $55,000; Southern States, $30,000; West ern States, $44,000: Pacific States, $50,- 000. Uu our cheaper lines we, however, find a jrreater annual outlay for recon- i 3'rc"on ana repairs. Portland. Portland, the flourishing metropolis of tho State, has a popula tion of about 12,000, and still growing at a rapid rate. It is situated on the Wil lamette river, at a distance of some twelve miles from Its junction with the Columbia, and about 110 miles from the ocean, aud is the most important port of Oregon. The situation of the city is ex tremely pleasant, being built on land which gradually rises as it recedes from the Willamette, a view of a portion of the great valley of Oregon the Willam ette being obtained from the elevated land behind the city. In the far dis tance arc also seen the snow-capped summits of Mt Hood, St Helen's and Jefferson, rearing their grand old heads like sentinels over the land. Taking in tills vast view, it is a strange transition to look down upon the busy city at your feet and the broad Willamette, alive with ships and steamers. The city is well supplied with gas and water. Schools, churches and benevolent insti tutions are numerous. Its manufactur ing and commercial interests, already great, arc constantly enlarging. If Portland progresses as rapidly as all prophesy, the time is not far distant when we snail see ner limits extenaeu well toward, and even to, Milwaukie, and a line of horse-cars making hourly trips on the banks of the Willamette. The river will, In the future, be a second Hudson its banks dotted with villas and mansions. The taxable property of Portland for 1871 was about $9,000,000, an increase of $3,000,000 over 1G69. The West, San Francisco. Damascus, Stephens county, Illinois, has a farmer's club, in the meetings of which tho wives of tho farmers take part That they arc sensible women, and that they are in a fair way to adorn, if not enlarge, their sphere of useful ness, may bo seen from the following subjects which they have selected for discussion at meetings this winter? "Economy of rag carpets;" "House keeping;" "Shall- we dress for comfort or for sliow?" "How shall we plant and cultivate our gardens?" "What kind of flowers will prove most satisfactory, and produce tho most pleasiug eftect during the entire season?" "House cleaning;" "Do the size and location of our sleeping apartments have an influ ence on our health?" "Household economy;" "Home attractions;" "How can we best inculcate the love of truth and honesty in children?" A Baltimore lady who had been great ly annoyed by mischievous urchins who rang her door-bell and then made off; made a bad mistake one aftornoon re cently. She lay in wait for them, and soon came a step on the porch and a vigorous jerk on the bell. She cried out, "I see you, you little rascal," caught the unresistintr ficuro bv the coat collar and shook him vicorouslv. When her strength was nearly exhausted, and hoarse with excitement, she discovered to her horror that it was the diminutive minister of her church, very red In the face and very short of breath. An ex planation followed. Some Western churches have adopted the plan of having the collections taken up by young ladies of beauty. .They look smilingly at a reluctant victim, and give him a slight wink. Tins pro cess always wins.