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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1874)
I MBS. A. J. DBN1WAT, Editor snd Proprietor. A Jonrnal'for the People. lievlTolhTlnic'r'esfforiJumaillty 1 IndependcHVln 6IUralnaTflflsTon.IJ., 7 Alive-to nil Xlve. Issues, and Thoroughly Radical Inr Opposing and ExrnKhe Wrongs rriqiVCor. Front nnd Stark, Streets. t TERMS, IN ADVANCE: ot the Mosses. ,. .. O n year six inntk Three jnonlh -J3 00 1 75 -100 Fjibk Speech, Fi:ee Versa, F.RCi:-rEOPi.E. Correspondents wrltlnir over assumed slsna-; ture must make known Ihrtr namesTttr'th9 Editor, or no attention will befgtveniUo'itbeir communications. . 1 '8.,'r; ADVERTK3IENTSInurtedon Reasonable VOLIDIE III- FOTtTJL-AJXT), OREGON, JTBIDAY, OTJX.Y 31, 1874. INTTJ3IXJETt SO. AMTE AND HENRY LEE: .... OB Tin Sphere of tUe Sexe. T MRS. A. J. nrxiwxv. Entered, fteoerdhis; to Aet of ConeresK.tn the year 187J, by Mrs. A. J. Duntway, in the offlce of tue M Urartu n o( Congress at Washington CUy. CHATTER X. Melvln Haslingsstrodeou in the glow ing gas-light of the now deserted streets, anu out-ulstancing Lis father, entered the grand paternal mansion by the aid of his latch key, and, bounding up tho broatTstalrway, sought his luxurious suite of rooms. He turned on a bril liant flood of gas, and took a prolonged survey of the elegant furniture and costly drapery, with which the apart ine'nts had beoiadorned, regardless of expense, lor Ms comfort and accommo dation. Ample evidence of his mother's love was visible everywhere. The only surviving son, among a large family of daughters, he was emphatically the pet, and had,'uucousciously to himself, long been a sort of autocrat in the household Ilere was a beautiful Sevres vase, that had been purchased for a present on his last birthday. It was full of the choicest wax flowers, made by his mother's hands, and covered with a crystal dome, so clear as to be almost invisible. There was an elegantly wrought dressing-gown, which must have cost many months of tedious toil. Yonder was a lounging cap, and beside it a pair of slippers, each betokening the care and labor by which they had been adorned. "0, mother," siglied Melvln, wearily, "fashion and wealth have spoiled you in many ways, but they haven't cor roded your nrother-beart. How I wish you would come to me to-night !" Blessings upon a mother's heart ! How it clings to us, shines over and through us, and beams upon the dark ways of our lives like a benison from the Divine. How mysterious the baud of sympathy that unites the mother soul to the child spirit, and telegraphs the thoughts of each to tho other in times of trial. Melvin stretched himself upon his bed and groaned aloud. "What is the mailer, dear ?' , A soft hand was pressed upon his fore head, and a tender kiss was laid upon his fevered Cheek. "Is that you, mother?" "Yes, dear; I fult that you were awake nnd unhappy. "What Is the mat ter?" "I wish I could die !" "O, Melvin ! Don't talk that way ! Tell your mother just what your trouble Is, and I'll see what can be done for you Your good angels must have sent me here, for I couldn't sleep because of a desire to come-aud talk with you." "Father and I have had a quarrel, mother, and he's disinherited me, told him I wouldn't marry Net O'Too dles, and lie thinks I've compromised his honor. If you knew what he's been trying to teach mo to-night, you'd be astonished. He wants mo to sell my soul and body by marrying O'Toodles, and then he says I can find my favor ites in houses of ill-repute. Ho says all rich men do these things, and he took me to-night to the 'Walk In, aud showed me how married men of means aud influence arc expected to spend their evenings. Mother, I know I'm not worth much. I don't know how to do anything in particular. Father treats me as if I were nothing but girl, and he has some reason to do so. for I am very inefficient, but it's all his fault." "You don't mean to say that your father is going to cast you ofl ?" "I mean to say that he has done so." "But you will not leave home ?" "How can I -help it ? I have no right here, except by his permission. I'm of age. and. have no claims upon his bounty." "But, my son, your mother protests. You shall not be driven oil." "I'd like to know how you're going to help it, mother. This elegant home bo longs to your lord. You have no rights during his life-lime, except those of shelter and support for yourself and your minor children. You couldn't pro tect me here. Besides, I do,not want to slay. I want to go out and try my uu used powers, and see if I cau'.t be some thing besides a nonentity, to be dictated to in regard to my dearest Interests, as though I were a woman.'' Mrs. Hastings bowed her head upon the pillow, and burst into tears. "It seems hard," she sobbed, "after all the privation and toil of my long life, and after earning at least half of your father's possessions, by raisin stock in tho wilderness, while he was sporting in tho city; it seems hard, af ter all this, that I 'have no choice in the disposition of any of our united gains, l was offered ten thousand dol lars to-day for the privileges of tho river iroiu on my block down by the iron foundry. I wanted the money for you uuu juur miuer wouldn't let me com piete me bargain. I am as poor as church mouse, with all this elon "Then, mother, why do you counsel .iiuee vo ioiiow in your moistens"' "Because its better to enduro than to jcuci uuu ucar me consequences. Be- siues, reociuon would do us no good anu-caninromise our position in so- ;.f "VTellTmolUMY-I have resolved to re bel, at all hazards. I'm going to se cede." "I don' t understand you,son." "I mean that I'll take the steamer to morrow for San Francisco." "How can you, child ? You haven't money to meet your expenses, and I have none to offer you." "I'll go as deck-hand, cabin-boy, scul lion, or anything. But I'm bound to go." "But ihink a moment, ray son. Tho gossip that would be in everybody's mouth, would annoy your sistersand morjlfy me, and enrage your father. Td 'rather see you burled than dis graced?1 "Father boasted to me to-day that he began life without any aid, except that of his brain and niuscle, and ho taunted mc with my own inefficiency, just as if ho weren't to blame for it. Henry Lee, our stable boy, shames me every day by his dignity of soul. Nobody dictates to him. He makes his own bargains, earns his own money, and is educating himself. I'll go some where where I can imitate his example, without compromising the respectabil ity of my mother and sisters, and when I've become a man, in independence as well as stature, you may see me again, but never until then." The mother could only weep in si lence. Indeed, she comprehended her boy's situation, and was comforted by his exhibition of manliness. Her great est trouble was concerning that awful bugbear "society," and the gossip that would be set afloat about the broken cn gagement and its cause. "Mother!" said Melvln, suddenly, "I believe you lovo me, truly and unscl fishly. Have you ever seen Amlc Lee?" "No, my son; and from what your father said of her this morning, I never want to sco her." "Mother, that girl is a rare girl. Sho Is as firmly devoted to her duties as a oman can be. She is not an outcast! I lovo her as I lovo my life !" "O, Melvin! That awkward, untu tored, poverty-stricken saloon girl ?" "Hush, mother. If you love me, you won't embitter our last confidential talk by defaming Amie Lee." But you were present yesterday morning when your father told us what he knew about her." "Father didn't know the truth, mother. Henry came up to my room and told mo .all about how she had truggled to keep the family from starv ing, and how nobody would give her work because sho had a baby brother that Christian women wouldn't have in tho house, and how she went into a sa loon to earn money to keep the wolf from the door. But she only stayed one evening because she could not deal out wines to make men drunk without pro test, and so the proprietor discharged her. She found a relative at the saloon, her mother's brother, who went home with her, and promised to try to get her something respectable to do. But the man is poor, and has been a drunkard, and I fear that he can do but little for her. Besides, a scandal is already out among the men, tind my honored father gives it currency, to the effect that she has found a fellow, and I'm sure I don't know what will become of her unless you can protect her while I am gone to seek our fortune." "Melvin," and tho mother grew bys- terical, "you don't mean to say that there is any prospect that you will ever marry that girl?" "I mean to say that I am going out into the wide, wide world, to seo if I cannot make myself worthy of her, Shall I have your blessing?" Sharp was the conflict in the mother's mind between pride and duty. But the latter triumphed. "I'm proud of you, n spite of niyself, my son," said she, with deep emotion. "I will seo Amie as soon as vou are gone, anu am ner an I can." Then, mother, it'sall settled between us. You'd better leavo mc now. na nearly morning, and wo must both try to get some sleep." The mother knelt beside her son, and, for a few moments, poured out her spirit in a fervent supplication to tho great All-Father for His guidance in this time of trial, and then, seeking her own chamber, found her lord and master snoring heavily, as he slept of! the ef fects of his regular potations, taken at tho "Walk In and Welcome." The morning brought much sorrow to tho Hastings household. Melvln was a grcatfavorilo with his sisters,who would have been loth to part with him under any circumstances, but the deep disgrace of breaking his engagement, and being disinherited for it, affected them so seri ously as to make them ill. Alice alone supported her brother in his resolves; but May declared mat Alice did it more from obstinacy than common sense. "Pm afraid I rather blundered last ulght when I talked with mother,' Melvin said to himself. "I led her to believe that all that was necessary for tno to win Amie Lee, was to go in and possess her; when the truth is, that, al though she loved me in the wilderness, she has had good cause to desplso me in the city. I haven't the face to 'go and telljier all, but I can't go away without writing an explanationHv Having decided whalt to do, Melvin went to his desk his uow no longer and, in a bold, manly chlrography, penned the following: Mr Darmno Amie: I despise myself for having neglected yon so loan, but I really could not honorably pursue another course, ai I was situated. My father nnd the father of Miss O'Toodles had derided that I should form a matrimonial alliance, that was distasteful and even disgust ing to me ; and I, weak craven that I was, sub mitted to an engagement because I was too timid, Indolent, and fond or fashionable folly to resist. The match, like Byron's Ideal and never-consummated one, was to "haTe Joined lands, broad and rich," but, unlike that one, would not "have Joined, at least, one heart;'' and though I might bare managed to endure It had I not known you, the very thought of such a union became Insupportable alter we had met, though only for an Instant, In the city. Do you remember ? I will be honest with yon, Amie Lee. Your courage and heroism Inspire a spirit of man hood within me which mates mc ashamed of the enervated, Jncfuclcat, fashionable fool that I havo been ; and 'now r confess to you tliat I shonld have once been satisfied with a flirtation with you and the entlro possession of you, soul and body, without legal form or ceremony; and would have willingly looked upon you as the legitimate love-prey or a rich man's son. Rut your noble,self-dcnyIngdcvoUon to duties for which you are wholly irresponsible, but from which you will not shrink, even to save your fame and name rrom undeserved odium, has awakened a new and better purpose within me. Amie, darling, best and dearest, I love you as a man may fondly love and honor the woman whom he fain would call by the sweet, tender name of wife. I don't profess to bo worthy of you now, but I havo taken the first step by which I hope to become worthy. I have broken the engagement made forme by my father, and have been disinherited for the act. And so, to-day, when the steamer sails, I shall take my departure, never to return to Portsmouth, except to claim you. When your eyes meet these pages, I shall be tossing on the billows, whither bound I cannot tell. God knowcth. I do not ask you to be true to inc. I trust you and am content; but oh, Amie, if I only could meet yon once more, for one. short hour, I could endure all the rest. I go out into the world as penniless as yourself, and will not seek an Interview until I am ready to oner you the boon of a self-sustaining manhood, which Is not mine to-day to civo you, but which, please God, 1 shall iosscss cro many years have passed away. May angels blest and guide you ever, is the earnest prayer of Yours only, Melvin Hastwcs. The letter was sealed and dispatched to the post-office.. Ah, Melvln Hastings, it is passing strange that you did not think to scud it by a messenger. The precious mis sive, which wouiu nave been such a choice blessing to the sore-hearted girl, lay unclaimed in the office for weeks. Amie had no regular correspondents, and did not expect letters, consequently she did not send for them, and there was no mail delivery in the city of Ports mouth. The parting conversation between Mrs. Hastings aud her son was deeply affecting. "Here, my darling, is a diamond, worth several thousands. Your father won't miss it, or, if he does, I can play that I lost it." 'Nonsense, mother! I can't take your property." "It's nothing but trash, my son. I haven't worn it twice in five years You cau sell it to a jeweler when you reach the great city; and you can use the money it will fetch to get into some kind or profitable business. I'm sorry it isn't more, but it's all I have, and if your father knew it but he needn know, and it's no difference." Alice assisted her mother in packing the trunks and generally supervising the wardrobe of the family pet, who had never bestowed a care upon himself in these matters, and was, in consequence, an object of keen solicltudo to tho af fectionate motherly and sisterly inteVest that overhauled every shirt and pair of hose, adjusted every button, and ar ranged collars, culls and neckties in la belled boxes, scented with lavender and wrapped In tissue paper. "I've put a ball of darning cotton and some needles and spools and a thimble in this casket," said tho mother, through her tears, as sho displayed i gilded box, Inlaid with ivory aud pearl "And here's your comforter for the sea- side. I made it for your next birthday," displaying a snow white, fleecy marvel of crochet work and perseverance. "But I won't see you on your birthday, so it's fortunate that it's finished now." "And here," said Alice, "are a dozen hem-stitched handkerchiefs; my own stitches. Your name Is wrought in the corners." Melvin wept, in spile of his deep ef forts at self-control. "You pay me too much attention," he said, bitterly. "I wonder If tho 'gov. ernor will speak to mo before I go." "I don't know, son. He's very bit ter." . "Jean stand it If he can; that's some comfort. But if ever J have a sou and train him up to be dependent, like womau, I hope he'll turn mc out on the town In my old days to enjoy deserved humiliation for my folly." "jtaiucr lias none no belter by me than you," said Alice. "Ho thinks Bert. O'Toodles must marry me, and I intend to rebel, too, when the proper time comes." "But a woman isn't expected to be in dependent. She can't look out for herself, liko a nian.'J "Nonsense, brother. Thousands of women 'look out' for themselves, and their husbands and children in the bar gain. I'm just as. independent by na ture as you arc. Am just as capablo of taking care of myself, too, and I don't see that you have anymore to complain of thanl have." 'Well,' never mind, SIs;"when I get into business, I'll send for you, and give you a place in my office as clerk." "Are you in earnest?" "Never more so." Then I'm not sorry you aro going away." But her tears told a different story at the final parting on the steamer's deck. "Call on Henry's sister, won't you, Al ? Sho needs n friend, nnd you can help her with sympathy and love If you havo nothing else to offer" "Why do you want roe to bestow par ticular attention upon her t' "For my sake, sister. Do you under stand?" "Yes." "Will you promise?" ; "Certainly." ' - ' "God bless you, thn. You're worth a score of common sisters." Mrs. Hastings parted with her son In his little box of a stateroom ofl the steamer cabin. The knowledge that her only boy should be compelled to leave the paternal roof under a ban, disgraced, disinherited, and for no fault except the natural and manly assertion of his in nlienablo individuality, while It was a fault, if one at all, of which she was se cretly proud, was nevertheless a morti fying concession to mako to society, added to tho maternal feelings that struggled for tho mastery. Contending emotions would have thrown her into violent hysterics but for the presence of mind and enforced calmness of Melvin, who drew a glowing picture of the near by future when he should return, with a fortune, to engage in vast speculations, to be envied by his father, whom he "never tcould forgive, no, ncrcr." But the gong sounded for all friends of passengers to go ashore, aud the mother departed, leaving many an unspoken "God bless you" behind her. There was one who lingered till the last moment to get and give a parting word; aud that one, though less demon strative than tho mother and sisters, suffered as keenly as they. "How can Ppart with tho only friend I havo in Portsmouth?" said Henry Lee, as ho grasped Mclvin's trembling hand and sobbed "good-bye." "I haven't been tho friend I might havo been had I been free," was the de cisive answer. "But never mind, my boy. I'll never bo in leading strings again. Al pawned an Etruscan locket to get money for me to travel upon, or I'd have been the scullion of this voy age; aud mother gave me a jewel of considerable value, so I'm not penni less; but don't peacli to the governor, or he'd bo ugly with tho ladles. Just do your duty, boy, and take good care of Amie." The plauk was to be torn up uow, aud Henry hurried away, reaching the dock just as the ponderous vessel was loosened from her moorings and began to turn, creaking and groaning with tho effort, into the current of tho winding river. Mrs. Hastings and Alice drove away with no deeper feelings of grief aud ilea olatlon than swelled In tho breast of the young coachman as they bowled nlong the streets. As they were passing tho O'Toodles mansion on tho way home, tho mother of tho jilted girl stood at tho gate alid beckoned to Henry to stop the carriage Ho deferentially obeyed, and she began a tirade of abuse upon Melvln's mother and sister, to which the same woman's attack upon poor Amie Lee was as child's play in comparison. "Drive on, Henry," said Mrs. Hast ings, calmly. "Drive us to your sister's residence. I want to call upon her." Henry's heart sank within him nt the thought of his proud aud beautiful sis tor's poor surroundings, but he knew that expostulation would be both use less and unbecoming. "If Amlo was only expecting them !" he slcbcd, as they ncarcd the door. "If she only had a little warning to be dig- uificd and on her guard I'd feel better.' "You must come in and introduce us, Henry," said Mrs. Hastings, kindly. Amie was seated upon n stool, with her raven curls drooping forward upon her face aud bosom, and so deeply ab sorbed In a volume of poems that sho did not heed the approach of her guests until their shadows darkened the door way. Dick was asleep in the battered box cradle, with one chubby hand resting upon his peachy cheek. The scant furniture of the room was severely neat and methodical in its arrangement. All this Alice and her mother noted at glance. Henry introduced his friends in bashful, awkward way. The name of Hastings sent a sudden blush of bbauti ful confusion to Amie's cheeks. Giving her curls thatpcculiar, grace ful toss which always sent them back to their proper place, as though they in telligcntly -obeyed a silent command Amlo closed the book aud received her visitors, offering them tho few rougli chairs theJittlc room afforded with charming air of easy welcome which as tonished them. Mrs. Hastings had called with a he roic determination to sacrifice her own prejudice against having children i .tho house, iutendiug to oiler Amie a po sition as chambermaid in her mausiou but when the little beauty stood beforo them in. berquiet grace and dignity, her alight form elegantly arrayed in a cheap buff and whito robe, made aud fash ioned by her own skilled fingers, a bit of snow wnlte lace arounu ner arciied neck, and u scarlet fuschia at iter throat and In her hair, tho profler died in her throat. "A very pleasant day, Miss Lee," said she. "Indeed, I was hardly awnre or It," was the quiet answer. "I have been thoroughly absorbed with 'Kathrlna' during the whole afternoon. But no w I think of it, tho day is rather pleasant." "Do you slay here all alone?" "Oh, yes; that Is, Dick and I. The others aro at school." "Yon will excuse me for seeming to meddle in your affairs, Miss Lee, but we aro so deeply Interested In Henry that wo felt anxious to call upon you and see If wo could render you any as sistance." "Iam very thankful, ma'am, for-(he kindly Interest you take in Henry. I trust he gives you value received for It?" turning with an inquiring smile and looking into Henry's face. "Oh, ycj," said Mrs. Hastings, drily. "Then he isn't tho recipient of charity." "No; that is, we don't look at it that way, at all." "I understand. He performs certain duties for which you pay him certain sums. You are pleased with him and he with you, and I think the obligation between you is mutual." Poor material here for a servant," thought Mrs-H. I think," said Alice, "that you and I would be excellent friends if we ouly were acquainted. I like your style, and, to be plain and frank with you, I believe I should dearly love you as a sister." "Thank you," with a quiet laugh, You will please to consider the compli ment sincerely returned." "Too' independent for a servant,' again thought Mrs. II. "Too independ ent by half." The short call came to an cud, and, as tho ladles aroso to go, Mrs. Hastings timidly suggested that she would like to engage a chambermaid for a few weeks, on trial, aud had lcarued that Miss Lee wanted a situation. I thank you, but it would not be convenient for me lo accept," said Amie, with supreme politeness. "Then our interview ends. Henry, you may bring the carriage." Alice promised to "drop in often" as they took their leave. If they think I'm a fool, to go to tho house of his mother, to be snubbed as a menial, they're mistaken!" said Amie, as she gazed after them with tears in her eyes. "I'd starve first! Melvin Hastings bus treated mc shabbily, and sore as my heart if, I'll never stoop to wait upon bin family, ncrcr, NEVEit, NEVER!" ITo be continued.l Duelling. F.VTAI. MEETINGS OK DI.STI.NOUtSHEn MEN. Colonel Thomas II. Benton fonclit several duels, and In one of them killed Mr. Lucas. General Jackson liad several affairs. aud killed Mr. Dickinson in a duel, de scribed nt length In Partou's life of the iron President. General Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, In 1801, under circumstances reflecting great discredit upon tho latter. Jjavni u. urouericK was Kilieu by jj. S. Terry, of California, September 1G, ! 1S59, in consequetwe of a difference on the Lecorapton question. George C Dromgoole, of Virginia, fought and killed Mr. Dugger, a gentle man of the sarao State, in 1837, in a border county of North Carolina. Tiie causeless and ratal duel between Jonathan Cilley, of Maine, and William J. Graves, of Kentucky, was fought near Washington in 1S38. Mr. Cilley was killed arter Having lirst previously said that he entertained "the highest respect and most kind feelings" for his auversary. Tho mortal combat between two post captains in the navy, Stephen Decatur anu james liarron, at xiiauensuurg, on the 22d of March, 1S20, will never bo forgotten. At the first shot both fell. "Thev nreu so near togciner," says an eye-witness, "that but one report was Heard." Decatur was kiiicu, anu .uar ron severely wounded. General J. W. Denver, a member of the State Seuato of California, had a controversy with Hon. Edward Gilbert, ex-meraber 01 uongress in i&u, in re gard to some legislation, which resulted in a challenge from Gilbert which was accepted by Denver. Rifles were the weapons. Gilbert fell at the second shot and expired in a few minutes. Among many memorable duels and challenges, some of the most famous were those of Daniel O'Connell, the il lustrious Irish "Liberator." For using the phrase "a beggarly corporation" in rolntion to the city of Dublin, he was challenged by D'Esterre, a member of tUat body, WUO wouiu iae no apoiogy. O'Connell killed him at tho first tire. Tliis was in 1815. A great duel took place near Wash ington in 1S19 between General Arm stead T. Mason, Senator iti Congress fmm Vlrrrlnia. and the celebrated John if. McC.irtv. Thev wero brothers-in- law, and fought with muskets. McCarty iliil not want to Hunt, but Mason pressed him. McCarty proposed to light on a barrel of powder, or wuti iiirns. oiotii modes were objected to, and finally rfLirlv accented tho cartel. Colonel McCarty killed General Mason nt the first fire, the ball passing through his breast, J-vrney s jfcmimsccicc. TUn Id.m-nnfclv meetinir held in Ta coma Hall, last Wednesday. was one of unusual Interest, several 01 ma jauiea r animated debate of the stib- irfts intrixlucml for consideration. The ladies aro rapiuiy acquiriiissuiciiuiita, tact and parliamentary discipline, aud appear confident of a favorable result of their labors. Tho next meeting will bo held on Wednesday evening, the 22d Inst., at 7J o'clock, at the same place. Olynipia'Standard. The Woman's Orusade. It Is impossible not to feel airreatdeal of sympathy In reading the accounts of tho liquor crusaue 01 me vesiern worn- tti, not, pernap, witu me movement Itseir, but wuti me uespair aim uisgusi. which have led to it. It is now quite half a centurv since the movement for the suppression of intoxication began in nil' rouuirv. anil uunuir mat time 11 has been, In the main, in the hands of me maic sex; let us uAuuiuieniw wuu results. At first, the means used was moral suasion; the leagues which sprung up an over me country were purely moral associations, lorim-u lor the purpose of encouraging among those who believed in total abstinence the zeal for the cood'cause. Men were per suaded into signing the pledge iu the bellertnat voluntary resistance 01 temp tation wts the best resistance. This was tho first stage of tho movement. As soon as those who had banded them selves together for tho suppression of drunkenness found 'themselves strong enough, they resorted to that means of ellecting tlieir object wmcn 10 most per sons seems to bo the natural and obvi ous means of accomplishing any social or moral object legislation. They passed laws in a number of States abso lutely prohibiting the sale of intoxicat ing liquors, and brought into action new machinery and novel expedients for Its enforcement; finding, however, after many experiments, that this did not put an end to drinking, they fell back, or rather were compelled by their natural enemies, the liquor dealers, to seem to fall back, on statutes substitut ing regulation ror prolniiuioii; and in some States it has been no uncommon thing to see a sort of alternative ma chinery set in motion, which for one year, or a number of years, turned out prohibitory statutes, and in the alternat ing periods license laws. Still the sale of liquor seemed to go on very much as before, and finally in Ohio, if not iu other States, laws were passed creating not merely new machinery, but a new theory of law for the suppression of the vice and the traffic in it; hitherto, the theory of law had been that the sale of liquor was lino me sale 01 auvming else an ordinary occupation in which any one might engage, subject to proper restrictions, ltio new mcory jami mis theorv naturally enouch irrew out of the previous lecislation on tho subject) was that tho sale of liquor was some thing dillerent rrom tuu sale 01 omer things, aud in fact was more liko the sale of nitro-glyccrine or arsenic, and that any 0110 who engaged in It ought to do so at his own peril and not only so, but that there wero certain .classes in the community affected by the sale in li very peculiar way. Therefore it was provided by law that any one related to the purchaser of alcoholic stimulants, by marriaco or by blood within certain degrees, might bring an action against the dealer and recover in damages for tho Injury resulting from the Intoxica tion of tiie vendee. But this law did not succeed much better than its prede cessors; actions were taken under it, but there was considerable difficulty in executing its provisions. The whisky traffic still went on, and the triumph of temperance seemed as rar on as ever. It cannot be denied that the super vision of the liquor business has not tiius far been a success. The reason is very simple. There has never been any serious attempt on the part of those classes In tho country who ought to govern it to grapple with tbo question. Whenever a State legislature has passed a prohibitory law, the great majority of the intelligent ami educated people in docs tiie usual license law succeed it. than everybody says at once, "Now for free rum." Notwithstanding the patent fact that the danger is a great if not an increasing one, people content them selves with framing statutes without the slightest desire or expectation that tney sliall bo eniorced, and appointing officials whom everybody understands will not enforce them. All thcordinary mcatis had been tried. Nothing re mained but extraordinary means. The real sul.erers rrom intemperance are undoubtedly me wives, momers, and children of drunkards. They have been assured for nearly fifty years that intoxication and tue traffic in intoxicat ing liquors should be put an end to. Instead of these promises being kept, drunkenness lias been on the increase throughout tho country, and the women who suffer from it have been as badly oQ as ever. There is nothinsr verv strange, under thesecircurastances, that mo uuuiL-ii ui vjhiu .in uiiiei ttcaivrii States should, under the influence of tno women 01 unio anu omer western strong religious and moral excitement, take tuo-law into mcir own nanus, and move cn 7nassc on the headquarters of tho traffic the saloons . themselves aud, having received cogent proof that laws and constitutions wero of little use, should resort to more primitive means of attack. They do not seem to have used, or to havo incited others to use. violence. They havo merely descended upon notorious places of sale, and by means of making them publicly odiousj have succeeded, in most cases, iu induc ing thescllcr to give up business, for the tlmo being, at least. Thero are, no doubt, questions connected with the law of trespass which may arise out of sucli proceedings; but it seems to us that it Is the remedy of a really oppressed class, who feel that they have been trifled with and imposed upon loug enough. That the liquor traffic is going to be put an end to in this way, probably no one imagines. Even that tho women are likely to form a permanent organi zation for its suppression seems highly improbable. But what cannot bodoubt cd is that, for a time, at least, the women have succeeded In convincing the men that, If tho latter cannot manage certain functions of government, these must bo managed by some one else. This "cru sade," as it is called, is nothing more than the women's way of convincing, men who havo been deceiving them that they will be deceived no longer. A' Y. yalion. A Lady OrEitATOit. The Western Union Telegraph office in this place now has a lady operator, Miss Cortz bavins assumed the duties latelv per formed by Mr. Pitts. The chango is It popular one; me public aro pleased in having obtained a pleasaut, obliging and affable operator, aud we are sneciall v gratified in the vindication of our pet themoof womau's uscfulnessin many of tho vocations now filled ity men. We hope Miss Cortz's present relations with the public will be pleasant and long continued. Olympia Standard. ., uiuBJumrj lu i-suTOcuuni.aiiu riias a complete ease and independence that every one knew It could not be en- cf manncr, and a simple courtesy which, forced. No sooner, on the other hand, it iinm fmm this o ia nn.Un. The Icelander and H13 Home'. Nature has a good deal fo nnswerifor In the wretchedness of an Icelander lodging and food. There is no timber, the stone Is bad for building purposes, and one must not complain of the ab sence of luxuries where everything comes over a thousand miles of soa. Still the house need not be a mere fab-bit-burrow, as it mostly is. It is built . of sods, witli a few blocks of basalt or lava, (unmortared, of course) forming the lower part of some of the chief walls, is rooftd witli sods laid over the rafters, and covered on the top with grass and weeds, looking, when it stands with a hill behind it, itself so llke. a hillock that you are In some dagger W riding over it, and finding the hors'ets-fore-feet half way down the smoke hole beforo you know where you are. Iiiside it Is a labyrinth of low, dark and nar row passages, with tiny chambers open ing oil them, one of which has, perhaps, somo little furniture, a tabic or board, doing duty Car a lableta couulaqf.stools, . and one or two bedsteads (often 111 the hollow of the wain. There Is a small wiudow, but its frame is fixed, so that it cannot be opened. The air, there fore, Is never changed, and as the room . is seldom or never cleaned, as the cham bers are half full of dried stock hMi, and reek with a variety of other hideous smells, any one can fancy what the in terior of an Icelandic farm-house is like, and can understand why-tho first thing to be done on entering it is to light a pipe and smoke furiously till the room' is in a cloud. There is but one fire, and that a sorry one, consisting of a few smouldering turfs, with twigs thrown on when a-blazo is wanted to make the pot boll; It is in thecentral cliamber, called the lire-house (eldhus), and of course does not substantially warm the rest of the house; but, altliougu wo shivered incessantly, the natives did not seem to find the cold disagreeable. How they got on in winter, having no furs, we could not make out; for when we sugge-ted mat pernaps mey speiii. all winter under the eiiU;r-aown cover lets, which every house possesses, they replied that at no time of the year were they so little in bed. The furniture and internal appointments generally are what you might expect in such rooms; but three things no Icelandic farm wants books, a coffee-pot and portrait of Jon Sigurdsson, the illustrious leader of the nritrinlin nartv. After all, some one will say, this squal or is not worse than that of the poorest cottagers In Ireland or the Scotch high land!', not so bad as what you may see any day in the lowest parts or Liver pool. True enough, but in Liverpool the ignorance aud spiritless abasement of the people is in keeping with the wretchedness of their life, whereas in Iceland the contrast between the man and the house he lives in is the strong est possible, and oversets in a delight ful manner all one's English notions of fitness. He is poor, to be sure, poor in tho sense of having very little ready money there is less monoy iu -all Ice land than in many an English country town. But ho is a person of somo sub sistence and of eminent respectability. He is in no danger of want: istheowuer of horses, sheep, and oxen, very likely of broad fields which Iris family has held for centuries. His pedigree not improbably goes back further than that of all but three families In England. He considers himself altogether your equal, behaves as such (though he no longer hesitates to receive remuneration for his hospitality), and such. In fact. he is. Although with a certain wautof finish in some of his personal habits, he ger of beiuir mistaken for servility. He is, moreover, an educated man, who, if a priest speaks a little Latin, anyhow perhaps a little Danish, has learnt pretty much all that the island lias to teach him, and is certain to be familiar with the master-pieces of his own ancient lit erature. Manuers are simple in Iceland, as in deed in all tho Scandinavian countries; and all the simpler hero because thero Is really no distinction of ranks. No body Is rich, and hardly anybody ab jectly poor; everybody bos to work for himself, and works (except, to be sure, a few storekeepers in Reykjavik, and at one or two spots on the coast), with his own hands. Wealth would not raise a man much above his fellows, and there are indeed no means of employing it ex cept in supplying a house with what would be thought in England indispen sable comforts.' Wealth, therefore, is not greatly coveted, although the Ice lander likes a good bargaiu, especially lander likes a good bargaiu, especially in horseflesh, and an air of cheerful contentment reigns. The farm servant scarcely differs from the farmer, and probably, ir a steady rellow, end3 by marrying the farmer's daughter and getting a farm himself. There is no title of respect, save Herra to the blshon and SIra to a priest; not even such titlo as Mr. or Mrs., or Esquire. If you go to call for a lady, you tap at the door and ask if Injibjorg or Valgefor is in. Her name, moreover, is nor own name, un changed from birth to death ; for as there aro no surnames nor family names among the Icelanders, but only Chris tian names, thero Is no reason for a wife assuming her husband's name. When such a concession is mado to the rights of women, it is a little surprising to find that she Is in any other respect treated as an Inferior, not usually sitting down to the table with the men of the family, but waiting on them, ami dining sepa rately. Otherwise, however, women seem sufficiently well off, having full rights of property, and riding valorously about the country wherever they will. The Cornhill. Mean. It makes us feel mean when we co an' able-bodied man lounging about town and in whisky shopsall day long, whose wire at bom has to cut her own wood, carry water from a spring a quarter of a mile away from the house, milk the cows, drive the pigs out of tho garden, run after breachy animals in the wheat field, do all her own washing and ironing, take care of four or five half naked young ones, and have his supper all ready for him when ho returns home, lest he might scold-or beat her and the children; help him to bed and hear his drunken snores full half tho night; to rise in the morning with an aching head and adepressed heart; hop ing ami and still Hope deierre". did sho -think such would.be her lot when sho married hlm.-aud yet how many can realize the P'uW'; bor, do you-know anysuchf I ancouver Hegltter.