The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, September 05, 1878, Image 1

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    M U. A. J. aBNIWAT, ftJtter and FreprMsr
A Journal for the People.
Devoted to the Interest of Humanity.
Independent in Polities and Religion.
Mtve to alt Live Issues, and Thoroughly
0 KFICE CSor.FkostA WASHlsoToxSTHitrr
Radical in Oppotlnc and Exposing the Wrongs
ol the Hastes.
TERMS, IK ADVANCE:
One
-KM
.. 178
th.
Tnree monthi ..
Free Si" 3i, Fbee Prem, Free Pw)rr.E.
1
OonespoBd eats wrltlne over aesamed sicna-
tates matt make Known tbeir names to the
Editor, or no attention will be given to their
POKTLAAD, OREGON, TIIUKSDAY, SEPTEMBER ."5, l!?rJ?.
JVTTSIBElt 31.
ADVE RTI.SEM E NTS Iiuerted oa H-.MOUM lile
communications.
term
HER LOT
oa.
IIV .Slip
I'rotcctcil.
Br In A. J. DUJOWA.Y.
tr -nana ibd," "tua Down,'
ro umr ra," tb nattt
"Hi" WOMAN'S SPHERE,"
MKASOK MORRISOU,"
nc.i etc. m;
Entered, according to Art pf Conie , In the
year MS, by Ma A. J. Danlwmr, In Uie offlee of
the Librarian of Oonsrem at Wasblnctoa City.
CHAPTER XXXL
It was midnight when (Jeorge re
turned. Bat he found w, s he ex
pected, sitting up and waiting for litre.
His face was pale and his lips com
pressed, as they had been when he went
away, and there was a fiery light in bis
earnest eyes. Without heeding ray
presence, he approached Ethel and
clasped her in his arms.
"My darling, we must eomfort our
poor mother as best we can," he said,
softly.
"Is Gerald dead?" I exclaimed, iti
sodden and new excitement.
Indeed, the thought that he was lia
ble at ntty moment to be called into an
eternity where "no drunkard can enter
the kingdom of heaven," was to me a
constant and abiding apprehension.
"No, mother darling; your husband is
not dead, bot your worst fears are real
Iced in another direction. It is all as
the man MeCarty says."
"But where ie Gerald T And why did
be not some home with you ?"
"I could not possibly prevail on him
to come."
"Is he sober V
"For a wonder, yes. And be is so hu
miliated and penitent that lie says lie
cannot bear to enter your presence till
he is forgiven."
"Poor Gerald !" I exclaimed, involun
tarily. "Mother," said Ethel, "you have far
greater reason to sympathise with your
self."
"I know it, dear; but then I am not
diseased by ram."
"He says," said George, "that Bill
MeCarty, who it seems was his fellow
sailor on his last eruise, gave him fair
warning some weeks ago, to the effect
that be would jump his claim If be did
not comply with the requirements of
the law. But he was ashamed to let
you know that he had squandered the
money you pave him toeeewre tits land,
and so oe kept procrastinating tilt It
was too late. I never before realized
how completely women live at the
.mercy of men. Ethel, dear, before we
are married, and while yet you have
the legal right to your own selfhood, I
Intend to give you a deed to my home-
stead, so that, let what will befall me
in the after years, my wife and children 1
shall have a home."
"I trust you, George, and I do not
ask it," said Ethel, her eyes aglow with
feeling.
"So your mother once trusted her
husband, but you see witli what result.
Do you know, my darling, I believe it
Is culpably wicked in any woman to
risk her life aod happiness and the fu
ture prosperity of her children in the
bands of any man under the existing
laws, which rob her of Individuality and
place her wholly in tbe power of bis
selfishness, carelessness, or caprice."
"But you will never wrong me,
George."
"I know I won't, for I never intend to
risk the opportunity. I intend to endow
yon with my worldly goods in very
deed, before you are made my wife, ami
are therefore a legal nonentity. Then,
if I get careless or rapacious or tyran
nical or dissipated or idiotic, you will be
provided for."
"God bless you, my children," I ejac
ulated, fervently. "Surely you are not
to be stranded on tbe reefs that have
wrecked my lifeboat. Henceforth I
shall be satisfied with the prospects of
Ethel's future, let what will become of
me."
"But you must not sutler, mother,
dear," said George, earnestly. "The de
voted mother of my own sweet wife
sball never want for home or bread."
"But, George, I cannot be a burden on
your bands. You will have your own
ramuy in provide tor, and 1 can never
consent to a life dependence upon you."
"But what else will you do? You
cannot have a home in your own right
because you are not In a legal sense tbe
We1 of family."
My reader win remember that tbe
"married womatl.8 XnAn bl
which has only bOIne ,aw 8K;e Uk,
journalistic existed of lbe Kew
Northwest, was not t foree , thoge
days, and what George declared was not
only tbe truth, but there was no wy to
escape or avoW H tve only through
tbe divorce court, nod of this doubtful
ueueuv i calm never wing itijrseii
take advantage, as you have seeu.
"Are your plans matured, my boy T"
I asked, feeling devoutly thankful,
through all my trouble, for the divine
gift of such a son. .
"Yes, mother; they only awyif your
acquiescence." .
"Xauie them. I wilt agree to what
ever yon may propose.".
"I want to lie married to-morrow."
"So soon ?" said Ethel, with a fright
ened look.
"Yes, darling. I am going to-morrow
to our county town to sign a deed that
will convey to you my right and title
prospective, of course, for I have not yet
compiled with the full requirements of
the law to complete my own title such
as It Is, to convey It to you ami your
heirs and assigns forever. I shall
waat you and mother to aeeorepany
me, and we'll lie married before we re
turn."
"But my white dress Isn't finished,"
protested Ethel, with n gush of genuine
femininity.
"I'm hot marrying the dress, but the
darling,' was the prompt response.
'T second George's plan," I said,
heartily. "And now let ns letire to our
needed nest, for the hoar Is late, and we
must be up betimes in the morning."
Iteverently I klsed the lips and fore
head of my daughter's affianced, and
Ethel retired to my chamber with me
and fell asleep in ray arms. But sleep
did not visit me that night. What
were my hopes, my anticipations, awl,
In spite of the favorable outlook, my
dreads for my darling's future, none but
a mother In a like situation may imag
ine.
I spent the remainder of the night lu
silent prayer, and was astir with the
first streak of dawn, preparing for the
day's adventures.
One-half, or three rooms, of tbe ram
bling cottage we inhabited hail been
built over the line on George's home
stead, and our e fleets wereall transferred
to these, and the remainder, or what I
bad thought was Gerald's property, was
given over to the use of the new claim
auts, whom we soon saw that it would
be the better part of valor to conciliate
with discretion.
This change etleeted, Alice went to
tell tbe legal Intruders that their part of
our houfe was ready, ami I left her to
say whatever she pleased that might
KMiplus or annoy them, feeling confl
uent that she would "hold her own" in
any wordy contest whieli might arise.
George harnessed the team and we
started for town, be ami Ethel and I,
lie radiant In tbe happy coueeiousneMi
of bis new responsibilities, she modest
and trusting and blushing, and looking
sweetly beautiful in the one "best
gown" that had been her only suitable
array for particular occasions since
emerging from pantalettes; and I was
sad, preoccupied, happy, and yet miser
able. The children billed ami cooed after
tbe manner of lover, without mimliug
me; and in spite of their kindness, I felt
as hopelessly alone as though I ha;'
been lost in tbe Appenioe.
My past life moved before my mental
vision like a panorama. I closed my
eyes, and again I was a young and rest
lets barefoot maiden in the English
meadow, raking my father's hay.
Again I heard tbe huntsman's horn,
.81"1 noted tbe tramp of hones' feet, a,
attracted by the baying liounds, they
gave eager chase to the abounding game
in me ixhiiuick inrest. I lived over
ami over my first meeting with Gerald,
and I recalled with startling reality the
sensations that had surged over and
through me at the prospect of being his
beloved and cherished wife.
Ah, me!
Have many lives proved as sad as
mine? Or do Sodom aimlett oolv erow
now and then, or at rare intervals, to
turn to bitter ashes on the palate of
some fated mortal, boru under an un
lucky star?
I thought long, lovingly, ami remorse
fully of my poor, precious mother, who
had ended the matrimouial mistake of
Iter existence upon the altar of the
Molocfc, Lust, and who had at last
yielded up her spirit thanking God that
Iter wee baby, too, was dead, because It
had been "a girl, aud it was better so."
I thought upon my futher, plodding,
thoughtless, and, withal, a tyrant In his
way. I remembered the whipping he
had given me that bad sealed my fate,
and my fervent prayer to God for a sign
from heaven that should confirm my
desire to be Gerald's own beloved and
cherished wife.
It bad been my childhood's dream to
become tbe loved ami petted Idol of a
strong man's heart; and now, alter the
lapse of a quarter of a century, this was
tbe auakeniug.
Ah, me I
I thought upon that tidal river and
tbe tiny yacht in whieli unconsciously
I had been wafted away to my doom. I
thought of Gerald as lie was, or, rather,
as he seemed, when I first knew him,
and my heart swelled with an awakened
tenderness that I hail hoped was dead.
I remembered Elder Chalmers aud
lovely Ethel Graeme, the Motleys, and
Dr. Suydenbam; and I mused long and
earnestly over the Unvaried life of Ger
ald, my first born. I recalled my life In
Melbourne, and my acquaintance with
Bev. Cyrus Suydenbam, and I blushed
1 bared how
sname anu remorse as 1 rem e Hi
ve ry nearly I liad ouee an-
1 mipum
the nreeinint nf mi nnUu ful
a n my memory took me to
, 8wI t,,e Aiara House; to
tt.e fe.rfo! Are U,at had devastated the
n y.T oC h"lIk bad been kin
dled by Gerald's UDSleadv am,
BOBseious aim. Again I aw my ,,U9.
W In the tolls of a strange wom"n,
and I llved.-fcver tbe days of my ig)l
from San Francisco to Nevada Cltv
Mr. Llllienthal was not forgotten, nor
was Judge Downy nor Maleolm Graeme.
YVeukl I ever see ar hear of any of those
dear old friends again ?
Lost as I was in the misty maze of
oklen memories, I did not note the
flight of time, and I was startled, as
though stung by n million nettles, when
George called a halt at the village hotel
and assisted Ethel to alight from the
wagon. Very tenderly and respectfully
he assisted me also, aud then we entered
the little parlor aud waited nervously
for him to fetch the promised deed, the
preacher, and tbe marriage license.
With a mental prayer, such as only a
loving mother so situated can offer, I
consecrated my darling to her now alli
ance, and In spite of my own desolate
lot, a Joy unspeakable possessed me. I
felt that I should reap a fruition of hap
piness in my children which I bad
failed to realize iu myself.
But, after all, was not their promise
of future joy the result only of George
McDonald's lunate nobleness? Had
he not risen above the law of men, and
was he not doing his duty in splteof it?
Where would have been Ethel's hope of
protection iu marriage had he been dis
posed to be no belter than the law re
quire! him to be?
With the marriage certificate that he
placed in her hand was the warranty
title to his homestead, which Ethel ac
cepted under protest, but with fervent
thanks for her husband's forethought,
ami n look of appreciation which he de
clared was of more value to him than
many millions of acres.
"Hail married women equal rights
before the law; were they, as they
should be, the personal arbiters of their
own destiny, I should not be so careful,
dear. But there is an element of tyr
anny in every one of us that needs con
stantly to be met by the abrasion of con
flicting luterests. I will not dare to
trust the happiness of my wife even in
my own keeping. I have seen too
many conjugal hells that have been
literally paved witli good Intentions."
"God bless you," I said, involuntarily.
"And now, mother mine, my bird is
secured, and our cage awaits us. Have
you any commands T" he asked, as he
bent to kiss me.
"I should like you to find Gerald and
bring him here to me, if you will be so
kind," I answered, falteringly.
"You surely do not intend to allow
him to embitter your days hereafter!"
was the hasty response.
"I surely do not know what I sball
do, George. He is my lawful husband,
and I cannot ignore his claims upon me."
"I wish you would take ray advice aud
shake him ofT, for good and all. I have
a home of my own, or Ivtbel8, now, to
which you and the ohildren sball al
ways be welcome, but I am resolved
never to harbor a drunkard under my
roof," he said, authoritatively.
"After all, there's a good deal of tbe
old Adam lu you, George, for you begin
to assert yourself as a husband at once,"
I said, with a weary smile.
George laughed.
"Somebody has need to protect wom
en, seeing they are so poorly competent
to protect themselves," he replied,
promptly.
"But, my son, while I appreciate your
kindness, and love you as my life, I
must dissent from your dictation. I
cannot consent to be a burden upon you.
No son-in-law of mine shall ever say
that he married my whole family."
"But what do you propose to do?"
"I shall lease this boarding houe, and
begin anew to make my own living."
"O, mother!" exclaimed Ethel, In a
transport of expostulation.
To be ronUnoed.)
A Colored Sermon. There is a rinsr
about this sermon, colored though it be
as to its orthography. The tinted John
sing got hold of a bottom fact on which
to base his theory, and it wouldn't do
any harm if let loose among white folks.
It is this: "Bredreii, my 'sjierience is
dat it ain't the perfesslou ob 'liglou, but
de 'casioual practice ob it, dat makes a
mail 'ceptable up yonder. Wen yer
gets to de golden gate, and Peter looks
yer right in de eye, and yer shows him
yer long creed and says dat yer Mouged
bide big church, de 'postle he'll shake
his head and say, 'Dat ain't 'null to get
yer through.' But If yer takes yer bills
under yer arm, grocer bills and rent
bills, aud he looks at 'em and finds 'em
all receipted, he'll say, 'Yer title is
clear,' and unlock de gate, ami let yer
pitch yer voice for the angels' song.
But 'tain't no use to travel 'long dat
narrer path Mess yer can kerry, folded
up In yer creed, a good ree'roendation
from yer creditors. Hebben alu't no
place tor a man who has to dodge roun'
a corner fur fear ob meetiu' Bome one
who'll ask him fur dat little bill dat
neb be r was paid."
A Mistaken Max. A male flirt sel
dom finds his victims among sensible
girls. They generally come oil cou
querers in n tilt of hearts, and. the dis
comfited coxcomb, although convinced
agalust his will, finds that all maidens
are not like moths, to be caught by a
glare. However, he does not possess
mAciinnim itv onouch to confess the
truth, but will W'"'l3
: . . . . . t . i i i.i,.
a7,S himself by making love to Ml -
. but if lie had dreamed mat sue wb
so much interested in him, lie wouiu
have refrained, and spared tier poor
teuder heart. Deluded spooney! He
little knows that he affords food for
laughter for a dozen merry maidens.
But, girls, you must "put down" this
conceited popinjay. Flirt whenever
you discover "Barkis Is willing;" but
maintain your dignity; allow no undue
familiarity; keep hliu at a respectful
distance, and, If necessary, pelt bim
with sugar-coated bullets uutll you de
molish bis brazen helmet, and show
him to the oommuulty In his trne
colors.
When you treat a man to a glass of
him?'6 yU brew-tall malt-treating
THE INDIAN "WAE OF 1855-G.
Traveling up Mill Creek, about a mile
above where the city of Walla Walla
now stands, we reached the site of the
village the Indians had so recently de
serted. Appearances Indicated not
only that this had been the camping
ground of k largo band for weeks, but
that it had at last beeu evacuated with
precipitancy. The slovenly manner in
which the contents of the numerous
cache had been handled In removing,
attested the exaltemeiit and haste that
had attended their pteparution for
flight. T;-vlilag had contained not
lees than one hundred lodges, aud had
evidently been intended for their winter
quarters. But they bade n hasty and
no doubt reluctant farewell to their
well-chosen rendezvous, just as a winter
of unusual rigor was upon them, and
fled towanl the Xez Perces country.
Some of us followed them to the mouth
of the Alpowa, some fifty miles distant,
where they had crossed Snake River
two days previous, wheu we returned to
"Camp Bennett," whero headquarters
had been established during our ab
sence. Here we remained a month or
more, during which time the weather
was quite severe. Our supply of cloth
ing ami blankets being wholly Inade
quate, not a few nf us sullered greatly
from the cold. During the latter part
of December and first of Jauuary the
temperature was constantly below zero,
while a cutting wind freighted with
particles of snow moaned and shrieked
around us incessantly. Ah, me! It
makes me shiver still when I recall the
unwelcome volco of tbe duty sergeant
as he crurlly summoned me from my
not too comfortable bunk at midnight
to repair to some bleak point to do
guard duty, my bare toes protruding
from my dilapidated boots, and only a
Kanaka" ooat to shield my body from
the pierelng blasts. We had plenty to
eat, however, as hundreds of fat cattle
roamed uuguanled over the valley, ami
were appropriated with downright proJ-
igality. Yet maledictions without
stint were heaped upon the absent head
of old "Sorrel-top," the commissary
who, instead of bestirring himself to
provide us a more varied bill of fare,
was understood to be roasting his shins
by a blazing oak-fire at The Dalles.
With us were a number of friendly (?)
Indians, ami one day, seeing n "tele
graph smoke" burst forth on tbe sum
mit of a hill some miles distant, my
thirst for cseful knowledge asserted
itself, aad I essayed the doubtful task of
at once acquiring a full knowledge of
their nature and signification. For by
what means these peculiar pillars of
smoke are produced, or the language
they convey to the initiated, Is a secret
very few of tho benighted white race
have ever been fortunate enough to
posess. Often had we viewed these fu-
mid columns shoot heavenward and
disappear, when another and another,
j miles or leagues away, wouM as sud
denly burst fortli and as quickly fade.
Our interpreter assured me that his In
tellect had ever refused to grapple with
subjects so profound, and that he was
really as ignorant of thece phenomena
as myself. At lencth I bethought my
self that I had never known an Indian
to possess anything that he would not
exchange for whisky. I accordingly
asked oue of the most garrulous of the
parasites that Infested our camp if he
would "disciple" me If I should reward
him with a bottle of that coveted bever
age, and he surrendered at once and un
conditionally. My spirits mounted to
tbe very summit of the Pisgah of joyful
anliefimtlou, for I expected now to
pierce with glad eyes tho gloom that
had ever hidden this promised loud of
knowledge from the wondering eyes of
my unfavored race. But fate, cruel
fate, stepped In at once to blast my
nopes, anil I have been compelled to
grope my way In total darkness re
specting this transcendently Important
subject, even to the present day, for I
uau no whisky.
About the middle of February, Com
pay F returning to Portland to he dis
charged, I took a transfer to Company
K, then under the command of Antoiue
I lev I ere. Captain Iteviere's father ac
companied the Lewis and Clarke expe
dition to this country In 1S03, and, with
two others, chose to cut himself ofl for
ever irom friends and home, and all
the blessings of civilization, and bury
himself amoug the squalid savages of
tne racinc Coast. And here he re
mained uninterrupted, nuil, as I have
recently learned, passed away at the
ripe age of about one hundred years at
tue iHfgmntng or the preent decade.
But I feel that It is simple justice to
(Japtaiu ICevlere and his uucouth and
roystenng oommauil, to say that
liwr1 more magnanimous or trulv
1 P"" of n,e never lived than I
i mnu mem iu every emergency, and on
all occasions. 1 rue, when inllanied bv
liquor they were like a set of crazy de
mons, towanl each other, and would
often quarrel nud tight among them
selves. But let roe, mere youth as
was at the time, appear and pleasantly
luvite them to desist, and Instantly
anger was chased away by pleasant
smiles, ami every haud was stayed.
And I verily believe that, had one of
them so for departed from the Inborn
politeness that distinguishes their pa
ternal ancestry as to have lifted a hand
against the "petei gaison," as they
called me, be would have been in
stantly torn limb from limb by his ex
asperated comrades.
One of our chief diversions during the
winter was chasing wild horses that
abounded over the valley. Many were
captured, but always of the inferior
class. Many there were that bid defi
ance to all our. eirorU to restrain them
of their liberty. I remember accom
panying two or three of my mad-cap
comrades down the valley on a horse
hunt one pleasaut winter day. We had
alighted at a deserted log but and were
broiling some meat for our noonday re
past, wben three or four beautifully
formed animals were seen approaching
at a rapid gallop. Ever and anon they
would halt for a moment, throw up
their heads, and then approach at the
same rapid pace. At length they came
within a few hundred yards of us,
wheeling and dashing about with the
joyousuess of unrestrained freedom.
The leader was a bright bay, with long
and glossy tall aud mane. With the
most haughty and buoyant actiou
would be trot around and throw aloft
his beautifully-formed head as If, after
the manner of some ringleted school
girl, to toss the truant hair from his
eyes. Then he would lash his silken
tail, shake Ills flowing mane in pride,
eyeing us the while with looks that
plainly told bis confidence iu his
powers of flight, should danger or
treachery be lurking In the vicinity.
After gamboling about for some timet
his bright eyes gleaming with satis
faction as if conscious that we were
watching ills showy points, lie suddenly
wheeled, and, in a canter, placed him
self at a more prudent distance. Then
lie turned again to take another look,
once more tossed his head, pawed tbe
ground playfully and again dashed oil",
and even lu the far distance we could
distinguish his proud aud expanded
nostrils, his bright and flashing eyes,
and the elastic movements of his sym
metrical limbs, as he playfully pranced
and eurveted about. We watched him
until he was but a speck upon tbe val
ley, and turned from gazing with re
grets that such as he could laugh at our
best endeavors to capture him.
To b continued.
Betrotpection.
i-Jizaueth Uauy blanlon closed an
address before the third decade meeting
with tbe following words :
"To those of you on this platform,
wIk for ibese thirty years have beeu
the steadfast representatives of woman's
cause, my friends and co-laborers, let
me say our work has not been in vain.
True, we have not yet secured the suf
frage, but we have aroused public
thought to the many disabilities of our
sex, and our countrywomen to higher
sell-respect ami wormy ambition, ami
II this struggle lor justice we havedeeu-
ened and broadened our own fives, and
extended the horizon of our vision.
Kidiculed, persecuted, ostracised, we
have learned to place a just estimate on I
popular opinion, ami to reel a just conn
deuce In ourselves. As the representa
tives of principles which it was necc es
se ry to explain and defend, we have been
compelled to study constitutions and
laws, anu in tuus seeking to redress ttie
wrongs and vindicate the rights of the
many, we have secured a higher devel
opment for ourselves.
Isor is this all. The lull fruition or
these years of seed-sowing shall yet be
realized, though it may not be by those
who have led in the reform, for many of
our number have already fallen asleep.
Another decade and not one or us may
be here, but wehavesmoothedtherough
paths for those who come after us. The
lives of multitudes will be gladdened by
the sacrifices we have made, and the
truths we have uttered can never die.
titaiidlnir uear the gateway of the un
known laud, and looking back through
the vista of the past, memory recalls
many duties iu life's varied relations,
would hart been iielter done. The
past to all of us Is filled with regrets.
We can recall, perchance, social ambi
tions disappointed, fond hopes wrecked.
ideals In wealth, power, position, unat-
tallied, much that would be considered
success in life unrealized. But I think
we should all agree that the time, the
thouirht, the energy we have devoted to
the freedom of our countrywomen, that
in so far as our lives have represented
this great movement, the past brings us
only unalloyed satisfaction.
The rights already obtained, the full
promise of the rising generation of wom
en iu our colleges ami the varied in
dustries, more than repay lis for the
hones so lone ueferreu, tue rights yet
deuied, the humiliations of spirit we
still sutler.
A Boxn-holder's Pomuicy lain
a boud-holder. Iu 1S6S I had $20,000 iu
iold. I cave it for $50,000 in green
backs, and gave them for $60,000 in 5-30
bonds, deposited them with the treasurer
at Washington, and lie gave me $45,000
in greenbacks. I came home and started
a national bank. I loaned the green-
iHicfcs to the farmers, and of course took
a morlgage on their farms. Thus in say
four weeks after I sold my gold, I bad
$95,000 on interest. As the law only al
lowed me ten per cent, on loans, I had
a silent partner, who started an olllee,
and advertised easteru money to loan at
ten percent, on farms for security, and
nn mnnev let for less than five yean, ami
In Ail m a of $500 ami upward. But he
cliiir"wl five per cent, com mis
sion fordoing business aud the deposits
In my bauk amounteu to ou.uuu ou an
average, and during all this time my
SeO.OOOIn Washlngtoii was urawiug six
timt petit, ill pold. I always converted
gold into greenbacks, and ioaued them,
nnil ilma hi- honestv. economy and in
dustry, ou January 1st, 1S70, I had morl
gage notes of S1SO.OO0. tiinee then I
have been swindled by many honest
farmers, who mortgaged me laud for
more than it was worth, and have been
heavily assessed by the baukers' union
for political purposes, so Iu eight years
I have only doubled my capital, and am
worth now only a little more than
$360,000.
An Idle head is a box for tbe wind.
OUE WASHDIGTON LETTES.
Io the Editor of the Xw Northwest :
The storm-oloud has been upon us in
all Its fury. Never before have the
wild elements beat upon our proud city
with such wild frenzy as was recently
her fate. Tbe day, up to entering the
afternoon, had been bright, when sud
denly tbe clouds gathered luto a heavy
pall from which shot crooked light
ning, followed by crashes of tbnnder
and a blinding sheet of rain, that soon
Hooded the streets as river-courses.
Flash after flash gleamed through the
descending torrents, and tbe loud report
of heaveu's artillery deafened at short
intervals, its shafts shattering trees aud
houses, while tbe wild wind rose and
howled and tore down our beautiful av
enues and streets, uprooting trees.
wrenching oil house-tops, demolishing
unfinished buildings, precipitating their
walls upon and crushing neighboring
dwellings. Meanwhile the icy hail, in
the torrent of the wind, dashed into
windows, destroying countless panes of
costly plate-glass, while from the merci
less pelting great numbers of our poor
little sparrows were battered to death.
From the swollen waters sewers burst,
cellars filled, and basements flooded.
Some of the finest buildings iu the
city sullered, among which is Castle
Stewart, a magnificent, tail edifice,
whose great roof was seen to rise and
then settle back again, leaving a breach
into which the rain poured, and ruiued
the elgant frescoed ceilings of the
upper floors. But oue life is known to
be lost, that of a colored woman whose
bouse crushed upon her. Others have
sustained injuries, while many barely
escaped death. The total loss of prop
erty is estimated at $100,000. Alto
gether, this was oue of the severest
drenehiugs Washington ever received.
While merchants, officials and pri
vate oitizens are rushing out of the city
witli their families to escape the beat,
there Is a class of men among ua who
seem to scorn and defy tho perpendlc
ular rays of a sweltering sun, and
boldly go forth every day to perform
the most violent gyrations. These are
our base-ball players. Matters not a
lofty mercury; never a thought they
give it, but, with miuds filled with
dreams of victory, they bat ami run
and pitch and halloo iu a style perfectly
appalling to those of us who make a
business of trying to keep cool. To
offset tiiese, there has a sort of philan
thropic business man sprung up iu tbe
shape of tbe steamboat captain, who
gives excursloosdown the cool Potomac,
fifty and one hundred miles, at from
five to fifteen cents a trip, going iu the
morniugs, evenings, and by moonlight.
Thousands avail themselves of tbe op
portunity, where, upon the majestic
river, fanned by tbe del igbtfut breezes,
they watch the gliding shores of green,
the musical parting of the water under
tbe boat's prow, and the various crafts
that, saluting, pass, leaving their
trembling trail upon tho wavelet flood,
while forgetfulness, under tbe soft In
spiration, obliterates blistering walls
ami suflooating pavements. This enter
prise, in which capital pushes a thriv
ing business by opening to the poorer
classes opportunity for healthful pleas
ure, places itself almost on a plane with
our charitable institutions. The mys
tery to tho casual observer is how the
large investment involved In a steamer
can be made to pay after deducting the
wear and tear, expenses ol fuel, labor,
and a band of music. But such Is the
fact, to the joy of many.
It is generally understood that the
Chinese Embassador, soon to arrive in
Washington to take into consideration
the settlement of the Chinese troubles
on the Pacific Coast, lias rented Mr.
Stewart's mansion, mentioned above.
The Celestials seem disposed to make as
imposing au appearance as any of tbe
modern governments, for which pur
pose they could not have made a better
selection of residence.
The commissioners appointed by
Congress to report a bill for the re-organization
of the army, have been In
dustriously at work, but as yet without
any fixed result. The members, how
ever, have harmonized their widest
differences of opinions, anJ, from the
concessions made, tbe country may
look for a recommendation to Congress
to preserve the army at twenty-flva
thousand, consolidate tbe regiments,
now but skeletons, and eliminate all
unnecessary officers who are now on big
salaries. Such is tbe belief about the
War Department, from the reports re
ceived of the notion of the committee.
Felix.
Washington, D. C, August 16, 1878.
At a recent meeting, in which there
was much religious interest.au old man
gave expression to his joy by shouting,
aud continued it until it began to inter
rupt tlie services. Brother H said
to Brother , "Uo and stop that
old man's noise." He went to him and
spoke a few words, aud the shouting
man at once became quiet. Brother
II asked Brother W , "What did
you say to the old man that quieted him
so promptly ?' Brother W replied,
"I asked him for a dollar for foreicn
Tl , . . -
ifc cost cugianu 57,500,000 to
'""'" '"8 queen's children since
they became of age. These useles
young people draw very comfortable
The man who Is waiting for some
thing to turn up generally finds It when
atc3 upuu a, uarrei-noop.
The Helping Hand.
One of the beatlorms of charity in
modern times is that of care for the
recreat on of children, and of persons
whose lives would otherwise be totally
unrelieved from the wearing pressure of
daily toil The older ide of charity
was that of food to the starving, and aid
to the sick and physically sunering. A
finer sympathy perceives the starving
soul, the sick and weary heart, aud
aims to cheer aud cousole them. This
higher humanity takes
The Flower Mission is one; the societies
lor tue protection oi cnildren and of an
imals are others; the newsboys' exeur-
sious, devised by tbe Time a few years
since, and the "Fresh-air Fund" of the
Evening Pott, are forms of tbe same be
nevolence, aud so especially are the
homes by the sea and among the bills
for working women aud girls, due to
tbe charitable hearts of thoughtful
women.
Tbe chief value of this kind of
charity is its pure humanity.
There is
nothing obligatory or perfunctory In It.
There is a palpable duty to feed those
who are actually sturving and to nurse
the sick, and it is performed often in
au official and rormal manner, wnicn
deprives it of the soul of sympathy,
which is the true blessing ot cuariiy.
The description of endowed charities
which Dickens gives awaKens a uis
tinct feeling of commiseration for the
victims of chartered charities, as if they
were victims of chartered cruelty, and
there are pictures In early numbers of
the Illustrated News of the Christmas
dole of coals to the London poor, in
which this bedizened beadle seems to
typify the hard and cold spirit of tbe
charity itself.
it was exceedingly Interesting at the
opening nf the Flower Mission this year
to hear the most eminent surgeons anu
medical men in tbe city say, with full
hearts and eyes, that the little gifts of
flowers did more than medicines for tbe
patients in the public hospitals, and
that tbe secret of the efficacy was the
revelation made by such gifts to every
solitary waif of humanity, that it was
not outcast or forgotten, these gentle
men, indeed, said that surgical opera
tions were more successful ou the flower
days, this happy sense of sympathy
serving as a tonic. There is the same
kind of bond in the excursions and sum
mer homes of recreation. There is a
consciousness, generally involuntary,
that the enjoyment which is furnished
is an act of pure grace. Nothing but
goodness, humanity, generous sym
pathy, would devise such schemes, and
this is a consciousness tbatcivilizee and
softens the soul.
Mr. Thurlow "Weed, in more than one
of his letters to the Tribune, advocates
the constant proving of this sympathy
by personal contact with the poor, aud
there Is no question that the true rem
edy for social jealousies is not a commu
nistic leveling, which is simply drying
up the fountains of a common welfare,
but an actual and practical under
standing of tbe situation of others, and
the helpful aud humane spirit of relief.
The Christian theory of charity, as ex
pounded in stories and legeuds, ac
knowledged the duty of relieving want,
and implied knowledge of those who
were iu waut; and there is, indeed, no
real succor unless the want of the heart
for intelligent sympathy is satisfied.
This implies a coustant widening of the
sphere of relief, and, as we said, it in
volves necessary recreation as well as
necessary food. In these torrid days,
the band that kindly leads a little child
away from the noisome city lane and
tenement-house, or the devoted working
woman from her chamber or her shop,
to breathe the air of tbe sea, or to be
hold, however unconsciously, the beauty
of the mountains, is surely the hand
over which the benediction was spoken :
"Whosoever doeth it to the least of the
little ones, doetb it to me." Harper's
Weekly.
Lost Oi'toktunities. If we only
knew our opportunities, what a differ
ence would it make iu our lives. If we
only knew when to do, and wben to
cease our doing; if we ouly knew what
would lead to success and what to defeat,
how every thiug would be changed.
The world is full of lost opportunities.
We let them slip away from us as they
offer, we let them go carelessly and
thoughtlessly, never remembering that
they may never come again. In tbe
spring time the farmer who does not
sow his grain while the mild ravs of
April and May warm and soften tbe
earth, need not expect to reap bounti-
iui crops in tne Harvest season, ir tie
neglect to sow, he cannot reap, and tbe
opportunity is lost. We are no wiser
than this indolent farmer when we allow
the days to pass from us and leave us lu
the ulght when no man can work."
Every individual has had, In this life,
enough opportunities presented to him
to mane his lortune. ir he "had onlv
seized upon them. Too many of us are
waiting for something grand to ofler;
we have not the patience to accept small
things aud make the best of them, we
want the best of Fortune's gilts, and
want them for nothing. The one who
is wise will allow no opportunities of
maKing nimseit useiut to pass uulni-
proved. If they do not present them
selves, he will seek them out and make
them his own. And then, if failure and
defeat ensue, be is at ease iu bis mind,
lor uc nas uone wnat lie could, and feels
no regret for lost opportunities.
Connecticut has at last gained one
point toward "Woman Suffrage." The
women will be nermitted in vni
sehool meetings, and the men no doubt
iuiuk tuey nave made a wonderful iwn.
cession to allow women tbe privilege of
electing the men who reeulate affairs
ror the education of their
and girls, teachers' wages, and so on, In
owie wuere a neavy percentage of tho
teachers are women with poor salaries.
However, part of a loaf is better than
no bread at all, and a judicious nse ot
this privilege may pave the way for fu
ture independence for womeu. Il'om
an's Exponent.
In the thirty-third year of Henry VL
of England an act was passed, tbe pre
amble of which recites that not long be
fore there had only been six or seven at
torneys in the counties of Norfolk aud
Suffolk, In which time great tranquillity
prevailed, but that the number had in
creased to twnty-four, to the great vex
ation and prejudice of these said coun
ties. The act provides to restrict the
number in Norfolk to eight and in faur
foik to six. It is believed that these
acta have never been repealed.
When a dog is muzzled, his bark la on
the tied,.