The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-02
FOREST GROVE.

The editor Of this paper enjoyed the
pleasure of a visit on Christmas to
Forest Grove, the Oxford of Oregon.
A Christmas tree was the prime
public attraction and was displayed
in the Congregational Church, fairly
groaning under its burdens of love
and beauty intended as gifts to the eager
multitude who thronged the audito-
rum, aisles and gallery, awaiting in
their turn the announcement of their
names as the lucky recipients of mys-
terious packages that temptingly dis.
played themselves in a perfect blaze Of
glory among the evergreen branches.
A Christmas tree is robbed of much
of its sublime attraction in the city,
but in country village, where every
body knows his neighbor and his neigh
boris business, the annual interchange
of gifts and the festivities with which
the bestowal is accompanied, form
themes Of conversation and enjoyment
through many joyful days.
On the evening of the Goth, social
party of young folks, forty in number,
assembled, by invitation, under our pa
ternal roof-tree, where, with Miss
Ella Scott as hostess, we were all
charmingly entertained until late
hour, our staid and reverend selfs-tor-
getting but that we were as young as
any of them in the hilarity of the par
lor games and merry jest and laughter.
After all it is only the body that feels
the wear of years. The spirit need
never grow old if you will but keep
your mind freshened by the genial asso-
Citations of the young and merry
hearted
A lecture upon the Temperance ques-
ton was announced for Saturday even
ing, and fine audience greeted US at
the appointed time, who treated our lee
ture of near two hours length with that
deep, appreciative attention so gratify-
ing TO the feelings of a speaker, and so
necessary for the careful elucidation of
any subject The question treated was
'How to make Temperance Reform
Effective" and if the sympathy of an
audience is any evidence that a speak
er's words are sinking deep into good
and honest hearts, we have good cause
for saying that our humble appeal and
argument was deeply felt.
Cy. Walker, the indefatigable and ir-
repressible temperance champion Of
Washington county, to whose efforts
the success Of the meeting was largely
due, presided, and, in connection with
his brother and two bright-eyed young
ladies, favored the audience with appro-
pirate and spirited temperance songs.
The population of Forest Grove is
steadily and rapidly increasing. The
facilities of travel afforded by the rail-
road have brought the town into ready
communication with the outside world,
and the educational advantages, second
to none on the coast, offer the student
greatindueementa as an eminently proper
place to secure superior preparation for
life's earnest work. We nowhere find
better cultivated or more genial society
in all our travels than here. No spirit
uous liquors are sold in this place,
which is consequently free from the
temptations of larger cities. The gos-
pei Of Human Rights is steadily pro-
crossing, and, while occasionally an
over-wise or rather over-conceited stu
dent will affirm that he is a better
judge of woman's needs and duties than
mems mothers can be, the number OF
those who talk so grows beautifully less.
We intend to hold political protracted
meeting here soon.
Success to Forest Grove.