The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-10-30
EDlToRIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

DEAR READERs OF THE NEW NORTHWEST;
Again We are compelled to apologize
10 you for our tardiness in keeping up
this department of the Peoples Paper.
We'd like to promise to do better in fu-
ture, but past failures stare US in the
face and make US hesitate. Be patient, 1
friends. Our duties are legion.
On Friday evening of Fair week, in
company with our liege and such other
friends as could charter conveyanees,
we repaired to the Oregon Penitentiary
for the purpose of lecturing before the
prisoners. As soon as our arrival had
become known, convict was dispatched
to the stables with our turnout-for we
(our liege and self designed TO sleep at
the Penitentiary.
Arrangements were soon made, and
visitors and speaker were alike admitted
to the prison chapel, where excellent
vocal and instrumental music greeted
Us from band of convicts, in whom
there must yet linger much of good, or
they could not sing so well and feel
ingly, or listen with such intense inter-
est to lectures from their friends.
Among the convicts are some men with
minds far above the average-men
whom we hope to see honorably dis
charged from service soon, and enabled
to spend the remainder of their days in
I loing good. The time of some of these
is nearly up-so nearly that we never
expect TO greet them again in prison.
/ God grant that we may meet them else
where, and that their names may be-
come honored in the land as benefactors
to their race.
Our sleep in a grand chamber with
high ceiling and large windows, was
deep and unbroken. The morning
greeted US with hearty, well-cooked
breakfast, served by a convict who
seemed to delight in the service. After
an hours chat with some of the guard
we took our departure, well pleased with
the prison and its management. On the
! following Sunday, accompanied by Pro-
fessor Prentice and wife, Miss Fanny
Barker and others, we returned to the
/ Penitentiary, where we were favored
with excellent music, followed by
another lecture, to which the prisoners
/ listened with their accustomed good be-
havior A general shaking of hands
accompanied by many a hearty ''God
bless' and "God speed you," repaid us
for our labors.
Did We tell you about lecturing in the
Opera House, in Salem, on Friday even
ing, the week before the Fair? Well,
we had n large audience, the principal
members of the Legislature and a gen.
eral representation of editors, ministers
judges, lawyers, physicians and teach.
ers being present. We have never had
a more attentive or better pleased audi.
tory, aud were especially gratified by
the increased vote in favor of Woman
Suffrage in the Legislature, after oul
humble effort. When men become ac
: customed to the Woman Suffrage Move
,, ment, they cease to oppose it; an'
women never oppose it after they hav,
Investigated it.
On Friday of last week we went {,
} Eola, five miles distant from Salem
where we enjoyed delightful Reunion
' with friends of other days. Here wa
the place where the last term of ou
girlhood was occupied tu school-teach
ing; here the last associations of long
= ago maidenhood cluster, aud, thougI
. most of The friends of auld lang syn
: have gone from thence to their lon
{ home, or cast tn cir lot in other portion
+ of the green earth, yet twenty-one year
= sit lightly upon the brows of the remain
ing ones, and as we met and greete
them, we felt that we were young again
e Eola, like many other Oregon town.
IS is very little of its age. Yet it is health
aud promising, If slow of growth. |
l. contains a good school-house, sewers
ie stores, a blacksmith shop, post-ofIic,
ie and about a dozen dwellings. Our lie,
u ture was fairly attended, despite sever
rain storm, which rendered travelin
:. over the hills both difficult and dangel
IL Gus.
7 The following morning was clear, co,
~ and breezy, and we took leave of OF
es friends with many regrets that "
as couldn't get time to make a visit. Whe
d the women become enfranehised, We
L visit for a year or two. Can't afford
III now A. ]. d.
III Salem, October 22nd.
ee
IN A,o,I,or instanaa of tba p,oppar