The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-26

Mrs. Clara Stevens, proprietor, we soon
dried our mist-soaked garments beside
glowing stove, and prepared for the
needed rest of the weary.
Everybody was hospitable aud glad
to see US. Rev. Harvey Hines, whose
labors in this valley are resulting in the
building of one of the finest universities
to be found on the coast, has charge of
the Methodist Church, and kindly
placed it at our disposal for a course of
lectures, which were well patronized
popularity and pecuniarily, and the list
of new subscribers forwarded to the
home office bears testimony to the sue
cess of our mission in that line. Hon
orable NJ. Baker, leading citizen of La
Grande, presided at the meetings, and
contributed much to their success, His
estimable wife also bestowed many fa-
vors upon US. Nowhere have we seen
greater enthusiasm upon the woman
question.
The Sentinel, published by McComas
d Stevens, displays unusual editorial
ability for country newspaper. Mr..
Bostwitz is the leading merchant, and
Mrs. Anson the principal milliner. Pro-
lessor Carter carries on an excellent
school, and is ably assisted by Mrs.
Hines. Drs. Hulsey and Biggers pros
per in their calling, in spite of the
healthy locality, and lawyers flourish,
although litigants are reasonably scarce.
Our old friend, Mr.. Chaplain, formerly
of Dayton, is elegantly situated here,
and is proprietor of the water works.
The town contains about four hundred
Inhabitants, and besides is thickly set
tied in it's suburbs.
The valley of Grand Ronde is sur
passingly fertile, well watered and
level. We are told that there is yet
room for a number of homesteads in diff
ferent places. Timber is plenty on the
mountains adjacent, and every body can
have good livelihood here if they will
work.
After the lectures were over, and
while yet the people were demanding
others, we took advantage of a lull i'm
the tempest, and going aboard the
stage, proceeded Baker City-ward, to
Uniontown, eighteen miles across the
valley, where we arrived at s P. NJ, as
numb and stiff with cold and jolting as
a jaded stage-horse.
Here we took refuge for the night in
Chauncey's Hotel, and on the morrow
became the invited guest of Honorable
Sam. Hannah and his excellent wife,
in whose elegant house we sit and scrib-
ble, almost forgetting the bowling blasts
outside, as we enjoy it's many comforts.
Uniontown is now the county seat of
Union county, and is little place of
considerable commercial Importance.
Messrs. Hannah & Payne keep the
largest and most varied assortment of
merchandise to be found in the interior
OF the State, being dealers in every
thing, from a threshing machine to a
darning needle. The Wrights, father
and sons, do good business also.
Judge Brainard keeps a fourishIng
drug store, and Hon. James Hender-
shott is literally doing Gland Office
business" Like Mr.. Hannah, he is un-
tiring in his efforts to develop the re-
sources of the country.
Our meetings here were held in the
courthouse, and the attendance and en-
thusiasm proved equal to that of La
Grande
We had spoken one evening, and
were quietly awaiting the next appoint
ment, when 10! and behold, "a rushing,
mighty wind" the like of which we
had never before experienced, crept
over from the southern land of Web
foot, and gathering up the "beauti-
ful snow" that had fallen like a mantle
of down over hill and valley, covering
the entire earth with its billowy glare
of whiteness, drove it through the door
ways and down the chimneys; sifted it |
through the window castings, and piled |
1t in ridges in the fence-corners; keep
ing up the while a high carnival of |
shrieking melody, as though Pandemo-
MUM were let loose. And here we were,
over six hundred miles from home, be-
yond the mountains, with a rigorous
Eastern winter bowling at our heels.
To say we weren't little anxious would
be overstepping the case. But we
learned long years ago never to fret over
two things; one is what we can, and the
other is what we cannot help; so we ac-
cepted the situation, and thanked God
for the hospitality of our excellent
friends.
Contrary to our expectations, the good
people, nothing daunted, turned out in
large numbers to the promised lecture,
and we followed suit" being about as
near "outwinded" when we reached the
as we ever allow ourself to
get. But the wind was bracing, and, to
1ur surprise, agreeable. The Sand
eaters called it a "Chinook," ;" and proph-
9sied a speedy thaw, which came to-
lay, and the air is as gentle at this
writing as a flock of spring lambkins.
The people here are in great need of a
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