The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-17
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

we find ourself upon the wing. The
glorious, bracing autumn air, cleared of
smoke and dust by the blessed rain-tears
of departing summer, mirrors the
changing landscapes of the Willamette
Valley in vivid loveliness upon our Wis
ion, as the east-side train conveys US
Salemward. Vast grain fields, shorn of
their wealth of golden cereals, gaze at
us in lazy restfuIness, while OCCASION
ally here and there we see an enclosure
over which the standing over-ripened
wheat droops languidly, as if upbraid-
ing the tardy reaper for which it waits.
Long lines of freight wagons, their
course defined by clouds of flying dust,
are converging at the various depots
from their abiding-place in the distant
foothills; stalwart men and cadaverous,
tobacco-weakened ones, sit atop of the
wagons, holding we'll in hand the we'll
kept teams that move their wealth-pro-
ducing loads, while interminable
lengths of winding freight-cars thunder
along the railroad line, dragging their
snaky forms behind the snorting loco
motives, which, with head erect and eye
afiame, disturb the waiting kline that
chew the cud of sweet contentment on
on the massive track.
A company of immigrants occupy one
side of the over-fulI passenger coach.
They are just out of the steerage cabin
of the ocean steamer, and look the per-
sonification Of a forlorn hope. They
complain bitterly of the steerage accom-
modations and the high price of cabin
passage which compels them to accept
the former. But little fresh air re-
wives their spirits wonderfully, and
finding that, travel-soiled as they are,
we are not afraid to chat with them,
they ask all sorts of questions about the
country and its resources.
The time is thus beguiled till Salem,
city of churches, appears upon the scene,
and we are soon bowling away toward
the home of our good friends, the
Meachams, where the pilgrim is made
welcome by loving hearts and hands
and voices.
We found Mr.. Meacham's new book,
''Wigwam and Warpath," to be a Sa-
lem sensation to which the advent of
General Sheridan was no comparison.
Miss Nellie Meacham had thoroughly
canvassed the town with gratifying re-
e,,ItS v,oonu coOrao Of oifi1ope baoOpoi n ~
her well-pleased patrons. This bright,
intelligent and modest little canvasser
is soon to make her appearance in Port
land, where we are sure she will be well
coined and patronized by hundreds OF
our liberal-minded citizens. OF the
merits or dement's of the book we can
not now speak in detail, but will try to
thoroughly read and review it soon. Its
rapid sale is its surest recommendation
however, and we do not hesitate to urge
everybody to possess a copy.
Salem is leisurely jogging along in
her old fashion, getting ready for her
annual harvest at the State Fair, pay
ing her way as she goes, and retaining
her deserved reputation for intelligence
and thrift. A sad case of scandal mars
the morals of the place just now, bring
ing only another evidence that women
are never protected, against themselves
by men.
In the case alluded to there is a lesson
taught which all men would do we'll tC
heed. Nearly twenty years ago a mar
of forty abducted and married child o.
fourteen. Taking her by stealth from
the fond embrace of her aDguish-rent
parents, he tried to atone as best ht
might for the great wrong through
many years of devotion to the child
wife and their growing family. But tn,
laws of nature were outraged by The
premature marriage of the child, anC
retribution came. The perverted chilC
grew to perverted womanhood and-i
is the old, old story-became unfaithful
Now she is an outcast from society, he
family is broken up, her children ar,
motherless, and she, poor creature
more deserving Of pity than censure, i
adrift upon the breakers, going-Got
only knows where. The Statesman o
this Saturday morning contains one o
the most sorrowful chapters of life
tragedy IA letter from her pen), that W
have ever known. The stricken hus
band, with motives only meant to b
good, publishes the letter and th
, woman's name, thus revealing a confes
. sion Of her shame to the world that will
, follow her everywhere, while aroun
J him are the men, equally guilty, VIII
, bid open, unblushing defiance to socia
laws, to whom may be traced her down
fall. We here insert the letter, omit
> ting names, as we wish the dishonore
husband had DONE We publish it be
cause of the sad, warning lesson !
E gives and the eloquent appeal it uncor
, sciously makes to woman's forbearanc
: and sympathy.
\ ST. CHARLES HOTEL, Portland, Sept. g.
DEAR AND NY DEAR CHILDREN oh
: how bad do feel, now that the time comes fC
I me to go away; but will go and be a goo
1 woman, and pray God that we may all met
n and be happy yet. will do everything ca
to bring it around. Take good care OF the chi
. dren-they are never out OF my mind. 1 thin
: OF them all the time, and pray that they ma
d not come to any harm till meet them agaii