The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-17
EpIrORIAL OORREsP0NDENOE.

On the evening of the I'd iBst., in our
usual endeavor 10 prepare for death and
meet expenses, we again left our pleas
ant home and started on a tour through
the valley, engaged in our mission of
good will to men and women.
Stopped over at Gervais, to visit and
condole with dear friend, with whose
family the angel of death had recently
been making havoc, where we spent the
evening in reviving olden memories and
making up the missing links between
US and the long ago.
Reached Salem the next day in time
for an entertainment given at the Uni
versity by the "Alkas" and "Erodel-
phians," rival, but friendly societies of
students, who performed their several
parts in excellent style. As usual,
those of the "strong minded" persuasion
carried off the honors. The Misses
Moores excelled as musicians, Miss Ada
May as elocutionist, and Mr.. Sleeves as
editor. The play, "Down by the Sea-"
was most excellent amateur perform
ance, and the whole entertainment was
grand success. Should be glad to give
more extended notice did time and
space permit.
Saturday was occupied in making
business calls, which so completely ex-
hausted US that Sunday was necessarily
blue day, devoted to rest.
On the following Monday, while we
were sojourning with our genial friends
at the excellent Commercial Hotel, the
merry chimes of many school-bells vi
brated upon our ears and filled us
with desire to respond in person to an
invitation to Ego to school,"
Chartering hack for the purpose, we
proceeded to the far-famed University,
where we met the faculty and students
in the chapel, where Rev. Mr.. Roork
was conducting morning services.
Professors Powell and Catch, with
their efficient corps of lady assistants,
welcomed US in their usual hospitable
way; and the students, who had assem-
bled for the opening of the Summer
term," greeted us with beaming eyes
and merry faces as we ventured to ad-
dress them briefly.
After Brother Roork and our humble
SELF came DIR. Hall, who is always ready
with the right word in the right place,
and whom Sufiragists especially delight
to honor as a man who had the moral
stamina to make one of the best ad-
dresses to the late equal rights conven-
ton which has ever been delivered on
the Pacific Coast. The doctor spoke to
the students for few moments, admin
istering "tonic," and using some jaw
dislocating medical appellations, which,
as we never use "big words" we cannot
now remember; but their effect was
electrical, and if the students didn't
have their lessons well that day it
wasn't the Doctors fault.
The morning exercises being over, the
pupils marched in single file, to the
well-kept time of martial music, toward
the doors leading to their different
apartments. Then it was our good
fortune to go with DIR. Hall to the med
ical students room, where three ladies
and six times as many gentlemen, un-
der the skillful supervision of DR.. Pey-
ton, were investigating the anatomy of
the "human form divine"
While the students were undergoing
a rigid examination in the proper use of
medical hifalutin, for which, 10 be hon
est, we can see no earthly use, except it
be to so mystify the science of life that
nobody can understand it, except the
initiated, and which is of no use to
them, except that they may thereby
monopolize natures great fountains of
knowledge, even as the Catholic priest
employs a Latin service to keep his
flock in ignOrance-while this exami-
nation was going on we turned our
thoughts toward a skeleton that gazed
at US from its sightless sockets, and
grinned at US with gumless teeth. For
getting where we were, we fell ANUS
! ing, and here is the result:
Grim, ghoul-eyed gnome, whose CHASTITY gaze
Irradiates not the radiant rays
That flood the full-charged eyes of those
Whose searching glances may disclose
The secret caverns of a form
That once with red life-blood was warm,
What is thy history? where and when
Among the fesh-clothed sons of men
Didst thou in youth and beauty bloSfom?
What are the secrets of the tomb,
From which stern science dragged thee forth
To add thee to its store of worth?
1 ask these questions all in vain;
Thou hurl'st them in my teeth again,
And mock'st me with thy sightless eyes,
That seemed 10 say, 81 highly prize
The knowledge that these bones disguise;
The dead are reticent and wise.
Wait long enough and you shall be
A grinning skeleton like me,
And then your sightless eyes shall see,
As mine do now, that human life,
Though but span, with good is rife.
For every ghostly frame, like mine,
| While clothed with life, forms fitting shrine
For souls TO dwell in and adore
The Power that ruleth evermore
Whom l was, and what am
| It matters not l now am calm,
Serene, and useful. See that you,
As well as I, your duty do"
While this rhythm was whispering it.
! solf iptn