The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-15
LETTER FROM ALBANY.

-
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST
Had I not promised to write you,
rather think should allow this pen of
mine to rest on in peace; but promises
with me mean performance - some
time-and I therefore place few ram
bling thoughts upon paper for your dis
posal. I am aware that editors, like
other people, appreciate change; and it
frequently happens that they furnish
their readers with contributions of
rather an inferior quality, merely to
crafty the universal demand for vari-
ETY.. Variety is the spice of life; hence,
an all-wise Creator has given mankind
various tastes and inclinations, likes
and dislikes, so that what may please
one may be entirely displeasing to an
other. But 1 am diverging from my
original intention.
Albany is one of the quietest little
cities in Oregon. l don't mean by this
that it is dull, dead, or even likely to
become so for want Of energy. A GER
tain air of contentment seems to per-
wade everything and everybody. Mr.
A. plods along, minds his own business,
allowing B. to mind his; and very sell
dom do we hear of interests clashing to
such an extent as to engender enmity
aud hard feelings between neighbors.
If Mrs. Grundy should become a resi-
dent of this place, have an idea that
her wits would be exercised to the ut
most to find an Objectionable character
istic of the place or people. So evenly
runs the machinery of everyday life
here that an occasional correspondent
finds it very dry picking to make up a
neaOS letter, and as for gossip, there's
very little in market, and very stale al
that.
Politics is just beginning to be dis
cussed. The Democrats organized {
club couple of weeks ago, and the Re
publicans formed Hayes and Wheeler
club last Saturday evening. Both par
ties endeavor to persuade themselve
that they are bound to gain the victory
A new way of "telling it" has beel
discovered by an enterprising Jehu o
this place. Becoming "too full for ut
terance," and after using his probosci
! in the manner a sober Granger some
, times does scraper, he finds himsel
= in an unenviable and almost unpresent
: able condition. He explains that b
| was "waylaid" and got pounded u
, somewhat. Those knowing the circum
Y stances are free to admit that many ar
: ''waylaid' (some laid away, too) by th
same old robber who used our frien
o up. A delicate regard for old acquain
j anceship prevented his giving the res
r name of the assailant and would-be a!
i sassin (Which is RUM, and he isn't po!
Y tive he would "recognize" him agail
r Well wager a pewter button that h
can recognize the chap that peeled h
: nose. AS a joke, it's the thinnest of IL
y season.
g There is considerable sickness
% town, principally confined to the lit
= folks, such as diptheria, mumps, ar
II scarlet fever. Not a case of small-po:
8 or even a genuine scare, yet.
The farmers are beginning to "tote
= in their produce at a lively rate. Tt
t. damp, cloudy weather, however, is
d drawback on the wheat business ju
ie now. But under the circumstanc
'e grain is coming in at a greater rate thG
n one would suppose.
id There, Mrs. Ed, if the above "scrap:
don't suit you, you know what to
s, with them. Under the circumstanc
er it is not safe to promise very strong
ar as to future communications we
7e wait and see. Yours truly,
ia o. RECON.
ge Albany, September II, 1876.