The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-22
LETTER FROM ALBANY,

LETTER FROM ALBANY,
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
True to my promise to write to you,
giving notes and incidents of my jour-
ney hitherward on last Saturday, as
sume mypencil, take out my note book,
establish myself comfortably, and be-
gin. Well, now that [ have said it, l
hardly know where to begin, as my
notes are in something of jumble; but
l will send them along, trusting to you
to unravel them for the compositor.
Whirling along through the romantic
surroundings that everywhere encom-
pass the track of the Oregon and Cali
fornia Railroad, over dizzy heights of
trestle-work, by the side of and far below
which the Willamette CLEANS like a
web of silver, past jutting rocks which
giant powder has forced ussunder to
make roadway for restless and adven-
turous man, through gently undulating
or level farming lands, now sere with
the stubble that tells of departed har-
vest, We sped, now catching glimpses of
ruddy-faced children in farmhouse
doorways, pale, weary-looking women
at farmhouse windows, and stalwart
forms of men moving about farm-work,
until Salem is reached and our train
halted.
My thoughts were here destined to take
anotherturn, for two gentlemen just from
the Legislature entered and took seats
on the cushions near. Imagining that
l, being woman, would take no notice
of political talk, or noticing, would not
understand, they talked volubly and
earnestly upon current themes, each
giving his opinion of certain candidates
for Senatorial honors without reserve.
One, staunch Democrat, whose alder
manic proportions had either not been
taken into consideration by his tailor,
or else had been assumed since his meas
ure was taken, was sure that Grover
would be the man, hinted at certain
proceedings, aud grew earnest, not to
say profane, in his denunciations of
those who would probably or possibly
/ "bolt' and throw off allegiance to
liking caucus" l had often heard of
the 'party lash," and of the vigor with
which it was used when occasion re-
quired refractory members to be
whipped I'M" but, until now, I
really had not imagined what a formid-
able and loud resounding whip it was or
might be in the hands of such ponder
Gus Democrat as the specimen at my
right. In short, realized for the first
time how bluster is made to control
brain or will, or, at least, render them
quiescent. After few depreciatory re-
marks, the weaker will became absorbed
in the stronger, and liking caucus" had
another subject.
Twas interested and dsomewhat amused
to observe a gentleman who sat near,
his head white with the frosts of many
winters, and his countenance expressive
of the disgust he felt. Turning to a fell
low passenger, he remarked, as our
Democratic friends retired to the smok-
ing car, that il was a disgrace to our
State to send such men to represent her.
Said he: "Sif, | was a member of the
Legislature for two years when six of
my fellow members could not write
their own names, and one year not one
of them spoke during the entire session,
except upon one occasion, when one,
getting intolerably thirsty, perhaps,
partly arose from his seat and moved to
adjourn, dropping down again with
frightened air. He became reassured,
however, as he observed that he was not
likely TO be hurt, and stroking his chin,
he glanced patronizingly around, SEEM
ingly satisfied with what he had done
and suffered for his constituency"
Expatiating upon this representative
(9) man, the old gentleman grew SO
thoroughly disgusted as to declare his
belief that there are "pIenty of women
who could represent us better than half
the men we send every two years to Sa-
LEM"
felt his glance fall furtively upon me
as he made the extraordinary concession,
but gazed steadfastly out of the window
in seeming Obliviousness, which led
him, no doubt, to conclude that some
women were extremely stolid.
But here we are at Albany, and in
the confusion and semi-darknessI I gather
up shawl, notes, bandbox and bundle to
quit the train for the home of waiting
friends. TRAVELLER.
Albany, September 16, 1876.