The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-22
BDIToRTAL CORRESPONDENCE.

and still, urged by friends at home wno
fear that our restoration to health has
been too sudden to be permanent, we
tarry within its limits. Bidding good
bye to friends in the "rooral deestricts," "
where our stay for the past two months
has been season Of unbroken quiet and
rest, we on Monday morning, the Sd
inst, took the train at Elmirai bound
for this city. The ineessant rains oi the
past seven weeks have caused the hill
sides to present a drenched and hopeless
sort Of appearance, while the valleys
however diminutive, each boasts its
own water course, on either side OF
which the green blades OF wheat, beaten
into the soil, tell plainly that the clouds
have given them more than enough
this year. As we boarded the boat at
Vallejo we noticed how the erewhiie
clear waters Of the bay were clouded by
the murky deposits borne into them
from grain-fields and hill-tops by the
overcharged water courses. More than
this we could not see, for dense fog
soon obscured from view city, mountain,
and surging waves.
Arriving at the Russ House, we found
that the "Elder'' would not sail until
Thursday noon. "Three days in the
city," we soliloquized, as we unstrapped
our trunk and mentally arranged our
plans for the welcome interim. OF
course we must visit Lone Mountain,
and everybody goes to the Cliff House,
and this reason, cogent enough in itself
to decide a question for the average
tourist, being strongly supplemented by
our inclination, We placed these two
upon our memoranda as to-moTrow's
possibilities, and betook ourself in the
evening to the Grand Opera House to
witness a delightful rendition Of "Unele
Toms Cabin" with scenic displays the
magnificence Of which was only limited
by vivid Imagination aglow with the
gorgeous beauties Of Southern land
scapes. While hearing almost the rip
I pie of the waters that in the mythical
I fountains represented "shake their
| loosened silver in the SUM-" drinking in
the magic fragrance that seemed to per-
meate with a subtle power the atmOs-
phere bright with tropical colOrs, we re-
jOiced with a deep-drawn breath Of
thankfulness that slavery no longer
throws over the fairest lands of our ma
ton the somber shadow Of its blighting
curse.
Morning, and taking the cars for Lone
| Mountain, we soon leave behind US the
throbbing life OF the city Of the living,
and find ourself treading with hushed
footsteps the aisles that wind about
among the homes Of the pOpulous,
/ pulseless city Of the dead. Fit range for
proud human thought are these narrow,
winding paths, bOrdered on left and
right by lowly mounds, upon some OF
which love keeps the daisies bright,
upon others where storied urn renders
enduring the name aud commentaries
the virtues, perchance undiscovered un-
| til death drew his dark curtain, Of him
I who rests beneath.
"Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust.
or hattery soothe the dull. cold ear OF
death %"
We softly whisper, as, standing by an
imposing shaft representing broken
mast, we read the name Of Arthur
French, and the record which recites
/ the bravery, courage, and exalted sense
Of duty that induced him to risk and
lose his life in the endeavor to save
others when the steamship "North-
erner," Of which he was first officer, was
wrecked Off Cape MendOcino some years
since. To many hearts and homes in
Oregon that disaster brought sorrow
/ that even yet endures, and silently hon.
oring one who lost his life in attempt to
mitigate the horrors of shipwreck, we
bow our head and pass on. Musty
vaults, "making death more dreadful
and more dark the grave" here and
there interpose their solid masonry and
heavy iron doors between the dust OF
mother earth, as if opposing to the last
the decree, "dust thou art and unto dust
shalt thou return" In vain; the moi
some odors tell us that decays effacing
I fingers are here also busy, aud the most
costly device can but render the final
result slower-not the less sure. Tow
ering in white aud impressive majesty
toward the sky, we observe the column
that is designed-to perpetuate the name
and recall the sad fate Of Senator Brod-
erick TO coming generations. Studying
the sculptured figures on the monument
that speak only to those who can under
stand them, we tarry a while, then turn,
musing upon the false code, the So
called "code Of honor" that had snatched
a Hamilton from the nations councils,
of which his intellect was the brightest
ornament and most stable dependence
that had laid a Broderick low while
yet in manhood's early prime, and use
fulness was gathering to adoru his brow
her most enduring laurels. a few yards
further on, and we carefully pick ouI
way up three or four dilapidated steps
and find Ourself beside the lowly slab
that marks the last resting-place Of Ed
ward Dickinson Baker. Leading a
fOrlorn hope" he died, his death adding
another and deeper shade to the gloom
that rebellion had spread as a dark pail
over the Republic; and viewing his neg
lected grave, one thinks that the nation,
40 swift In sound fba srnuret Of his