The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-18
AN HOUR WITH 0bgREsPOEDEETs.

worthy, and if not, to criticise. Such
requests are so often made, and so gem
orally result in driving the disciple Of
the MUSES. into anger if we comply, that
we assent to our friends request, under
her assurance that "no offense will be
taken" with some trepidation. Public
writer's are public educators. He who
teaches must be himself taught. Were
we to "point out all the errors" Of the
composition, and explain them in a
manner thoroughly comprehensive to
our almost wholly illiterate friend, it
would take the entire space Of the NEW
NORTHWEST for several issues, and then
she could not learn enough from the les
sons to make a practical writer. She
has genius and aspiration, but she is
married, and doubtless a mother, so her
hands are tied, and we think she must
educate her children anG be content
But we will criticise a paragraph or
two, to give her an idea. "Nightv does
not begin with a "k" when you allude
to the night of nature; "prOper" con-
tains but one "p;" English is not be-
gun with an 'I;" suppress has but
one ar" common nouns, such as
strength" Coffee" School" ETC.,
aud verbs, like "stTive," 'churn," sac
complish," and "eommit," " unless used
at the opening of sentence, or para
graph, are never begun with capitals.
A plural substantive necessitates a plu-
raj predicate. All rhymes are not poe
try, and fine thought in a shabby
dress is as poorly appreciated in the re-
fined world Of letters asan educated rag
picker would be at dress party. But
your thoughts are really beautiful, when
stripped Of their lame attempt at rhyme
and rhythm and made to read like this.
We have only room for a specimen: ::
"He stars Of night, who flood our little
earth with your quivering radiance,
and mirror our rivers with your charm
ing beams, what are you? Are YOU
worlds like ours? Do all the forms of
life, animal, vegetable, mineral, grow
and thrive upon your bosoms? Have
you day and night, as We have? Are
your peoplagiants Are they pigmies E?
Or have you people at all Have yon
governments that rise, grow old, and
die2 Do ignorance and want and tyr
amy oppress your inhabitants? Do
you know what crime is ?" ETC., etc.
Now, compare your first stanza, as
written by yourself with the same
thoughts, as expressed in the foregoing
prose, and see the difference.
" Bright orbs OF beauty that sparkle so bright
In the calm and quiet stiffness Of knight,
! TIL our earth is radiant with your oufverine
light
And ourrivers mirroring the charming sight
With each dew drop dazzling In gastly white,
OF what are you composed 90
Your thoughts, as we said, are beauti-
ful. Would to heaven they might re-
ceive the needed culture; but, till they
do, you need hot hope to teach the pub
lie with them. Webster's elementary
spelling book, well studied, will do you
vastly more good than the dictionary
you speak Of. Our heart reaches out
after you in longing. Do not despair.
II you cannot gain the heights you seek
in this life, your children may, and
there is a world beyond the vale where
/ you can begin anew. One generation
must conceive a plan, the next must
/ preach, and still the next must practice
Aninvalid writes, excusing herself for
non-payment Of dues, but breathing out
words Of hope aud cheer that give US
strength to struggle and wait till she
can be restored to health. How much
we need our dues to pay outstanding
bills language fails to express, but it is
much easier to be lenient with delin-
quents who express a willingness to do
what they can than it is to bear with
the apathy Of many who get the good Of
our labor, and then treat our Just ac-
counts with indifference or contempt.
Another lady wants US to speak our
editorial mind upon the theory of eter-
nal punishment, which is now agitating
the Christian world We do not know
that our private religious belief is any
body's business, but we don't object to
telling any inquiring person, who may
be so foolish as to trust US to do their
theological thinking, that in our opin-
ion all punishment, to be just, must be
reformatory, and we have no doubt but
nine-tenths of the clergy who to-day
preach eternal punishment have out
grown the dogma, though they adhere
to it still for bread and buffers sake.
Take away the belief in endless damna-
tioni and two-thirds Of the worlds most
piOus ones would have no use for
preacher. We would far rather teach /
our children that there is no escape
from the evil consequences OF evil deeds /
till they have made free and full per- /
sonal restitution, in this world or the /
next, than to lead them to believe they |
can make scapegoat Of the Crucified. /
We don't want to go to heaven unde-
servingly, and would prefer purgatory
for thousand years, If we need its dis |
cipline, rather than appear as a par
doned criminal before the great white
throne tomorrow. But the speculative /
opinions or quibbles Of nobody will set
tie the matter. The power that creates
US has the power to preserve US, and /
will doubtless deal with US all as we de- /
serve. Therei Il seems we can't keep