The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13
LETTER Prom NEW YORK.

LhIIER EhUM Nhh 1UhA.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST
This has been a bad week; skating on
Monday, showing on Tuesday, raining
on Wednesday, and a deluge on Thurs
dav. Every day Of bad weather costs a
great city like this hundred thousand
dollars. A snow-storm costs New York
halfa million dollars by blocking travel,
delaying shipments, stopping trade and
killing horses.
1t is brave sight, and most fascinat-
ing withal, to see hundreds Of beautiful
girls, in fur-faced skirts, flying over the
frozen mirror on skates, which seem
like wings on the heels Of Mercury, so
inspiring and bewildering is the vary
ing picture. Blessed be that decree
which allows women, at least on ice, to
appear without the ugly, dragging
skirts, which, however graceful indoors,
are abominable anywhere else. Blessed,
also, be the fair creatures in the short
jupes, faced with fur, and whoever has
gotten 80 lost in rapture while behold
ing them as to try to break the ice with
his head, will know that there is as
much or more sensation In this sport
THAN shines in stars and garters." Il
is a carnival surprising far the sum-
mer shows on the seaside, with the
sirens and mermaids in parti-colored
flannel for the cold air aud lightning
speed put the staidest man that ever
heeled himself with steel up to every
manner ofprank. Electricity fills the
air, the body, the soul. The Gothamite
chases the hours with flying feet, the
very sport for people who do business
and pleasure at full speed.
Mrs. Anderson, the wonderful English
walker, is nearing the completion Of the
extraordinary feat she undertook to DO.
Il is 10 be hoped that she will not break
down before she finishes her task, not
ouly for her own sake, but for that OF
American women IN general, TO whom
she is setting such a good example
Brooklyn and New York ladies have
taken an unusual interest IN Madam.
marching, and crowds of them are daily
aud nightly in attendance 10 watch her
Already walking clubs for women have
been started with view TO encouraging
pedesirianism among the weaker sex,
and anything that will tend 10 over
come the inactive habits Of the great
mass Of American women would be
an inestimable boon. The few ladies'
who have tried to walk around
the track with Madam Anderson
have shown the assembled multi
tudes the utter uselessness and folly OF
the dress now worn; with corsage girted
in at the waist, skirt tied around the
hips, with train dragging yard on the
ground, fashionable ladies have found
it all they could do to hold up their
skirts as they have toddled after Madam,
as helpless as the crippled Chinese
woman, evoking roars Of laughter, while
the Madam, in a rather short skirt, and
whole dress easy-ftting, allowing play
20 every muscle, steps out free and firm
even now, jaded as she is.
There are evidences throughout the
country, and claiming notice especially
in this city, that women are making a
steady, persistent aud intelligent effort
to help themselves to a better life than
il has been the lot Of the sex to expert
ence in the past. Schools are rising
everywhere for the teaching Of this art
or that; clubs are being formed to help
faa ,,..Ht- ofb.rs 20 fr1frtrof flao.o L.,
sirous of becoming their own bread
winners iu various trades and profess
sious long thought the sole prerogatives
Of men; associations and organizations
for the discussion Of literary subjects,
and for founding new religion; in short,
there lis very general movement among
women 10 further the welfare OF their
own sex, otherwise than by merely Oh
tanning a vote, though the ladies who
ASK Tor suffrage attract the most atten-
ton from the public.
Thomas Lord, a miIlionai,a who
created snch a sensation wear ago nv
marrying Ags. Ann w. W. Hicks i
dangerously in. There is vary Ii,,I.
hope Of his recovery, as he i- eigb,v-ayo
year Old. For two weeks he has tol,or
no nourishment and has been KENT nm
solely by stimulants, which a. I'm -.
serve him longer. His wife i con.
stantly in attendance, no one bnt ba-
self and the physicians being admifted
TO the room. Mr.. Lord was married -
Mrs. Hicks on December 3lst, 1877. bv
Cardinal McCloskey. He had been a
widower for six or seven years, and the
marriage caused the greatest surprise.
He is reported to be worth 81, 500, 600
and there are six Sous 10 inherit hi:
large fortune.
There was a great curiosity to hear
Litta on her first appearance in Lucia,
aud the big theater was filled Thursday