The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-04
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
PATAHA, November 90, Is7O.

Leaving the Stine House for Dayton,
on Uncle John MilIer's well-known
stage line, we at noontims bowled away
from Walla Walla and out into the bill
lowy uplands Of the fertile valley, where
for many miles the country is a grand,
continuous wheat field, intersected here
and there by stately rows of Lombard
poplars, behindNbich little farm-houses
nestle in rural contentment, around
them the little children playing, while
Indoors the faithful housewife is ever
busy at her daily tasks. Farmers
everywhere are engaged in blowing,
sowing, hauling grain to market, build
ing fences and herding stock, evidently
enjoying present prosperity aud pros
pective happiness.
Eighteen miles, and Waitsburg. Here
the stage waits ten minutes for a change
in the mails, which time we improve in
a genial chat with the young ladies at
HanafOrd's hotel. Then on We go again,
through another succession Of unbrOken
ms NhA ~ nAkuN AEatl Tie hUhu Ol
Dayton, which has assumed so many Of
the airs Of city that we can hardly
realize that IL is the same little place
that we rememb Der seeing four years ago
on the occasion Of our first visit. Ele-
giant residences, substantial brick stores,
churches, halls, sidewalks, street lamps,
etc. etc, are among the Improvements
that greet US At every turn. But we are
soon oblivious to all this aud basking
IN the CHEEKY presence Of beloved sis
ter, whose gentle nursing relieves US OF
much Of the pain Of the chronic cold
which we Contracted on the Ochoco road.
Two days rest, aud then the lectures,
which began on Friday evening, and
occupied our time and strength till the
Tuesday following. Nowhere have We
met more cordial reception. The
newspapers were courteous, the law
givers generous, and the protected sex
exceedingly hOspitsble. One Of our
Eola pupils Of the auld lang syne, Geo.
Gibson, Esq is Deputy Sheriff Of the
county; Thad. Dupuy, Esq, another
old-time Lafayette scholar, is County
Auditor, aud Mrs. Addie Kuhn, once a
beloved Albany pupil, is the happy,
bright-eyed mother OF four lovely chill
dren who arise and call her blessed. We
look in the mirror and search for gray
hairs, and try hard to fancy that we're
growing old. But, in spite Of the frosts
Of forty-fivs Winters, We can't see the
gray locks, nor imagine that we're half
so venerable as all these circumstances
warrant We have other old-time pu-
pills here, but have not met them.
Mrs. Case, from Portland, is here, en-
gagged in dressmaking, Mrs. Glover
keeps nice millinery store, Mrs. Han
cock has a neat confectionery store, and
Mrs. TArbox a boarding house. Uncle
Jessie Day, the town proprietor, has an
elegant residence and practical eye TO
business. I. Palmer, Esq, iS the chief
architect in the city. and his handiwork
is visible in many a block. There are
drug stores, tin stores and harness
shops, dry goods stores, corner
groceries and saloons, and jewellers
and stationers in plenty to satisfy
any reasonable demand. And there are
lawyers, doctors, judges, preachers aud
other professors iunumerable, to all Of
whom we make our profoundest bow as
they pass in review before us.
On the last evening Of the lectures,
We we're honored by the Dayton cornet
band, company Of amateur musicians,
to whose stirring strains we were in
debted for the inspiration Of the lecture,
as we'll as a handsome "send-on.U
On Tuesday morning, while it was
yet dark, we took the Lewiston stage
with Mrs. Glover, our companion du
Uoydge, the two of US wrapped like
Esquimeaux. The dawning twilight
revealed a murky fog, so thick and
Opaque that the telegraph wire looked
from many points like little, long and
seemingly endless black hole, running
straight out into impenetrable i'm
mensity. AS the light grew stronger,
we could catch glimpses here and there
Of white-robed foliage, all bedecked in
crystalline jewels. Daylight progressed
toward MONDAY and the carnival Of the
Frost King was at its height. The
bushes everywhere assumed fantastic
shapes, being graceful and pendent or
stark and stiff, according to their mood
or fancy. The grass and weeds were
loaded down with cold, brittle incrusta-
tions OF downy whiteness and alabaster
hardness that everywhere took the form
Of flowers in infinite variety. The road
ran through gaps aud over ridges, down
grades and under mountains, and at ten
o'clock we reached Marengo, little viii |
iage divided by little winding river
and bordered by a handsome fringe Of 1
ieciduous trees. Here we enjoyed few /.
minutes Of delightful intercourse with |
Mrs. Waldrip, and regretted much that
we could only tarry while the mail was
being changed.
Several miles further on, and we came
to the town Of Pomeroy, situated much
Ike Marengo, but larger. Here, while
The mail was being distributed, we met
Captain Lister, who, with his bright
young wife, is living on a rancho not far
away. Mr.. Mulkey, brother OF Marion
Esq, Of Portland, is a mer-
chant here, carrying a heavy trade.
Three miles further on, and Pataha,