The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-22
AMONG TIE sUPFRAGIsTs.

A-ANIutlht AOmulllee OF the 1amllll
County Woman Suffrage Association TO
attend the quarterly meeting at North
Yamhill on the 18th aud 10Th inst, we
packed our toothbrush and shoe-but-
toner aud hurried to the west-side train
on Thursday afternoon, bound for the
storied region which gave so many Of
the prominent men and women Of the
State their "start." Notwithstanding
the fact that the rains, disregarding the
protests Of a would-be Spring, have ex-
/ tended the Winter weather far into the
last month Of the season, trees, grain
/ fields and meadows are bright with del
/ icate emerald aud luxuriate in the
showers which have been truly "earth-
rejoicing drops" The west-side train
is by no means a lightning express, nor
vet an ordinarily swift accommodation
train, but, compared with the old-time
means Of travel between Portland and
/ Yamhill, is such a comfort that we lean
back upon the cushions, close our eyes,
aud silently join those near US who are
| rejoicing because Of the extension Of the
Oregon Central Railroad toward Amity,
and beyond through the fertile grain
/ fields of Polk and Benton counties. We
arrive in due time at the station her
aided as North Yamhill," and step
down and out Of the coach and up aud
on to the platform that surrounds the
station buildings, where We are met by
that indefatigaole worker in the cause
Of equal rights, Mrs. Ann NJ. Martin,
and, accompanied by her, we step
across the track TO the residence Of Mrs.
Fielding Stott, whose husband is sta
tion agent here, and whose beautiful
home and happy, healthful, smiling
children are type Of the domicile and
offspring Of women who, conscious Of
their own worth, believe in the equality
of the sexes and advocate human rights.
The first business meeting Of the
session had been held, the usual work
ing committees appointed, and the
evening meeting announced. Mrs.
Martin drives her own team, takes her
eldest unmarried daughter along as
Secretary Of the association, and her
youngest (and twelfth, a bright little
girl of four years, because she is "the
baby" and her mother, being both by
example and precept an advocate Of the
performance OF all womanly duties, will
not leave her at home lest she should be
neglected. We loosely remarked to
our obliging host, who had hitched
who believe in equal rights to harness
their own team, to which be answered,
THAT would not set these back any"
from which we inferred that our ma
tronly escort could not only ride and
drive" but could get her horses in read
iness for a journey II necessary without
help. We have often been assured that
being able to help themselves will make
men less willing to assist women but
such instances as the above prove the
contrary, aud these are found among
gentlemen, go where you will.
The country surrounding the village
of North Yamhill combines beauty and
fertility in the highest degree. Thrift
and industry wait upon its Inhabitants,
and plenty aud content abide with
them. The air, moist with the breath
that audacious Winter still sends as a
/ tantalizing reminder Of his late reign
far into the domain of Spring, kisses
the luxuriant grainfields that every
where give promise OF a bountiful har-
vest and sends the blood with acceler-
ased motion through our veins as we
ride at brisk pace toward the place
appointed for the meeting.
Those who, toiling, toiling,
Weary OF care and strife,
Who feel In pitiful weakness
Almost weary OF life,
should turn from the noisy city,
With its glitter and pomp and din,
From the hustle and jar around them
And the murmuring heart within,
And wander out where the daisies
Look smilingly up 10 the sky,
And the brooklet down through the meadows
Goes cheerily singing by;
Where the tiniest blades OF the grasses
Bow low TO the whispering air,
Sending back 10 the chancel OF nature
Responses 10 anthem and prayer;
Where the fragrant breath OF the forest
Touches forehead and cheek like balm,
And the heart viii open its windows
To the light OF an INFINITE calm.
But we were journeying to a Suffrage
meeting, and, with these random
thoughts but rough sketched in men,
ory, we halted at the academy, and, en-
tering and mounting the stairs to the
lecture-room found a number Of per-
sons assembled, among whom we recog-
nized Mr.. and Mrs. Loughary and Miss
Olds OF MeAlinnville, Mrs. Laughlin,
Mrs. Runnels, and numerous other
friends of the cause in North YamhilI. |
The President, Mrs. NJ. +. Cooke, of
Lafayette, was not able to attend the
first days sessions; but Mrs. Loughary
presided with her customary dignity. /
An account Of the meetings is given /
elsewhere by the Secretary, so We will
only add concerning them that both on
this evening and the following day and /
evening they were interesting aud well /
attended.
Awakened by the myriad voices Of
Spring, we opened our eyes in a white /
walled, dainty chamber in the home Of
Mr.. and Mrs Runnels on Friday morn
ing, under promise TO speak in the /
evening, but with a whole day in the
village aud country between US and the