The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-01
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


of Puget Sound than Olympia, situated
at the head OF the bay, with snow capped
mountains in the distance, lesser heights
Intervening, forests all around her, and
sloping bluffs that gradually descend in
undulating irregularity to the waters
edge, where her white houses command
a splendid view of the whole beautiful
diversity at once. Here is Washiugton's
capital; and here We find the culture,
hospitality, leisure, pleasure and intelli-
gence that usually wait upon the deni-
zens Of an official city. There are
schools, churches, Good Templars,
Champions of Honor, a Blue Ribbon
League, five ministers, spirit medium,
aud three newspapers in active exist
ence; and there are more pretty homes
TO the size Of the town than in any other
locality We know Of There are few OF
the more exciting social enterprises OF a
large city to engross the thoughts, and
men turn their attention to plcnies in
their season, fishing, boating, ETC., etc,
in all of which the ladies take part with
as much freedom from contamination
with the imaginary evils Of association
with the protecting sex as all good
Woman Sutiragists anticipate in the
near future from the purified associa-
tions Of politics.
Bot we were speaking Of Olympia's
homes. The ladies have reduced the
mania for decoration by needle work to
a science. They are also skilled in
mOss-work, shell-work, lichen-work,
feather-work, worsted- work, wax work,
lace-work, fancy knitting, crochet in its
thousand forms, painting in water-eol-
ors land some in OiD, patchwork,
darned netting, rag carpets, music,
hower-gardening, aud every phase Of
kitchen-work, from the toughest scrub
bing to the preparation of the latest
whim i'm art cookery. And yet, among
all Of these capable, Industrious and
willing women, we found not one who
is not a Woman Suffragist-not one
who is satisfied with being tie political
subject of the sovereign will Of a Jona-
than, a Hans, a Dennis or a Sambo.
One grand woman, sixty-three years
Of age, has made a rag carpet for her
parlor which deserves special mention.
1t is made, both warp and woof, OF long
strips Of listing, or other bits Of flannel,
cashmere, tweed or similar wooden
goods, neatly joined at the ends where
The warp was pinned into
quilting frames and the woof woven in
a basket web, the whole 'ingeniously
shaded, striped and regulated with a
display of patience aud skill.
This lady, Mrs. Elder, is a clergyman's
wife, and niece of the late Mehitable
one of the pioneers Of the
woman movement, whose funeral was
conducted by Wendell Phillips and
Lucy Stone. Her house, throughout,
bears evidence Of her thrift and skill,
and adds another example to the long
array of proof that woman's political
aspirations are not detrimental TO her
home duties.
We DO not know woman in Olympia
who is not an earnest believer in her
own enfranchisemeut; but the cause
here needs agitating. Our lectures were
we'll attended, and resulted, at their
close, In a formal invitation from a
committee Of gentlemen to continue
them further; but the weather was
warm and the evenings short, and we
concluded that it was not best TO pursue
the work till later in the season. For
the same reason, the trip to Seattle and
other points was indefinitely postponed,
much to our disappointment, as We have
long anticipated this journey. Bot
there 10 never any certain way Of telling
what day will bring forth.
Among the ladies Of Olympia TO
whom we were specially indebted for
personal eourtesies and aid in the work
were Mrs.Sylvester, Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs.
Hale, Mrs. Elder, Mrs. Smith, Mrs.
Henry, Mrs. Dobbins, Mrs. Lowe, Mrs.
Mrs. Mccormack, Mrs. Prather,
Mrs. Munson and Mrs. Murphy. Among
The gentlemen, General AIilroy, Rev. Nc
Cormack, Mr.. Murphy Of the Standard,
Mr.. Clark, No DObbins, Mr.. Lowe, Mr.
Prather, Mr.. Sylvester, Mr.. Barnes, and
many others. There is something very
pleasing to US in the fact that the good
citizens remember Miss Anthony so
foudly aud faithfully. Should she ever
visit them again, she may rest assured
of warm and hearty welcome.
Business in Olympia, like every other
portion of the Sound country, is ex-
.remely dull. This stagnatiOn is seri-
BUS drawback to the development Of the
but il is hoped that the recent
revival Of the numbering interests will
make money matters brisk again in the
near future. In dull times it is always
to economize somewhere, and
we notice that the reins are more fre-
luently frightened over the expense Of
taking a woman's paper than in any
hing else. Many a lady has told US Of
her husbands determination to stop her
paper till times would get. brighter, but
we have yet to hear of any woman stop
ping her husbands papers, or even cut
ling of his supply of tobacco, for a like
reason. And yet, there be men in
Territory, as well as in
Oregon, who will boastfully inform US
every now and then that women have
more rights than they possess! Such is