The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-03

| One canvassing incident we must not
omit to mention. Accompanied by
Mrs. Duncan, we called at the store Of
man who, for his wife's sake, shall be
nameless, and, after pleasant exchange
Of greetings, presented the claims Of the
New NORTHWEST. The merchant re-
ferred US 10 his wife. We knew in
stantly what that meant-that the wife
had already had ber commands, aud
would be obliged to obey them. But we
wanted to verify the knowledge, so We
called upon the protected and supported
lady, who was found bard at work with
the mop. The good woman tried very
hard to conceal the fact that she was
compelled TO frame all sorts Of excuses
for not supporting a cause in which she
was evidently interested. We tried to
leave her with the impression that she
had deceived us as to the real state Of
the case, and hope We succeeded. 1t is
/ too bad, when a woman tries so hard to
shoulder her husbands mandates and
parade them as her own opinions, aud
you can't help seeing all tue time what
a transparent subterfuge she il painfully
acting, to disabuse her mind of the
phantasy by letting her see that she has
not succeeded. Still accompanied by
Mrs. Duncan, we returned to the store.
"WeIl, we've seen the good WIFE" we
said, pleasantly.
The husband unconseiously strutted
exultantly.
"What did she say >" be asked, with
the apparent consciousness that he knew
the reply already.
ooh, knew the minute I looked at
her that she wouldn't dare to take a
woman's paper. She'd already had her
orders to the contrary from financial
+ headquarters" We replied, promptly.
The purse-holder dropped his head
and his voice, and said, in a feeble tone,
as be turned away, "She could DO as she
pleased about it,"
".She didn't think So" we answered,
laughingly; and the discomfiled 'head
of the family" walked rapidly Of to the
tune Of his own musings.
We hope he won't 90 home and scoId
her before he sees this, under the mis-
taken idea that she admitted the facts.
Shed have died first Bot all the mans
rights doctrines in the land couldn't
have been piled high enough above her
head to hide the true state of the case
, from the understanding of an expert
Other and freer women must fight the
great battle Of justice for such as these.
Let them do it faithfully and we'll, not
even mindiug it when those they serve
make WY faces at them for their only
reward.
On Friday there was to be a great ag-
rieultural horse-race at the Hillsboro
Fair Grounds, and several ladies and
gentlemen, among them Governor
Thayer and Justice Kelly, came out by
special express, the two latter named
dignitaries being appointed as judges of
the race. In company of Mr.. and Mrs.
Cole OF East Portland, Mr.. and Mrs.
Cole of Denver, Major Bruce and wife,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Williams, we
went out to the track and enjoyed an
hour Of recreation. The day was glori-
ously fine, and the view we had from
the gale-torn ruin that had once seated
hundreds of spectators on similar occa-
sions was one long to be remembered.
But other folks did not 90 there merely
TO see the broad aud beautiful country,
the fertile fields, snowy mountain peaks
and purple green OF the majestic trees,
if We did. And so, for their sakes, and
in the interest of those who care for
horse-racing, We will try to write up
that race. Bat, first of all, we must ad-
NIT that our education in that line is
faulty, and some Of the ideas we may
advance will not strictly apply 20 the
turf under test conditions.
There were perhaps fifty men in at
tendance, besides the grooms and riders,
and three ladies, in addition to those a.
ready mentioned. Shortly after going
upon the grounds, somebody got on a
well-eurb and began "selliug pools"-
whatever that is-and, though we had
its mysteries explained several times,
we couldn't understand the hOws and
why's of 1t. But we know that one
horse was called the "dolIar-and-a-hal
horse" by somebody, anil that be won
the race. Another was called a 1.-TWO
dollar horse" and another was styled
"seven- -and-a-half'' by spectators; but,
further than the general understanding
that these expressions related to "POOls,"
we didn't comprehend it.
After long waiting, the signal bell was
tapped, and away, like the wind, went
the three excited racers, backed by three
excited riders, watched intently by half
a hundred excited spectators, and judged
critically by the deliberate judgment OF
the august Governor OF all the Oregon
ians and the Associate Supreme Justice
of the dying Oregon Court. You don't
catch as looking on at any scrub horse |
race Aud this race was nothing If not
aristocralic.
/ After the first "single dash Of a mile.u
we excused ourself from the genial com !
pany on the above mentioned ruin. and. |
retracing our solitary steps 10 the hotel.
could not but wonder, as we walked
/ leisurely in the invigOrating air. WHY
all the housewives and all the babies in
the village did not try TO avail them |
selves of the glorious day, the balmy |
sunshine and the beautiful scenery thai.
all unheeded, unfOlded natures richest
bOunties for their possession if they
would but heed their own best interests |
o. III aNN l.. 4 IL