Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-06-13
Our Portland Letter.


PORTLAND, Oregon, June 4th, 1891. |
To the Editor of the THE BLAcKFooT
NEWS. Consolidation is the order
of the day and Portland on-the VIII
lamette now includes all the adjoin.
ing suburbs and there is talk of free
bridge across the Willamette which is
now spanned by three toll-bridges.
Every year adds TO the beauty and
Importance of Portland which Is be-
coming quite "show City receiving
its full share Of tourists who have on
~ words Of praise for its unriyaled
scenery and lovely homes.
Few cities the size OF Portland can
boast OF more elegant homes each fifty
set in its own ample yard, where June
roses shower their scented petals. on
the velyety grass and Oil the air with
sweet perfumes.
Out In the country the wild straw
berries are blushing, not unseen, on
every grassy slope and the wild sweet
brier roses ars shyly putting out their
pale, pink blooms. The fruittrees
are masses of foliage with the cher
ries just beginning 10 turn red among
the green leaves. The small boy tries
TO persuade himself that cherries are
ripe when they show one rosy cheek,
but sad experience conyinces him
that all is not ripe that bushes.
The convention season has opened
and Portland is the gathering point
for scholars, reformers and mission
aries generally who come TO these
annual feasts Of thought and reason
brimful OF ideas 10 further the regen-
Grafton of mankind.
The Oregon State Convention and
the Pacific Coast Conference OF the
| w. Z. 7. U. closed very interesting
and instructive session last week,
having brought together workers in
the w. G. T. q. from California, Wash.
ington, Kansas, Idaho and all over
Oregon us well as two Of the National
| W. c. T. L. officers. Miss Pugh, treas
urer and Mrs. Buell., corresponding
secretary.
That well.known Col. Balm has al
80 been delighting Portland audien-
cies with his inimitable temperance
lectures.
III Col. Balm could give US a months
work In Idaho the temperance senti-
ment might rise few degrees above
It's present low condition. Unfortun-
atcly his time IS all engaged elsewhere.
One thing Is TO be noted in regard
70 the trend Of thought as expressed
at this w. G. r. U. meeting and that
is the practical tendency OF the WON
en- OF to-day Gush and sentiment
are largely thing Of the past and
cOol judgment, trained minds ana
plain common sense mark the clear
headed women whe from well-ordered
homes come together to earnestly
consider the needs OF humanity.
The W. G. 7. U. of Oregon, under
guidance OF its able President, Mrs.
Riggs, is doing a grand work in the
, Home for fallen women which it is
conducting.
"And yet said an able woman,
, this saving the fallen is like stand
2 ing on the shore OF river and drag.
] cling out poor drowning wrctches, no
bic work but how infinitely noblcr II
would be TO prevent their ever falling
in
The Methodist educational conven-
ton at present in session in Portland
represents Oregon, Idaho and Wash.
ington in considering the interests Of
higher education in the Pacific North
west ia connection with the NJ. +.
! church. Some interesting items have
/ been brought forward at this conven.
! ton, showing that the year 1884 wit
messed the beginning of Methodist
school work in Oregon, and the first
money raised for a school OF high
grade was raised In mid-ocean on a
ship 0regon.bound in 1899.
The convention Of the Woman's
: Foreign Missionary Society is holding
: it's meetings at Grace Church aud its
reports show encouraging progress.
These and kindred meetings are
encouraging signs that the great North
/ west is wheeling into line with the
foremost spirit OF the day in educa
, cational and religious matters Idaho
will have to take long step and .
!. quick one 10 keep up. -.