, 1892-10-03
MINIATURES REALM.
Picturesque Surroundings Of the
Hood River Valley.
L Letter From mrs. q. l.. Hender-
sOn--WeH Known OIymPIans of
Early Days--SOmething About
the Churches and surroundings.

the Churches and surroundings.
HooD RIVER, September y.
would not give the impression that we
have no churches here, on the contrary 1
fear there are too many for anything but
sickly growth I doubt if the religious
welfare would not be increased could the
few worshippers at each consent to COM
bine into one fourishing union consrega-
ton. But to expect an impossibihty is
madness, and as it is impossible for all
men to do we'll, so it is for all men to think
alike or alike think difference of opinion
does nat matter in true religion; that re-
igion which consists in doing rather than
in believing.
We have a Methodist church within
sight and a Congregational in this upper
district, and two in the village. One Con-
gregational also, the other "The United
Brethren" We are not severely regular
in our church-going when up here for a few
weeks or months. Who is it says, in some
village annals: 1--WE do not wish to be
better than the common men, and would
not show a greedy desire to stand well with
Heaven, by an undue advantage over 9TH
ers."
Occasionally our "still life" is broken in
upon most pleasantly by a visit, as today,
from our old friends, Mr.. and Mrs. e. l..
Smith, formerly of Olympia, but now re-
siding here. We can never forget, nor
cease to be grateful for Mr.. Smiths help
fulness three years since, when long and
serious illness was III our midst. He was
to us then, in our sore need, strength, sup
port and counsel. Friend, son and broth
er in one. We are gladdened with a sight
also, at intervals, OF our still longer and
better known friends, Rev. Il. l.. Eliot and
wife, who have recently built a new and
comfortable colonial home up here, the
only draw back we find in it. being its great
er distance from us than his former ''shee-
bang" close by. DR.. and Mrs. Barrett, whose
hospitable house three miles of is 50 attrac-
tive to visitors, as is her botanical knoWl-
edge to my son, are among our other ac-
quisitiOns here, but there are also many
other worthless and others, of whom we
might say, like the New England woman
of her sister: "Them and we amt no
more alike 'nef 'twa'nt us. They're just
ez diff7runt ez 1 be t'Other way"
Mr.. and Mrs. Eliot, with the younger
branch of the family, will remain here this
October, the most bewitching month of
the year, for the rest and recuperatiOn he
finds here more than elsewhere. The little
4 two-year-old chatterbox with us, agile as a
squirrel, quick as a kitten and meddlesome
quaint and old-fashioned speeches, pre-
sents the danger that the viewless fetters
| of too uniform existence might other
wise slip over us, and fOrbids slOth. She
wages war fearlessly and mercilessly with
the "willOw yellow jackets" and yet adj
mits, 81 very fraid cows might unhook
me-"
Wednesday, September 28.--I wish the
/ pen of Shelly were mine TO describe the
rapturous freshness and beauty ,Of this
early morning, for no other can do it JUS
/ tice. Not a sound to break the still seren-
! ity but the chirp of a cricket or the note of
/ a meadow lark, for the robin and wren
have flown, the plaintive turtle dove has
raised its call to its mate and the usual
west winds do not even whisper. The aro-
matte scent of the pines so healing and so
restorative, beguiles one to a stretch be-
meath them on the soft carpet of fallen
leaves beside bauks of ferns, while the Jay
birds, with the bright blue plumage, dart
among the green depths of the foliage.
Mount Hood and Mount Adams stand
forth in snowy majesty, from base to sum-
NIT, the former piercing the blue ether
like a wedge, the latter slightly yelled, as
if the double glory in full were too resplen-
dent for mortal eyes. But a truce to fur
ther rhapsody on nature, our only theme
here where a breeze from the outer world
seldom stirs us, and where, had we access
to a class of population to be found here,
presume as elsewhere, THAT would not al
low cinder of gospel to go out for want of
air, )" that topic would probably prove no
more interesting to those for whom write
than it would to us.
A wonderful excursion may be made
from here to "Cloud Capped Isen" Mount
Hood, and which we should be eager to
accomplish, only that now while roads and
weather are just perfect for it, the season
is rather late, as the hotel closes the 1st of
October, but few days of. The stage
runs daily from the village when excur-
sionists offer, making the trip up in six or
seven hours allowing a halt for lunch.
The cost of the round trip is, believe, $8,
with board at the hotel from SO to $3.50 per
day, and from one to two days stay there
is all that is necessary, except for ex-
plOrers. Next month we look for the be-
quilting Indian summer, and if the weather
holds good, and life is as satisfying till the
first of November as now, we purpose not
retracing our steps to Olympia before the
expiration Of that time Meanwhile we
read with interest and attention the
columns of the DAILY TRIBUNE, and appre-
ciate the effort that Mr.. Chaplin is making
for educational facilities on the Westside.
May his endeavors be seconded by the peo-
pie, and may l see that progressive push
has sprung up in many other directions
when l am once more among you
MRS. @. l.. HENDERSON.