Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-05-15
ALsfA PARENTS MEETING.
An Appreciative Corvaliisite Attended
and Enjoyed AIsea Hospitality.

An Appreeiative Corvallisite Attended
and Enjoyed Alsea Hospitality.
EDITOR GAZETTE II received an inYi-
tation from Sup't Denman to accompany
him on a school and parents meeting
trip to Bellfountain and Alsea. Never
having been in the southern end of the
county or in the Alsea country l was not
long in making up my mind to accept
the invitation. Leaving heye last Thurs
dav eve we spent the night at the hospi-
table home OF Lewis Edwards on his
beautiful farm some two aud half miles
south OF the village OF Bellfountsin.
The reilIng land and beautiful farms In
this vicinity mAfks II 40 one OF The most
picturesque spots In the state. Friday
being the closing day Of the school In
that district We gave the forenoon to the
class room and listened to fine pro.
gram in the afternoon from the pupils.
The school is in fine shape and from
what we saw aud heard, no argument
was necessary to convince us that the
teachers understood their work aad did it.
Miss Foshay, of Albany, has charge Of
the school assisted by Miss Reader of the
vicinity. A good healthy feeling per
vades the atmosphere between teachers,
pupils aud patror..
Leaving Bellfountain in the evening.
We drove ten miles over the mountains
(and such drive and such road to tie
mountain home of R. G. Mires, where
we lodged and feasted.
Saturday Was to be the day Of our trip
that parents meeting was the burden
of the superintendent's song; so bright
and early We were off for the Alsea val
Icy for the parents meeting arranged for
BY the Grange, which held short SEES
sion in the morning. At II o'clock the
hall was closed and the ladies took
charge. and the changed appearance aud
81 sht presented to US at noon, proved
that they were fit for the occasion. I
have seen all kinds Of public spreads,
large and small, but for delicacy and
quality do not think that have ever
seen this one equaled, certainly not sur
passed. After Some three hundred hum
CRY men, women and children had more
titan satisfied themselves at the table,
there remained not only enough to ELL
the twelve historical baskets with frag-
ments, but enough to feed band of In.
dians.
At l o'clock the meeting was called to
order by Sup't Denman who had charge.
The house was packed and jammed and
then not all in attendance could be cared
for. After the singing OF songs, in which
all joined, the program proper was taken
up. Opening with papers on the duty of
teachers, by three of the teachers in the
valley, D. w. Jones, G. G. Springer and
our own Ethel Kyle who is now filing
short engagement there. Then followed
addresses by the school patrons of the
valley, hitting the schools from all points
of the compass, covering all the ground
Many of these talks gave evidence of
reading aud thought. They were all
good but some of them were better
The programme was interspersed by
singing. recitations and dialogues from
the schools represented. Recitations
by Leona Wren, Myrtle Hayden, Ruth
Hayden, Ethel Cathcart, Lizzie Ham
mersly and Lille Ssrakey. A concert
re .itation by pupils from Dist. Al, also q
dialogue from the same schools and a
beautiful duett well rendered by Mr.. and
Mrs. J. E. Banton.
Itwas good meeting largely attended,
in which much interest was manifested
and will be the means of doing much
good for the schools in that valley, set
ting before the parents, teachers and pu-1
pills their duties in such a way that it
comes right into their own homes. The
meeting was grand success, and the
honor all goes to the valley as they did
all the work.
was much pleased With this my FIRST
trip into the valley and royalty enter
tanned. They have bright and intelli-
gent community. and although almost
shut out from the world for part of the
year, are well abreast Of the times on all
the interesting subjects Of the day
q thrifty people, for when looked over
the audience in that hall and saw the
large number OF children, thought If
President Roosevelt would come in there
he would make tho grandest speech OF
his life. and 60 away fully satisfied that
the human race was not suicidal in Alsea
valley.
It is beautiful little valley. and yen
enjoy it more after the struggle you make
to get close enough TO see it from the
m,untain top. ]. w. C.
No Nearer a Solutien.