Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-07-23
MOODS OF ROGUE RIVER
Some Midsummer Bea titles and
Plea sutes OF Grants Pass.
tBy Audley Porter)

sides of the square, stand, lounge or
stroll gaily decked throng. By
gen eral consent this side is occupied
by medley Of city drummers, casual
passers, miners from the gold fields,
strangers and single men of all de-
scriptions. That side is devoted to the
young folks, girls in white dresses
and streaming ribbons, little groups
of friends, young ladies accompanied
by gallant escorts trigged out in lin
en- waistcoats, lovers in pairs and
cooling to the time of the music. Be.
yond are the older folk, portly danes
leaning back in their seats with self
satisfied complacency, and jolly old
beaux furnishing mp their somewhat
rusty manners after day of business
life.
Beneath the twinkling incandescent
lights, 1t is all very animated. very
lively, very restless A freight train
stands ON the track near by and the
heavy volume of smoke rolling from the
stack indicates that it is about to pull
out southwark. The headlight blazes
wrathfully, as benefits the eye of a
fierce, fire eating dragon. Everything
is very gay, very pleasant and nice,
and the music is very enjoyable That
| S one mood of American life.
Rogue river-Gliding down through
the mountains from Ter source near
the wonderful Crater lake, stepping
lightly and so swiftly, she runs to
meet her father, the ocean; Rogue
river, shyest Of maidens, dainty and
sweet; Roguer river, widest Of romps
and streaming her tresses Of golden
ripples in careless confusion as she
flies; Rogue river, most solemn of
sages Rogue river, in all her moods
the child of the free wilderness. A
rogue-laughing, saucy rogue, rightly
named. A gentle, soothing friend
in need-an enemy moro guileful than
any Indian who in days gone by shed
the blood Of the timid deer ON her
banks. And Rogue river, most
beautiful, most charming, most wise
and most sweet in the moonlight.
She woos us to another and no less
pleasant mood.
The hills Of Oregon are deceptive.
They do not appear large nor high
aud they form a circle on the horizon
both graceful and varied. The yellow
moon deepens tho shading on both
star studded sky and forest covered
mountain. The sky, of pure and
heavy tone, relieved by the wide via
lacte at the base and the forest shad-
ing off into pearl gray mist. Out of
this mist the river comes-comes
sweeping past the "White Rocks"
near which 1t is said General Lane
made a treaty with the Indians; past
country house and villa; n charming
stretch Of straight course beneath the
bridge, over the dam, and then curves
out of sight to the westward.
The brave old oaks and slender
cottonwoods along the high banks Of
the river are mirrorred inversely in
the leaden hued depths below The
silver shaft OF light which is reflected
in broad ribbon from the surface of
the waters betrays the fact Of their
volume; little eddies and currents
from the underworld and wayelets
driven by the odorous broezes from
heaven. In the moment we gaze, a
great, shining salmon leaps up in the
belt of reflected light; n glistening,
ldripping, living fish, that curves and
falls reluctantly into his element once
more.
A small boat containing party
of young people is approaching the
shore, and the contagious laughter of
girls and deep songs Of boatmen
miDg.e with the sound of the oars.
On the other hand glimmers and
glints camp fire, throwing grotesque
shadows on the white tent walls be-
hind it.
There is light and love and music
on the river She is charming
friend. She soothes and makes us
forget our SORROWS. Old Egypt's s
sedrrt',c Nilu is there with nopenthe
that hid,s the last aud breads the
future. To these she says; "Bo
merry, while youth and happiness are
thine be pure and be merry, as am
in my virgin loveliness" There is
darkness and dread aud dirge up
there among the pearl gray mists.
Once the river treacherously slew
some one. WhyI Who knowsi
Come" she walled, for thou art
called Of thy Maker, and for thee
am an angel of death. Below the
great span Of the bridge the water
flows calmly on and the roar at the
dam Is n subdued sound Of resistless
and never ending power. II Is darker
ON this side Of the bridge and We hold
our breath and look into the abyss.
Then come wonderful hopes for the
future; calm remembrance Of the
past. And with the throb Of the
waters, flowing endlessly on TO the
ocean, comes patience and peace
sweet peace In the present, aud
patience 10 wait for the fulfilled
promise Of eternity. II Is good to feel
the mood Of the river when the spirit
is buoyant, when life is abundant and
when friends are In sweet commun.
ion
II is good 10 feel the mood Of the
river when the moon Is at its full
when ones life Is surfcited with care,
and the heart is heavy with longing.
1--WE are sweeping resistlessly ON,
says the river, and will soon rest IN
the bosom Of my Father.
THE WHlTE-HEMENWAYC CO,
. / ~ l..