The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-07-14
The Portland Exposition.


Mrs. Olivia j. G. Woodman has favor
ed us with the following. interesting let
ter descriptive OF her trip to the West;
Portland, Oregon, July /, 1905.
Editor Northerner:
gladly use this opportunity to remind
the friends in Paw Paw and vicinity that
they are often in thought, though am
ia the midst of wondrous scenes and
events. Our special train left Chicago
on schedule time, June 23. Long before
the hour for starting we were quietly
sleeping in our berths. When we wax
ened We had passed the Mississippi river
and were rushing along westward. We
first looked up our companions and
found a most congenial and distinguish
ed company. Miss Susan b. Anthony,
So years young, was the one to whom we
all turned in admiration. Let me say
just here that Aunt Susan" has not
grown sour or hard in her long march
down the years, and often her sense of
humor runs over and a caustic bit of sar-
casm never harsh or unkind) falls FROM
her lips and her face lights up with
kindly smile, and we forget for the time
that she has been the subject of cruel
scorn and unmerited criticism and
through it all she has kept herself un-
scathed and is to-day the recipient of
more honors than any other woman in
America.
will not take space to review the
scenes through which we passed except
in special lines. However, let me say
our party was given three receptions
while enroute by ladies' who came to the
train to greet US. These were very de-
lightful functions. The last one was
when we reached Cheyenne, Wyoming.
We left the car and spent couple of
hours in the city. Some of US secured
some Wyoming sand which we shall take
to our anti friends at home with the
hope that they will become inoculated
thereby with suffrage truth. We crossed
the great plains, which were covered
with living green, and as | gazed from
my window | realized as never before
how great is our nation, and | felt the
thrill OF an inspiration as | realized
somewhat the vastness of Gods wonder
full creation. Sunday afternoon we held
a service in the parlor car The prayer
was offered by Rev. Antoinette Black
WELL the first woman ordained to the
ministry in the United States. She is
Unitarian. Miss Anthony, Rev. Anna
Shaw and others, including wanderer
from Paw Paw, took part in the service,
giving short informal addresses.
Tuesday morning, we rose at a. On.
western time) that We might not lose
any of the scenes along the Columbia
river. 1t was day never to be forgot
ten. 1t cannot be told in words. We
had crossed the highest point of the
Rockies along our line, we had been en-
raptured with majestic scenes, but it
was all as naught compared to the
scenes along this wonderful river. One
almost held his breath in speechless awe
as he beheld the grandeur-mountains
whose lofty brows were capped with
fleecy clouds and snowy peaks glistening
in the sunlight; the majestic rocks piled
high and then higher, some solitary,
standing like sentinels, others in lodges
or piled in matchless grandeur above our
power of vision, while the swift flowing
stream with its rapids and cataracts
make up the wonderful panorama; and
when we finally reached our destination
we very reluctantly pulled into the rose
city of the world, Portland by the sea.
Roses, roses, everywhere. We gazed en-
tranced by their beauty and intoxicated
with their fragrance.
A knot of yellow ribbon on our coats
told the people who we were, and soon
we were resting in our rooms.
Portland as city is very attractive
and its general air of push and energy
makes one feel ambitious. The exposi-
ton? Well, it impresses one with its
beauty and extent as he enters the gate.
A white city set in green valley, the
great bills towering above surmounted
by forests of stately cedars, while grand
old Mt. Hood, whose lofty summit is
crowned with the eternal SHOWS, looks
down from his proud eminence in benig-
nant splendor over the scene. The ex-
position is constructed on vast scale
and the visitor realizes that there is
plenty of standing room on the first
floor. Let me say just here that there
10 oCdlCity VI SCulptuItu ucCOTdllODS.
One statue representing the rough rid
ers is very conspicuous. Strange as it
seems, the Lewis q Clark exposition
company have not done anything to hon
or the memory of the brave indian woman
Sasajawea, who piloted the first expedi-
ton through these lands, and with her
pappoose upon her back made it posi-
BILE for them to win fame and honors;
but since our arrival a statue has been
raised in her honor by the women of
this portion of our union. The exhibits
in many of the buildings seem like de-
partment stores, the attendants being so
anxious to sell their wares that they often
pursue you to point of insolence. Ma
chinery and agricultural halls are the
best restricted from these annoyances.
While there are many visitors, still it
seems to me it is gigantic failure finan-
cially; but this may not be true, | do
not know. For architectural beauty it
is not to be compared with those exposi-
tons further east.
pnrI oh