The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-04-07

SOnSStreSS. A SIlsnt plattOrm had DeeI
erected in the open space in front O
the depot and Miss Garden was es
cOrted from the train to the platform
by Gov. OlcOtt, of Oregon, and Mayer
Baker of Portland. The visitor faced 6
sea of upturned faces, upon every one
Of which she could read a cordial wei.
come. Broadway, over which street sc
much travel and traffic flows between
siderable height above the large open
space in front of the railroad station
and from that advantageous point Of
view hundreds of people looked down
upon the scene of the reception, while
as many heads as possibly could be
accommodated gazed upon the spec
tacle from the windows of the depot
building. Miss Garden glanced with
radient smiles upon the crowd imme-
diately surrounding her and waved
her kerchief with the grace that could
be expected OF one who has spent SO
long a time upon the lyric stage, to
the crowds on the Broadway viaduct
and at the depot windows.
From all outward and visible signs
Miss Garden keenly appreciated the
reception rendered her, and if she did
not she cleverly used all the arts Of
the stage to give good imitation of
appreciation. But there is no question
but that her surprise and delight was
genuine. and her happiness was dis
played in sunny smiles, in gracious
acknowledgment of the applause ten
dered her, in that jolly shrug of shoul-
ders as she listened to the flattering
words of welcome, and to the brief
speech of introduction by the mayor,
gentleman built on liberal lines as
to altitude and girth, with a carrying
voice in keeping with the physical
frame from which it eninates. Miss
Garden was moved to tears, real tears,
which would not be denied even under
the sunshine of forced smiles, and she
naively declared that it would be i'm
possible for her to reply under the
and II she did she
feared that it might effect her voice
so she could not sing her part In the
evenings entertainment.
The very elements Joined with the
people of Portland in welcoming Miss
Garden to the city. Here on the coast
at this season OF the year pleasant
weather cannot be figured on as a
certainty. Clouds and rain and more
rain is about the daily experience.
There was every reason to expect that
it would rain the day the opera COM
pany reached Portland, as it rained
hard the night before, and about every
day or night during the past two
experience extends. In anticipation Of
the normal brand of weather a can
ophy had been stretched over the plat
form upon which the reception pro-
gram was to be carried out, but 10
and behold, to the surpise Of every
body old Sol popped out before the
arrival of the train, as though just as
anxious to take squint at the adOr-
able prima donna as any Of the old
beaux. or elderly danes, the young
bucks or simpering maidens who had
flocked to the depot for an off stage
sight of one of the most talked of and
written about females in the land.
Before the opening of the Official pro-
gram Miss Garden and her retinue Of
attendants had to face a battery Of
cameras and moving picture machines,
the newspaper boys being strictly on
the job, with the movie representatives
close second. We have seen larger
receptions with more hurrahs and
brass bands, but never one in which
the spirit of sincerity more conspic-
uously prevailed, nor one where the
recipient showed signs Of being more
truly and keenly impressed and graf
flied.
We have accumulated a crick in
our neck trying to glimpse the tall
buildings down in the business jun
gle. Ten, twelve, fifteen story blocks
are numerous, substantial and impos-
ing. Steel, brick and concrete monu-
ments to the progressive spirit that
seems to permeate the population.
The public buildings, such as the
postoffices, as there are two main
buildings devoted to that purpose
nere, the customs office, the city and
county buildings, the auditorium and
others, while not infringing upon the
upper strata of air are massive struc-
lures, free of outer OrnamentatiOn
out giving the impression of everlast-
ing stability. And the churches must
not be passed up without mention
Portland is a city of churches and
many of them are OF beautiful design
vast piles of masonery capable OF ac-
commodating large congregations
Whether the church going habit is
more generally developed among
Portlanders than in other commune
ties with which We are more familiar
We are not in position to say, but il
the sea ang capacity OF these many
places of worship are taxed every
sunday to accommodate the seekers
after spiritual grace, then q very large
percentage of the population are
church goers.
Almost every city of any size has
one especial local scenic attraction
which is an asset as a drawing care
and Portland is no exception to thu
rule. only Portland has the marked