Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/80

Rh pap and gruel, children, cook-stoves, and the sundry little affairs that make life comparatively comfortable and makes them, what Providence designed them, "Help-meets."

But affliction will come upon us, even here in Oregon, where we are castigated with so many already. It is bad and worse enough to have unjust laws,—poor lawyers judges—taxes, and no money, with the combined evils they saddle on us, without this last visitation of Providence—"an authoress." In the words of Homer (or his translator) we say, "and may this first invasion be the last. . ."

Our space being limited, we can give no more quotations from the book, so just leave the reader to peruse it for himself. To call it trash would be impolite, for the writer is an "authoress." Pages 86 and 87 contain some pretty morceaux for Ruth's diary. We think, however, that private Biographies are an infliction hardly tolerable. When a Napoleon, a Byron, or any other lion makes his exit, it is well enough to know

"How that animal eats, how he snores, how he drinks," But who the dickens cares about the existence of a fly, or in whose pan of molasses the insect disappeared?

The Oregonian was not always severe on a new book. There was, for example, the favorable notice given in the issue of July 25, 1857:

"New Book.—We have received from A. R. Shipley, book seller in this city, a new work by Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL. D., entitled 'Religious Truth.' We have not as yet examined the work, but from the character of the author, and the favorable notices by the Atlantic press, we have no doubt of its value."

And then we come to a possible reason for the notice given the book, for Mr. Dryer goes on to observe:

"We recommend a careful perusal of this new work to Bro. Pearne, of the Pacific Christian Advocate. Its title alone, if adopted and practiced by our contemporary, would be of great service in reference to his latter end."

From the very beginning the Oregonian stood for what Theodore Roosevelt used to call "orderly liberty," and Dryer's voice was frequently raised in behalf of law enforcement and human rights. He was willing even to rap a court of law on the wrist when he thought flagrant injustice had been done. Probably it was more than mere appreciation of a bit of clever writing that caused him to give space to the following communication taking sharp issue with the action of a Portland judge: