Idaho Semi Weekly World

MRS. DUNTON IN CHICAGO.

The following extracts are taken from a letter written on Oct. 8th by Mrs. H. W. Dunton to Mrs. E. W. Jones, of this place. Mrs. Dunton went to Chicago as a delegate from Idaho to the Rebekah Grand Convention which met in Chicago on Sept. 26th:

"I arrived here on Sunday, Sept. 24th, and Monday morning bright and early started out to hunt Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and you may be sure I found them at 260 South Clark street. There I met Grand Sire Campbell and many others of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, and many Rebekahs, among them our President of the National Convention, and Margaret K. Ford, of Illinois, Temporary Chairman. In the afternoon we all went to view the parade, which was the grandest pageant I ever saw. The carriages of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, alone, reached five blocks. The next day we met in convention. I was given the name of the business manager of the convention; so much for the P. N. G. of Rose Rebekah No 18. I was appointed teller and worked with a will and called out the names steadily for more than an hour. They wanted me to run for Secretary, but I would not let them nominate me for any office whatsoever. The President, however, honored me with the appointment of Grand Warden of the national body. In the afternoon we were called to the Fair and to the music hall to listen to addresses of those chosen by the committee. Some of them were grand and some were very poor efforts. Missouri carried off the honors. I was delighted to think I was a woman and a Rebekah when the able woman from that State left the Stage. Now to the Fair. It is grand, magnificent, beautiful, heavenly. It is as if one were in Paradise when standing around the Grand Basin watching the electric fountains play during the illumination. Words fail me when I try to describe it. Our building is the most unique of any State building at the Fair. It is a design wholly unlike anything else there and attracts widespread attention and admiration. Coming up the walk from the 57th street entrance we pass by many white buildings and in the distance looms up a dark structure shaping itself into a huge log cabin, as we near it, with the inscription "Idaho" over the stone cave-like entrance. Passing through this into the building to the right of the hall is a room with "Commissioner" written over the door; to the left, "Reading Room," where one finds all the Idaho papers scattered about. Continuing on and up the stairway we find rooms on either side containing collections from the "Gem of the Mountains" scattered about. In one corner opals can be purchased, so a placard says. Turning again to the right we enter the main room, answering for a parlor and kitchen in a log cabin. At one side of the center is a huge fireplace with an iron camp kettle hanging on the cross iron. Up above is a mantle with shelves on either side. Here are huge doors of rough plank, a very large table of planed wood, settee in front of fire place with very high back and seat of leather. There are four small chairs and a large one in each front corner of the room, and a bench seat under the windows, with many stuffed pillows lying about, an oaken side-board or cupboard on which stands brass spirit kettle and a set of old-fashioned blue China, a piano in one corner, and in another a willow table where Idaho ladies are served with tea "free gratis." On the floor are three large rag-woven rugs, and in the walls are sticking many miners' candlesticks with candles in them. One sitting there hears such expressions as these from visitors: "Now isn't this nice?" exclaims one lady friend to another. "Now this remind me of my mother's kitchen," says another, from Kentucky. A man from Texas or Missouri-I don't know which-exclaims, with delight depicted all over his countenance, in language more forcible than elegant: " You may call this rough and old-fashioned, but a man's got to know what he's a doin' to plan it and hev it put up!" I agree with him perfectly. The idea must have been an original one, and it was a genius who superintended its construction.

went to see " America" and Terry and Henry Irving. They were immense.

I shall wait here until Mr. Dunton and Herbert come from the East, which will be on the 12th. Then we will go on together to Boise, and will arrive there in time for the Grand Lodge. Well, I must stop, as it is getting very late."