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ORGAN  OF  THE  PRJESTH-OOD    QUORUM5, 
THE  YOUNG  MENS  MUTUAL    IMPROVEMENT 
ASSOCIATIONS,  AND  THE    5CHOOU5      OF  THE 
CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS- 
PUBLISHED  MONTHLY  BY  THE 
GENERAL.  BOARD  AT  SALT  LAKE    CITY,  UTAH. 


% 


BEFORE  THE  SMOKE 
CLEARS  AWAY 

On  your  fire-stricken  shop,  factory, 
office  or  store,  you  can  resume  busi- 
ness if  insured  with  us.  No  long 
unnecessary  delays  in  adjusting',  no 
haggling  over  terms;  but  prompt  pay- 
ment of  losses  every  time.  It's  to  our 
interest  to  get  you  set  up  in  business 
again — we  can  insure  you  again. 
HOME  FIRE  INSURANCE  COMPANY  OF  UTAH 

Heber  J.  Grant  &  Go.  Sss1 

20-26  So.  Main  St.  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


BOTH  PHONES  351 

Jos,  Wm.  Taylor 

Utah's  Leading  Undertaker 
and  Licensed  Embalmer. 


Fine  Funeral   Chapel,    Private 
.Parlor,  Show  Rooms  and  Morgue 

OFFICE  OPEN  DAY  AND  NIGHT 

21,  23  and  25  South  West  Temple  St. 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


Established  1889 


Capital,  $200,000 


Utah  Commercial 
and  Savings  Bank 

A  01      Interest,  computed  semi-annually, 
*    10  on  Savings  Deposits. 

Commercial  Banking  in  all  its 
branches.  Accounts  of  Banks  and  In- 
dividuals solicited.  Customers  assured 
the  best  accommodations  consistent 
with  conservative  and  safe  banking. 
Wm.  F.  Armstrong,  Byron  Groo, 

President.  Cashier. 


Scenic  Line  of 
the  World 


THROUGH  PULLMAN 

and 

TOURIST  SLEEPERS 

to 

DENVER 
ST.  LOUIS 

and 
CHICAGO 

For  Folders,  Booklets,  etc.  address 

I.  A.  BENTON,  G.  A.  P.  D., 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


The 


State  Bank  of  Utah 


Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


Established  1890 


This  Bank  solicits  the  accounts 
of  banks,  firms  and  individuals,  and 
extends  to  such  customers  every 
reasonable  courtesy  and  facility. 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  Pres.         Chas.  S.  Burton,  Cashier 
Anthem  H.  Lund,  V.  Pres.     H,T.  McEwan,  Asst.  Cash 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA) 


GENUINE  GOLD  FILED  RINGS  AND  SOLID  GOLD  RINGS 

Every   ring  listed  is  of  excellent   quality   and    will   give  perfect    satisfaction 
Postage  He   extra   for   each   ring.      Regisiercil     for    10c    additional. 


No.   3029 
JVo.  3020 — Child's 
Ring.     Gold    filled. 
Beautiful  stones. 

Our  Price  29c 


No.    3021 


No.  3021  —  A 
Beautiful  Misses' 
King.  Set  with 
various  colored 
stones   and   pearls. 

Our  Price  48c 


Xo.  3022 
No.  3022  —  Gold 
filled.  Set  with 
imitation  rubies, 
e  m  e  r  a  1  d  s.  bril- 
liants and  pearls. 

Our    Price    55c 


No.  3023 
No.     3023  —  Gold 

filled.  Set  with 
brilliants.  Imita- 
tion ruby  or  em- 
erald.  Engraved. 
Our    Price    45c 


No.     30 10   —   Sterling 
Silver.  Long-        opal. 

Handsome    ring. 

Our    Price    44c 
No.   3070 — Solid   gold. 
Genuine       Utah       aina- 
trice  setting. 

Our   Price  $4.39 
Imitation    Stone    $2.49 


\o.  3019  —  Sterling 
silver.  Extra  heavy. 
Fine  engraved.  Beau- 
tiful stone.    Price  ¥1.39 

No.  3079 — Solid  gold. 
Genuine  Utah  stone. 
Amatrice.  Beautiful 

colorings.     Price  $4.92 


No.  3018  —  Sterling 
silver.  Coral  or  cameo 
white  setting. 

Our    Price    63c 

No.  3078 — Solid  gold. 
10k.  Finest  real  coral 
cameo. 

Our  Price  $5.68 


No.  3900  —  Baby' 
King.  Hand  engrave* 
Beautiful    stone. 

Our    Price    30e 


No.     3000 — Baby's     or 
Girl's    Solid    Gold   King. 

One  or  three  stones. 
Our    Price    86c 
Diamond    Chip    95c 


No.  3001  —  Misses' 
King.  Engraved.  Sig- 
net. 


Our    Price    40c 


No.   3061 — Solid 
10k.      Girl's   Ring. 


gold. 


Our  Price  $1.29 
Baby's   Size  98c 


No.  3002  —  Lady's 
King.  Engraved.  Pol- 
ished  signet. 

Our    Price    45c 

No.  3962 — Solid  gold. 
10k.  All  sizes.  En- 
graved. Our  Price  $1.49 


No.  3005 — Plain  band, 
gold  filled.  Fine  qual- 
ity. Our    Price    09c 

No.      3965  — "IV  eliding 
Ring.    Solid   gold.     10k. 
Our   Price  $2.99 

1  4    karat 
Our  Price  $4.69 


No.      3000    —    Chased 
Band  King.    Gold  filled. 
Our    Price    47c 

No.  3066 — Heavy  10k 
engraved  band.  Very 
fine.         Our  Price  $2.85 


No.      3097 — Engraved 
Tiffanv     style.        Ruby 
set.      Gold     filled. 
Our    Price    40c 
No.   3067 — Solid   gold, 
fine   brilliant. 

Our  Price  $2.39 
Set  with  ruby 
Our  Price  $2.95 


We  can  fill  your  order  for  any  article  suitable  for  Xmas  Gifts 
and  GUARANTEE  TO  SAVE  YOU  MONEY. 

WESTS'  MAIL  ORDER  HOUSE,  -  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

(When  writing  to  Advertisers  please  mention  the  ERA.) 


To  Workers  for  the  Era. 


We  thank  you  for  the  t houaanda  <>f  new  subscribers  Hint  you  have 
already  forwarded  to  this  office  for  volume  15.  We  take  it  for  granted 
tiint  every   ward  in  the  Church   bow   baa  an  agent   properly  appointed.     In 

thanking  yon  for  ii!i:i(  yon  have  done,  wC  hope  tli:it  yOU  will  con!  i  it  of  the 
good  work.  Pleaae  pot  your  shoulders  to  the  wheel  and  secure  the  allotted 
5  per  cent  of  the  Chnrch  population  In  your  stake  and  ward  a*  aubscrlbers. 
We  believe  that  if  every  ward  is  thoroughly  canvassed  in  the  early  part  of 
December,  by  the  officers  of  the  Young  Men's  Associations,  with  the  ap- 
proval and  support  of  the  bishops,  there  will  he  no  difficulty  in  obtaining 
the  required  number  of  subscribers;   namely,  5   per  cent   in   every   ward. 

Instead  of  having  only  twenty-four  stakes  on  the  Roll  of  Honor  we 
hope  to  have  every  stake  on  the  roll.  "What  one  stake  can  do,  another 
stake  can  do.  The  disposition  and  the  willingness  to  work  is  all  that  is 
needed,  and  we  believe  that  you  have  both.  The  ERA  is  worth  every  dollar 
charged  for  it,  and  we  have  no  hesitancy  in  urging  that  it  be  placed  In 
every  home.  A  copy  of  the  ERA  is  sent  free  to  every  missionary  in  the 
field. 

We  also  appeal  to  the  individual  subscribers  of  the  ERA  who,  we  are 
sure,  enjoy  its  pages,  and  who  know  its  advantages  as  a  magazine  for 
the  home,  to  take  the  trouble  to  get  one  other  subscriber  who  is  not  now 
reading   the   ERA. 

Wishing  you  success,  and  hoping  to  hear  from  you  in  early^  December, 
we  remain, 

Yours   truly, 

HEBER    J.    GRANT.    Manager, 
MORONI    SNOW,    Asst.    Mgr., 

20-22   Bishops'  Building, 

Salt    Lake   City,    Utah. 


OUR  Genealogy  or  perhaps  your 
Family  Record  would  be  of  value 
and  interest  if  published  in  book 
fo-m.  We  are  manufacturers  and  make 
any  book  desired  right  here  at  home.  A 
conference  with  us  might  assist  you  in 
printing  or  publishing  such  a  book  as 
you  have  in  mind.       ::         ::         ::         :: 

SKELTON  PUBLISHING  CO. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA) 


:^f/  I 


PARK    VALLEY,    UTAH 

You  Can  BUY  a    Farm  From    Us  For  the 
fsBuS!    Same  Amount  You  Pay  to  Rent  One  Else- 
where.    There  is  no  Better   Land  in  Utah 
for  the  Price. 

Park  Valley  is  the  place  for  the  man  of  moderate  means — the  man  with  a  family,  who  wants  to 
"play  safe"  for  the  future,  and  insure  those  dependent  upon  him  a  life's  independence.  The  ambitious 
man,  who  will  put  thought  and  hard  work  into  the  task  of  securing  a  competence  in  the  country,  cannot 
fail  of  success.     Everything  is  there  to  help  him — at  least  it  is  so  in  Park  Valley. 

The  Pacific  Land  &  Water  Co.  have  been  selling  land  in  Park  Valley  for  the  past  eighteen  months — 
thousands  of  acres  have  been  purchased  'by  men  of  various  avocations  of  life.  Many  have  built 
homes  in  the  valley,  while  others  will  do  likewise  or  sell  again  at  a  profit.  Practically  every  buyer 
of  land  in  Park  Valley  went  over  the  land  before  purchasing.  They  stayed  several  days  in  the  valley, 
examined  and  tested  the  soil,  noted  the  growing  crops  on  thriving  farms,  saw  how  easily  water  is  ob- 
tained (from  ten  to  fifty  feet)  and  satisfied  themselves  that  the  water  is  as  pure  as  any  in  the  inter- 
mountain  country.  All  have  been  impressed  with  the  land's  opportunities,  and  when  given  the  prices 
and  terms,  none  have  hesitated  to  buy.     They,  like  the  company,  have  faith  in  the  future  of  Park  Valley. 

Consider  what  the  valley  offers:  Location — Practically  in  the  center  of  Box  Elder  county,  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  Southern  Pacific  station  at  Kelton.  and  also  the  Salt  Lake  &  Idaho  railroad,  now 
building  from  Burley,  Idaho,  to  the  shores  of  Great  Salt  Lake.  Water — Plenty  of  the  clearest  and 
purest  water  may  be  obtained  at  a  depth  of  from  ten  to  fifty  feet;  some  gasoline  engine  pumping  plants 
have  been  installed  and  proved  successful.  The  rainfall  in  Park  Valley  is  above  the  average  for  the 
state — always  adequate  for  profitable  dry  farming.  Soil — A  loose,  sandy  loam,  from  3  to  6  feet  deep — 
warm  and  abundantly  productive;  it  is  easily  worked  and  is  of  such  texture  that  it  retains  the  moisture 
for  a  cons  iderable  length  of  time.  Climate — The  air  is  dry,  pure  and  invigorating,  affording  a  health- 
ful, energizing  climate'  The  mountains  keep  out  the  biting  frosts  of  winter,  and  yet  afford  the  cooling 
breezes  for  the  summer.      Vegetation  thrives  and  crops  are  always  certain. 

Think  what  you  could  do  with  even  40  acres  in  Park  Valley.  You  can  use  part  of  the  land  for 
fruit,  provided  you  drive  a  well  and  get  the  water  to  the  trees.  You  can  use  a  portion  for  vegetable 
garden  and  chicken  raising.  The  greater  part  of  forty  acres  can  be  dry  farmed  profitably.  One  Farmer 
here,  Mr.  J.  W.  Palmer,  raised  450  bushels  of  barley  on  seven  acres  without  irrigation  this  year;  he  also 
got  40  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre.  All  fruits,  grains  and  grasses  that  are  common  to  Salt  Lake, 
Weber,  Box  Elder  and  Cache  counties  do  well  in  Park  Valley. 

You  should  understand  that  the  price  for  which  we  are  selling  the  land  will  not  last  long — it  can't. 
Developments  in  this  section  warrant  constantly  increasing  valuations.  You  should  BUY  NOW. 
The  company  will  assist  you  in  every  way  possible,  and  the  men  on  the  company's  experiment  farm 
in  the  valley  will  give  you  the  advantage  of  their  experience  in  getting  water  and  growing  crops.  Then 
there  is  the  "Protection  Against  Forfeiture"  feature  of  our  contracts,  which  protects  you  from  any  loss 
whatsoever.     Have  you  ever  heard  of  a  fairer,  more  attractive  proposition? 


$600  BUYS  40  ACRES  of  land  in  Park  Valley, 
Utah— land  that  is  as  fertile  and  productive  as 
any  in  these  mountain  states. 
$15  AN  ACRE— 5  YEARS  TIME.  We  re- 
quire a  cash  payment  of  $3  per  acre  at  time  of 
purchase,  and  the  balance  may  be  paid  in  five 
equal  annual  payments  of  $2.40  per  acre.  Forty 
acres  for  $600;  $120  down  and  $96  each  year  for 
five  years. 


CUT  THIS  COUPON  AND  MAIL  IT  TODAY. 
Pacific  Land  &  Water  Co.,  81 G  Newnouse 
Building,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Gentle  men: 
Please  send  me  illustrated  folder,  entitled, 
"You  Should  Build  Your  Home  in  Park 
Valley,  Utah."     I  am  interested. 

Name 

Address 

Be  sure  to  write  plainly. 


We  shall  be  Glad  to  See  You  at  Our  Office. 


Pacific  Land  &  Water  Company 

Suite  816  Newhouse  Bldg.     -    -    SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 

(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA) 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

J.  H.  Winkler,  Cody,  Wyoming,  in  sending  in  his  subscription  for  volume  15 
says:  "I  like  the  Era  fine.  I  wouldn't  be  without  it,  if  it  cost  double  the  price." 
New  books  received,  which  will  later  be  noticed  more  extensively:  "Out  of 
Doors  in  the  West,"  J.  II.  Paul,  Ph.  D;  "Etiino-Botany  of  the  Gosiute 
Indians,"  a  paper  by  Ralph  V.  Chamberlin,  read  before  the  Philadelphia  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences;  "A  Biographical  Sketch  of  James  Jensen-,"  bishop  o'f 
Forest  Dale,  by  Dr.  Joseph  M.  Tanner;  "A  Scrap  Book  of  Mormon 
Literature,"  two  volumes,  560  pages,  by  Ben  E.  Rich. 

The  January  Era,  1912,  will  contain  a  frontispiece  of  Orson  Pratt,  Pioneer, 
Philosopher,  Scientist  and  Historian,  and  a  sketch  of  his  life  by  Elder  Orson  F. 
Whitney;  the  closing  installment  of  the  "Spirit  of  Christmas,"  byNephi  Anderson, 
will  appear;  "Agriculture  in  Korongata,"  illustrated,  describes  the  industrial 
and  educational  activity,  in  that  part  of  New  Zealand;  "The  Economics  of  Agri 
culture,"  a  help  to  students  of  the  senior  manual,  is  a  strong  paper  by  A.  F. 
Cardon,  and  "The  Beginnings  of  Human  History."  is  an  interesting  histor- 
ical study  by  Prof.  A.  B.  Christensen,  of  the  Brigham  Young  University,  that  will 
appear.  Then  there  is  a  new  and  striking  chapter  in  the  "Open  Road,"  a  serial 
story,  by  John  Henry  Evans,  besides  poems,  editorials,  and  information  for  the 
Priesthood  and  the  M.  I.  A.  By  ordering  now  you  can  get  the  November  number 
which  begins  volume  15;    $2,  with  senior  or  junior  manual  free. 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA,  DECEMBER,  1911. 

Two  Dollars  per  Annum  with  Manual  Free. 
Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second  class  matter. 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  \  Edit         Heber  J.  Grant,  Business  Manager 

Edward  H.  Anderson,  /  a    Moroni  Snow,  Assistant 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Portrait  of  Presiding  Patriarch  John  Smith   Frontispiece 

Presiding  Patriarchs  of  the  Church Edward   H.  Anderson 97 

Joseph    Smith    and    the    Advent    of    "Mor- 

monism"    Levi   Edgar  Young,  A.  M 99 

The  Open  Road:    Adventure  IV.     A  Story..   John   Henry   Evans 107 

Portrait  Birmingham  Elders 112 

Litle  Problems  of  Married  Life  VI Wm.  George  Jordan 113 

The  Beloved  Apostle.     A  Poem Ruth   May   Fox 116 

Fuji    San,    Mecca   of   the   Japanese    Pilgrim. 

Illustrated     Jay  C.  Jensen 117 

John  Engleman  and  the  Spirit  of  Christmas. 

A   Story Nephi  Anderson 126 

Elders  of  the  Nottingham  Conference 136 

Reasons  for  Opposition  II Prest.  Joseph  F.  Smith 137 

The  Message.     A  Poem Grace   Ingles  Frost 143 

The  Ro-e.    An  Illustrated  Poem Alfred    Lambourne 144 

An  Interview  with  King  Haakon John    Halvorsen 146 

Student   Activities W.  W.  Henderson 149 

The  Everlasting  Inquiry.    A  Poem David  D.  Rust 156 

The  Betrayal Shirley  Penrose  Jones 158 

Ever  Look  Upward.     A  Poem Sarah  E.  Mitton 160 

In  Memory  of  C.  D.  Pjeldsted Dr.  Charles  L.  Olsen 161 

From  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  X Moroni   Snow 165 

Interesting    Stories    I.-IV George   D.    Kirby 169 

Editor's  Table — Every  Day  Affairs Prest.  Joseph   F.  Smith 172 

Patriarch   John   Smith 175 

The  Rose 176 

Messages  from  the  Missions 177 

Priesthood  Quorums'  Table — Respect  for  the 

Priesthood — New   Season's  Work — Lesson 

Preparation — Juab      Stake      Convention — 

Seventies  Convention 181 

Mutual    Work — Debating — Subjects    for    De- 
bate— Weber  County  Baseball  Champions   183 

Passing  Events 188 


HE  only  hereditary  office  in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints  is  that  of  Presiding  Patriarch.  There 
have  been  four  incumbents  of  this  office. 

1.  Joseph  Smith,  Senior,  father  of  the  Prophet  Joseph,  born  July 
12,  1771;  ordained  Presiding  Patriarch,  Kirtland,  Ohio,  December  18, 
1833;    died   September  14,  1840. 

2.  Hyrum  Smith,  the  martyr,  father  of  President  Joseph  F.  Smith, 
Joseph  Smith,  Senior's  second  and  eldest  living  son,  and  brother  of 
the  Prophet,  born  February  9,  1800;  ordained  Presiding  Patriarch, 
January  24,  1841;  martyred,  Carthage  Jail,  June  27,  1844.  There  was 
no  Presiding  Patriarch  from  the  martyrdom  until  January  1,  1849. 

3.  John  Smith,  uncle  of  the  Prophet  Joseph,  and  the  youngest 
and  only  surviving  brother  of  Joseph  Smith,  Senior,  born  July  16, 
1781;  ordained  Presiding  Patriarch,  January  1,  1849;  died,  Salt  Lake 
City,   May  23,  1854. 

4.  John  Smith,  brother  of  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  and  the 
eldest  son  of  Hyrum  Smith,  born,  Kirtland,  Ohio,  September  22,  1832; 
ordained  Presiding  Patriarch,  February  18,  1855,  by  Brigham  Young 
and  others;  died  at  his  home  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Monday  night,  Novem- 
ber 6,  1911,  at  11:35  o'clock,  pneumonia  being  the  cause  of  death. 

John  Smith's  first  patriarchal  blessing  was  given  August 
17,  1856,  to  Samuel  Knight,  son  of  Newell  and  Lydia  Knight,  and 
his  last  blessing  was  given  October  30,  1911,  to  Alma  Joseph  Wil- 
liam Gardner,  born  July  19,  1862,  in  Yorkshire,  England.  He 
commenced  recording  in  book  "A"  and  went  through  the  alpha- 
bet and  was  recording  in  book  "BB",  in  which  there  were  forty- 
seven  blessings  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  all  he  gave  20,659 
patriarchal  blessings. 

The  Presiding  Patriarch  holds  the  sealing  blessings  of  the 
Church,  the  Holy  Spirit  of  Promise,  whereby  men  and  women  are 
sealed  up  unto  the  day  of  redemption,  that  they  may  not  fall, 
notwithstanding  the  hour  of  temptation  that  may  come  upon  them. 
He  holds  the  keys  of  the  Patriarchal  blessings  upon  the  heads  of 
all  the  people,  that  whoever  he  blesses  shall  be  blessed;  whatso- 
ever he  binds  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven,  and  whatsoever 
he  shall  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven.  It  is  his  duty, 
also,  to  preside  over  all  the  evangelical  ministers,  or  patriarchs,  of 
the  whole  Church. — Edward  H.  Anderson. 


PRESIDING  PATRIARCH  JOHN  SMITH 
Born,  September  22,  1832;  died,  November  6,  1911, 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA. 


Vol.  XV.  DECEMBER,  1911  No.  2 


Joseph    Smith    and    the   Advent   of 
"Mormonism."* 


BY  LEVI  EDGAR  YOUNG,  M.A. 


The  restoration  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  nineteenth 
century  is  the  greatest  event  of  this  age.  It  came  about  in  a  very 
natural  way,  just  as  God  ordained  it,  and  which  to  man  himself  is 
reasonable  and  clear,  when  looked  at  honestly  and  with  a  purity 
of  heart.  Christianity  today,  as  the  Latter-day  Saints  interpret 
it,  is  called  by  the  world  "Mormonism."  Therefore,  I  gladly  use 
the  term  in  this  paper.  The  word  today  is  fraught  with  great 
meaning. 

"Mormonism"  is  not  only  a  religion.  It  is  a  great  scientific 
and  philosophic  interpretation  of  life.  In  time  it  is  to  become  the 
measuring  rod  of  all  thought,  not  dogmatically,  not  intolerantly, 
but  broadly  and  intellectually,  morally  and  sincerely. 

No  religion  or  world  institution  demands  more  of  man  today 
than  does  "Mormonism."  And  only  those  who  have  pierced  the 
realms  of  higher  thought,  can  get  a  glimpse  of  its  grandeur.  It  is 
the  truly  educated  who  will  see  "Mormonism"  in  its  true  light. 
It  is  the  man  and  woman  who  have  developed  within  themselves 
the  power  to  think,  to  act,  and  to  appreciate  all  the  higher  things 
of  life,  and  the  great  and  eternal  questions  of  man. 

Not  in  one  generation  can  man  rise  to  the  sublime  heights  of 
"Mormonism."  It  will  take  many  ages.  We  are  but  making  the 
beginning,  and  the  beginning  is  always  fraaght  with  many  dangers, 


*A  lecture  delivered  before  the  Utah  Genealogical  Society,  April  6,  1911. 


100  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

and  all  kinds  of  struggles.  This  is  why  we  must  learn,  more  and 
more,  to  live  by  faith,  pursuing  the  great  lines  laid  down  by  God 
in  all  our  thoughts  and  actions.  The  first  principles  of  the  gospel 
will  always  remain  intact,  but  the  great  and  glorious  truths  of  the 
world  and  nature  will  be  ferreted  out  as  man  studies  and  works, 
and  becomes  the  master  of  his  own  being  and  nature's  laws. 

"Mormonism"  calls  for  the  onward  march  of  man.  It  takes 
a  stand  upon  a  higher  level  than  humanity  has  reached,  and  holds 
a  out  the  hand  of  fellowship  to  all.  It  beckons  the  race  on,  because 
of  its  light  and  glory  within.  It  recognizes  man;  "splendid,  and 
sorrowful,  inscrutable  man."  "Mormonism"  sees  man's  proud 
brow,  his  bold  lustrous  eyes  "aglow  with  light  of  fearless,  world- 
conceiving  thought";  of  his  mighty  power  that  is  destined  to  lift 
him  in  time  to  the  throne  of  a  God.  For  man  is  marching  boldly 
ahead,  forward  and  upward,  bent  on  mastering  the  secrets  of  heav- 
en and  earth.     His  eye  is  on  the  great  celestial  light  of  heaven. 

II. 

Christianity  had  been  in  existence  some  eighteen  hundred 
years.  The  world  of  civilized  powers  had  recognized  Christ  to  be 
the  model  character  of  history.  Within  Christianity  had  grown 
all  sorts  of  systems  and  creeds,  dogmas  and  notions.  Man  had 
always  been  a  religious  creature,  but  religion  solved  no  problems 
for  him.  This  is  proved  by  the  dissensions  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  when  the  French,  German,  and  English  Deists  were 
denouncing  the  Christian  church,  and  were  asking  for  a  solution  of 
the  world's  social,  political,  and  industrial  problems.  The  eight- 
eenth century  was  the  dawn  of  the  Age  of  Freedom  in  its  true  sense. 
In  that  century  came  forth  the  God-inspired  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  the  greatest  document  of  its  kind  ever  given  to  man. 
In  that  age  there  were  new  interpretations  of  life  put  forward; 
men  began  to  solve  the  problems  of  nature  and  the  daily  life. 
There  was  agnosticism  on  one  hand,  and  religion  on  the  other. 
As  the  French  Deists  condemned  the  creeds,  they  grew  faster,  and 
by  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  Christ  was  being 
interpreted  in  a  thousand  different  ways.  And  yet  the  Christian 
world  maintains  that  Christianity  is  an  absolute  religion.  True, 
there  had  been  great  and  good  men  who  gave  us  many  interpreta- 
tions of  truth  pertaining  to  the  gospel  of  Christ.  George  Fox, 
Martin  Luther,  John  Calvin,  and  the  noble  and  beautiful  character, 


JOSEPH  SMITH  AND  THE  ADVENT  OP  "MORMONISM"       10.1 

John  Wesley,  all  contributed  great  thoughts  to  the  world's  onward 
march. 

In  the  world,  Christian  institutions  were  going  on,  but  with 
the  absence  of  the  Christian  life.  In  fact,  Voltaire  was  right  in 
his  stand  that  the  "purest  unbelief  could  accomplish  what  the 
formal  belief  of  the  day  was  trying  to  bring  about."  No  one  was 
living,  nor  did  live,  until  the  advent  of  Joseph  Smith,  to  give  to  the 
world  a  thorough-going  belief  in  Christianity,  which  would  revolu- 
tionize the  conduct  of  men.  In  reviewing  the  Christian  world,  we 
find  that  its  promise  had  little  to  do  with  its  performance.  Hu- 
manity was  thrown  back  to  torture  and  ruin,  as  men  are  thrown 
back  by  the  Christian  world  of  today.  A  close  study  of  the  con- 
ditions of  the  time,  just  before  the  advent  of  "Mormonism," 
indicates  that  the  need  of  the  world  was  not  more  institutions  of 
Christianity,  but  more  real  Christianity.  The  power  of  Christian- 
ity had  been  lost. 

Then  again,  the  world  had  too  long  believed  in  the  expediency 
of  repentance.  Repentance  had  become  illogical,  because  it  was 
supposed  to  be  only  necessary  on  the  spur  of  the  moment  and 
when  a  man  was  face  to  face  with  death.  As  to  faith  in  God, 
man  had  no  faith,  and  God  had  become  a  "gaseous  vertebrate," 
a  non-entity.  The  French  Revolutionists  had  announced  what  the 
world  was  fast  accepting:  "There  is  no  God  but  Reason."  And 
so  the  God  of  Reason  supplanted  the  true  and  living  God  of  Israel. 
What  the  world  needed,  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
was  God.  Not  God  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  past  alone;  but  God 
today  and  here  with  us  as  men.  What  the  apostles  of  Christ  knew, 
the  world  needed  to  know  at  first  hand.  It  was  a  time  when 
solid,  scholarly,  substantial  scientific  thought  should  take  hold  of 
the  knowledge  of  God,  and  build  towards  him  and  the  Savior  of 
of  the  world.     Some  one  has  warned  us: 

"Beware  when  God  lets  loose  a  prophet."  And  God  let 
loose  a  prophet! 

III. 

The  restoration  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  came  at  a  new  epoch  of 
the  world's  history.  The  United  States  had  been  established  as  a 
great  and  powerful  nation,  a  nation  which  gave  example  to  the 
world  of  religious  and  political  liberty.  Old  world  ideas  were  given 
up.     A  new  and  big,  broad  country  was  fast  filling  up  with  the  best 


102  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

bone  and  sinew  of  European  nations.  People  were  nocking  to  the 
shores  of  America,  and  looking  to  the  divine  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  as  a  source  of  hope  and  life.  The  age  of  invention 
was  to  dawn.  The  hardy  pioneer  was  to  force  his  way  into  the 
west.  Fundamental  laws  and  principles  of  future  American  life 
were  fast  being  formed.  With  the  new  age  came  new  hopes; 
with  the  new  nation  came  a  new  people. 

No  other  land  could  have  been  the  home  of  the  restored  gospel. 
The  United  States  was  the  type  of  nation  that  the  world  had  never 
seen  before.  It  had  been  established  by  the  best  thought  and 
manhood  of  the  race.     Emerson  truly  said: 

"We  live  in  a  new  and  exceptional  age.  America  is  another  name 
for  opportunity.  Our  whole  history  appears  like  a  last  effort  of  the  Divine 
Providence  in  behalf  of  the  human  race." 

One  hundred  years  ago,  the  Abbe  Genty,  a  distinguished 
French  schohr  of  that  time,  published  an  essay  on  the  "Result  of 
the  Discovery  of  America  by  Europe."  He  closes  his  paper  by 
saying:  "The  Independence  of  the  Anglo  Americans  is  the  event 
most  likely  to  accelerate  the  revolution  which  is  to  renew  the  happi- 
ness of  the  world.  In  the  bosom  of  this  new  nation  are  the  true 
treasures  which  are  to  renew  the  world."  He  names  the  relief  to 
crowded  Europe  as  one  of  the  blessings  that  is  to  come  to  mankind, 
the  emancipation  of  slaves,  the  end  of  conquest,  a  universal 
peace,  and  the  conversion  of  the  world  to  Christianity*. 

This  new  nation,  brought  about  by  the  directive  force  and 
power  of  God,  says  to  all:  "You  are  a  child  of  God.  Here  is  the 
world  of  God.  Enter.  We  will  do  our  best.  There  shall  be  no 
king.  There  shall  be  no  subject.  There  shall  be  no  master. 
There  shall  be  no  slave." 

And  this  lesson  is  the  eternal  lesson  of  today.  "It  is  not  gold, 
nor  silver,  nor  brass,  nor  lead,  nor  iron,  which  will  bring  the  eternal 
peace.  It  is  truth,  honor,  and  justice.  It  is  Faith,  Hope,  and  Love. 
It  is  on  the  virtues  of  mankind,  upon  the  freedom  of  mankind,  and 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  that  the  future  of  mankind  is  to  be 
builded."  Our  Puritan  fathers,  when  landing  on  the  bleak  New 
England  shore,  in  1620,  had  announced  to  all  future  posterity  that 
through  the  divine  Grace  of  God  should  this  country  live.  Their 
compact  read: 
*From  E.  E.  Hale's,  Lecture  on  the  American  Revolution. 


.J0SF1M1  SMITH   AND  TDK  ADVENT  OF  "MORMONISM"       103 

"In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  We  whose  names  are  here  under- 
written, the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread  sovereign  King  James,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  etc.,  having  undertaken  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  advancement 
of  the  Christian  faith,  and  honor  of  our  king  and  country,  a  voyage  to 
plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern  parts  of  Virginia,  do, by  these  presents, 
solemnly  and  mutually,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  of  one  another,  cove- 
nant and  combine  ourselves  into  a  civic  body  politic  for  the  better  order- 
ing and  preservation,  and  in  furtherance  of  the  ends  aforesaid ;  and  by 
virtue  thereof  to  enact,  constitute,  and  frame  just  and  equal  laws,  ordi- 
nances, acts,  constitutions,  and  offices,  from  time  to  time  as  shall  be 
thought  most  meet  and  convenient  for  the  general  good  of  the  colony; 
unto  which  we  promise  all  due  submission  and  obedience.  In  witness 
whereof  we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names  at  Cape  Cod,  the  eleventh 
of  November,  in  the  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord,  King  James, 
of  England,  France,  and  Ireland,  the  eighteenth,  and  of  Scotland  the 
fifty-fourth,  Anno  Domini  1620." 

The  United  States  has  been  a  blessed  land  from  the  beginning, 
and  is  the  soil  where  the  preparation  for  the  restoration  of  Chris- 
tianity took  place.  It  is  as  the  Abby  Genty  said,  the  country 
"where  the  conversion  of  the  world  to  Christianity  will  take  place." 

IV. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  trace  for  you  the  life  of  Joseph  Smith. 
You  know  his  life's  work  full  well.  I  simply  wish  to  analyze  briefly 
his  character.  No  man  of  our  day  has  been  more  misunderstood. 
His  name  has  been  held  "for  good  and  evil,"  throughout  the  world. 

In  childhood,  Joseph  Smith  was  a  dreamer.  His  thoughts 
were  often  sent  into  the  great  worlds  beyond.  And  it  is  the  dream- 
er who  really  contributes  to  the  race's  betterment.  The  child's 
soul  in  its  first  innocence  sympathized  with  the  sublime  in  nature, 
and  with  the  deep  mysteries  of  Holy  Writ.  Joseph's  soul  was  one 
of  greatness.  We  read  in  history  of  how  men  have  had  the  power 
to  make  great  mental  grasps  of  situations.  Some  have  known  the 
world  and  the  workings  of  nature  from  the  first.  Some  men  live 
who  do  more  thinking  in  a  clay  than  the  average  un-trained  mind 
does  in  a  life  time.  The  boy  Joseph's  mind  was  naturally  strong. 
His  brain,  early  subjected  to  great  concentration,  drew  from  its 
own  rich  stores  a  crowd  of  images,  wonderful  for  their  reality  and 
their  vigor.  He  was  a  thinker  along  the  lines  of  mysticism. 
What  great  mind  is  not?  His  senses  were  endowed  with  a  per- 
fection which  gave  them  exquisite  delicacy.  He  longed  for  a 
knowledge  of  the  meaning  of  life,  and  the  relationship  of  his  own 


104  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

soul  to  his  God.  Thousands  of  men  in  history  have  wished  for 
the  same  knowledge,  but  have  gone  at  the  solution  of  the  problem 
in  their  own  way,  and  have  plodded  on  till  death,  when  they  were 
no  doubt  given  the  key  in  heaven.  But  Joseph,  using  his  mental 
faculties,  and  reasoning,  and  reasoning  logically,  went  honestly 
to  his  Father  and  asked  for  light.  And  the  light  came.  The 
results  of  Joseph  Smith's  prayer  in  the  woods,  on  that  Spring 
morning  in  1820,  have  been  mightily  far  reaching,  and  the  claim 
that  he  was  visited  by  God  the  Father  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  is 
one  of  the  most  startling  statements  in  the  world's  history.  People 
have  laughed  it  to  scorn;  and  psychologists  have  designated  it  as 
a  peculiar  hypnotic  state  of  mind.  And  yet  the  boy  gave  the 
statement  candidly  and  fearlessly  to  the  world,  and  lived  the  com- 
mon life  of  man.  To  think  of  there  being  angels  and  a  God  in 
the  form  of  man!  Terrible  in  the  estimation  of  some  moderns. 
Yet  it  is  only  a  few  days  ago,  when  a  famous  book  of  the  age, 
called  The  World  of  Life,  made  its  appearance,  and  the  state- 
ments therein  are  startling  the  world  of  science.  The  work  is  by 
Alfred  Russel  Wallace,  a  contemporary  and  friend  of  Charles 
Darwin.  Mr.  Wallace  has  reached  his  eighty-eighth  year,  and  now 
in  the  evening  of  life,  closes  his  great  work  by  saying: 

"Some  such  conception  seems  to  me  to  be  in  harmony  with  the 
universal  teaching  of  nature,  everywhere  an  almost  infinite  variety,  not 
as  a  detailed  design,  but  as  a  foreseen  result  of  the  constitution  of  the 
universe.  The  vast  whole  is,  therefore,  a  manifestation  of  his  powers— 
perhaps  of  his  very  self — but  by  the  agency  of  his  ministering  angels, 
through  many  descending  grades  of  intelligence   and  power. 

"It  is  when  we  look  upon  man  as  being  here  for  the  very  best  purpose 
of  developing  diversity  and  individuality,  to  be  further  advanced  in  a 
future  life,  that  we  see  more  clearly  the  whole  object  of  our  earth  life  as 
a  preparation  for  it.  In  this  world  we  have  the  maximum  of 
diversity  produced,  with  a  potential  capacity  for  individual  educa- 
bility.  In  the  spirit  world,  death  will  not  cut  short  the  period  of 
educational  advancement.  The  best  conditions  and  opportunities  will 
be  afforded  for  continuous  progress  to  a  higher  status,  while  all  the  diver- 
sities produced  here  will  lead  to  an  infinite  variety,  charm,  and  use  that 
could  have  been  brought  about  in  no  other  way." 

And  what  has  our  Prophet-teacher  said,  as  far  back  as  1843? 

"Whatever  principles  of  intelligence  we  attain  unto  in  this  life,  will 
rise  with  us  in  the  resurrection; 

"And  if  a  person  gains  more  knowledge  and  intelligence  in  this  life 
through  his  diligence  and  obedience  than  another,  he  will  have  so  much 
the  advantage  in  the  world  to  come." 


JOSEPH  SMITH  AND  THE  ADVENT  OF  "MORMONISM"       105 

Emerson  has  said,  in  his  essay  on  Intelligence,  that  the 
hardest  task  in  the  world  is  to  think.  Now  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
thinking  boy,  and  became  an  educated  man  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
term.  He  had  a  mental  grasp  of  great  things.  He  knew  nature's 
laws,  and  the  "Mormon"people  have  never  had  a  greater  advocate 
of  the  reading  of  books,  and  the  development  of  the  intellect.  As 
founder  of  the  University  of  Nauvoo,  he  directed  its  policy,  and  it 
was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  youth  of  those  early 
days  in  contact  with  what  is  most  vital  to  their  welfare,  mentally, 
morally,  and  physically. 

Every  epoch-making  mind,  it  has  been  said,  is  at  the  same 
time  child  and  father,  disciple  and  master,  of  his  age.  So  it  was 
with  the  boy  prophet.  He  was  the  child  of  all  the  good  of  the 
past,  he  was  to  become,  through  work  and  study,  and  the  divine 
call  of  God,  a  father  to  an  age  which,  for  mental,  moral  and 
spiritual  development,  will  eclipse  all  the  ages  of  the  past. 

The  one  great  fact  that  impresses  the  world  in  the  life  of  Jos- 
eph Smith  was  his  sincerity.     It  is  Carlyle  who  says  again  and 
again  that  "sincerity,  a  deep,  great,  genuine  sincerity,  is  the  first 
characteristic  of  all  men  in  any  way  heroic."     This  is  a  truth  of 
transcendent  importance,  and  one  that  must  be  taken  and  believed 
in  by  the  race.     For  sincerity  of  purpose  means  honesty  of  heart, 
and  the  honest  heart  is  open  to  the  conviction  of  truth.     But  it  is 
not  in  the  "Mormon"  prophet's  sincerity  that  one  finds  his  greater 
manhood.     It  is  in  his  magnificent  contribution  to  the  world's 
onward  march  that  makes  him  the  hero  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
His  was  a  critical,  intellectual  type  of  mind.     This  is  shown  in 
his  analysis  of  the  ethical  condition  of  the  race,  as  well  as  the  wrongs 
starking  among   the   society   of   the  day.     He  was  an  iconoclast, 
however,  only  as  he  <;ould  substitute  a  much  better  thought  for 
the  one  he  opposed.     His  keenness  of  intellect  permeated  all  the 
phases  of  modern  thought.     He  understood  the  relationship  of 
man  to  God;   he  knew  men's  hearts  and  desires  as  a  psychologist 
does;    he  understood  the  intricate  workings  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States;    he  built  schools  and  had  in  mind  a  splendid 
school  system;   he  was  a  linguist  of  no  mean  ability;   and  with  it 
all,  his  was  a  practical  and  all-absorbing  intellect  whose  great 
ideal  was  to  reach  out  for  the  infinite. 

Now  as  to  the  advent  of  "Mormonism"  and  its  significance. 
It  is  a  distinctly  new  force  in  the  onward  march  of  mankind!     It 


106  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

is  to  be  and  is  now  the  embodiment  of  all  truth  and  all  future 
intellectual  development.     It  begins  with  nature  and  builds  upon 
the  greal  natural  laws  in  the  physical  world.     Its  philosophic  and 
religious  teachings  do  no1  lie  upon  beaten  paths  of  formalism  and 
insincerity,  but  in  the  secret  recesses  of  the  soul.      It  has  the  mes- 
sage that  true  religion  docs  not  lie  in  forms  and  ceremonies,  but  in 
the  soul  and  in  life.     It  stands  for  the  highest  of  ethical  equity; 
its  justice  is  an  ideal  justice  "transformed  by  reason  into  moral 
force;"  its  conception  of  life  resonant  with  the  great  calls  made  on 
man  for  the  betterment  of  the  race.     It  is  to  be  preached  as  the 
gospel  of  salvation,  preserving  as  it  does  the  absolute  fundamentals 
taught  by  the  Redeemer  of  the  World,  for  the  divine  preservation 
of  the  race.     Its  effort  is  to  arouse  the  world,  to  open  its  eyes  to 
the  divine  truth  of  God;  and  to  have  man  give  up  his  false  ideals 
and  wrong  interpretation  of  life.     It  revolts  against  crime   and 
hypocritical  society,  and  asks  for  a  rejuvenation  of  the  race  along 
the  lines  laid  down  by  Christ  himself.     It  stands  for  truth  and 
freedom.     It  stands  for  individuality  and  progressiveness,  along 
those  lines  which  will  be  learned  by  the  better  manhood  of  the  race, 
and  which,  when  learned,  will  be  put  into  the  practice  of  the  daily 
life.     Coming  as  it  did,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  it  entered  the 
world  at  a  time  when  the  true  Reformation  in  history  was  about 
to  dawn.     "Mormonism"  will  take  the  great  thoughts  of  the  nine- 
teenth and  twentieth  centuries,  and  all  the  ages  to  come,  and, 
molding  them  into  great  truths  of  life,  practical  life,  will  be  the 
greatest  of  all  creative  and  reforming  forces  in  the  world  of  human- 
ity. 


Mexico's  National  Election  was  held  on  Sunday,  October  1 
Electors  were  chosen  who  are  favorable  to  Francisco  I.  Madero  who  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency  by  the  Progressive  Party  August  28.  These 
met  October  IS,  and  announced  the  election  of  Madero,  the  leader  of  the 
revolution,  as  president  of  Mexico.  There  was  scarcely  any  opposition 
to  Madero  as  candidate.  He  was  endorsed  also  by  the  Catholic  party. 
General  Bernardo  Reyes,  the  only  strong  competitor,  left  the  country 
secretly,  and  in  disguise,  before  the  election,  wiring  to  President  De  La 
Barra  that  he  did  so  for  the  good  of  his  country,  but  he  said  in  interviews 
that  he  had  discovered  Maderist  plots  for  his  assassination.  Severe 
fighting  between  factions  was  reported  from  various  parts,  and  bandits 
were  guilty  of  manv  atrocities,  particularly  in  the  state  of  Chiapas. 


The  Open  Road. 


BY  JOHN  HENRY  EVANS,  OF  THE  LATTER-DAY 
SAINTS  UNIVERSITY. 


Adventure  IV. — Wherein  is  Told  the  Story  of  the  Brindled 

Sea  Cow. 

And  so  to  Holland,  the  country  of  windmills,  where  all  the 
elements  are  only  sketched  in,  so  to  speak — the  water,  because  it 
loses  itself  among  sand  and  moorland,  like  a  ravelled  old  fabric; 
the  land,  because  it  lies  below  the  sea  level  and  has  to  be  ingeniously 
coaxed  and  watched  on  every  hand;  the  air,  because  it  is  mostly 
veiled  in  the  fog  and  mist. 

Brocketts'  work  on  the  boat  had  not  been  hard  and  exacting, 
so  that  he  had  had  time  for  such  diversions  as  a  boy  would  naturally 
find  on  this  beautiful  river.  For  one  thing,  he  had  learned  much 
about  the  Rhine,  and  the  largely  man-made  scenery  along  its  banks ; 
and  for  another,  he  had  discovered  some  marvelous  things  about  a 
boat — that  marvelous  invention  which  is  a  source  of  perpetual 
delight  to  a  boy. 

But  most  of  all  he  had  learned,  from  three  boatmen,  some- 
thing that  set  his  heart  beating  feverishly,  and  that  made  him  vow 
a  vow  which  would  probably  take  him  the  rest  of  his  life  to  fulfil. 

Brocketts  was  asleep  in  the  bunkhouse  down  there  in  the 
bowels  of  the  Walrus.  That  was  while  the  boat  was  coming- 
down  the  river.  Anyway,  he  was  supposed  to  be  asleep,  seeing 
that  it  was  2  o'clock  in  the  morning.  But,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  if 
you  insist  on  the  strictest  precision,  he  had  just  waked  up;  for 
what  boy  can  sleep  when  old  tars  are  pouring  out  their  sea  tales, 
and,  what  is  better,  breathing  out  something  with  the  sea  tales 
that  concerns  him,  far  more  than  the  most  entrancing  story. 

I  pass  by  these  salt-water  narratives,  however,  not  only 
because  they  do  not  belong  here,  but  also  because  I  have  a  strong 
suspicion  that  not  one  of  the  three  old  salts  in  the  bunkhouse,  for 
all  his  giibness  and  easy  memory,  ever  experienced  a  tithe  of 
what  he  related,  or  even  that  any  of  the  others  believed  that  he 
had. 


108  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

"I'll  tell  you  what,"  roared  a  man  who  went  by  the  name  of 
Max,  speaking  in  such  a  tone  as  to  drown  out  effectually  the  begin- 
ning of  Adam's  "That  reminds  me" — "I'll  tell  you  what,  boys, 
talkin'  of  sellin'  real  live  humans,  now,  I've  got  a  corker  for  you. 
It's  here  right  under  my  jacket  pocket  where  my  'baccy  is,  and  it's 
been  there  more'n  twelve  year." 

Since  the  hand  of  the  story-teller  went  into  the  breast,  over 
that  same  "  'baccy"  pocket,  you  would  naturally  suppose  he  was 
to  pull  out  a  written  manuscript  and  read  it  there  and  then  in  the 
dim  candle  light.  But  Max  was  to  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  This 
was  only  a  figurative  way  he  had  of  saying  that  his  two  companions 
were  about  to  have  the  distinguished  honor  of  being  the  first  to 
hear  this  tale. 

He  whom  they  called  the  Abbot,  from  his  grand  way  of  over- 
shooting the  truth  in  everything,  had  just  finished  unwinding  a 
yarn,  in  which  he  was  hero,  wherein  the  Royal  Charles  with  a 
cargo  of  black  men  from  the  African  coast  for  the  American  market, 
had  made  a  wonderful  voyage,  and  had  come  near  floundering. 
The  others,  even  Brocketts,  knew  of  course,  that  traffic  in  slaves 
had  come  to  an  end  a  generation  before  the  Abbot  was  born.  But 
that  trifling  fact  did  not  in  the  least  spoil  the  zest  with  which  the 
story  was  told  nor  the  relish  with  which  it  was  received.  Selling 
"humans"  was  out  of  the  ordinary,  and  that  was  the  main  point. 

"This  is  a  true  one,"  the  narrator  began,  "and  comes  out  of 
my  own  life.  And  I'll  tell  it  to  you,  if  you  won't  let  on  as  you've 
heard  me." 

Adam  swung  back  on  the  bunk  where  he  sat,  the  Abbot  relit 
his  powerful  clay  pipe,  and  Brocketts,  in  his  upper  berth,  propped 
himself  on  his  elbow,  his  left  ear  pressed  forward  to  catch  every 
sound. 

"It  was  about  twelve  year  ago,"  Max  went  on  in  such  bad 
German  vernacular  as  I  cannot  hope  wholly  to  reproduce  in 
English,  "and  I  was  stranded  at  Strausberg.  Strausberg's  a  bad 
place  to  be  stranded  at,  if  you'll  believe  me.  How  I  got  there  has 
nothing  to  do  with  this  story;  so  I'll  leave  that  out.  And  then, 
besides,  to  tell  it  might  give  you  a  bad  notion  of  my  occupation — 
which  wasn't  sailoring,  either,  nor  anything  like  it.  Anyway,  I 
was  there,  sails  torn,  deck-tackle  lost,  and  the  hull  split  in  two 
pieces,  as  you  might  say. 

"Well,  one  day,  or  rather  night,    who  should  I  meet  at    the 


THE   OPEN   ROAD  109 

Bull's  Eye  tavern  but  old  Fishbones.  Fishbones  unci  me,  you 
understand,  had  known  each  other  many  a  year,  and  been  in  the 
same  trade  at  Munich. 

"  'Want  a  job?'  says  he. 

"  'Sure,'  says  I  /What's  on  deck?' 

"  'Oh,  a  small  business  transaction,  same's  you've  been  used 
to.     Come  in  here,  and  I'll  tell  you.' 

"We  went  in  a  side  room  that  Fishbones  had  a  private  key  to. 
You  know,  more  than  one  tavern  keeper  was  glad  to  let  Fishbones 
have  a  private  key.     Very  accommodatin',  they  was,  in  them  days. 

"Well,  when  we  got  in  there,  he  says:  'Max,  I've  got  a  bit 
of  a  parcel  I  want  you  to  keep  for  me.' 

"  'All  right,'  says  I,  looking  'round  for  it. 

"  'Ain't  here  now,'  says  he  'but  I  c'n  get  it  if  you  say  the  word.' 

"Of  course,  I  hadn't  anything  against  keeping  parcels  for  a 
friend,  and  I  said  the  word.  'We're  fellow  workmen,'  says  I,  'and 
I'm  glad  to  accommodate  you.     What's  in  it?' 

"  'In  what?'  says  he,  innocent  like. 

"  'The  parcel,'  says  I,  winking,  with  my  left  eye. 

"  'Oh,'  says  he,  'call  it  a  brindled  sea  cow.' 

"  'What's  in  it?'  says  I,  again,  but  not  winking  this  time. 

"  'Four  thousand  marks  or  so.' 

"  'I'll  do  it,'  says  I  ,  'to  accommodate  you.' 

"  'That's  a  good  man,'  says  he.     'I  knew  you  would.' 

"And  what  d'ye  think  he  brought  me  that  night  when  it  was 
as  dark  as  Egypt,  and  the  Egyptians  was  all  asleep?" 

The  story-teller  paused  and  glanced  at  Adam,  who  had  sat 
up  again,  and  at  the  Abbot,  whose  pipe  had  gone  out  once  more. 
They  remained  in  the  same  posture,  knowing  that  the  narrator 
only  made  this  pause  out  of  a  habit  he  had  of  extreme  slowness  in 
his  speech.     But  a  small  voice  piped  from  the  upper  berth — 

"A  pot  of  gold." 

The  men  looked  up  at  this  unexpected  answer,  and  then  ex- 
ploded into  laughter.     Max  went  on — 

"It  was  a  youngster — a  real  live  youngster,  no  more'n  two 
years  old." 

He  waited  for  the  full  effect  of  this  revelation.  On  the  men 
there  was  no  visible  effect.  The  boy  stretched  his  head  farther 
over  the  berth. 


110  IMPROVEMENT    KRA 

"  'He's  the  only  son  of  a  rich  merchant,'  says  Fishbones,  'and 
I've  got  a  grudge  against  the  man.' 

"Fishbones  used  to  work  for  that  same  store-keeper.  That 
I  knew  very  well.     I  didn't  know  what  the  grudge  was,  though. 

"  'I'll  do  it,'  says  I,  'and  do  it  well  for  the  four  thousand.' 

"  'I  know  ye  will,'  says  he,  'else  I  wouldn't  have  trusted  ye 
with  so  important  a  undertakin'.  You'll  get  your  money  safe, 
Max.' 

"But  I  didn't." 

Here  he  rolled  a  quid  of  tobacco  from  one  side  of  his  mouth 
to  the  other,  and  chewed  it  three  or  four  times,  and  spat  a  deluge 
on  the  floor.  You  would  have  thought  he  was  through  with  his 
tale.  The  two  boatmen  looked  up,  and  the  boy  looked  down, 
inquiringly. 

"You  see,  it  was  this  way.  Before  our  little  enterprise  had 
gone  too  far  the  merchant  got  a  letter  in  a  unknown  hand  to  the 
effect  that  if  at  a  certain  place  and  time — named  in  the  letter, 
you  understand— he  would  deliver,  without  watching  or  asking 
any  questions,  twenty-five  thousand  gold  marks,  his  boy  would  be 
given  him  back  safe  and  sound. 

"Twenty-five  thousand,  mind  you,  and  me  to  get  only 
four." 

"  'Half.'  says  I  to  Fishbones,  when  I  saw  him  again. 

"  'No,  siree,'  says  he. 

"  'Then  I'll  squeak.'  says  I. 

"  'How  'bout  you?'  says  he,  innocent-like  again.  'You've 
got  the  kid,  you  know.' 

"  'That's  so,'  says  I,  'I  forgot.' 

"  'Thought  so,'  says  he. 

"But  neither  of  us  got  anything,  and  that's  what  I  was  going 
to  tell  you.  For  the  day  before  we  was  to  get  the  money,the  body  of  a 
boy  about  the  same  age  and  looks  as  ours  there,  was  washed  ashore 
near  the  town,  but  in  such  a  bad  state  as  made  it  hard  to  know  who 
it  was.  But  there  was  the  yellow  curls  and  all,  and  a  red  jacket 
exactly  like  the  one  our  kid  wore  when  it  left  home — anyway, 
what  was  left  of  it. 

"I  have  my  opinion,  though,  about  that  jacket  business. 
Fishbones  had  took  it  off  with  him  one  day.  I  don't  want  to  do 
him  no  injustice,  you  understand,  but  I  had  my  suspicions,  for  he 
was  born  a  fool  in  some  things. 


THE   OPEN    ROAD  111 

"Anyway  the  drownded  youngster  was  took  for  the  missing 
one,  and  we  lost  our  money. 

"We  laid  low  for  a  while,  but  when  we  started  the  ball  a  rolling 
again,  our  bird  had  flew  away,  as  the  poet  says.  The  rich  merchant 
had  pulled  up  anchor  and  gone  to  America.  And  there  I  was 
with  a  kid  on  my  hands  that  nobody  wanted. 

"Say,  did  you  ever  have  a  youngster  on  your  hands  like 
that?"     Max  inquired. 

Of  course,  they  had  not. 

"Well,  it's  an  experience,  I  can  tell  you?"  he  went  on.  "And 
I  know  what  I'm  talkin'  about.  I  lugged  that  boy  around  for  a 
whole  year.  Couldn't  safely  get  rid  of  him,  you  know,  till  one  day 
I  run  upon  an  orphan  asylum  and  dropped  him  down  there  gently 
into  the  lap  of  a  big  Sister.  But  I  had  to  pay  a  pretty  sum,  I — 
what's  the  matter,  Brocketts?" 

"Nothing  much;  only,  I  nearly  fell  out." 

"After  that  I  quit  the  business,"  went  on  the  story-teller, 
"and  took  to  the  sea.  There's  nothing  like  the  sea  for  safe  work. 
You've  got  to  be  decent  there." 

"That's  a  thrilling  story,"  commented  Brocketts  naively. 
"I  like  it;  only,  what's  the  name  of  the  place  you  left  the  boy  at?" 

"Don't  know  the  name." 

"And  don't  you  know  where  it  was,  even?" 

"Oh  yes,  somewhere  up  the  country  near  Pirmasens — a  little 
one-horse  village." 

"But  Fishbones  wasn't  his  real  name,  was  it?"  Brocketts 
asked  again. 

"No,  sir;  not  by  a  jug  full!  It's  only  what  we  called  him. 
His  name  was well,  never  you  mind  what  his  name  was." 

"I  suppose  you  don't  know  the  name  of  the  boy,  or  the  boy's 
father,  either?" 

"No;    don't  remember  the  boy's.     Never  saw   the  father." 

This  was  a  thrilling  story!  Brocketts  fell  into  a  profound 
reverie  right  off.  There  could  be  no  doubt  that  he  was  the  boy 
whom  Max  had  left  at  the  orphanage,  for  Yinningen  was  only 
eight  or  ten  miles  from  Pirmasens.  Indeed,  far  back  in  his  con- 
sciousness was  the  impression  that  a  lone  man  had  taken  him  there. 
Who  were  his  parents?  He  wondered.  If  he  could  only  find  them! 
But  how  could  he?     Had  he  not  better  ask  this  man  to  help  him 


112 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


find  them?  Should  he  tell  him  who  he  was?  Very  wisely  he 
decided  not  to. 

The  three  tars  below,  utterly  oblivious  of  the  train  of  Brock- 
etts'  lively  reflections,  had  gone  on  with  the  conversation.  The 
boy's  ears  caught  the' now  familiar  word  "America." 

"It's  a  grand  country,  is  America,"  the  Abbot  was  saying, 
"and  a  good  place  to  get  rich  in.  When  we  get  there,  as  we'll  do 
in — let  me  see — six  weeks  at  most,  we'll  all  sing  a  different  tune!" 

And  so  these  men  were  going  to  America,  where  Brocketts' 
parents  had  gone!  Instantly  the  idea  suggested  itself,  why  not  go 
with  them?  And  the  more  he  thought  about  it  the  firmer  he  was 
in  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  go.  But  how  could  he,  a  penni- 
less boy,  cross  the  ocean?  These  sailors  had  money.  He  would 
have  to  stay  in  Germany,  most  probably,  till  he,  too,  could  get 
money. 

But  he  would  talk  with  them  tomorrow  to  see  if  some  way 
could  not  be  found  by  which  he  might  accompany  them  to  the  new 
land.     He  would  find  his  parents,  if  it  took  a  life  time. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Little  Problems  of  Married  Life. 


BY   WILLIAM  GEORGE  JORDAN 


VI. — When   Pride  Comes  Between. 


So  many  of  the  little  chafing  problems  of  married  life  could  be 
mastered,  so  many  of  the  mists  of  misunderstanding  could  be 
dissipated  by  the  sunshine  of  love,  so  many  of  the  discords  in  the 
music  of  home  could  be  translated  into  harmonies  if  false  pride 
did  not  so  often  come  between!  Pride  is  a  virtue  if  it  be  the  righl 
kind  of  pride,  but,  like  every  virtue,  it  has  an  understudy,  a  vice 
that  cleverly  imitates  it,  assumes  its  form,  wears  its  liven-  and 
often  deceives. 

True  pride  is  the  guardian  and  protector  of  what  is  best  in  us; 
false  pride  is  the  sullen  defender  and  apologist  of  our  weakness. 
True  pride  niakes  us  scorn  to  do  a  mean  or  a  petty  act,  as  treason 
to  our  truest  self;  it  holds  our  standard  ever  high  and  our  living 
in  harmony  with  it;  it  fills  us  with  the  realization  that  only  royal 
deeds  harmonize  with  the  kingship  of  our  individuality.  False 
pride  ever  fears  what  people  may  say  or  think,  seeks  to  justifiy  us 
when  we  know  we  are  wrong  and  cares  more  for  the  semblance 
than  for  the  reality,  more  for  the  shadow  than  for  the  substance. 
True  pride  thinks  more  of  character  than  of  reputation;  false 
pride  more  of  reputation  than  of  character.  It  is  this  false  pride 
that  too  often,  in  the  home,  stands  between  love  and  understand- 
ing, between  love  and  forgiving,  between  love  ami  forgetting,  and 
often  threatens  to  dethrone  tin1  life-happiness  of  two.  False 
pride,  an  excessive  consciousness  of  the  dignity  of  self,  thinks  too 
much  of  the  importance  of  the  solo,  too  little  of  the  harmony  of 
the  duet.  It  is  the  swaggering,  pompous  air  of  ;i  drum-major  who 
thinks  he  is  really  the  whole  regiment. 

Between  husband  and  wife  there  often  arise  little  differences 
of  opinion  on  some  topic  of  no  real  importance,  involving  no 
principle  of  right  or  wrong,  but  in  a  few  moments  the  frank,  genial 

♦Copyright,  1910,  by  Fleming  II    Revell  Company. 


114  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

interchange  of  views  has  warmed  into  a  discussion,  and  this  into 
a  heated  argument,  and  each  may  hold  out  regardless  of  the  grow- 
ing sultriness  of  the  atmosphere  in  the  desire  to  make  the  other 
surrender.  This  deadlock  of  false  pride  may  be  broken  in  an  in- 
stant by  the  cooler  and  larger  nature  of  the  two  saying  with  a 
smile:  "Well,  perhaps  there  is  something  to  be  said  on  both  sides, 
and  really,  dear,  it  is  not  worth  an  argument,  after  all."  Then 
peace  and  harmony  may  be  restored  without  a  hypocritic  surrender 
of  the  individuality  of  either. 

It  is  a  false  pride  that  leads  either  husband  or  wife  to  fear  to 
acknowledge  being  in  the  wrong  in  any  misunderstanding,  to  seek 
merely  to  pass  it  over  without  a  word.  Those  infallible  people  who 
never  make  a  mistake  nor  do  a  wrong,  do  not  really  belong  to  this 
world  and  they  are  probably  too  good  to  find  congenial  compan- 
ions even  in  the  next.  There  is  danger  in  this  method  that  unkind 
words,  unexplained  and  unatoned,  may  leave  a  rankling  wound 
that,  if  it  heal  at  all,  leaves  a  scar  and  a  pang  in  remembrance.  A 
few  moments  of  loving  explanation,  of  clear,  definite  understand- 
ing, with  no  false  pride  coming  between,  is  an  antiseptic  process 
of  treating  the  hurt,  before  it  paralyzes  emotion.  It  removes  the 
poison  from  a  memory. 

Through  this  pride,  too,  we  often  prevent  wounds  of  unkind- 
ness  and  lack  of  thought  from  healing  at  all.  Through  our  intense 
consciousness  of  them,  reviving  and  re-reviving  the  memories  in 
all  their  original  vividness,  we  exaggerate  and  intensify  the  hurt. 
We  carry  a  wounded  emotion  in  a  sling,  as  though  it  were  a  broken 
arm  and  thus  make  forgiving  difficult  and  forgetting  impossible. 

This  pride  that  comes  so  often  from  our  supersensitiveness, 
is  the  slow  petrifying  of  the  better  side  of  our  natures.  She  may 
justify  herself  by  saying,  "If  I  did  not  love  him  so  much  I  would 
not  feel  the  hurt."  If  she  loved  more,  if  she  loved  enough,  she 
would  realize  how  small  a  matter  is  this  pain  that  absorbs  her 
compared  with  the  greatness  of  her  possession,  the  good  qualities 
she  is  overlooking.  Then  would  she  forgive  and — forget.  Her 
pride  is  really  injured  more  than  her  love.  This  pride  kills  real 
sympathy,  for  sympathy  seeks  to  see  a  subject  from  the  other's 
view-point,  lovingly  to  interpret  it  as  it  may  seem  to  the  other  as 
well  as  to  oneself.  Then,  through  this  clear,  double  knowledge,  the 
wisdom  of  the  wisest  course  may  come;  but  false  pride  stolidly 
and  stubbornly  sees  everything  only  from  its  own  point  of  vision. 


LITTLE    PROBLEMS    OF    MARRIED    LIFE  115 

All  misunderstandings  between  husband  and  wife  should^be 
met  in  the  very£beginning  and  never  allowed  merely  toTywork 
themselves  out.  It  is  a  cowardly  recklessness,  the  "don't  care" 
spirit  of  false  pride  that  urges  or  permits  this  easy-going  philosophy. 
Were  a  fire  to_be  discovered  in  the  home,  if  it  were  onl)  the  tiniest 
flame  beginning  its  devastation  of  curtains  and  furniture,  we  would 
not  say  "Let  it  burn  itself  out."  Our  instant,  instinctive  action 
would  be  to  stifle  it,  to  kill  it  at  any  cost;  but  too  often  do  we  let 
the  fire  of  discord  and  of  misunderstanding  feed  on  our  finesl 
emotions,  burn  away  love,  confidence,  -weetness,  truth,  trust, 
sympathy — all  that  is  dearest  to  us — while  we  stand  by,  blindly 
nursing  our  pride,  our  petty  sense  of  dignity.  We  stand  in  the 
centre  of  the  stage  of  our  self-esteem.  We  will  not  be  the  first 
to  speak,  we  will  not  be  the  first  to  sue  for  peace,  the  first  to  make 
up.  We  dare  to  permit  this  pride  to  wreck  our  happiness,  as 
though  any  honest  pride  could  be  too  much  to  pay  to  secure  it  or 
to  preserve  it.  It  is  always  the  larger  nature  that  is  first  to  sur- 
render. Pride  that  beggars  the  happiness  of  two  is  dearly  bought 
by  the  petty  satisfaction  of  not  being  the  first  to  bring  the  joy  of 
reconciliation  to  the  hearts  of  both,  who  need  each  other. 

Life  has  so  much  real  pain  and  sorrow',  so  many  heavy  clouds 
floating  over  the  sky  of  home,  care,  and  trouble,  that  seemingly  no 
human  foresight  can  prevent,  that  it  seems  almost  extravagance 
to  work  overtime  manufacturing  troubles  merely  to  offer  them  as 
sacrifices  on  the  altar  of  vanity,  this  false  pride  that  stifles  life's 
finest  dignity. 

Pride,  too,  has  a  subtle  way  of  putting  confidence  into  a  cold 
storage  that  often  kills  it.  Mutual  interchange  of  confidences 
between  husband  and  wife  should  be  fresh,  spontaneous  and  ever 
living.  Some  people  bind  confidence  with  bandages  of  egotism 
and  conceit  and  adulterated  vanity  till  it  can  no  more  move  nor 
breathe  than  a  mummy  of  the  time  of  Rameses  could  escape  from 
its  spiced  wrappers.     This  means  death,  not  life. 

Sometimes  the  husband,  putting  on  his  full  armour  of  pride, 
says  to  himself;  "There  is  a  subject  that,  if  she  had  the  proper 
regard  for  me,  she  would  speak  of  it  to  me,"  anil  she,  drawing 
closer  to  her  the  perfumed  mantle  of  her  dignity,  says:  "If  he  were 
interested  in  me  at  all,  he  would  surely  ask."  When  in  this  foolish 
conflict  of  prides  there  is  danger  thai  Cupid,  if  he  do  his  duty,  will 
drag  confidence  away  off  into  the  silence  and  wait  till  they  come  to 


116  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

their  senses  again.  Two  negatives  may  make  an  affirmative,  but 
two  silences  do  not  make  speech.  When  pride  gets  into  this  deli- 
cate condition,  where  it  is  constantly  fearing  a  draught,  it  should 
be  taken  seriously  in  hand  and  gently  but  firmly  chloroformed  into 
oblivion. 

Why,  even  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  where  the  first  married 
couple  resided,  in  a  beautiful  place  where  they  lived,absolutely 
rent  free,  and  they  had  no  neighbors  to  criticize  them  and  they 
were  making  a  name  for  themselves  and  winning  immortality  in 
literature  as  the  first  tenants,  the  pride  of  both  led  to  disaster. 
And  pride  has  been  coming  between  love  and  happiness  in  this 
world  of  ours  ever  since  that  day. 

("Marriage  Success  on  Business  Lines,"  will  be  treated  in  the  January 
Era,  in  this  series.) 


The  Beloved  Apostle,  John  Henry  Smith 


(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 

So  like  a  splendid  sturdy  oak,  So    big    of    heart,    so    broad,    and 

To  which  the  tendrils  cling;  true; 

But    Death,    alas!     with    one    fell  The  clasp  of  his  warm  hand 

stroke,  Would  hope  and  happiness  renew, 

Laid  low  the  kindly  king.  And  every  doubt  withstand. 

An  oak  whose  branches  overhung  A  friend  of  all,  a  patriot  he, 

And  spread  beyond  the  wall,  Who  loved  the  Starry  Blue 

Whose    sunlit    leaves    an    anthem  And  crimson  Bars  of  Liberty 

sung  Which  hold  man's  rights  a-view. 

Of  charity  for  all. 

His  words  were  peace,  his  life  was 

How,  yester,  Zion  did  rejoice  love; 

To  hear  his  words  of  cheer;  Exemplar  to  the  race; 

Today  her  grief  she  cannot  voice  Ambassador  of  Him  above, 

But  silent  drops  a  tear!  A  witness  of  His  grace. 

But   he    still    lives,    a    mighty    oak 

To  which  the  tendrils  cling; 
And  age  on  age,  with  gladsome  stroke, 

Shall   praise  and  homage  bring. 

Ruth  May  Fox. 


Fuji  San,  Mecca  of  the  Japanese  Pilgrim 


BY  JAY  C.  JENSEN,  MISSIONARY  TO  JAPAN. 


When  in  the  "grades,"  I  first  heard  of  Fujiyama,  the  beauti- 
ful, sacred  mountain  of  Japan,  and  the  thousands  of  religious 
pilgrims  who  climb  to  its  summit  every  year.  Little  did  I  dream 
that  some  day,  I  also  would  mingle  with  them.  When  called  to 
labor  in  this  land,  I  tried  to  recall  all  I  had  read  and  heard  of  it, 
but  by  far  my  most  vivid  recollection  was  a  picture  of  Fuji  San  in 
my  first  geography.  I  made  up  my  mind  that  when  I  reached 
Japan,  one  of  the  things  I  must  do  would  be  to  climb  the  famous 
mountain.  Later,  when  I  had  learned  some  of  the  language,  ami 
found  that  the  Japanese  have  a  saying  that  he  who  does  not  climb 
Fuji  is  a  fool,  and  that  he  who  climbs  twice  is  a  fool,  I  renewed 
my  determination  to  make  the  trip. 

With  peculiar  feelings  of  expectation,  I  left  Tokyo  for  Kofu 
City,  at  5  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  17.  At  Kofu  I  was  to 
join  some  of  the  missionaries  to  ascend  the  mountain  together. 
On  the  train  I  had  a  long  talk  with  a  doctor  who  had  passed  through 
Utah  some  years  ago,  and  was  very  interested  in  hearing  some- 
thing of  its  history.  The  road  between  Tokyo  and  Kofu  is  mostly 
through  mountains.  There  are  forty-three  tunnels,  in  about  as 
many  miles.  One  of  the  tunnels,  the  longest  in  Japan,is  approxi- 
mately three  miles  in  length. 

At  11:30,  at  Kofu,  I  was  met  by  Elders  James  Scowcroft,  of 
Ogden,  and  James  Miller,  of  Murray,  Utah.  At  the  mission  house 
we  met  Elders  Joseph  H.  Stimpson,  of  Riven  laic  and  Lloyd  Ivie, 
6i  Salina,  Utah.  A  little  later,  a  fine  dinner,  specially  prepared 
by  the  Kofu  elders,  was  served.  Having  labored  in  Kofu  for  six 
months  last  year,  I  had  many  friends  there.  All  the  afternoon, 
until  late  in  the  evening,  there  were  some  of  them  at  the  mission 
house. 

The  next  morning  Elders  Scowcroft,  Miller,  Ivie  and  the 
writer  caught  the  5  o'clock  train  and  rode  thirty  miles  towards 
Tokyo,  to  the  little  town  of  Otsuki,  where  we  changed  to  the 


118 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


"tetsudo-basha,"  a  little  horse  car  with  a  capacity  of  ten  people, 
hut  into  which  sixteen  of  us  were  crowded.  We  had  a  flfteen- 
mile,  three-hour  rule,  up  a,  rather  wide  canyon  which  .here  and 
there  opened  up  enough  for  fair-sized  towns  to  he  built.  Fuji 
San  was  in  sight  all  the  way;  as  we  approached  she  towered 
higher  and  higher,  while  the  apparently  smooth  sides  mew  rugged, 
with  cliffs  and  canyons. 

At   the  end  of  the  horse-car  line,  we  were  immediately  taken 


MT.  FUJI— VIEW  FROM  THE  LAKE-SIDE  OF  SHOJIN. 

in  charge  by  two  old  men,  rustling  for  the  best  hotel  in  the  little 
town  of  Yoshida.  We  went  with  them  for  dinner.  On  the  way 
to  the  hotel,  each  of  us  purchased  a  large  hat  made  of  split  bamboo 
and  grass.  One  of  the  men  had  an  English  vocabulary  of  four 
words,  viz.,  wife,  boy,  girls,  and  fin,  and  he  used  them  on  us  all  the 
way  to  the  hotel. 

Our  dinner  consisted  of  boiled  rice,  boiled  potatoes,  a  can  of 
Chicago  corn  beef,  and  some  cider.  The  landlord  pressed  us  to 
take  a  guide,  as  the  trail  could  be  easily  lost;  some  canned  goods, 
because  the  food  on  the  mountain  was  very  poor,  and  some  coolies 
to  help  us  climb,  and  to  carry  some  extra  bedding,  as  the  accommo- 
dations to  be  had  on  the  trail  were  very  insufficient.  We  told  him 
that  none  of  the  things  he  proposed  were  necessary,  and  that  we 
could  eat  anything  the  Japanese  could,  and  could  sleep  in  any  bed 


FUJI   SAN  119 

that  they  could.     He  thought  we  were  about  the  most  peculiar 
foreigners  he  had  ever  seen.     We  had  been  in  the  country  too  long. 

We  ordered  horses,  and  when  they  came,  there  was  a  boy  to 
lead  each  one.  We  had  to  submit,  hut  as  the  trail  was  quite  steep 
we  could  not  ascend  faster  than  a  walk.  We  donned  our  big  hats, 
gave  our  climbing  staffs  to  the  horse  boys,  mounted,  and  were  off. 

The  road  led  through  a  beautiful  grove  of  cryptomeria  trees 
in  the  midst  of  which  was  situated  the  Sengen  temple.  Leaving 
the  grove  we  traversed  the  foothills  for  about  six  miles  to"Uma- 
gaeshi"  (horse  turn  back).  Our  boys  said  that  their  horses  could 
go  part  way  up,  so  we  decided  not  to  turn  them  back,  but  to  ride 
just  as  far  as  possible.  After  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  of  rest, 
we  again  mounted,  and  the  real  climb  of  the  mountain  commenced. 

The  distance  from  Umagaeshi  to  the  summit  is  unequally 
divided  into  ten  divisions  called  "go."  The  stations  are  there- 
for called  first  "Ichi  go  me,"  second,  "Ni  go  me,"  and  so  on,  the 
last  before  reaching  the  summit  being  the  ninth,  or  "Kugome." 
Our  horses  were  able  to  carry  us  up  as  far  as  the  fifth  station.  This 
station  is  just  at  the  timber  line.  We'  could  not  see  much  of  the 
surrounding  country  until  we  reached  there,  but  the  ride  was 
delightful.  The  trees  were  large  and  thickly  set,  and  the  under- 
brush, vines  and  ferns  luxuriant.  Occasionally,  through  a  vista 
in  the  trees,  we  beheld  one  or  more  of  the  many  lakes  that  cluster 
around  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  We  stopped  at  each  station 
long  enough  to  have  the  station's  stamp  put  upon  our  staffs  to  show 
that  we  had  been  at  that  place.  Each  stamp  cost  us  one  sen  (one- 
half  cent).  We  reached  the  fifth  station  at  5:45.  After  paying 
our  boys,  we  took  a  snap-shot  of  the  crowd,  and  commenced  the 
climb  afoot.  Having  ridden  eight  miles  on  horse-back,  we  had 
but  three  miles  left,  but  they  were  the  most  difficult. 

Leaving  the  fifth  station  and  the  timber,  we  had  our  first  un- 
obstructed view  of  the  country  below  us.  Already  we  were  higher 
than  most  of  the  distant  mountains,  and  were  able  to  look  down 
into  the  little  valleys  between  them.  About  ten  miles  away,  four 
of  the  beautiful  lakes  were  seen  at  the  base  of  the  mountain. 
Between  two  of  them  we  could  see  the  village  of  Yoshida,  where 
we  had  mounted  our  horses.  Stringing  out  in  single  file,  in  order 
to  keep  on  the  narrow  trail  worn  by  the  thousands  of  pilgrims  who 
climb  by  this  route  every  year,  we  commenced  working  up  towards 


I -jo 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


the  sixth  station.     This  required  about  half  an  hour.     Again  we 
we  had  the  station  stamp  put  upon  our  staffs. 

We  started  up  the  cinder  path  and  about  seven  o'clock  reached 
"Roku  go  me  go  shaku"  (station  six  and  one-half).  We  were 
inclined  to  stop  here  for  the  night,  but  finding  a  man  there  who 
could  talk  a  little  English,  and  who  declined  to  say  anything  in 


CROSSING    THE    FOOTHILLS    AFTER    LEAVING    YOSHIDA 

Japanese,  we  decided  to  press  on  to  the  next  stop,  rather  than  be 
bored  half  the  night  by  very  bad  English.  At  dark  we  arrived  at 
the  seventh  station,  and  arranged  to  stop  there. 

Our  hotel  consisted  of  one  large  room,  about  fifteen  by  forty 
feet.  Already  about  fifteen  guests  had  arrived,  and  eaten  their 
supper.  The  building,  which  was  constructed  of  lava  stones,  was 
very  low,  being  only  about  five  feet  and  a  half  in  the  clear,  inside, 
so  we  all  had  to  stoop  in  going  from  place  to  place,  except  Elder 
Miller  who,  fortunately,  was  not  quite  tall  enough  to  interfere  with 
the  beams  supporting  the  roof.  The  floor  was  made  of  wood, 
carried  from  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  It  was  covered  with  grass- 
matting  which  made  it  quite  comfortable,  especially  after  a  hard 
climb.  In  the  center  of  the  room  was  a  five-foot  square  where 
the  floor  was  taken  out,  and  there  on  the  ground  the  fire  was  burn- 
ing. Above,  hung  a  large  iron  pot  of  hot  water,  the  contents  of 
which  later  became  our  evening  soup.  The  room  had  only  two 
doors,  and  two  small  windows,  all  on  the  same  side,  the  roof  and 


FUJI    SAN  121 

walls  were  black  with  smoke,  so  that  it  was  almosl  impossible  to 
see  the  length  of  the  room. 

Our  landlord  proved  to  be  a  genial  old  man  of  about  sixty, 
and  soon  we  had  our  shoes  off  and  were  sitting  around  the  fire 
watching  him  make  the  soup  which,  with  some  boiled  rice,  consti- 
tuted our  evening  meal.  What  it  lacked  in  variety  was  made  up 
in  quantity,  and  we  all  thought  it  was  about  the  finesl  meal  we 
had  ever  eaten.  As  we  were  eating,  the  old  man  put  one  large 
quilt,  folded  once,  for  each  of  us  for  our  beds.  After  telling  him 
that  his  was  the  finest  station  we  had  passed,  that  the  supper  was 
delicious,  and  a  few  other  similar  things,  we  had  another  quill  each 
put  out,  and  before  we  were  through,  still  another  was  rolled  up  as 
a  pillow  for  us.  Our  eyes  were  sore  from  the  effects  of  the  smoke 
in  the  room,,  and  it  was  quite  a  relief  to  go  to  sleep. 

About  half  past  three  in  the  morning,  some  of  the  other 
pilgrims  began  to  get  up,  and  the  landlord  came  and  told  me  that 
if  we  wanted  to  see  the  break  of  day  and  the  sunrise,  we  would  have 
to  arise.  We  got  out  from  between  our  heavy  quilts  ;i  little  before 
four  o'clock.  Within  a  few  minutes  we  were  amply  rewarded  with 
a  most  glorious  sunrise.  First,  a  few  faint  streaks  of  yellow  ap- 
peared through  the  thin  haze  in  the  east,  then  the  colors  changed 
gradually  into  an  orange  hue,  then  into  a  brilliant  red,  and  at  last 
the  sun  itself,  a  huge  reddish-orange  orb,  appeared  from  behind 
the  distant  mountains  below  us. 

After  another  meal  of  soup  and  rice,  we  joined  a  party  of  Jap- 
anese climbers,  and  at  five  o'clock  were  on  our  way  to  the  summil . 
From  here  up,  the  climb  became  harder  and  harder,  the  ashes  and 
cinders  changed  to  large  boulders,  and  the  path  became  gradually 
steeper.  We  kept  climbing  slowly,  slowly,  little  by  Id  tie  we 
approached  the  summit,  always  in  sight  above  us.  At  station 
eight,  we  stopped  and  had  our  sticks  stamped,  then  went  on  again. 
Elders  Scowcroft  and  Miller  were  not  feeling  very  well,  the  break- 
fast soup  not  having  agreed  with  them.  By  going  slowly,  however, 
they  were  able  to  keep  climbing,  and  at  last,  after  a  very  hard 
stretch  of  trail,  we  arrived  at  station  nine.  This  station  is  built 
over  the  trail  in  such  a  way  that  every  one  musl  go  in  at  on.'  end 
of  the  little  house,  and  out  at  the  other.  From  here  to  the  summit 
was  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  but  it  was  the  hardest  climbing  of  the 
whole  trip.  However,  at  7:30  we  reached  the  tenth  station  on 
the  summit.     Here  we  immediately  had  our  sticks  stamped  again, 


122 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


unci  bought  some  souvenir  chopsticks  and  a  fan.  The  latter  was 
not  for  use,  however,  as  snow  and  ice,  and  a  very  cold  wind  made 
it  quite  unnecessary. 

At  last  we  were  on  the  top  of  Fuji,  the  highest  (except  Mt. 
Morrison,  in  Formosa),  the  most  beautiful,  and  the  most  famous 
mountain  in  this  mountainous  land  of  Japan;  and  the  one  Frank 
G.  Carpenter,  calls  the  finest  and  most  beautiful  mountain  in  all 
the  world.  She  stands  alone,  rising  from  a  large  fertile  plain, 
(except  on  the  south  side  where  the  ocean  washes  the  base)  to  a 
height  of  12,390  feet,  that  being  the  altitude  of  Kengamine,  the 
westernmost  and  highest  point  of  the  crater  wall.  Though  Fuji 
San  is  now  quiet,  she  is  still  a  volcano,  and  eruptions  took  place 
up  to  1708,  at  which  time  ashes  fell  six  inches  deep  at  Tokyo, 
seventy-five  miles  away.  Even  now,  at  several  places  near  the 
lip  of  the  crater,  steam  issues  forth  from  the  rocks,  and  by  digging 
in  a  foot  or  two,  it  is  hot  enough  to  boil  eggs.  The  lava  streams 
that  have  flowed  forth  from  Fuji,  in  ages  past,  were  immense. 
One  great  stream  can  be  traced  to  the  Fuji  river,  fifteen  miles 
away,  and  other  great  streams  can  be  followed  on  other  sides  of  the 
mountain. 

Fuji  ranks  high  among  the  many  sacred  peaks  of  Japan,  and 
every  summer  it  is  crowded  with  pilgrims.  Formerly  women 
could  not  ascend  because  of  religious  beliefs,  but  now  they  are 
allowed  on  the  summit,  and  are  not  compelled  to  stop  at  station 
eight  which  formerly  was  the  limit  for  them. 

After  a  short  rest  we  began  the  trip  around  the  crater.  Elders 
Scowcroft  and  Miller  turned  back  shortly  after  we  started,  while 

Elder  Ivie  and  I  finished  the 
trip.  We  commenced  from 
the  east  side.  The  weather  was 
fine.  There  were  some  clouds, 
but  they  were  higher  than  the 
summit,  so  did  not  obscure 
our  view  of  the  country  below.. 
From  the  east  side,  we  could 
see  in  the  distance  the  Tokyo 
plain,  with  Tokyo  far  up  the 
bay.  Closer  in,  the  capes  and  islands  of  Tokyo  bay  were  seen  and 
a  little  to  the  south,  and  still  closer,  was  beautiful  Lake  Hakone, 
one  of  Japan's   most  popular  summer  resorts.     Between   Lake 


LOOKING    INTO    THE    CRATER,    2,000 
FEET  WIDE  AND  600  FEET  DEEP. 


FUJI   SAN 


L23 


Hakone  and  the  foot  of  the  mountain  were  some  snow-white  clouds 
which  made  it  impossible  to  see  the  foot  of  the  mountain  on  that 
side. 

The  summit  is  made  up  of  a  series  of  peaks  surrounding  the 
crater  which  has  a  diameter  of  about  two  thousand  feet,  and  a 
depth  of  about  six  hundred  feet,  The  trip  around  occupied  an 
hour,  the  distance  being  said  to  be  a  little  more  than  two  miles, 
although  that  seems  an  exaggeration.  Climbing  up  the  path  to 
the  first  little  peak,  we  had  our  first  glimpse  of  the  crater.  Great 
snow  banks  still  remained  on  the  south  side.  Excepl  on  that- 
side,  the  crater  walls  are  perpendicular. 


w  -  -  - 


M 


~,"w-»»f« 


THE   MAIN  TEMPLE  ON  TOP.     THE  CREST  OVER  THE  CENTER  IS  THAT  OF 
THE  IMPERIAL  FAMILY— THE  16-PETAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
J.  C.  JENSEN  ON  RIGHT. 

Turning  to  the  left,  and  passing- outside  the  wall  a  little  way,  we 
came  to  three  places  where  steam  was  issuing  out  of  the  rocks. 
Crossing  a  little  hollow  we  came  to  the  "Gimmeisui"  spring  (famous 
silver  water),  at  the  head  of  the  trail  from  the  south  side.  A  little 
farther  we  came  to  the  chief  temple  of  the  mountain,  a  little  build- 
ing of  lava  rock.  On  the  front  is  a  gilt  crest  of  the  Imperial 
Family,  a  sixteen-petal  chrysanthemum.  The  gate  in  front  of 
the  temple  lias  not  been  re-erected  this  year,  and  was  on  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  temple,  all  of  which  was  sadly  in  need  of 
repair. 

A  little  walk,  and  we  were  on  top  of  Kengamine,  the  highest 
point  of  the  mountain,  and  from  which  the  most  extensive  view  is 
obtained.  To  the  south  is  the  ocean,  on  the  west  ami  north  stretch 
rano-e  after  range  of  mountains,  for  a  hundred  miles.     Southwest 


124 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


is  the  Fuji  river,  whose  wide,  rocky  bed  is  hidden  in  many  places 
by  the  low,  intervening  hills.  To  the  northwest  can  be  seen  the 
Kofu  Valley,  with  the  city  nestling  against  the  low  hills  on  the 
further  side.  Descending  from  Kengamine,  the  path  passes  under 
it,  just  over  a  high  cliff.  Continuing  north  along  the  crater's  lip, 
which  is  here  very  narrow,  we  have  on  one  side  the  crater  itself, 
and  on  the  outside,  a  great  gorge  that  seems  to  drop  almost  perpen- 
dicularly, downward  about  six  thousand  feet.  Rising  again,  the 
path  leads  to  another  ice-cold  spring  called  "Kimmeisui"  (famous 
golden  water).  Five  minutes  more,  and  we  were  back  at  the  huts, 
by  the  Yoshida  trail,  where  we  ascended. 

At  11:30  we  commenced  the  decent  by  a  different  trail.  The 
first  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet  to  station  six  we  ran  in  twenty 
minutes.  To    ascend    took 

more  than  three  hours.  The 
trail  follows  a  little  depression 
full  of  cinders  and  fine  ashes, 
enabling  us  to  run  just  as  fast 
as  we  dared  here.  Having 
plenty  of  time,  we  took  long 
steps  occasionally.  Clouds 
had  gathered  around  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  and  we  passed 
through  them,  emerging  just 
as  we  reached  station  one. 
Here  we  rested  and  had  our 
sticks  stamped.  I  sewed  a 
few  stitches  in  one  of  my  shoes, 
to  make  it  hold  until  I  could 
reach  Tokyo.  Sliding  down 
through  the  cinders  was  hard  on 
shoes,  and  three  of  us  had  our  shoes  tied  on  with  small  ropes, 
which  the  Japanese  use    on    their  straw  climbing  sandals. 

From  here  to  Umagaeshi  is  a  distance  of  three  miles.  It 
was  a  beautiful  walk,  through  a  dense  forest,  in  which  here  and 
there  an  opening  had  been  made  for  little  temples  and 
shrines.  At  one  temple  we  asked  how  far  it  was  to  Uma- 
gaeshi, and  the  priest  said  that  it  was  about  twelve  "cho" 
(a  little  less  than  a  mile).  After  walking  about  five  min- 
utes, we  came  to  a   little    rest-house,    and    were    informed    that 


DOWN  2,500  FEET  IN  20  MINUTES.     THE 
TRAIL  FOLLOWS  A  DEPRESSION  FULL 
OF  CINDERS  AND  ASHES. 
Jas.   Scowcroft,  Jas.   Miller,   Lloyd  Ivie. 


I-'I  t.i  i   SAN 


12£ 


it    was  about  fourteen     "cho"    to      Umagaeshi.     After     aboul 

ten  minutes  more,  we  met  a 
man  on  horse  back  and  again 
inquiring  found  thai  it  was 
eighteen   '"cho."        Deciding 

thai  none  of  them  knew  any 
more  about  it  than  we  did,  we 
plodded  on  for  about  five  min- 
utes when  we  suddenly  came 
into  the  rest-house  at  Uma- 
gaeshi.  Here  we  ordered  a  car- 
riage, a  two-wheeled  contriv- 
ance with  no  springs.  Atop  was 
attached  to  protect  one  from 
the  sun.  On  a  hard  road,  it 
would  have  been  a  rough  thing 
to  ride  in,  since  we  had  to  sit 
half  way  down.  on  the  bottom,  but  the  road 

Jay  C.  Jensen,  J  as  Scowcroft,  J  as.  Miller.  i  <•  1  •    1 

Heber,  Utah.  Ogden,  Utah.    Murray,  Utah,     was    Covered   a    toot    deep    With 

cinders  and  ashes,  so  it  was  not  very  hard  riding. 

After  about  an  hour's  ride. 
we  arrived  at  Subashiri  village, 
As  the  six  o'clock  car  would 
connect  with  our  train  for  To- 
kyo, we  decided  to  wait,  and 
spent  the  hour  in  conversing 
with  a  crowd  of  children  who 
gathered  to  see  us.  This  ride 
of  five  miles  was  through  a 
very  pretty  country — groves 
of  pine  and  bamboo,  and  rice 
fields.  At  7:15  we  arrived  at 
Gotemba  station,  on   the  main 

line  of  railroad,  running  from  Tokyo  to  southern  and  western 

Japan.     We  caught  the  train  for  Tokyo,  arriving  half  an  hour 

later. 


OUR  CARRIAGE   (?)   FOR  FIVE   MILES- 
HALF  WAY  DOWN. 


Tokyo,  Japan. 


John  Engleman  and  the  Spirit 
of  Christmas. 

BY  NEPHI  ANDERSON,  AUTHOR  OF  "The  Castle  Builder, 
"Added  Upon,"  etc. 


They  came  from  the  west;  there  were  two  of  them  only ;  they 
were  not  wise;  neither  had  they  a  star  to  guide  them. 

It  was  a  cold  day  for  traveling.  The  storms  of  the  past  few 
days  had  made  the  roads  soft;  but  they  were  now  being  crusted 
by  the  frost  through  which  the  tired  horses  broke  at  every  step, 
and  the  wheels  dragged  heavily.  The  two  travelers  sat  in  the 
spring-seat  of  the  farm  wagon.  The  young  man's  coat  was  but- 
toned to  his  chin;  driving  gloves  covered  his  hands;  a  slouch  hat 
hung  over  his  ears.  The  woman  by  his  side  was  muffled  and 
wrapped  so  that  her  face  only  was  exposed.  This,  it  could  be  seen, 
though  young  and  pretty,  was  now  pinched  and  careworn. 

"Harvey,"  asked  the  young  woman,  "where  are  we?  I'm 
cold." 

"We  are  nearly  to  the  point  of  the  mountain,"  replied  her 
companion.  "We  are  making  the  best  time  possible  on  these 
roads."  He  drew  the  blankets  up  farther  over  her  lap  and  tucked 
them  well  around  her,  though  his  own  knees  were  uncovered. 
He  touched  the  horses  with  the  whip,  to  which  they  unwillingly 
responded. 

The  sky,  clear  during  the  first  part  of  the  day,  was  now  over- 
cast again.  The  wind  blew  from  the  north,  and  there  was  a  feeling 
of  snow  in  the  air.  Christmas  was  but  a  few  days  in  the  future, 
so  the  weather  was  seasonable  enough;  but  it  was  most  cold  and 
miserable  to  those  two  sitting  on  the  wagon,  suffering  not  only 
from  outside  cold,  but  also  from  that  which  comes  from  some 
unknown  source  deep  in  the  human  heart. 

For  fully  an  hour  the  horses  plodded  on,  the  two  travelers 
sitting  as  if  wholly  withdrawn  within  each  others'  thoughts. 
Not  a  word  was  spoken.  The  long  stretch  of  road  came  to  an  end, 
and  the  horses  tugged  slowly  up  the  hill.  Twice  they  stopped  to 
rest  before  they  reached  the  summit.     Then  as  they  trotted  down 


JOHN  ENGLEMAN  AND  THE  SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS        127 

the  hill  towards  the  village,  its  lamps  gleamed  through  the  darken- 
ing gloom,  and  the  first  flakes  of  snow  began  to  fall. 

Less  than  a  year  ago,  these  two,  Harvey  and  Clara  Woodson, 
newly  made  man  and  wife,  had  traveled  over  this  same  road 
going  westward  to  take  up  land  and  to  make  a  home  for  themselves. 
With  high  hopes  they  had  set  out  to  realize  their  dreams  of  future 
happiness;  but  now  they  were  returning,  their  dreams  vanished, 
their  star  of  hope  set  in  a  dark  sky,  their  hearts  cold,  and  troubled, 
and  sad.  This  was  the  end,  they  said  to  themselves.  What  had 
the  future  in  store  for  them?  Oh,  what  a  lot  of  misery  could  be 
tucked  into  the  short  time  between  Christmases! 

What  was  the  trouble  with  these  two?  It  would  be  hard  to 
put  a  finger  on  one  particular  cause  of  their  falling  out.  Neither 
of  them  had  been  guilty  of  any  great  wrong,  but  there  were  many 
little  things  that  displayed  a  lack  of  wisdom,  misunderstandings, 
unthoughtfulness,  unkindness  as  to  each  others  feelings,  unchecked 
tempers,  unwillingness  to  forgive  and  forget.  They  had  not 
understood  that  love,  to  be  stamped  as  true,  must  undergo  a  test. 
Love  amid  sunny  skies  and  blooming  flowers  is  quite  different 
from  love  amid  poverty,  hard  work,  and  the  testing  of  muscles  and 
tempers.  These  two  had  been  unschooled;  and  now  at  the  first 
hard  lessons,  they  had  failed.  Yes;  they  had  agreed  that  their 
troubles  had  piled  up  to  mountain  height,  insurmountable.  The 
only  way  to  end  the  struggle,  they  thought,  was  to  separate.  She 
would  go  back  home  to  her  mother;  he  might  go  where  he  would. 
This  they  had  decided  on,  and  were  now  carrying  out. 

The  hardest  part  of  that  journey  was  the  end.  As  they  neared 
the  village,  each  felt  that  the  silence  between  them  ought  to  be 
broken.  He  wanted  to  say  something,  and  a  thousand  thoughts 
crowded  into  her  mind  to  which  she  could  not  give  expression. 

At  last  they  drew  up  to  a  gate.  Her  father  and  mother  had 
known  of  their  coming,  and  were  waiting.  Harvey  leaped  down 
first  and  lifted  his  wife  to  the  ground,  holding  her  close  for  an 
instant  before  she  ran  with  a  little  cry  from  him  into  the  house. 
Her  boxes  and  trunks  were  unloaded,  then  the  young  man  climbed 
back  into  the  spring-seat. 

"Harvey,"  pleaded  Mr.  Waite,  "you're  not  going  home 
tonight." 

"Yes,    I'll   drive   right   on." 


128  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

"Don't  be  foolish.  Come,  we'll  put  up  your  tired  team — 
you  go  in  and  get  warm." 

"Not  tonight,  thank  you  just  the  same.  I,  too,  am  going 
home.  Good  night." 

The  horses  were  told  to  go.  Clara's  father  and  mother 
stood  in  the  lamp  glow  from  the  open  door,  the  snow  flakes  alight- 
ing on  their  uncovered  heads,  while  they  saw  their  son-in-law 
drive  on  down  the  road  and  disappear  in  the  darkness. 


John  Engleman  was  far  removed  from  the  spirit  of  Christmas, 
both  in  thought  and  feeling.  The  rising  north  wind,  whistling 
around  the  corners  and  rattling  the  loose  boards  of  his  shanty, 
threatened  snow.  Within,  the  rusty  stove  glowed  with  heat  when 
John  piled  in  the  sage-brush;  but  if  this  work  was  neglected  for 
any  length  of  time,  the  fire  died  down  and  the  stove  became  cold. 
And  John  Engleman,  careless,  of  both  self  and  fire,  sat  in  his 
improvised  chair  by  the  stove  with  no  light  but  that  which  came 
uncertainly  from  the  open  door  of  the  stove. 

A  strong  puff  of  wind  blew  the  shanty  door  open,  at  the  same 
time  driving  the  smoke  from  the  stove  into  the  room.  John  arose, 
went  to  the  door  as  if  to  close  it,  but  instead,  he  stepped  outside 
and  looked  up  into  the  sky.  He  saw  the  snow  coming,  but  it 
meant  nothing  particular  to  him.  His  stock  had  been  provided 
for,  his  two  horses  were  well  housed  for  the  night.  His  dog  shared 
with  him  a  corner  of  the  shanty  near  the  wood-box;  and  were  not 
these  all  that  were  immediately  dependent  on  him?  As  for  him- 
self, well,  the  shanty  was  not  very  comfortable,  especially  in  cold 
weather,  but  what  of  it?  His  house  in  town,  or  for  that  matter 
the  finest  in  the  land,  could  not  just  now  give  more  of  happiness 
or  of  a  contented  mind. 

With  a  parting  look  into  the  sky,  John  Engleman  went  back 
into  the  house  and  closed  the  door  tightly  after  him.  He  lifted 
the  lid  from  the  stove  and  forced  in  some  more  brush.  Then  he 
lighted  a  lamp,  but  he  found  the  chimney  so  smoky  that  he  took 
it  off  again  and  cleaned  it.     He  could  now  see  to  read. 

To  read!  He  had  not  read  a  book  for  long  months.  What  to 
him  were  the  petty  or  foolish  imaginings  of  others  when  he  himself 
had  lived  so  intensely;  but  he  knew  it  was  well  sometimes  to  get 
away  from  one's  own  thoughts  to  those  of  others,  and  to  take  part 


JOHN  ENGLEMAN  AN!)  THE  SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS       L29 

in  others'  adventures  and  experiences.     What  should  he  read  that 
evening? 

His  box  of  books  was  packed  ready  to  be  carted  away  the  aexl 
day,  but  he  would  have  to  find  something  amon-  them  some- 
thing that  would  either  entertain  him  or  would  send  him  asleep  t<> 
the  land  of  oblivion.  He  drew  out  a  small,  well-worn  volume. 
It  proved  to  be  Dickens'  Christmas  Carol.  Why,  to  be  sure, 
it  was  time  to  read  it  again.  Each  year,  just  before  Christmas, 
John  Engleman  had  made  it  a  practice  to  read  this  little  story 
to  put  him  in  the  proper  Christmas  attitude.  So  far,  the  custom 
had  succeeded  in  its  object  very  well;   but  could  he  read  it  again? 

A  little  more  than  twelve  months  had  passed  since  lie  had 
read  the  Christmas  Carol — it  seemed  a  Ions  time  ago.  How 
they — Clara  Waite  and  he — had  enjoyed  that  reading!  How 
they  had  drank  in  the  sweet  spirit  of  Christmas!  How  they  had 
denounced  grouchy  old  Scrooge  and  his  stinginess!  How  they  had 
danced  with  delight  at  the  Fezzewig's  party!  How  they  had 
enjoyed  their  visit  at  Bob  Cratchet's,  and  how  they  also  had 
feasted  with  the  family  on  that  wonderful  roast  goose  and  more 
wonderful  plum  pudding!  Should  he  read  the  story  again,  and 
alone?  He  sat  and  thumbed  the  book,  noting  some  places  he 
had  underscored.  He  read  over  the  greeting  between  Scrooge  and 
his  nephew,  then  continued,  following  all  the  pranks  of  the  Ghosts 
of  Christmas  Past,  Christmas  Present,  and  Christmas  Future,  as 
they  took  their  charge  over  England's  green  fields  and  among 
London's  murky  streets. 

The  wind  blew  hard  outside,  and  the  snow  now  came  beating 
against  the  thin  walls  of  the  shanty,  lodging  closely  in  windows 
and  door.  John  hugged  the  stove.  The  brush  fire  was  out  when 
the  repentant  Scrooge  of  the  story,  rejoicing  that  he  still  had  a 
chance  to  shape  his  life  for  the  better,  went  to  spend  a  merry 
Christmas  with  his  nephew. 

"A  great  story,"  said  John  to  himself.  "Some  day  I'm  going 
to  London  just  because  it  was  Dickens'  town.  Out  in  this  wild 
west  such  things  as  the  novelist  descril.es  could  not  be.  Here 
there  are  no  Scrooges,  no  Bob  Cratchets.  no  such  poverty  of  -pint 
or  body.  Here  is  God's  big,  free,  open  country,  where  everybody 
can  get  a  decent  living,  and  where  there  ire  no  despots  to  grind 
the  face  of  the  poor.  No;  that  is  true,  but  there  are  other  things 
— heartaches,  loneliness,  disappointments,  and 


130  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Go  to  bed,  John  Engleman,  and  sleep  off  those  brooding 
thoughts. 

He  had  stripped  himself  of  his  coat,  getting  ready  to  tumble 
in,  when  he  heard  the  whinney  of  a  horse  near  his  door.  Listening, 
he  caught  a  wagon's  muffled  roll  through  the  snow.  Slipping  on 
his  coat  again,  he  went  to  the  door,  opened  it,  and  peered  out  into 
the  snow  storm  and  the  blackness. 

"Halloo,  who's  there,"  shouted  John. 

The  wagon  stopped,  and  a  voice  replied  from  the  seat,  "Is 
that  you,  John?     What  are  you  doing  here  this  time  of  the  year?" 

"Who  is  it?     I  can't  see  you  out  there." 

"I'm  Harvey  Woodson.     Don't  you  know  me?" 

"Harvey!  Well,  I  never!  and  what  are  you  doing  here  this 
time  of  the  night?" 

"I'm  traveling — on  the  way  home." 

"Are  you  alone?     Where — where's  your  wife?" 

"She's  not  with  me.     She's  at  her  mother's." 

"Well,  that's  a  good  place  to  be  on  such  a  night  as  this; — 
but,  say,  your  team  is  all  fagged  out?" 

"Yes;  we've  been  going  all  day.  It's  cold,  too."  There  was 
no  ring  to  the  voice  that  came  through  the  falling  snow,  and  John 
Engleman  discerned  it. 

"Look  here,  Harve,"  said  he,  "you  had  better  stay  with  me 
over  night.  There  is  room  in  the  stable  for  your  horses,  with 
plenty  of  feed;   and  you  can  bunk  with  me." 

The  driver  sat  without  replying.  The  horses  hung  their 
heads    in    exhaustion. 

"Come,"  urged  John,  "drive  into  the  yard,  and  I'll  help  you." 

"Thank  you,  John,  but  I  guess  I'll  drive  on." 

"Not  much.  You'll  stay  with  me  tonight,  and  you  can  drive 
on  early  in  the  morning."  He  took  the  horses  by  the  lines,  led 
them  into  the  yard,  and  began  to  unhitch.  The  driver  remained 
in  careless  inactivity  for  some  time  before  he  jumped  down  stiff 
and  cold  and,  without  protesting  further,  helped  put  up  his  horses. 
They  carried  some  quilts  and  boxes  into  the  shanty.  Then  more 
sage-brush  was  stuffed  into  the  stove  and  made  to  burn. 

"Are  you  hungry?"  asked  John.  "I  haven't  much,  but  I  can 
get  you  something." 

"No;  never  mind.  Just  let  me  get  warm,  then  roll  up  in  my 
blankets  and  go  to  sleep." 


JOHN  ENGLEMAN  AND  THE   SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS        L31 

"Of  course,  you  shall  do  as  you  please  about  that;  but  what- 
is  the  matter,  Harve?" 

"I  can't  talk  about  it — not  now.  I'm  just  dead  tired,  and 
cold." 

"Didn't  you  walk  to  keep  warm?"  asked  John  as  lie.  added 
more  fuel  to  the  fire. 

"No;  I  just  sat  and  froze,  and  nearly  went  to  sleep.  Would 
to  God  I  had,  and  never  wakened." 

John  was  startled.  What  did  this  mean?  Harvey  Woodson 
had  driven  westward  less  than  a  year  ago  with  his  young  wife, 
and  here  they  were  back  again — and  in  such  a  condition.  The  \vi  IV 
was  not  ill  or  worse.  John  made  some  guarded  inquiries  from  Which 
he  learned  that  Clara  was  at  her  mother's,  safe  enough  in  those 
respects;  but  further  information  was  not  forthcoming.  The 
traveler  soon  became  warmed,  then  rolled  up  in  his  blankets  on 
the  floor.  He  said,  no,  firmly,  when  the  other  urged  him  to  occupy 
the  narrow  bunk  by  the  wall. 

John  Engleman  looked  wonderingly  at  his  friend,  as  he  lay 
with  face  averted.  For  a  long  time  he  sat  by  the  table,  feeding 
the  fire  when  it  burned  low.  Then  when  he  heard  the  hard  breal  h- 
ing  of  the  sleeper  on  the  floor,  he  also  went  to  bed.  But  there  was 
no  sleep  for  a  long  time.  There  were  troubles  in  the  world,  other 
than  his  own,  it  seemed,  even  with  those  whom  he  supposed  to  be 
supremely  happy.  Marley's  ghost  walked  again  that  night, 
mixing,  in  some  strange,  mystic  way,  with  John  and  his  returned 
friends,  Harvey  and  Clara. 

The  two  men  were  up  by  daylight  in  the  morning.  There  was 
more  life  in  Harvey,  and  he  said  he  had  slept  like  a  log.  John 
prepared  breakfast  while  Harvey  went  out  to  see  to  the  horses. 
The  sky  was  clear,  the  air  cold.  While  eating  breakfast  John 
explained  that  he  was  just  ready  to  move  to  town  for  the  winter. 
The  other  talked  on  general  topics  only,  until  he  had  hitched  his 
team  and  was  seated  in  his  wagon  to  drive  off.     Then  he  said: 

"John,  I'm  obliged  to  you.     You  have  helped  me  a  lot." 

"I'm  glad  of  it.     Let  me  help  some  more." 

"You  can't.     Nobody  can." 

"Why?     What  is  the  matter?" 

"It's  all  off  between  us." 

"Between  you  and  Clara?" 

"Yes." 


132  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

"Harve,  how  can  you  say  that?" 

"It's  true.  Goodbye.  I'll  see  you  again  soon."  He  cracked 
his  whip,  and  the  horses  pulled  out  heavily  along  the  road. 

That  same  afternoon  John  Engleman  deserted  his  summer 
camp  and  with  his  belongings  drove  into  the  village.  There  he 
heard  more  news  of  Harvey  and  Clara  Woodson,  for  such  things 
travel  quickly.  The  gossips  were  busy,  and  the  stories,  augmented 
like  a  rolling  ball  of  snow,  soon  assumed  large  proportions.  John 
listened  to  the  talk,  but  said  nothing,  though  he  thought  and  felt 
much,  coming  as  all  this  did  so  near  a  certain  tenderness  of  his 
own. 

Then  John  withdrew  from  the  village  and  its  talk  to  be  alone. 
A  great  temptation  had  come  to  him:  Clara  might  yet  be  his. 
The  thought  made  his  heart  leap,  and  emotions  surged  through  him 
A  divorce  had  been  mentioned.  That  would  leave  her  free.  His 
fond  dream  might  yet  be  realized,  that  dream  from  which  he  had 
been  so  rudely  awakened  when  Clara  Waite  had  chosen  Harvey 
instead  of  him.     Hope,  then,  was  not  dead,  as  he  had  concluded. 

Was  he  selfish?  Yes;  but  is  not  all  love  selfish?  Why 
should  not  he  have  a  taste  of  happiness?  He  would  not  quarrel 
with  Clara.  He  had  a  better  way,  he  was  wiser.  Besides,  Harvey 
had  had  his  chance,  but  had  not  made  good.  The  coming  together 
of  those  two  had  been  a  terrible  blunder  which  he  alone  could 
correct.  He  had  always  thought  that  Clara  was  for  him — yes, 
he  remembered  clearly  how  she  had  come  into  his  life,  and  how 
she  had  chased  away  the  dull  care  that  was  making  him  an  old 
man.     And  here  were  his  first  thoughts  and  impressions  vindicated. 

These  were  all  temptations,  and  John  Engleman  knew  it. 
In  his  innermost  heart  he  had  to  acknowledge  them  to  be  such,  and 
that  he  must  resist  them.  His  better,  more  rational  self  told  him 
this:  Harvey  and  Clara  were  man  and  wife.  What  business  had 
he  to  think  of  them  in  any  other  way?  He  had  lost  once  in  a 
fair  "fight."  Was  it  not  cowardly  now  to  take  advantage  of  a 
former  "enemy"  who  was  down?  Conditions  were  bad  enough 
between  Harvey  and  Clara,  and  yet  he  had  thought  to  make  them 
worse.  All  this  John  Engleman  acknowledged,  and  yet  it  was  not 
so  easy  to  give  up  his  thoughts  of  what  might  yet  be.  Christmas 
was  at  the  door.  To  whom  should  it  bring  happiness?  It  might 
come  to  him — only  by  bringing  miseiy  to  others.     That  was  a 


JOHN  ENGLEMAN  AND  THE  SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS       L33 

worldly  happiness,  not  worthy  of  the  Spirit  of  Christmas  who  was 
supposed  to  preside  at  this  season  of  the  year.  Then  another 
suggestion  came  to  him,  came  from  some  small,  still  voice  deep 
down  in  his  heart,  as  if  the  spirit  of  Christmas  might  have  put  it 
there.  This  idea  grew  with  him,  until  at  length  it  became  strong 
enough  to  assert  itself  boldly  and  oppose  the  spirit  of  Selfishness— 
the  spirit  that  had  posession  of  Scrooge  in  the  story,  said  John 
Engleman. 

The  evening  of  the  clay  that  John  Engleman  had  fully  made 
up  his  mind  what  to  do,  he  met  on  the  street  as  if  by  good  fortune 
Clara  Woodson's  father.  They  stopped,  as  was  their  custom,  and 
passed  the  time  of  day. 

"And  how  is  Clara?"  asked  John. 

The  father  looked  k3enly  at  the  enquirer  as  if  to  discern  his 
meaning.     "She  is  as  well  as  can  be  expected,"  was  the  reply. 

"I  have  been  thinking  that  I  ought  to  call  and  see  her." 

"Not  yet — no,  not  now." 

"You  misjudge  me,  I  fear,"  John  hastened  to  say."  Harvey 
is,  as  you  know,  an  old  friend  of  mine.  I  would  go  as  his  friend, 
to  do  him  good — and  her  too.     I  believe  I  can  help  them." 

"If  you  can,  come  by  all  means.     I  am  apparently  helpless." 

"I'll  go  right  along  with  you  now." 

It  was  already  dark  on  the  village  street,  so  there  could  be  no 
comment  on  the  fact  that  John  took  Mr.  Waite's  arm  as  they 
walked  along  towards  the  house.  A  light  shone  from  the  front 
room,  and  there  they  found  Clara  and  her  mother. 

"Here's  an  old  friend  come  to  see  you."  said  the  father. 

John  shook  hands  with  Mrs.  Waite  and  then  with  Clara.  He 
saw  that  the  once  rosy-cheeked  girl  was  now  a  hollow-cheeked 
woman,  with  lines  of  care  in  her  pale  face.  She  greeted  him 
quietly,  somewhat  reticent.  They  all  talked  for  some  time  on 
commonplace  matters,  and  then  at  Mr.  Waite's  contrivance,  John 
and  Clara  were  left  alone. 

"Clara — Mrs.  Woodson.  I  called  this  evening  for  a  purpose," 
began  John. 

"Don't!"  she  exclaimed,  moving  towards  the  door  -is  if  to 
follow  her  father  out. 

"Pardon  me,  but  you  do  not  understand.     1  have  nol  come 

as  I  once  did.     I  am  here  as  Harvey  Woodson's  friend,  to  do  g 1 

for  him  if  I  can.  He  has  helped  me  many  a  time,  and  now  I  want 


134  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

to  help  him.... He  Btayed  with  me  the  night    you    both  came 
homo." 

The  woman  stood  still,  listening  intently. 

"Yes — and  what  did  he  say  about  me?"  she  asked. 

"He  said  nothing  about  you;  he  would  not  talk;  but  I  could 
see  that  he  has  taken  his  trouble  terribly  to  heart." 

With  a  little  startled  cry  she  stepped  nearer  the  speaker,  then 
sank  into  a  chair  by  the  table.  John  Engleman  now  knew  how- 
unfounded  his  own  momentary  hopes  had  been.  His  duty  became 
plainer,  and  he  received  added  strength  to  do  it. 

"I  am  going  to  see  Harvey  tomorrow,"  continued  John;  "and 
I  want  to  bring  a  message  to  him  from  you — a  message  of  good 
will.     It's  Christmas  time,  you  know." 

"Yes,  but — he  doesn't  care." 

"Don't  say  that;   I  know  better." 

"Then  why  has  he  treated  me  like  this?"  She  spoke  with  a 
rising  temper. 

"Like  what?" 

"Well — never  mind I  don't  understand  you.     What  do 

you  want?" 

"See  here,  Clara,  I'm  going  to  be  plain.  You  two  have 
quarreled.  Neither  of  you  will  give  in  now,  nor  make  the  first 
advances  toward  a  better  understanding.  Someone  else  must  help 
you,  and  I  have  come  to  do  that." 

"It  is  useless.     You  can't  do  anything.     Harvey — " 

"Sh — I  can  help  because  I  know  you  both  so  well.     You  can't 
deny  that  I  know  about  your  quick  temper  and  other  weaknesses. 
I  remember  how  that  temper  of  yours  used  to  come  up  like  a 
thunder  storm  from  a  clear  sky.     Have  you  overcome  that?" 

"Well,  no,  but—" 

"Let  me  tell  you  something  which  I  want  you  to  think  seriously 
about:  once  upon  a  time  Harvey  Woodson  thought  you  were  the 
most  perfect  creature  out  of  heaven.  He  loved  you  blindly  then, 
even  as  he  now  loves  you  with  eyes  wide  open.  He  set  you  high. 
What  have  you  done  to  bring  his  ideals  low  in  the  dust?" 

She  answered  him  nothing. 

"Don't  you  know,"  he  continued,  "that  every  time  we  show 
our  weaknesses,  every  time  our  ugly  natures  crop  out,  those  who 
love  us  are  terribly  pained.  They  see  their  ideals  lowered,  and 
that  which   thev   thought   was   the   most   beautiful  of  treasures 


JOHN  ENGLEMAN  AND  THE  SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS        135 

robbed  of  its  lovliness;   and  when  these  uglj  outbreaks  continue 

without  any  effort  at  correction,  the  results  are  aw  ml.  I  am 
not  blaming  you  altogether,  but  pari  of  the  fault  is  yours,  and  you 
must  awaken  permanently  to  thai   fact." 

"Why  do  you  come  and  talk  to  me  like  this?" 

"Because  I  am  your  friend — and  Harvey's." 

"For   no    other    reason?" 

"No — well,  yes;  there  is  another  reason." 

"What  is  that?" 

"Day  after  tomorrow  is  Christmas.  I  have  woed  and  won 
the  sweet  spirit  of  Christmas — you  see,  I  can  win  some  beautiful 
things."     He  laughed  as  if  he  meant  this  to  be  a  little  joke. 

"I  don't  quite  understand." 

"Perhaps  not.  Let  me  make  myself  plain."  She  moved  her 
chair  nearer  the  table  on  which  stood  the  lamp.  She  toyed  with  a 
book,  glancing  now  and  then  at  the  man  who  was  once  a  lover  and 
who  had  now  come  on  such  a  strange  errand. 

"Let  me  tell  you  something  about  Harvey,"  said  he,  "some- 
thing that  perhaps  you  do  not  know." 

"Yes— all    right." 

"I  have  said,  and  as  you  know,  he  and  I  were  chums — until 
you  came.     You  chose  Harvey,  which  you  had  a  perfect  righl  to 

do.     I — I  don't  think  you  made  any  mistake No;   I  may  uo1 

give  you  any  reasons  for  that  just  now,  but  that  does  not  matter. 
Harvey  Was  perfectly  honorable  with  me  when  he  learned  of  my 
feelings.  He  came  to  me  and  said:  'Old  man,  I'm  out  of  it. 
Forgive  me  for  butting  in.' 

"  'Look  here'  said  I  'this  is  a  free  country,  and  you  have  just 
as  much  right  to  try  to  win  Clara  Waite  as  I  have.  I  think  a  lot 
of  her,  but  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  so  do  you.' 

"  'Well,  I  do',  he  acknowledged,  'but  I'm  not  going  tocul  von 

out,' 

"  'Harvey  Woodson',  said  I,  'If  you  can  cut  me  out,    I   want 
you  to  do  it.     I  don't  want  a  wife  that  somebody  else  ought  to 
have.     Further,  I  don't  want  to  marry  a  girl  that  someone 
could  have  taken  from  me  had  he  had  the  chance.'" 

"Did  you  say  that?" 

"I  did,  and  much  more."  The  speaker  moved  his  chair  also 
nearer  the  table.  "And  I  repeat  that  now,  for  1  feel  the  same 
today.     With  that  understanding,  Harvey  .ailed  in,  and  won 


!3G 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


No  matter  what  1  lost,  what  I  went  through.  He  won,  and  that 
settled  it  for  me — forever." 

She  looked  strangely  at  him  across  the  table  while  he  continued 
to  talk.  No  one,  not  even  her  father  had  been  so  plain  and  had 
probed  so  into  the  very  depths  of  their  trouble.  At  times  what 
he  said  hurt  terribly,  but  this  was  a  desperate  case,  and  gentler 
means  would  not  bring  the  desired  results.     At  last  she  said: 

"What  do  you  want  me  to  do?" 

"Just  now  I  want  you  to  spend  Christmas  Eve  at  my  house. 
There  will  be  just  a  few  people — you  and  Harvey  and  your  folks 
and  myself." 

"He  won't  come." 

"Will  you?" 

"I — Oh,  he  won't  come  if  he  knows  I  am  to  be  there." 

"Will  you  come  if  he  will,  knowing  he  is  to  meet  you?" 

"Yes,"  she  said  at  last. 

John  remained  for  supper,  when  he  also  obtained  the  promise 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waite  to  be  present  at  his  home  on  Christmas  Eve. 

(To  be  concluded  in  the  next  number.) 


Reasons  for  Opposition  to  the  Latter-day 

Saints.* 


BY  PRESIDENT  JOSEPH  F.  SMITH. 


(Concluded.) 

Then  what,  was  that  all?       No;    the  Lord  revealed  to  the 

Prophet  Joseph  Smith  that  having  been  washed  clean,  having  been 
cleansed  from  sin  by  baptism  for  the  remission  of  sin,  by  one,  having 
authority  from  God  to  do  it,  that  thereafter  they  were  to  live  pure, 
chaste,  holy,  upright  lives,  and  sin  no  more,  if  they  would  live 
without  sin,  or  at  least  to  do  as  nearly  that  as  it  is  possible  for 
human  creatures  to  do,  who  are  possessed  of  the  weakensses  that 
beset  human  nature.  That  was  the  doctrine  of  Joseph  Smith,  to 
live  righteous  lives,  inasmuch  as  you  have  been  purified,  inasmuch 
as  you  have  been  cleansed  from  sin,  inasmuch  as  God  has  remi  tted 
your  sins  through  obedience  to  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  thai 
you  shall  thereafter  keep  yourself  pure  and  unspotted  from  the 
world.  Anything  wrong  in  that?  Is  the  world  injured  by  that? 
Any  man  injured  by  that  procedure,  or  by  that  counsel  and  re- 
quirement?    No! 

Well,  then,  what?  Then  the  Lord  revealed  the  great  principle 
of  organization  by  which  his  Church  is  to  be.  governed,  which 
the  Lord  himself  established  in  the  Church.  The  authority  of  the 
Holy  Priesthood,  that  of  the  High  Priesthood,  the  Apostleship, 
the  Seventies,  and  the  Elders,  and  then  the  organizations  of  the 
Lesser  Priesthood — the  Bishops,  the  Priests,  the  Teachers  and  the 
Deacons — God  established  these  organizations  in  the  Church  for 
the  government  of  the  people.  What  for?  To  oppress  them? 
No.  To  injure  them?  No,  a  thousand  times,  no.  What  for? 
That  they  and  their  children  might  have  the  benefits  of  these 
organizations  for  instruction,  for  admonition,  for  guidance,  for 
revelation,  and  for  inspiration  to  do  that  which  the  Lord  requires 
at  their  hands,  that  they  may  become  perfect  in  their  lives,  and 
that  they  may  perfect  the  organization  to  which  they  belong  in  the 
Church,  as  the  Lord  God  has  revealed  those  things  to  us;  that 
♦Opening  sermon  at  the  General  Conference,  Oct.  6,  toil. 


138  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

thereby  we  may  become  stronger,  more  intelligent,  possessed  of 
greater  faith,  of  broader  understanding  of  the  truth,  and  of  a 
higher  conception  of  God's  principles  and  purposes  for  the  exist- 
ence of  the  children  of  men  in  the  earth,  and  for  a  broader  and 
more  perfect  comprehension  of  the  ultimate  result  of  obedience  to 
the  laws  of  God. 

Is  there  anything  wrong  about  it?  Has  anybody  been  in- 
jured? Some  people  think  that  we  are  wonderfully  injured, 
terribly  wronged,  in  consequence  of  these  organizations.  I  am 
accused  of  being  tyrannical  and  unjust.  I  am  accused  of  robbing 
and  wronging  the  Latter-day  Saints.  Well,  you  know  about  that. 
If  there  is  a  Latter-day  Saint,  or  a  latter-day  sinner,  beneath  the 
sun,  anywhere  on  earth,  in  hell,  or  anywhere  else,  who  can  point 
the  finger  to  an  act  of  mine,  wherein  they  have  sustained  injury 
and  wrong,  God  knows  I  will  go  farther  than  they  could  ask  me 
to  go,  to  make  it  right;  and  I  have  never  wronged  any  man, 
woman  or  child,  to  my  knowledge;  and  I  defy  wicked  men,  or 
good  men  or  women,  or  anybody  else,  to  point  to  an  act  of  mine 
wherein  I  have  violated  God's  law  of  chastity.  Well,  why  do  you 
say  it?  Because  no  man  on  earth  knows  it  better  than  I  do  my- 
self, and  yet  my  companions,  my  associates,  those  who  have  dwelt 
with  me  in  secret  and  in  public,  those  who  know  me,  can  bear 
testimony  to  the  same  thing.  I  never  used  a  dollar  belonging  to 
the  Churoh  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  that  I  did  not  have 
a  legitimate  right  to  use,  and  that,  too,  by  the  consent  and  approval 
of  my  brethren,  who  have  the  right  to  say  how  the  funds  of  the 
Church  shall  be  expended.  I  pay  my  tithing  and  offerings  pre- 
cisely the  same  as  you  do,  who  are  as  faithful  about  it  as  I  am.  We 
do  not  all  do  our  full  duty  with  reference  to  this.  Many  of  us 
shirk  our  responsibilities  in  regard  to  that,  to  some  extent.  That 
is,  we  feel  a  lack  of  faith  in  the  principle  and  in  the  promise  of  the 
Lord,  and  we  do  not  always  come  up  to  the  full  standard  of  the  law. 

Now,  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  has  also  revealed  to  the  world 
a  principle  that  has  been  practically  kept  hidden  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world.  What  is  it?  The  union  of  husband  and  wife  for 
time  and  for  all  eternity.  Who  knew  anything  about  it?  Who 
comprehended  the  principle?  Who  understood  the  responsibility 
that  dwells  with  the  union  of  husband  and  wife,  till  Joseph  Smith 
revealed  it  in  the  simplicity  and  plainness  with  which  he  has 
revealed  it  to  the  world?     The  world  hates  that  principle,  that  is, 


REASONS   FOR   OPPOSITION  139 

some  do,  not  all  of  them,  because  a  great  many  now  are  beginning 
to  be  leavened  with  the  leaven  that  Joseph  Smith  has  put  into  the 
lump  of  meal,  and  now  you  will  hear  both  ministers  and  laity  say, 
"Oh,  we  hope  to  have  the  privilege  of  seeing  and  knowing  and 
embracing  our  wives  and  our  children  in  the  world  to  come."  But 
the  Lord  revealed  that  principle  to  Joseph  Smith,  and  he  taught 
it  to  the  world,  and  I  thank  God  for  that  principle.  It  has  opened 
my  eyes.  If  anything  in  the  world  could  have  made  me  a  better 
man,  or  a  better  husband,  if  such  a  thing  is  possible  for  me  to  be  a 
good  husband  at  all,  it  is  that  principle  that  the  Lord  has  revealed, 
which  shows  me  the  obligations  that  I  am  under  to  the  mothers  of 
my  children.  He  has  taught  to  us  the  principle  and  the  ordinance 
of  the  everlasting  covenant,  the  union  of  parents  and  children  for 
time  and  all  eternity.  What  did  the  world  know  about  it?  Noth- 
ing. And  yet  the  world  is  vexed  about  these  things,  that  is,  the 
majority.  I  modify  it,  because  I  believe  that  there  are  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands'  of  men  in  the  world  that  are  not  identified 
with  the  Latter-day  Saints,  who  actually  believe  those  principles, 
and  would  accept  them  if  their  financial  and  social  conditions  in 
the  world,  and  their  good  name  or  reputation,  would  only  permit 
them  to  become  members  of  the  Church  in  good  standing,  and  not 
lose  their  favor  with  the  world, — -they  would  be  glad  to  do  it. 
They  believe  the  doctrine.  And  not  only  that,  but  the  Lord  revealed 
through  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  the  necessity  of  the  children 
turning  their  hearts  towards  their  fathers,  and  revealed  to  the 
world  the  fact  that  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  were  already  turned 
towards  their  children  in  the  dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times, 
and  that  there  was  a  work  most  sacred  and  most  important  that 
the  children  must  perform,  if  they  have  the  opportunity  to  do  it, 
for  the  redemption  of  their  dead,  that  have  died  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  gospel. 

God  has  revealed  these  things,  through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  to  the  world,  and  the  world  does  not  like  these  things.  Why? 
Because  they  are  in  advance  of  anything  the  world  are  willing  to 
accept.  These  things  go  beyond  the  mere  belief  that  a  man  wdl 
be  saved  and  exalted  into  the  highest  glory  of  God,  simply  by  saying 
on  the  gallows  that  he  believes  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  That  is 
a  fallacy.  Every  man  will  be  judged  according  to  his  works, 
whether  they  be  good  or  whether  they  be  evil,  and  that  is  a  dor- 
trine  that  was  advanced  and  taught  by  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith 


143  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

hi  plainness  that  cannot  be  ignored;  every  man  will  be  .judged 
according  to  his  works,  whether  they  be  good  or  whether  they  be 
evil.  Anything  short  of  that  would  not  and  could  not  be  of  God, 
if  God  is  just,  if  God  is  righteous,  if  God  is  impartial;  then  this 
principle  of  justice  is  a  righteous  principle,  and  it  certainly  has 
emanated  from  God,  and  not  from  Joseph  Smith,  nor  from  man. 

It  would  be  unfair  in  me  to  occupy  much  more  of  your  time 
this  morning.  I  thank  my  God  for  what  is  called  "Mormonism." 
•  I  thank  the  Lord  that  he  has  permitted  me  to  come  into  the  world 
in  this  dispensation.  I  am  full  of  gratitude  to  my  Heavenly 
Father  that  he  has  honored  me  with  the  Holy  Priesthood;  that  he 
has  called  me  to  be  a  witness  of  him,  and  a  witness  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  to  the  children  of  men.  I  thank  God  my  Heavenly  Father 
that  he  has  honored  me  in  the  midst  of  my  brethren,  that  he  has 
given  to  me  their  confidence  and  their  love,  and  that  I  am  sustained 
and  upheld  by  them  in  my  ministry.  I  feel  grateful  and  thankful 
for  all  these  things,  for  these  are  better  to  me  by  far,  than  any 
favors, praise,  or  honors  the  world  could  bestow,  and  I  have  no  fear 
of  the  evil  that  is  said  of  me  by  wicked  and  corrupt  men. 

I  believe  in  the  gospel  in  its  fulness.  I  believe  in  the  Holy 
Priesthood,  in  its  power,  in  its  rightfulness  to  administer  in  the 
temples,  and  in  the  waters  of  baptism,  and  in  the  laying  on  of  hands 
for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  for  the  healing  of  the  sick,  and 
for  ordinations,  and  for  all  other  purposes  for  which  the  Priesthood 
is  rightfully  used.  I  believe  in  the  gathering  of  Israel,  and  I  believe 
that  the  day  will  come  when  the  valleys  of  the  mountains  will 
become  too  strait  for  the  people  of  God.  I  believe  that  the  time 
will  come  when  we  shall  have  to  colonize  abroad,  when  we  shall 
have  to  spread  abroad  in  the  earth,  for  I  believe  that  the  Lord 
designs  that  eventually  the  people  that  will  name  his  name  in 
righteousness,  and  that  will  believe  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  together  with  his  works,  will  spread  over  the  earth,  and 
especially  spread  over  this  land  of  Joseph,  which  the  Lord  has 
preserved  in  which  to  establish  his  kingdom  and  his  Church  in  the 
latter  days.  I  believe  that  as  much  as  can  be,  but  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  time  has  yet  come  when  our  people  can  scatter  abroad  here 
and  there,  singly  or  by  two's  or  three's,  or  by  little  companies, 
away  off  in  Central  America,  away  off  into  Southern  Mexico, 
away  off  into  the  northern  limits,  and  away  down  to  the  western 
sea,  or  over  onto  the  Atlantic  seaboard.     I  do  not  believe  the  time 


REASONS    FOR    OPPOSITION  1  1 1 

has  come  that  we  can  diffuse  our  strength  and  scatter  ourselves 
abroad  in  the  world,  or  colonize  to  such  an  extent  and  carry  out 
the  purposes  of  the  Lord.  I  don't  think  that  time  has  come.  When 
it  comes,  the  Lord  will  make  it  manifest,  and  we  will  be  able  to  do 
it,  too,  when  that  time  comes. 

I  believe  that  an  ■  over-ruling  Providence  compelled 
us  to  establish  settlements  in  Canada,  when  they  were 
established  there,  and  I  believe  that  the  same  Providence 
overruled  and  compelled  us  to  establish  settlements  in 
northern  Mexico,  at  the  time  that  they  were  established  there.  I 
believe  that  President  Young  was  moved  by  a  correct  principle,  and 
by  prophecy  and  inspiration,  when  he  determined  that  we  should 
settle  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  in  the  south.  I  think  that  he 
was  moved  by  the  spirit  of  wisdom  when  he  determined  that  we 
should  settle  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  George,  and  we  should 
build  a  temple  and  establish  a  colony  there.  I. believe  this.  Why? 
Because  he  directed  those  movements  by  the  inspiration  of  the 
Almighty,  and  therefore  it  was  right,  and  when  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  moves  upon  his  servants  who  preside  over  the  Church,  to 
build  colonies  in  distant  lands,  it  will  be  time  enough  for  you  to  go, 
and  we  will  call  you  to  go,  some  of  you  ;  but  not  till  then. 

Now,  my  brethren  and  sisters,  in  conclusion  I  want  to  say 
this;  you  may  think  perhaps  that  I  have  devoted  too  much  time 
in  criticising,  making  illustrations  between  the  doctrines  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  and  the  doctrines  of  the 
world.  You  may  think  I  have  been  too  generous  in  my  use  or 
reference,  at  least,  to  those  who  despitefully  use  you,  and  who  perse- 
cute you,  and  who  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you,  falsely.  You 
may  think  so,  but  I  have  done  it  merely  with  a  view  to  showing  the 
contrast  between  the  spirit  of  the  Evil  One,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Our  spirit  is  a  spirit  of  peace,  of  good  will 
to  all  mankind.  We  are  seeking  to  build  up  and  to  establish 
righteousness  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  I  want  to  see  you, 
as  members  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
male  and  female,  so  industrious,  so  active  in  the  discharge  of  your 
duties  as  Latter-day  Saints,  so  humble,  so  submissive  to  the  will 
of  the  Lord,  that  you  will  not  have  time  to  spend  in  magnifying  the 
weaknesses,  the  follies  and  the  faults  of  your  neighbors,  andof  your 
fellow  members  of  the  Church.  The  Lord  knows_  there  is  evil 
enough  said  in  the  world  thoughtlessly,  and  without  any  particular 


142  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

intent  to  do  wrong,  but  merely  through  the  weakness  of  men  to 
talk,  talk,  talk,  and  say  nothing — let  us  work  and  not  talk.     Let  us 
at  least  try  to  say  no  evil  of  our  fellow  members  in  the  Church. 
Let  us  cease  to  magnify  the  follies  and  the  weaknesses  of  members 
in  the  Church.     Let  us  cease  to  find  fault  with  those  who  preside 
over  us,  the  bishop  and  his  counselors,  the  presidency  of  the  stake, 
and  the  members  of  the  high  council.     Let  us  cease  to  find  fault 
with  industries  which  are  instituted  in  our  midst  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  to  the  people  prosperity  and  advancement,  a  means  where- 
with to  build  themselves  up,  and  with  which  to  build  up,  or  help 
to  build  up  Zion.  Let  us  not  find  fault  with  these  things.  I  have  a 
letter  in  my  pocket  today  from  a  member,  at  least  a  former  mem- 
ber, of  the  Church,  who  is  now  ready  to  leave  the  Church,  and  wants 
his  name  taken  from  the  records,  because  the  sugar  factories  run 
on  Sunday,  and  I  am  president  of  the  Utah-Idaho  Sugar  Company. 
My  friends  who  are  largely  interested  in  this  industry,  have  hon- 
ored me  by  making  me  the  president  of  that  organization.     This 
man  writes  to  me  and  demands  that  I  shall  stop  the  making  of 
sugar  on  Sunday,  and  if  I  do  not,  he  wants  his  name1  taken  from  the 
rolls  of  the  Church.     Well,  now,  you  can't  reason  with  a  man  of 
that  kind.     You  can  argue  with  him,  it  is  true,  but  you  can't 
reason  with  him,  for  a  man  of  that  description  has  no  reason.     He 
is  not  capable  of  reason,  and  the  fact  is  that  our  sugar  factories 
have  brought  more  prosperity,  more  wealth  into  our  country,  than 
any  other  single  industry  that  has  ever  been  established  among 
us ;   and  for  nine  months,  at  least  nine  months,  in  the  year,  those 
sugar  factories  not  only  keep  every  Sabbath  day  holy,  and  do  no 
work  in  it,  but  they  keep  every  other  day  in  the  year  or  in  those 
months,  sacred,  too,  for  they  do  not  do  anything;    they  just  lay 
idle  for  nine  months  in  the  year.     But  when  they  start,  the  juice 
from  those  beets  has  to  run  through  miles  and  miles  of  piping,  of 
tubes  that  are  heated  at  a  certain  temperature,  that  is  necessary 
to  evaporate  the  water  from  the  juice,  condense  the  juice  into  a 
condition  to  make  sugar  out  of  it;   and  if  you  stop  that  one  day, 
you  ruin  the  whole  run  for  at  least  twenty-four  hours,  and  perhaps 
a  great  deal  more.     And  what  else?     Why,  every  stockholder,  and 
every  man  who  raises  beets  in  the  country,  would  be  ruined,  for 
the  beet  factories  would  have  to  shut  up;  they  could  not  succeed, 
if  they  did  not,  when  they  opened,  run  night  and  day,  Sundays 
included,  through  to  the  end.     It  is  the  fool  that  saith  in  his  heart, 
"No  one  has  wisdom  but  me." 


REASONS    FOR    OPPOSITION  143 

Now,  my  brethren  and  sisters,  we  are  doing  the  best  we  know 
how.  Our  lives,  our  labors,  our  efforts,  our  intentions  are  like 
an  open  book  to  all  who  may  read  clearly,  and  they  may  run  while 
they  read.  I  want  my  brethren  and  sisters  to  do  as  I  am  trying 
to  do,  and  I  don't  want  to  say  it  boastfully,  for  I  do  not  feel  that 
way.  I  want  you  to  pay  your  tithing  as  honestly  as  I  do.  That 
is  all  I  will  ask  of  you  to  do  in  that  regard.  And  if  you  will  pay 
your  fast  donations  for  the  poor,  and  if  you  will  help  to  maintain 
your  ward  organizations  as  you  should,  as  members  of  the  Church, 
in  which  promise  of  blessing  is  involved  in  every  instance,  I  can 
tell  you  that  the  world  will  have  less  and  less  power,  and  less  and 
less  reason  to  say, — I  was  going  to  say  evil  things, — but  they  will 
find  less  reason  and  less  occasion  to  say  nattering  things  of  us, 
because  we  will  be  that  much  better,  and  the  better  we  are,  the 
more  the  devil  will  rage,  and  the  more  bitter  he  will  be.  But,  as 
President  Young  said  at  one  time,  and  as  repeated  later  by  Presi- 
dent Woodruff,  the  more  righteous  and  upright,  pure  and  undefiled, 
the  Latter-day  Saints  become,  the  less  power  will  Satan  have  over 
them,  for  in  proportion  to  your  unity  and  uprightness,  honesty  and 
fidelity  to  the  cause  in  which  you  are  engaged,  in  such  proportion 
will  the  power  of  the  adversary  be  weakened,  and  those  who  are 
seeking  to  entice  your  sons  and  daughters  into  haunts  of  shame, 
and  dens  of  wickedness,  that  they  might  be  defiled,  corrupted, 
wicked,  and  "like  the  rest  of  them,"  will  have  less  power  over  you, 
if  you  will  watch  your  children  better,  and  live  better  lives  your- 
selves. 

God  bless  you,  is  my  prayer,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  Amen. 

The  Message. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 
From  hills  of  the  shepherds,  -the  plain  by  the  sea. 
There  breaks  through  the  stillness  a  message  to  me  — 
A  message  sublime  that  doth  my  being  thrill 
With  rapture  of  joy,  born  of  peace  and  good  will. 

"Peace,  peace  on  the  earth,  good  will  unto  man!" 
As  the  message  of  angels  o'er  Bethlehem  rang; 
May  tones  of  my  heart  unto  others   extend; 
To  brighten  their  lives,  my  hands  ever  lend 
The  measure  of  love,  thus  striving  to  be 
A  worthy  disciple,  my  Savior,  of  Thee. 

Grace  Ingles  Frost. 
Waterloo,    Utah. 


Verses  selected  from  THE  ROSE,  a  poem  by 
ALFRED  LAMBOURNE. 


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An  Interview  with  King  Haakon  VII 
of  Norway. 


BY  JOHN  HALVORSEN. 


[The  average  missionary  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  has  many  ex- 
traordinary experiences  during  his  missionary  tour,  but  it  seldom  falls 
to  the  lot  of  any  of  them  to  stand  in  the  palaces  of  kings.  Our  corre- 
spondent, however,  has  experienced  this  sensation,  and  his  account 
of  it,  coming  from  his  own  pen,  will  prove  of  general  interest.  His 
Majesty  the  King  of  Norway,  in  showing  the  elders  of  the  Latter-day 
Saints,  and  representatives  of  the  people  of  Utah,  such  courtesy,  has 
won  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  thousands  of  his  countrymen  in 
this  land.  Elder  Halvorsen's  account,  under  date  of  September  28, 
1911,  follows. — Editors.] 

Today  is  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  a  most  beautiful  summer 
in  this  Northern  country,  dark  and  dreary  the  day,  the  rainy 

season  having  set  in  for  good. 
But  in  rain  the  elders  are  sure 
of  finding  people  at  home,  and 
make  use  of  the  time  to  con- 
tinue without  interruption  their 
house  to  house  tracting  and 
visiting. 

Our  meetings  are  always 
well  attended,  four  or  five 
hundred  every  Wednesday  and 
Sunday — half  of  whom  are 
strangers.  We  are  using  all 
legitimate  means  at  our  com- 
mand to  let  the  people  know 
who  we  are,  where  we  are,  and 
what  we  teach.  I  have  per- 
sonally been  favored  in  the 
bringing  of  the  plan  of  salva- 
tion, as  taught  by  our  great 
Teacher,  Jesus  Christ,  to  many  people  both  in  private  and  public 
life. 


Judge  C.  M.  Neilsen,  and 
John  Halvorsen 


INTERVIEW  WITH  KING  HAAKON  147 

In  company  with  our  friend  Judge  C.  M.  Neilsen,  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  who  visited  here,  we  had  the  opportunity,  while  enjoying 
the  privilege  of  inspecting  the  penitentiaries  of  Christiania,  tolay 
before  the  wardens  many  facts  concerning  the  faith  and  practice 
of  the  Latter-day  Saints. 

As  vice-consul  and  acting  consul  for  Norway,  in  Utah,  we  also 
sought  and  obtained  an  audience  with  King  Haakon  of  Norway, 
at  his  palace  (Akershus  Slot),  We  presented  ourselves  at  10:30 
a.m.  being  met  in  the  most  polite  manner  by  the  King's  adjutant, 
Major  Rye. 

Since  his  majesty  was  engaged  when  we  entered,  his  adjutant 
soon  had  us  conversing  upon  topics  of  the  day.  We  waited  about 
fifteen  minutes,  when  my  name  was  called,  and  the  polite  Major 
opened  the  door  for  me  to  enter.  If  my  heart  beat  a  little  faster 
than  usual,  I  was  soon  made  to  feel  easier,  for  soon  I  was  looking 
up  into  the  smiling  eyes  of  the  king.  He  is  a  tall,  athletic,  hand- 
some man.  What  I  appreciated  most  was  the  democracy  of  his 
manner.     He  made  me  feel  at  home  at  once. 

He  led  me  over  to  a  large  table  by  which  I  was  seated,  after 
which  the  king  also  took  a  seat,  facing  me  in  an  audience  lasting 
for   twenty-three   minutes. 

The  king  at  once  began  to  question  me  in  relation  to  American 
conditions,  which  reports  said  were  not  the  very  best.  Asked 
about  the  importation  of  Norwegian  goods  into  Utah,  I  took  the 
opportunity  of  going  into  detail,  not  only  relating  to  the  grade  of 
goods  imported  from  Norway,  but  also  about  the  conditions  of 
the  people  of  Utah.  His  interest  naturally  centered  upon  the  Nor- 
wegians, and  he  expressed  his  pleasure  on  learning  of  their  good 
social  conditions,  and  told  me  twice  to  be  sure  to  convey  to  them 
his  greetings  and  good  will. 

Judge  Neilsen  was  later  ushered  into  the  royal  office  where 
he  remained  twenty  minutes.  The  judge  had  the  opportunity  of 
dwelling  on  the  religious  side  of  the  "Mormon"  question.  He 
spoke  of  the  visits  to  Utah  and  the  receptions  accorded  Erling 
Bjornson,  Ronald  Amundsen  and  Jansen-Fuhr,  how  the  first  two, 
through  the  press,  had  expressed  their  appreciation,  and  spoken 
of  conditions  as  they  found  them;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  how 
Jansen-Fuhr  for  mercenary  motives  spoke  falsely  about  a  people 
in  whose  presence  he  had  said  nothing  but  praise.  He  explained 
to   His  Majesty,  the  impossibility  of  conditions  there  being  as 


148  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

unfavorable  as  this  man  Fuhr  represented  them  to  be.  Utah  is 
subject  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States.  The 
federal  officers  there,  as  well  as  the  local  state  prosecuting  attorney, 
had  sent  letters  which  the  judge  had  forwarded  to  the  proper 
authorities  in  Norway,  stating  the  facts  as  to  the  Latter-day 
Saints,  as  a  people.  These  letters  the  King  graciously  admitted 
remembering. 

The  Judge  returned  from  the  reception  highly  elated  over  the 
kindness  accorded  him,  and  then  told  me  of  an  incident  that 
happened  while  I  was  with  the  King,  which  I  think  is  worth  re- 
peating. 

A  telephone  inquiry  from  the  press,  asked  who  had  audience 
with  the  king.  The  adjutant  in  waiting  read  the  names  in  a  loud 
voice  of  those  who  had  been  accorded  interviews,  and  further 
stated  that  Vice-consul  John  Halvorsen,  of  Utah,  was  then  with 
the  king,  and  that  Judge  CM.  Neilsen,  of  Utah,  was  next,  etc.  A 
couple  of  officers  of  high  rank,  anxiously  waiting  their  turn,  pricked 
up  their  ears,  conversed  quietly  together,  evidently  marveling  at 
the  idea  of  letting  General  Blank  and  Admiral  Ditto,  wait  forty- 
five  minutes  for  the  sake  of  two  "Mormons." 

We  left  the  palace  with  the  feeling  that  the  King  of  the  Nor- 
wegians motto  is  "Justice  and  Liberty  to  All." 

If  I  am  not  asking  for  too  much  space,  let  me  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  urge  the  Scandinavian  parents  in  the  Church  to  teach 
their  children  the  language  of  their  mother  country. 

If  they  only  knew  what  a  great  advantage  it  is  to  one  sent  on 
a  mission  to  his  mother  country,  to  be  able  at  once  to  converse 
with  the  people  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  they  would 
need  no  urging  from  any  one  to  teach  their  children  their  mother 
tongue. 

Begin  now,  give  your  boys  and  girls  the  advantage  which  the 
knowledge  of  the  language  affords  them  in  this  the  greatest  of  all 
schools, — a  two-  or  three-year  mission. 

Christiania,  Norway. 


The  Church  Schools. 


Student  Activities.* 


BY  W.  W.  HENDERSON. 

Student  activities  may  be  defined  as  the  activities  which  the 
student  indulges  in  outside  his  regular  class  work.  These  activi- 
ties are  not  generally  considered  necessary  to  graduation.  The 
student  may  graduate  with  honors  and  never  have  taken  any  part 
in  the  activities  of  the  school.  They  are  optional  in  most  of  our 
schools;  the  student  generally  suits  his  own  tastes  in  regard  to 
them.  Athletics,  debates,  musicales,  contests  of  various  kinds, 
and  student  societies,  may  be  cited  as  examples  of  student  activi- 
ties. 

Student  activities  are  constantly  growing  into  greater  import- 
ance. Nearly  everybody  in  the  schools,  and  the  majority  outside, 
believe  in  them.  Occasionally  a  teacher  is  found  who  opposes 
them,  because  heobjects  to  excessive  indulgence,  evidently  believ- 
ing that  the  activities  cannot  be  properly  regulated.  But  we  all 
discountenance  excessive  indulgence,  and  believe  that  the  activi- 
ties can,  and  should  be  regulated  to  prevent  it.  A  few  students 
oppose,  or  are  indifferent  toward,  them  because  they  think  they 
cannot  afford  the  time.  They  want  every  minute  to  grind  at 
their  books.  They  have  not  learned  the  truth  that  engaging  in 
student  activities  is  the  sharpening  of  the  mental  tools  which  will 
then  cut  smoother,  easier,  and  more  in  the  long  run.  Some  par- 
ents object  to  the  activities.  They  say,  "If  a  student  needs  action, 
let  him  chop  wood,"  and  we  are  compelled  to  answer  that  there  is 
no  wood  to  chop  and  no  corn-fields  to  hoe,  in  the  crowded  cities 
where  most  of  our  schools  are  located.  The  modern  conveniences 
of  city  life  have  worked  the  student  out  of  employment,  and  act- 
ivities should  therefore  be  provided  by  the  schools.  Some  will 
assert  that  the  text-book  and  the  class  room  furnish  enough  pass- 
time  for  the  student,  but  they  greatly  overestimate  the  power  of 
the  school.     The  school  does  not  meet  every  need  of  the  student 


*Read  at  the  Teachers  Convention,  Salt  Lake  City,  June  5-9,  1911. 


150  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

quite  so  thoroughly  as  the  patent  medicine  claims  to  be  a  universal 
cure-all.  Some  parents  dislike  the  activities  on  the  grounds 
that  they  are  expensive;  a  gymnasium  suit  may  be  necessary,  or 
an  occasional  twenty-five  cents  for  the  game.  A  parent  recently 
denied  his  son  graduation,  because  the  diploma  fee  was  one  dollar. 
These  objections  are  not  general,  and  most  will  agree  that  they  are 
of  very  little  consequence. 

The  student  gains  many  advantages  out  of  engaging  in  the 
activities  at  school. 

Thorough  and  systematic  exercise  is  now  considered  to  be  a 
necessity.  One's  good  health  is  fostered  by  it.  President  Eliot 
has  recently  stated  that  the  substantial  vigor  which  he  enjoys  in 
his  old  age  is  largely  due  to  his  life-long  practice  in  indulging  in 
regular  and  frequent  exercise.  Over  forty  per  cent  of  the  human 
mechanism  is  muscular;  and  it  is  like  many  other  machines,  in 
that,  inactivity  is  more  destructive  to  it  than  proper  use.  Inactiv- 
ity corrupts  more  than  labor  wears,  and  the  active  body  is  always 
sound  and  efficient.  Stagnant  lymph  is  as  depressing  to  the  cells 
of  the  body  as  is  a  stagnant  swamp  to  a  city  located  in  it.  Vigorous 
exercise  sets  up  a  rushing  blood  flow,  and  the  rushing  blood  stream 
is  as  refreshing  as  a  mountain  torrent  or  a  canyon  breeze. 

Physical  exercise  also  increases  mental  efficiency.  Ability 
to  think  well  depends  on  bodily  vigor.  No  mind  can  be  clear  and 
capable  of  real  substantial  thought  unless  the  body  is  in  a  sound 
physical  condition.  Abuse  of  the  body  will  actually  bring  on  a 
lack  of  mind-control,  and  good  care  will  certainly  have  an  opposite 
effect.  Recent  experiments  have  proved  the  necessity  for  inducing 
frequent  muscular  fatigue  in  order  to  give  the  mind  a  period  of 
substantial  rest  during  sleep,  which  is  followed  by  greatly  increased 
ability  to  do  mental  work. 

Student  activities  provide  an  opportunity  for  the  student  to 
be  practical.  Not  in  the  sense  of  bread-earning,  but  in  giving  him 
a  chance  to  show,  and  to  properly  cultivate,  his  individuality.  It 
is  here  that  he  can  show  how  his  education  influences  his  way  of 
doing  things.  The  class  soon  brings  out  the  student's  manner  of 
doing  school  work;  the  activity  will  show  how  he  converses, 
plays,  opposes,  contests,  and  behaves,  when  he  has  a  period  of  re- 
laxation. If  he  is  witty,  or  quick-tempered,  or  composed,  these 
things  show  themselves,  and  in  the  properly  guarded  activities  the 
bad  may  often  be  removed  by  the  good. 


STUDENT  ACTIVITIES  151 

Some  boarding  schools  have  been  justly  criticized  because 
they  never  provide  a  time  when  the  student  gets  a  chance  to  show 
his  individuality.  He  is  called  from  his  bed  at  a  certain  hour  in 
the  morning,  must  act  according  to  definitely  prescribed  rules 
until  breakfast,  and  is  then  rushed  into  his  classes  for  a  definite 
length  of  time.  When  school  hours  are  over,  his  afternoons  and 
evenings  are  definitely  prescribed,  and  at  the  same  hour  of  night 
everyone  is  rushed  into  bed.  The  critical  question  comes,  "When 
does  the  student  act  for  himself." 

In  the  student  activities  of  our  schools,  he  has  a  chance  to 
act  for  himself.  We  seldom  know  just  what  a  student  is  until  we 
see  him  act  for  himself.  One  student  completely  surprised  every 
member  of  the  faculty  when  his  leading  characteristics  were  brought 
to  light  for  the  first  time,  in  the  senior  class  exercises,  the  night 
before  his  graduation.  He  had  never  shown  himself  before.  He 
had  never  taken  part  in  the  student  activities. 

Student  activities  promote  and  encourage  self-confidence, 
which  is  one  of  the  chief  essentials  to  success.  We  are  usually  not 
much  more  nor  much  less  than  we  think  we  are.  Self-esteem  is  a 
necessary  possession.  Students  lack  self-confidence.  They  are  be- 
wildered and  confused  when  before  the  eye  of  the  public,  or  student 
body.  Many  fail  to  do  themselves  justice  even  before  their  classes. 
They  need  to  get  before  the  masses  more,  to  wear  away  the  em- 
barrasment  and  build  up  self-reliance. 

When  a  student  for  the  first  time  takes  the  platform  before  a 
large  audience  to  debate,  he  sees  the  multitudes  looking  at  him, 
and  usually  discovers,  and  apparently  for  the  first  time,  that  he 
has  two  superfluous  hands,  and  he  spends  his  full  time  in  trying 
to  find  a  place  for  these  hands.  They  are  thrust  into  and  out  of 
his  pockets;  they  fumble  at  his  watch-fob,  roll  up  the  bottom  of 
his  coat,  fold  and  unfold  the  paper  he  is  holding,  and  swing  at  his 
sides,  until  his  knees  smite  together  in  sympathy.  His  anguish  is 
intense;   he  does  not  know  what   he  says;  \  he  looses  the   debate. 

Every  person  with  any  sense  of  modesty,  whatever,  possesses 
this  same  weakness  in  some  degree.  It  is  overcome  only  with 
practice.  The  debates,  oratorical  and  ideclamation  contests, 
speeches  before  the  student  masses,  etc.,  give  the  student  a  much 
needed  practice  which  cultivates  ease,  grace,  readiness  and  ability 
to  express  himself  in  public. 

Student  activities  often  awaken  the  interest  of  the  student. 


152  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Arousing  interest  in  attending  school  is  one  of  our  primary  objects. 
It  is  for  this  purpose  that  we  advertise.  Boys  and  girls  are  not 
always  attracted  by  the  more  substantial  elements  of  a  school. 
Two  boys  were  arguing  the  relative  merits  of  two  schools;  one 
maintained  that  one  school  was  better,  because  the  basket-ball 
team  won  the  championship;  the  other  held  that  the  other  school 
was  better,  because  the  student  paper  had  the  funniest  jokes  in  it. 
The  announcement  that  a  certain  school  was  to  have  a  new  gym- 
nasium did  wonders  toward  making  a  substantial  increase  in  attend- 
ance, while  there  was  no  noticeable  increase  beyond  the  ordinary, 
in  another  school,  which  announced  a  new  building  to  be  devoted 
entirely  to  class  work.  One  of  the  main  things  which  attracted  me 
to  college  was  the  swinging  apparatus  which  I  saw  in  use  at  a  well- 
equipped  gymnasium.  Once  in,  there  is  a  good  chance  of  awaken- 
ing in  the  student  a  desire  to  get  an  education. 

Schools  which  circulate  the  book  of  views  are  always  liberal 
in  showing  pictures  of  student  activities.  The  winning  team,  the 
athlete  in  the  act  of  scoring  a  point,  the  celebration  with  banners 
flying,  the  military  band  in  uniform,  etc.,  make  up  a  large  part  of 
the  subjects  for  the  view-book.  The  schools  have  learned  that 
this  kind  of  advertising  is  attractive,  and  brings  more  students  to 
school  than  a  picture,  for  example,  of  the  bench  on  which  a  student 
sits  while  he  takes  his  final  examination  in  Latin. 

Having  shown  the  value  of  student  activities,  in  increasing 
physical  and  mental  efficiency,  in  the  cultivation  of  his  ability  to 
be  practical,  promoting  self-confidence  and  arousing  the  interest 
of  the  boys  and  girls  in  attending  school,  we  may  now  proceed  to 
enumerate  some  of  the  advantages  which  the  school  itself  derives 
from  these  activities. 

They  furnish  one  of  the  means  of  free  advertising  open  to  the 
school.  It  is  a  difficult  task  to  get  the  work  of  our  schools  before 
the  public  through  the  daily  press.  The  schools  cannot  afford  to 
go  into  the  paper  every  day  with  a  large  square,  equal  to  that  of 
some  business  firm;  and  still,  it  does  seem  as  important  that  our 
schools  be  kept  before  the  public,  at  least  as  well  as  the  business 
of  any  merchant.  The  press  might  even  be  a  little  more  generous, 
in  this  connection.  It  is  often  difficult  to  get  our  school  notes  in 
the  paper,  for  it  is  claimed  that  many  of  them  advertise  the  school, 
and  must  therefore  be  paid  for,  or  cut  out.  Many  good  things 
which  transpire  daily  at  every  school  are  not  considered  to  be  as 


STUDENT  ACTIVITIES  153 

important  as  the  associated  press  dispatch  that  a  motorcyclist 
colided  with  a  telephone  pole  in  New  Orleans,  and  many  other 
far-distant  and  unimportant  events  to  be  found  daily  in  our  pa- 
pers, which  have  absolutely  no  relation  to  our  interests.* 

There  is  always  a  substantial  public  and  press  interest  in 
student  activities,  especially  in  athletics.  This  is  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  every  news-paper  of  importance  in  the  state  has  a  sport- 
ing page;  and  it  might  be  remarked,  in  passing,  that  not  one  has 
an  educational  page.  If  the  school  goes  into  print  at  all,  it  is  more 
often  through  the  sporting  columns.  There  is  always  a  reporter 
at  the  game,  and  the  managing  editor  will  often  give  a  prominent 
place  on  the  first  page  to  the  write-up.  This  is  our  opportunity 
to  bring  our  schools  before  the  public  without  charge. 

Student  activities  beget  loyalty  for  the  school.  The  student 
is  aroused  in  his  feelings  when  he  sees  his  school  in  contest  with 
another.  The  game  brings  out  his  support.  He  feels  more  strong- 
ly, then,  than  at  any  other  time.  This  is  the  time  when  the  songs 
arejin  order,  and  the  cheers  and  yells  come  out  spontaneously. 
He^  gives  his  nine  rahs,  blows  his  trumpets,  waves  his  flags,  and 
declares  he  will  fight  or  die  for  the  school.  Such  loyalty  is  never 
broughtjDut  except  through  the  student  activities. 

This  gets  the  public  curious  and  interested.  The  people  come 
out  and  join  in  the  glee  and  enthusiasm  of  the  student.  They 
declare  the  school  to  be  better  than  any  other,  and  they  get  a 
confidence  in  and  enthusiasm  for  it.  Gifts  begin  to  come,  in  con- 
sequence; we  have  heard  this  year  of  several  business  houses  in 
the  state  giving  sweaters,  robes,  trophies,  etc.,  to  the  school-team 
winning  the  championship.  This  is  our  opportunity  to  secure 
a  loyal  public. 

A  well-known  newspaper  of  the  state  came  out  last  fall  with 
an  editorial  in  praise  of  the  work  of  the  foot-ball  team.  The  editor 
really  seemed  enraptured,  and  in  strong  terms  pointed  out  how  the 


*It  is  only  fair  to  our  newspapers  to  say  that  some  school  items 
are  not  published,  simply  because  they  are  not  written  up  in  news- 
paper fashion.  A  news  item  should  be  written  up  as  a  news  item, 
not  as  an  advertisement  which  has  to  be  paid  for.  Newspapers  are 
anxious  to  get  the  news — all  the  news.  But  they  want  news  written 
as  news,  not  as  mere  boosts.  Let  the  schools  study  the  special  art  of 
newspaper-writing,  and  few  of  their  happenings  will  be  turned  down. — 
The  Editor. 


154  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

team  had  shown  that  the  school  merits  the  confidence  and  support 
of  the  people.  Not  a  single  editorial  bearing  on  education  has 
appeared  in  that  same  paper  since  the  close  of  the  foot-ball  season. 

Student  activities  should  include  physical  activities,  and  men- 
tal activities.  The  physical  activities  should  include  gymnasium 
work — marching,  stepping,  arm,  leg,  bending,  and  dancing  exer- 
cises. These  have  the  advantage  of  being  inexpensive,  as  they 
can  be  done  without  apparatus.  They  teach  the  necessity  for 
instant  obedience  to  commands,  and  train  the  ear  to  interpret  and 
put  into  action  quickly.  Grace  and  ease  of  posture  and  carriage 
are  secured,  also,  besides  all  the  good  that  is  done  the  organs  of 
the  body  through  physical  exercise. 

Apparatus  like  wands,  Indian-clubs,  and  dumb-bells  should 
also  be  made  use  of,  in  connection  with  the  arm  exercises.  They 
aid  in  making  the  movements  more  steady;  and,  since  they  add 
weight,  also  give  strength.  Heavier  apparatus  work  has  supreme 
advantages  also,  but  it  is  not  the  duty  of  this  paper  to  discuss  these 
in  detail. 

Games  of  various  kinds,  especially  tennis,  hand-ball,  and 
basket-ball,  make  excellent  indoor  activities.  The  merits  of  these 
are  no  doubt  evident. 

Field  work  is  very  commendable;  this  has  the  advantage  of 
being  done  out  of  doors  where  there  is  plenty  of  fresh  air.  Fall 
and  spring  should  see  plenty  of  outside  activities.  Baseball, 
basket-ball,  tennis,  and  golf,  are  good  games;  and,  in  its  revised 
and  improved  form,  it  is  possible  that  foot-ball  should  be  added 
to  the  list.  Foot-ball  is  pre-eminently  a  fall  sport.  Baseball 
will  not  do;  it  is  not  appropriate  for  fall.  The  boys  must  have 
some  kind  of  activity,  for  most  have  been  used  to  hard  work  all 
summer;  and  the  school  needs  the  loyalty,  the  support  and  the 
advertising  that  it  can  get  through  foot-ball,  in  the  fall.  The 
small  danger  to  life  and  limb  characteristic  of  it  has  been  reduced 
almost  to  the  vanishing  point,  and  it  does  seem  that  foot-ball 
might  well  be  established  again  in  the  Church  schools.  Boys 
like  it;  it  makes  them  heroic  and  manly. 

Mental  activities  should  include  declamation,  oratory,  debates 
and  musicales,  for  reasons  given  earlier  in  this  paper.  It  is  not  so 
certain  that  the  opera  should  exist.  On  this  point  there  is  a  divi- 
sion which  seems  to  have  about  an  equal  number  of  followers  on 
each  side.     Excellent  results  have  been  brought  about  by  the  opera, 


STUDENT  ACTIVITIES  155 

and  students  have  been  known  to  fail  in  their  regular  work  because 
of  it.  It  may  be  said  that  the  student  will  not  lose  any  more  from 
the  regular  work  than  he  gains  from  the  special—the  opera,  but  it 
will  be  found  that  interest  lost  in  regular  work  is  not  often  regained 
even  after  the  opera  is  over. 

Certain  societies  might  well  be  organized.  The  student  body 
organization  is  a  good  one.  It  establishes  unity  in  the  student 
body,  and  gives  an  opportunity  to  act  together  on  many  matters 
pertaining  to  other  activities.  Class  organizations  should  be 
effected  for  the  same  reasons.  An  occasional  meeting  of  the  class 
does  much  towTard  giving  the  students  practice  in  parliamentary 
procedure,  and  helps  to  form  a  determination  to  stay  together 
until  graduation. 

The  fraternity  should  have  no  place  in  the  schools.  It  has 
recently  been  banished  from  the  whole  system  of  Chicago  schools, 
because  of  the  low  grades  of  the  students  who  belong  in  them.  Ex- 
President  Eliot,  of  Harvard,  and  President  Shurman,  of  Cornell, 
have  spoken  strongly  against  the  fraternity,  for  the  same  reasons, 
and  also  because  the  fraternities  have  not  shown  that  they  are 
doing  any  good.  It  is  largely  on  this  account  that  I  think  frater- 
nities, and  secret  societies,  should  be  kept  out  of  our  schools. 

It  should  be  understood  that  the  student  activities  be  well 
regulated  and  carefully  guarded.  It  is  possible  that  some  students 
would  spend  all  their  time  in  the  activities  and  never  do  anything 
else.  These  should  not  only  be  limited  in  quantity,  but  others 
should  be  induced  to  enter. 

Necessity  for  exercise,  opportunity  to  be  practical,  needed 
interest  in  attending  school,  promotion  of  confidence,  necessity 
for  getting  the  school  before  the  public,  arousing  interest  and  loyal- 
ty on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  many  other  good  reasons  make 
it  imperative  that  every  school  indulge  freely  in  good,  clean,  well- 
regulated  physical  and  mental  student  activities. 


The  Standard  Oil  Company,  in  obedience  to  the  recent  court  decision . 
began  September  1  to  distribute  among  its  stockholders  the  shares  of  the 
33  subsidiary  corporations  making  up  the  oil  trust.  It  is  expected  that 
by  December  1  the  distribution  will  be  completed. 


The  Everlasting  Inquiry. 


(For  the  Improvement  Era) 
"Whom  do  men  say  that  I  the  Son  of  Man  am?" — Matt.  16:1.3. 

I. 

Some  say  about  as  Pilate  might  have  said:   "An  idle  leaf 

Upon  an  idle  stream;    a  man  with  a  wild  belief; 

A  dreamer,  one  who  sat  and  watched  the  waves  of  Galilee, 

And  took  his  calling  from  the  winds,  his  message  from  the  sea. 

There  was  no  blazing  star  sent  out,  a  vagrant  in  the  sky; 

No  angel  kept  the  night  the  glorious  time  was  nigh ; 

Through  Oriental  imagery,  accretions  of  the  years, 

And  fallacy  of  faith,  they  say,  that  this  strange  tale  appears. 

II. 

Some  say  that  thou  art  but  a  man — a  Jew — ordained  of    earth; 
That  thou  wert  called  the  "Son  of  God,"  to  shade  a  clouded  birth; 
The  child  of  a  simple  Hebrew  girl,  the  son  of  a  man  unknown; 
And  kept  and  trained  by  the  carpenter  of  Nazr'eth,  as  his  own. 
Some  say  the  simple  truth  you  taught,  the  Greeks  had  long  ago; 
That  the  Hindoo  or  the  Arab  could  make  up  a  better  show 
Of  scripture  than  the  Jewish  books  that  speak  thy  "Holy  Word"; 
That  your  thoughts  were  gleaned  in  Egypt,  your  divinity's  absurd. 

III. 

"This  man  of  Calvary,"  they  say,  "could  not  have  died  for  me: 
I  am  my  only  saviour;  blood  atonement  cannot  be 
A  truth;  there  was  no  fall  of  man.     The  history  of  that  age 
Was  warped  with  legend,  fable,  myth ;  and  painted  on  each  page 
Were  devils,  witches,  fairies,  nymphs,  and  dryads,  angels,  ghosts. 
And  thus  the  magic  Nazarene"  could  make  his  mystic  boasts 


THE   EVERLASTING   INQUIRY  157 

Of  power  supernatural;   and  by  suggestion,  make 
Disciples  say,  and  die  for  it,  "He  suffered  for  our  sake." 

IV. 

Forever  men  will  doubt  and  skeptics  yet  again  enquire: 
"Art  thou  a  king?"  until  the  King  of  Kings,  in  robes  of  fire, 
Shall  take  his  place.     And  then,  the  Magi,  from  the  East 
And  West  and  all  around  the  world,  will  celebrate  a  feast, 
And  bring  their  precious  tokens  and  oblations  from  afar; 
And  scholars  will  believe  the  sacred  story  of  the  star, 
And  commemorate  the  Master's  birth  in  silent  eloquence; 
And  reckless  men  will  offer,  then,  the  gifts  of  reverence. 

V. 

I  am  not  skilled,  nor  by  clairvoyance  have  I  trained  my  sight 
To  deal  with  mysteries.     And  yet,  I  see  thy  face  by  the  light 
Of  Pentecost,  know  thou  art  the  Man  whose  truth  has  swept 
The  deck  of  the  world,  whose  every  word  of  prophecy  is  kept. 
I  know  thou  art  the  Son  of  God  who  walked  upon  the  deep; 
Who  rose  from  the  shroud  and  sepulcher,  and  called  men  from  the 

sleep 
Of  death.    'Tis  not  for  me  to  prove  these  things — you  cannot  show 
This  truth  by  demonstration — you  can  only  feel  and  know. 

VI. 

Thou  wert  born  human,  thus  to  show  the  gods  'tis  no  disgrace 
To  be  a  man.     Thou  art  divine,  to  show  this  mortal  race 
'Tis  not  too  great  for  man  to  hope  to  be  a  God.     0  thou 
Whom  Thomas  touched,  grant  me  the  strength  and  faith  to  keep 

this  vow: 
So  long  as  life  shall  last,  so  long  as  I  may  use  my  tongue 
Or  pen,  I  will  acknowledge  thee;  and  where  I  go  among 
The  walks  of  men,  I  will  proclaim  what  thou  hast  sacrificed, 
And  say  the  same  as  Peter  said,  "I  know  thou  art  the  Christ." 

David  D.  Rust. 

Kanab,  Utah. 


The  Betrayal. 

BY  SHIRLEY  PENROSE  JONES. 


It  was  evening  on  the  first  day  of  the  Feast  of  the  Passover, 
and  Jerusalem  was  crowded  with  a  motley  assembly,  from  all  parts 
of  the  known  world,  to  commemorate  deliverance  from  the  angel 
of  destruction.  Devout  Jews  from  Athens,  from  Egypt,  and  from 
nearly  every  quarter,  mingled  with  the  martial  soldiers  of  Rome. 
The  night  promised  great  beauty..  To  the  East  of  Jerusalem  the 
Mount  of  Olives  stood  like  a  sentinel  on  watch  to  guard  the  sacred 
city.  Undefinable  sadness  was  in  the  air;  and  over  all,  phantom 
mystery  hung  suspended. 

In  the  valley,  leading  from  the  city  to  the  foot  of  the  Mount,  a 
small  band  of  men  was  slowly  wending  its  way.  Upon  these  men 
sorrow  rested,  and  One  in  their  midst  was  burdened  with  great 
grief  and  longing.  Yet  withal  the  spirit  of  peace  hovered  over  him, 
and  from  his  divine  features  gleamed  the  hope  of  ages.  Reaching 
the  Mount  they  paused,  and  four  of  their  number,  including  the 
Man  of  Sorrows,  went  forward  into  the  silence  of  Gethsemane. 
With  weary  steps  and  heavy  hearts  they  moved. 

"Tarry  ye  here  and  watch  with  me,"  said  he  upon  whom  sorrow 
was  most  depicted.  And  going  further  among  the  trees  he  flung 
himself  face  downward  in  agony  of  prayer:  "0  my  father,  if  it 
be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me;  nevertheless,  not  as  I  will, 
but   as   thou   wilt." 

Above,  the  stars  twinkled  with  that  splendid  lustre  known 
to  eastern  lands,  in  living  sympathy  to  this  man  of  Sorrows. 
Their  shining  radiance  seemed  to  reach  down  and  soothe  his  aching 
heart.  The  calm  serenity  of  the  night  entered  into  his  being,  as  he 
arose  and  returned  to  the  other  three.     They  were  sleeping. 

"Peter,  what,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  an  hour?"  He 
turned  once  more  to  pray.  The  words  of  the  prophet  came  to  him. 
"I  will  smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  of  the  flock  shall  be  scat- 
tered." Before  him  appeared,  as  in  vision,  a  scene  enacted  two 
days  before,  in  the  palace  of  Caiaphas, '  chief  of  the  priests.  Al- 
though not  present  in  the  flesh,  he  yet  had  seen  these  details. 
The  chief  priests,  the  scribes,  and  elders  assembled,  and  with  them 


THE    BETRAYAL  159 

one  whose  garments,  by  their  plainness,  betokened  a  different 
calling.  His  face  pictured  covetousness,  as  his  small,  shifty  eyes 
turned  towards  Caiaphas. 

"What  will  ye  give  me,  and  I  deliver  him  unto  you?" 

Even  the  worldly  Caiaphas  recoiled  with  disgust  and  contempt 
from  this  being  who  would  sell  his  Master's  life  for  money.  Thirty 
pieces  of  silver  were  counted  out,  and  with  downcast  eyes  the 
traitor  shuffled  from  the  palace. 

As  he  beheld,  sad  recollections  came  to  the  Man  of  Sorrows: 
How,  as  John  said,    "he  knew  all  men,"  and  "knew  from  the 

beginning who  should  betray  him,"  but  still  with  helpful 

love  he  had  held  forth  the  hand  of  charity  to  this  traitor.  How 
the  traitor,  not  satisfied  with  this,  desired  further  honors;  of  the 
wounded  vanity,  when  humble  Galileans  were  exalted  above  him, 
the  only  Judean  among  the  Master's  close  followers.  Remem- 
brance of  the  traitor's  failing  faith,  when  the  Master  refused  to 
claim  his  kingdom  by  the  force  of  arms;  of  the  lack  of  gratitude 
in  the  man's  little  soul,  and  how  day  by  day  he  grew  more  calloused, 
as  his  own  baseness  was  measured  with  the  Master's  noble  char- 
acter, until,  finally,  when  the  little  band  began  to  have  funds,  the 
traitor,  as  keeper  of  the  bag,  betrayed  his  trust  by  pilfering,  so 
that,  when  enemies  were  seeking  the  Master's  blood,  his  greed  for 
gold  moved  him  to  this  shameful  betrayal. 

The  night  was  fast  going,  when,  after  finding  them  once  more 
asleep,  the  Man  of  Sorrows  returned  a  third  time  to  his  three 
followers.  Awakening  them  he  said,  "Rise,  let  us  be  going;  behold, 
he  is  at  hand  that  doth  betray  me." 

A  murmuring,  barely  heard  above  the  whispering  trees,  was  on 
the  breeze.  Muffled  thunder,  the  tramp  of  many  feet,  had  fright- 
ened peace  from  the  garden.  Louder  grew  the  tramping,  more 
destinct  the  murmuring  voices.  Here  and  there,  through  the  trees, 
could  be  seen  the  gleams  of  moving  torches  that,  borne  aloft, 
searched  out  the  shadows  from  the  dark  places.  By  the  light  thus 
given,  the  dim  outlines  of  many  people  were  discernible  beyond 
the  flashing  torches.  Clearer  and  more  distinct  they  grew,  and 
nearer  they  came. 

The  Man  of  Sorrows  advanced,  "Whom  seek  ye?"     His  voice 

was  barely  audible. 

The  oncoming  crowd  hesitated,  expectant.  One  from  them 
stepped  forward  and  kissing  the  Master  exclaimed,  "Hail,  Master!" 


160  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Sorrowfully  came  the  answer,  "Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son 
of  Man  with  a  kiss!" 

The  crowd  surged  forward,  surrounding  the  Master.  In  the 
midst  of  it  he  stood,  calm  and  radiant,  his  face  emotionless,  save 
for  the  sadness  of  his  eyes,  and  when  his  followers  would  have 
resisted  for  him,  he  forbade  them. 

"Thinkest  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my  Father,  and  he 
shall  presently  give  me  more  than  twelve  legions  of  angels?  But 
how  then  shall  the  scriptures  be  fulfiled,  that  thus  it  must  be?" 
And  "they  that  had  laid  hold  on  Jesus  led  him  away  to  Caiaphas, 
the  high  priest,  where  the  scribes  and  the  elders  were  assembled." 

So  was  the  Son  of  Man  betrayed,  and  that  scripture  was 
fulfiled,  "He    came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not." 

This  tragic  betrayal  is  but  symbolical  of  the  certain  conse- 
quences when  men  allow  envy,  jealousy,  ingratitude  and  covet- 
ousness,  to  take  possession  of  their  better  selves,  and  to  rule  their 
lives.  In  the  very  beginning  these  traits  proved  the  downfall  of 
Cain,  later  of  Judas,  and  eventually  they  will  cause  abasement  and 
misery  to  every  man  who  barters  to  them  his  rightful  heirship  in 
the  Kingdom  of  the  Father. 

Hull,  England. 


Ever  Look  Upward. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 
Ever  look  upward,  0  spirit  of  mine! 
Look  for  the  beauties  that  most  brightly  shine; 
Turn  thou  away  from  earth's  sin  and  it's  crime, 
Ever  look  upward,  O  spirit  of  mine. 
Ever  look  upward,  O  spirit  of  mine! 
Raise  thou  a  standard  both  high  and  divine; 
Think  of  eternity  more  than  of  time, 
Ever  look  upward.  O  spirit  of  mine. 
Ever  look  upward,  O  spirit  of  mine ! 
Walking  the  while  in  these  walls  of  time, 
Trust  thou  in  God  and  his  message  divine, 
Ever  look  upward.  O  spirit  of  mine. 
Ever  look  upward,  O  spirit  of  mine! 
Naught  can  more  richly  ennoble  thy  prime; 
And  e'en  will  death  wear  a  mantle  sublime, 
If  thou'lt  look  upward.  O  spirit  of  mine. 

Logan,  Utah.  Sarah  E.  MlTTON. 


In  Memory  of  Christian  D.  Fjeldsted. 

BY  DR.  CHARLES  L.  OLSEN. 


[A  native  granite  memorial  shaft,  some  twenty  feet  in  height,  was 
unveiled  and  dedicated  in  the  Logan  cemetery  on  October  22,  1911. 
It  was  erected  by  friends,  at  a  cost  of  about  $700,  in  honor  of  the 
Scandinavian  missionary  and  former  Mission  President  Christian 
Daniel  Fjeldsted,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  First  Council  of 
Seventy.  Memorial  services  were  held  in  the  Logan  tabernacle  at 
10  a.  m.  and  2  p.  in.,  attended  by  President  Anthon  H.  Lund,  of  the  First 
Presidency,  and  Dr.  Seymour  B.  Young  and  J.  Golden  Kimball  of  the 
First  Council  of  Seventy.  Present  were  the  family,  leading  Scan- 
dinavians from  many  parts  of  the  state  and  from  Idaho,  and  a  large 
gathering  of  friends. 

The  monument,  erected  over  the  grave  in  the  Logan  cemetery,  was 
unveiled  by  Willard,  the  oldest  son  of  President  Fjeldsted,  and  the 
dedicatory  prayer  was  offered  by  President 
Seymour  B.  Young,  of  the  First  Council  of 
Seventy,  under  whose  auspices  the  services 
were  conducted.  The  stone  work  was  done 
by  P.  O.  Hansen,  of  Logan,  and  the  chairman 
of  the  committee  in  charge  of  its  erection  was 
v  C.  A.  F.  Orlob.     It  stands  as  a  conspicuous  and 

<^^ft  fi&:         well-deserved'  memorial  to  a  good  man  whose 

'  remains   rest   in   this   delightful   spot,   on   a 

H^gf  Jfm  beautiful     elevation     overlooking     the     rich 

V  Cache  Valley  to  the  west,  and  shadowed  by 

the  snow-capped  and  pine-bedecked  Wasatch 
mountains  on  the  east.  Someone  suggested 
that  an  account  of  Elder  Fjeldsted's  life  and  labors,  and  the  striking 
and  often  amusing  stories  which  he  was  so  apt  in  telling,  printed  in 
a  book,  would  be  not  only  a  more  enduring  monument  to  his  name 
than  a  granite  shaft,  but  would  also  be  of  great  value  in  promoting 
faith  and  good  works  among  the  Saints.  The  following  anecdote,  con- 
tributed to  the  ERA  by  Dr.  Charles  L.  Olsen,  of  Murray,  under  date 
of  October  25,  is  an  example  among  hundreds  that  could  be  gathered. 
— Editors.] 

The  recent  unveiling  of  the  late  President  Christian  Daniel 
Fjelsted's  monument  in  Logan,  doubtless  brought  to  the  minds 
of  his  thousands  of  true  and  appreciative  friends  who  are  yet  m  the 
flesh,  memories  of  sayings,  anecdotes ,  and  observations    of    this 


102 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


truly  great  mortal,  whose  make-up  was  a  happy  blending  of  soul- 
ful sympathy,  appreciation,  sincerity,  humor,  wit  and  wisdom. 

One  must  indeed  be  truly  great,  who  has  the  moral  strength 
and  manhood  to  acknowledge  error  when  committed  by  him,  and 
who,  of  his  own  choice,  frankly,  boldly,  openly,  makes  restitution, 
as  far  as  lies  in  his  power.  Our  friend  and  brother,  Christian 
Daniel  Fjeldsted,  possessed  this  rare  and  noble  trait  of  character. 

Perhaps  it  is  not  amiss — for  the  good  such  an  example  of 
genuine  Christian  virtue  doubtless  will  produce — to  relate  an 
incident  of  which  I  am  personally  cognizant,  proving  the  truth  of 
this  statement. 

It  was  during  the  time  Brother  Fjelsted  presided  in  Christi- 


PHOTO  BY  RABE. 

THE  FJELDSTED  MONUMENT,  LOGAN  CEMETERY. 

Inscription,    east  side:    Christian  Daniel  Fjeldsted,    born,    Denmark,    Pebruary    20,   1829; 

died,  December  23,  1905.     Erected  by  his  friends  and  countrymen.     On  the  south 

side:    One  of  the  First  Seven  Presidents  of  Seventy,  ordained  April  28,  1884. 

ania,  Norway — in  1870  or  1871,  perhaps.  The  writer's  own  broth- 
er, a  young  man  of  a  very  sober  and  thoughtful  turn  of  mind, 
had  previously  emigrated  to  Zion — as  had  also  his  father  and  some 
other  of  the  older  members  of  the  family.  The  mother,  with  five 
children,  remained  in  Norway,  awaiting  means  with  which  they  also 
might  emigrate.  It  required  several  years  of  patient  waiting, 
however,  before  the  fond  expectations  of  all  concerned  could  be 
realized,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  money  in  Utah,  at  that  time,  or, 


IN   MEMORY    OF   CHRISTIAN   D.    FJELDSTED  163 

rather  of  employment  paid  for  "in  money," — the  only  legal  tender 
accepted  then,  as  now,  in  payment  for  transportation. 

From  some  source  or  other,  President  Fjeldsted  had  obtained 
the  information  that  the  writer's  brother  referred  to  was  on  the 
road  to  apostacy.  Without  taking  the  trouble  of  first  ascertaining 
the  facts  in  the  case,  President  Fjeldsted  took  occasion  to  publicly 
warn  the  local  Saints  against  the  evil  influence  that  letters  or  state- 
ments coming  from  this  young  man  possibly  might  have. 

On  hearing  this  my  mother's  feelings  can  better  be  imagined 
than  described.  She  naturally  conveyed  the  information  to  her 
absent  son,  who,  she  had  every  reason  to  believe,  was  true  and 
faithful  to  the  gospel. 


PHOTO  BY  RABE 


ELDER  SEYMOUR  B.  YOUNG  DEDICATING  THE  FJELDSTED  MONUMENT. 

Replying,  my  brother  requested  that  mother  take  all  the 
letters  he  had  written  home,  and  hand  them  to  President  Fjeldsted, 
asking  him  to  carefully  read  them  and  judge  of  their  contents  and 
the  spirit  they  manifested  throughout.  "Then,"  said  he,  in  effect, 
"I  demand  that  Brother  Fjeldsted  make  a  public  confession  of  his 
error  in  accepting  as  facts  false  rumors,  regarding  my  integrity, 
and  giving  it  the  "same  publicity;  and  in  case  he  fail,  I  shall  most 
assuredly  "see  to  it  that  he  is  dealt  with  according  to  the  order 
existing  in  the  Church." 

President   Fjeldsted   received   the  bundle  of   letters— scores, 


164  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

perhaps.  A  week  or  two  later,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  regular 
Sunday  morning  meeting,  the  president  arose  and  stated  that  he 
desired  every  member  of  the  Church,  present,  to  remain  after  the 
close  of  the  services,  which  they  did.  Then,  before  that  large 
congregation  of  Saints,  he  carefully  went  over  the  points  at  issue, 
referring  to  the  great  danger  of  accepting  evidence  from  irrespons- 
ible sources,  of  judging  hastily,  and  of  giving  currency  to  rumors 
which  might  or  might  not  be  true,  and  then  to  the  stack  of  letters 
he  had  perused,  which  threw  light  on  the  subject  involved,  etc. 

He  described  very  feelingly  the  evident  straightforwardness 
he  had  found  in  the  young  man  thought  to  be  off  the  track;  of  his 
unswerving  integrity,  his  manly  efforts,  and  his  living  faith ;  of  his 
intense  sincerity,  and  absolute  lack  of  frivolity,  in  any  form. 

In  a  manner  I  can  never  forget,  this  noble  soul  then  most 
gracefully  confessed  his  error  and  wrong-doing  publicly;  and, 
speaking  directly  to  mother,  and  to  every  one  of  the  children 
separately,  he  pleaded  for  forgiveness,  not  forgetting  the  young 
man  he  had  thus  offended. 

Mother  wept — we  were  all  moved  to  tears,  as  were  many  oth- 
ers. The  incident,  devoid  of  animosity  or  revenge,  was  touching 
in  the  extreme,  and  left  a  most  sublime  impression  on  the  minds 
of  all — perhaps  hundreds — who  were  present. 

Here  indeed  is  a  striking  display  of  nobility — an  example 
worthy  of  imitation. 

Murray,  Utah. 


Stolypin,  the  Russian  Premier,  was  shot  at  a  gala  performance 
of  grand  opera,  at  Kief,  on  September  14,  by  a  Jew  by  birth,  named 
Pershkevish,  or  Demitri  Bogrof,  a  double-role  detective  who  was  in  the 
service  of  both  the  secret  police  and  the  revolutionists.  He  was  hanged 
September  25,  being  found  guilty  by  a  court  martial.  The  Czar  was 
present  at  the  opera  and  had  witnessed  in  the  afternoon  the  army  ma- 
neuvers, and  reviewed  4,000  boy  scouts  in  the  hippodrome.  Premier 
Stolypin  died  on  Monday,  18th.  He  was  appointed  premier,  in  1906,  and 
was  disliked  by  the  court-clique,  because  he  was  a  self-made  man,  and 
interfered  with  their  corruption :  and  by  the  revolutionary  party,  because 
he  crushed  their  movements  and  repressed  all  kinds  of  disorders.  The 
laws  against  the  Jews  have  lately  been  enforced  by  him  with  great  severity. 
On  September  23,  Waldemar  Kokovtself,  a  liberal,  succeeded  to  the 
premiership.  He  was  formerly  in  charge  of  the  prisons,  and  made  many 
reforms,  and  was  made  Minister  of  Finance  in  1890,  which  office  he  will 
still  hold . 


From  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  in  the  Van    of 
the  Pioneers. 


The  Original  Diary  of  Erastus  Snow. 


EDITED  BY  HIS  SON,  MORONI  SNOW. 
X. 

In  our  last  issue  the  advance  company  was  making  prepara- 
tions for  crossing  the  Platte.  Continuing  his  journal,  Erastus 
Snow  records: 

June  10th.  We  have  traveled  today  eighteen  miles,  struck 
the  Platte  at  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  are  camped  tonight  on  Deer 
Creek,  one-half  mile  from  the  Platte.  This  is  the  most  delightful 
place  we  have  seen  since  we  left  the  states, — a  large  creek  of  clear 
water  with  a  stony  bottom,  and  the  way  our  boys  are  hauling  out 
the  fish  is  not  slow;  excellent  feed,  thrifty  timber,  plenty  of  game, 
beautiful  scenery;  and,  added  to  this,  one  of  our  miners  has  dis- 
covered a  very  excellent  bed  of  bituminous  coal  up  the  creek,  a 
sample  of  which  he  has  brought  into  camp;  also  a  quarry  of  ex- 
cellent sandstone.  I  have  been  agreeably  surprised  in  the  country 
of  the  Black  Hills,  over  which  we  have  travelled  a  distance  of 
ninety  miles  from  Fort  Laramie.  Instead  of  sand  and  continual 
barrenness,  without  water,  as  I  had  expected,  we  have  found  hard 
roads  through  the  hills,  and  at  convenient  distances  beautiful 
creeks  skirted  with  timber,  and  bottoms  covered  with  grass, 
though  the  country  otherwise  presents  generally  a  rough  and  barren 
appearance. 

11th.  We  have  travelled  seventeen  miles  today  up  the  Platte. 
Have  overtaken  one  party  of  emigrants  who  are  preparing  to  cross 
the  river.  The  rivulets  we  have  passed  today  have  all  been  flush 
with  water  from  the  melting  snows  which  whiten  the  north  sides 
of  the  peaks  of  a  high  range  of  hills  on  our  left. 

12th.  Twelve  miles  travel  today  brought  us  to  the  place 
where  our  advance  party  were  engaged  in  ferrying  over  a  party  of 
Oregon  emigrants  and  their  effects,  in  the  leather  skiff,  swimming 
the  horses  and  cattle  and  floating  the  empty  wagons  by  means  of 


166  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

long  ropes.  They  finished  their  job  this  evening,  for  which  they 
got  thirty  dollars  in  provisions.  Brothers  Rappleyee  and  Johnson, 
taking  different  directions  to  visit  the  mountains  south  of  us, 
wandered  so  far  away  that  when  night  overtook  them  they  were 
still  from  six  to  eight  miles  from  camp,  and  the  face  of  the  country- 
being  exceedingly  rough,  and  the  night  dark,  horns  were  sounded, 
guns  fired,  and  a  brisk  fire  kept  up  in  camp.  A  file  of  horsemen, 
with  the  bugler,  also  started  at  dark  in  search  of  them.  They 
found  them  not,  but  returned  at  half  past  twelve  o'clock,  just  as 
the  last  of  the  two  men  came  blundering  into  camp  with  half  of  a 
young  elk  which  he  had  packed  from  the  mountain.  Their  ex- 
treme mortification  at  being  the  cause  of  so  much  trouble  and 
anxiety  in  camp  served  greatly  to  heighten  the  merited  chastise- 
ment which  they  received  from  the  president.  They  reported  the 
mountains  to  be  full  of  bear,  elk,  antelope  and  sheep,  and  snow 
from  six  to  ten  feet  deep  in  places. 

Sunday,  the  13th.  The  day  passed  off  as  usual,  with  a  meet- 
ing in  camp,  and  as  a  day  of  rest  to  ourselves  and  teams.  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Wednesday  and  Thursday  were  spent  in  crossing  the  river, 
which  was  very  high,  and  continually  rising,  and  the  current  very 
rapid;  and,  added  to  this,  the  wind  blew  strongly  down  the  stream, 
with  but  little  cessation  during  the  four  days.  We  swam  our 
horses  and  cattle,  crossed  our  loads  in  the  skiff,  and  at  first  tried 
the  plan  of  floating  our  wagons  by  extending  ropes  down  the  river 
and  attaching  them  to  the  end  of  the  tongue,  but  the  current  would 
roll  them  over  as  if  they  were  nothing  but  a  log,  wheels  and  bows 
appearing  alternately  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  two 
lashed  together  by  means  of  poles  placed  under  them  shared  the 
same  fate.  First  one  and  then  the  other  appeared  uppermost, 
and  when  they  struck  the  bottom  in  more  shallow  water,  broken 
bows  and  reaches  were  the  result.  The  plan  was  abandoned  as  too 
dangerous.  The  next  plan  was  to  try  small  rafts,  but  the  difficulty 
of  polling  a  raft  in  so  deep  and  swift  water  was  such  that  the  wind, 
aiding  the  current,  would  not  infrequently  sweep  them  down  from 
one  to  two  miles  before  it  would  be  possible  to  make  the  other 
shore,  though  the  river  was  not  more  than  forty  or  fifty  rods  wide. 
In  attempting  to  drag  rafts  across  the  current  with  ropes,  the  cur- 
rent would  draw  them  under.  The  plan  that  succeeded  best  was 
two  rafts  constructed  with  oars,  well-manned,  which  would  effect 
a  landing  in  about  half  a  mile,  and  were  then  towed  up  with  oxen. 


IN   THE  VAN  OF  THE   PIONEERS  167 

In  this  way  the  last  of  our  wagons  passed  over  with  parts  of  their 
loading.  Mean  time,  a  set  of  hands  were  engaged  in  preparing  two 
canoes,  two  and  one-half  feet  in  diameter  and  twenty-three  feet 
long,  which,  when  coupled  about  five  feet  apart  with  cross  timbers, 
covered  with  punchion  and  manned  with  good  oars,  made  a  boat 
with  which  three  men  could  cross  a  wagon  with  its  load.  This 
was  finished  on  Friday,  and  good  landings  being  prepared,  they 
were  set  to  running  to  cross  over  a  company  of  Oregon  emigrants. 
During  the  day  and  the  previous  night,  we  had  crossed  over  two 
or  three  small  companies  with  our  rafts  and  skiffs,  for  any  of  them 
would  rather  pay  from  $1.50  to  $2.00  per  wagon  than  to  undertake 
the  job  themselves;  and  that,  too,  in  provisions  and  cows  at 
prices  to  correspond  with  prices  in  the  states,  and  we  received  it  as 
the  providence  of  God  in  getting  these  supplies  which  we  needed. 

Saturday,  the  19th.  We  again  took  our  line  of  march  leaving 
Thomas  Grover  and  eight  other  men  and  a  blacksmith  with  in- 
structions to  continue  ferrying  emigrants  until  the  arrival  of  our 
other  emigrants,  and  after  ferrying  them,  to  cache  their  boats ,  and 
come  to  us.  We  travelled  today  twenty-one  and  a  half  miles  over 
a  barren  countiy,  and  we  were  obliged  to  camp  in  a  miserable  hole 
of  salt  springs  and  marshes  where  there  was  scarcely  any  feed,  and 
no  fuel  but  sage  roots. 

Sunday  morning,  the  20th.  We  thought  this  a  poor  place  to 
rest  and  put  out.  Finding  no  wood,  we  continued  our  march 
through  the  day,  passed  the  noted  Willow  Springs  at  noon,  and 
camped  at  night  half  a  mile  off  the  main  road,  on  a  beautiful  creek 
which  empties  into  the  Sweetwater,  having  travelled  twenty  and 
one-half  miles.  Here  we  again  had  to  resort  to  the  roots  of  the 
mountain  sage  for  fuel.  This  herb  nearly  covers  this  barren  coun- 
try from  Fort  Laramie  onward  as  far  as  we  have  travelled,  and  in 
fertile  spots  grows  rank  and  becomes  quite  a  shrub. 

21st.  Seven  and  one-half  miles  of  travel  brought  us  to  Sweet- 
water, near  the  celebrated  Independence  Rock,  where  we  baited  at 
noon.  We  forded  the  river  a  mile  above  the  rock.  The  water  ran 
into  our  lowest  wagon  beds,  though  it  appeared  to  be  rapidly  falling. 
This  is  a  beautiful  little  river,  and  flows  rapidly  through  a  little 
bottom  forming  the  most  numerous  and  curious  crooks  of  any 
stream  I  ever  saw.  Directly  before  us  is  one  of  the  spurs  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  a  chain  which  seems  to  run  parallel  with  the 
river,  but  crosses  it  a  few  miles  above.     From  the  ford,  we  gradually 


168  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

ascended  about  five  miles,  passed  through  an  opening  in  the  chain 
of  rocks,  descended  to  the  river  bottom  again,  and  camped  about 
a  mile  above  what  is  commonly  called  the  Devil's  Gate  (having 
travelled  about  fifteen  miles  today),  which  is  an  aperture  in  the 
mountains  or  chasm  through  which  the  river  forces  itself:  It  is 
about  one  hundred  feet  wide  with  perpendicular  rocks  on  either 
side,  the  barometrical  height  of  which  was  ascertained  by  Prof. 
Pratt,  to  be  four  hundred  feet.  From  the  lower  end  of  this  aper- 
ture I  followed  a  foot  path  on  the  brink  of  the  river,  about  half  a 
mile  until  I  was  directly  under  the  highest  point  of  the  rocks  where 
the  river,  roaring  furiously  among  the  huge  rocks,  filled  its  narrow 
channel,  and  compelled  me  to  retreat  by  the  way  I  came. 

22nd.  Today,  we  have  travelled  twenty-one  miles.  We  are 
camped  tonight  on  the  river,  at  the  base  of  an  imposing  Butte 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  with  a  company  of  Oregon 
emigrants  about  three  miles  in  advance  of  us,  and  another  about  the 
same  distance  in  our  rear.  These  two  companies  left  the  Platte, 
one  about  an  hour  before,  and  the  other  about  an  hour  after,  we 
did.  Our  road  today,  lying  off  from  the  river,  chiefly  has  been 
sandy  and  rough,  with  no  particular  change  in  the  products  or 
face  of  the  country. 

23rd.  We  have  travelled  today  seventeen  miles; — good 
weather,  the  roads  about  the  same  as  yesterday.  The  main  road 
this  afternoon  would  have  led  us  across  the  river  four  times  in  ten 
miles.  Anticipating  difficulty  in  fording  at  this  stage  of  the  water, 
we  took  a  less  frequented  trail  which  led  off  from  the  river,  but 
found  deep  sand  and  very  heavy  wheeling.  We  are  again  at  the 
river  in  a  convenient  camping  ground,  with  two  companies  of  emi- 
grants in  view  before  us,  and  one  in  our  rear,  a  small  detachment 
from  which  has  just  driven  up  to  our  camp  to  get  our  blacksmiths 
to  do  some  work  for  them.  This  granite  ridge,  or  chain  of  gray 
rock,  which  is  almost  entirely  naked,  still  continues  on  our  right, 
and  running  parallel  on  our  left,  at  a  distance  from  five  to  twenty 
miles,  is  another  ridge  of  snow-capped  hills  which  seem  to  be  chiefly 
covered  with  timber.  In  the  distance,  at  the  west  of  us,  appears 
the  towering  heights  of  the  Wind  river  chain  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, covered  with  immense  patches  of  snow. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Interesting  Stories. 


SELECTED  AND  ARRANGED  BY  GEORGE  D.  KIRBY. 


I. — Herbert  Spencer. 

Herbert  Spencer,  the  noted  English  philosopher,  was  born  in 
Derby,  England,  on  April  27,  1820,  and  was  the  son  of  a  tutor 
in  mathematics.  He  was  a  precocious  boy  and  early  developed  a 
talent  for  mathematical  and  philosophical  investigation.  When 
sixteen  years  old  he  invented  a  new  theorem  in  descriptive  geom- 
etry, and  by  the  next  year  he  was  so  far  advanced  in  the  study  of 
engineering  that  he  joined  the  staff  of  Sir  Charles  Fox  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  London  &  Birmingham  Railway.  He  declined  a  prof- 
fered reappointment,  in  1841,  and  went  to  London  intending  to 
embark  upon  a  literary  career. 

He  began  to  write  essays  on  his  famous  evolution  theory,  in 
1852,and  attracted  attention  as  an  original  thinker.  He  had  a 
hard  time  of  it,  though,  trying  to  circulate  his  books  and  essays.  It 
took  his  publisher  just  fourteen  years  to  dispose  of  a  single  edition 
of  "Social  Statistics,"  his  first  book. 

Americans  were  the  first  to  give  Spencer  the  recognition  that 
he  had  waited  so  long  to  gain,  and  in  America  his  subsequent  books 
found  their  best  sale.  His  First  Principles  is  doubtless  the 
most  representative  of  his  works.  No  other  book  gives  such  a 
clear  and  complete  expression  of  his  philosophical  system  and 
manner  of  reasoning. 

Mr.  Spencer  died  in  London,  England,  December  8,  1903  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three. 

II. — Musical  Prodigies. 

Like  so  many  of  the  world's  great  composers,  Sir  Edward 
Elgar  was  a  "youthful  prodigy"  of  exceptional  gifts,  as  was  proven 
by  a  recent  performance  of  a  suite  composed  by  him  at  the  imma- 
ture age  of  12.  But  even  Sir  Edward  was  probably  not  as  preco- 
cious as  one  of  his  English  predecessors,  Samuel  Wesley,  who  in  his 


170  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

eighth  year  heard  a  regimental  band  play  a  march  which  he  had 
composed  for  it.  At  eleven,  Franz  Schubert  had  already  placed 
several  songs,  string  quartettes  and  piano  pieces,  to  his  credit. 
Handel's  first  attempts  at  composition  were  made  at  eight ,  and 
Vieuxtemps,  who  began  to  scrape  the  strings  of  a  tiny  fiddle  at 
two,  is  said  to  have  been  even  more  precocious.  Sir  Charles  Halle 
was  only  four  years  old  when  he  played  in  public  a  sonata  expressly 
composed  for  him;  Listz  was  a  public  performer  at  nine,  Chopin 
and  Rubenstein  at  eight,  Lady  Hall  and  Joachim  at  seven,  and  at 
five  Mozart  composed  a  piece  of  music  almost  too  difficult  for  his 
father  to  play. 

III. — "Somebody's  Darling." 

"Into  the  ward  of  the  white-washed  hall — 

Where  the  dead  and  dying  lay, 
Wounded  by  bayonet,  shell,  or  ball — 

'Somebody's  Darling'  was  borne   one  day; 
'Somebody"s  Darling,'  so  young  and  so  brave, 

Wearing  yet,  on  his  pale,  sweet  face, 
Soon  to  be  hid  by  the  dust  of  the  grave, 

The  lingering  light  of  his  boyhood's  grace." 

"Somebody's  Darling,"  like  "All  Quiet  Along  the  Potomac," 
was  a  great  favorite  throughout  the  period  of  the  Civil  War,  and 
for  the  same  reason,  It  speaks  touchingly  of  the  tragedy  of  the 
individual  household,  as  against  the  triumph  of  the  collected  hosts. 
Whoever  wins  in  war,  uncounted  numbers  must  always  lose;  and 
the  blaring  notes  of  victory  bring  little  comfort  to  hearts  that  are 
wrung  by  the  agony  of  their  personal  affliction. 

The  poem  was  set  to  music  and  was  sung  both  North  and 
South.  The  history  of  its  composition  is  very  difficult  to  trace.  It 
was  written  during  the  early  part  of  the  Civil  War  by  Miss  Maria 
La  Coste,  and  by  her  was  published  in  a  newspaper  from  which  it. 
was  quickly  copied  by  hundreds  of  other  journals.  So  far  as 
known  Miss  La  Coste  wrote  nothing  else  that  has  been  preserved, 
and  none  of  the  anthologies  give  any  account  of  her.  Nevertheless, 
the  poem  which  she  wrote,  by  its  tenderness  of  feeling,  and  by  the 
sadness  which  it  has  enshrined  in  harmonious  words,  will  insure  its 
remembrance  even  when  some  of  the  more  strident  and  warlike 
popular  poems  of  that  time  shall  have  been  long  forgotten. 

— Scrap  Book. 


INTERESTING  STORIES  17, 

IV.— Soap. 

That  soap  is  an  ancient  and  not  a  modern  convenience  is  well- 
known,  but  just  when  it  became  a  household  necessity  is  a  mystery. 
^  The  books  of  Job  and  Jeremiah  contain  the  word  "soap"  indi- 
cating that  cleansing  agents  were  used  in  biblical  times,  but  the 
word  is  merely  a  convenient  term  in  translation.  It  was  substitu- 
ted by  translators  for  the  Hebrew  word  "borith"  which  is  a  general 
expression  for  cleansing  substances.  These  substances,  no  doubt, 
were  very  much  unlike  our  modern  soap,  although  the  ingredients 
of  which  they  were  composed  is  unknown. 

Pliny,  who  wrote  of  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius,  which  destroyed 
the  two  Roman  cities  in  79  A.  D.,  speaks  of  the  invention  and  use 
of  both  hard  and  soft  soap  by  the  Gauls,  who,  however,  used  it 
only  as  a  dressing  for  the  hair.  He  states  that  it  was  made  from 
tallow  and  ashes  and  that  the  German  soap  was  better  than  that  of 
the  Romans.  Fuller's  earth,  which  possesses  saponaceous  quali- 
ties was  known  and  used  for  cleaning  purposes  by  the  Romans,  and 
in  the  excavation  of  the  ruins  of  Pompeii  a  soap  boiler's  shop,  with 
soap  in  it,  was  uncovered,  showing  that  its  manufacture  was  known 
in  the  first  Christian  century. 

According  to  the  historian  Sismondi,  a  soapmaker  was  included 
in  the  retinue  of  Charlemagne,  king  of  the  Franks,  at  the  end  of  the 
eighth  century.     Galen  also  referred  to  the  use  of  soap. 

The  French  word  for  soap,  savon,  comes  from  Savona,  France, 
where  it  was  manufactured.  It  is  said  that  prior  to  1524  the 
English  cities  were  supplied  with  it  from  Bristol,  but  in  that  year 
London  began  its  manufacture. 


The  Chinese  Insurrection  is  creating  widespread  interest  from  its 
apparent  success,  and  will  doubtless  continue  to  spread  until  the  Man- 
churian  Dynasty  is  overthrown.  The  National  Assembly  demanded  of 
the  Emperor,  October  25,  that  he  appoint  a  responsible  cabinet,  remove 
the  Manchurian  princes  from  office,  pardon  political  prisoners,  recall 
political  exiles,  establish  full  constitutional  government,  and  restore 
to  the  provinces  their  control  over  railway  building.  There  was  some 
hesitancy  on  the  part  of  the  Emperor  to  make  the  changes  demanded, 
but  the  demand  was  granted  after  two  army  divisions  of  10,000  men 
threatened  to  move  on  Peking,  unless  the  demands  were  granted.  Numer- 
ous battles  have  occurred  between  the  sympathizers  with  the  reform 
movement  and  the  Imperial  army.  In  nearly  all  cases  the  insurrection- 
ists have  won  the  victory. 


Editor's  Table, 


Every  Day  Affairs 


President  Joseph  F.  Smith,  at  the  closing  meeting  of  the  late 
conference,  gave  some  timely  advice  on  common  things.  His 
remarks  are  here  printed  in  full: 

If  there  are  any  two  individuals  in  this  congregation,  or  who 
may  have  attended  this  conference,  who  have  any  ill  feeling  in 
their  hearts  toward  each  other,  or  toward  any  one  else,  I  hope  they 
will  go  home,  and  that  any  or  all  others,  to  whom  the  thought 
applies,  will  go  home  from  here  and  be  reconciled  to  each  other, 
and  become  good  neighbors  and  abide  in  good  fellowship  in  the 
Church.  If  there  is  any  one  here  who  is  in  debt,  I  would  advise 
that  when  he  goes  home,  and  when  I  go  home,  too,  that  we  will 
begin  with  a  determination  that  we  will  pay  our  debts  and  meet  all 
of  our  obligations,  just  as  quickly  as  the  Lord  will  enable  us  to  do  it. 
If  there  is  any  one  here  intending  to  go  into  debt  for  speculation, 
and  especially  if  he  is  intending  to  borrow  money  to  buy  mining 
stock  and  other  scaly  or  uncertain  things,  I  would  advise  him  to 
hesitate,  pray  over  it,  and  carefully  consider  it  before  he  obligates 
himself  by  borrowing  money  and  going  into  debt.  In  other  words, 
keep  out  of  debt,  if  you  can.  Pay  your  debts  as  soon  as  you  can. 
That  means  me  as  well  as  any  one  else. 

If  there  is  any  one  in  the  congregation  who  has  been  negligent 
in  observing  the  law  of  tithing,  I  hope  he  will  go  home  from  this 
conference  with  a  new  awakening  in  his  soul  to  keep  this  obliga- 
tion that  rests  upon  us  as  members  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints,  that  there  may  be  plenty  in  the  storehouse 
of  the  Lord  to  meet  all  the  necessities  of  the  Church  in  a  financial 
way.  We  feed- the  poor,  and  we  maintain  our  temples,  we  assist 
our  missionaries  to  return  from  their  missions,  we  sustain  our 
Church  schools,  which  are  numerous,  and  expensive,  and  we  are 
doing  every  other  thing  that  we  feel  is  wise  and  proper  for  us  to  do 
with  the  means  we  have  for  the  building  up  of  Zion. 

We  have  succeeded  in  purchasing,  as  far  as  we  could,  the 
property  that  was  offered  for  sale  surrounding  this  temple  block 


EDITOR'S   TABLE  173 

with  the  express  intent  to  keep  it  from  going  into  the  hands  of 
persons  who  would  make  an  improper  use  of  it.  It  has  cost  us  a 
great  deal,  for  generally,  when  people  realize  that  the  Church  wants 
or  needs  to  get  anything  they  have  for  sale,  they  want  to  get  all 
out  of  it  they  possibly  can.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that,  but  I  suppose 
it  is  human  nature  for  some  people  to  do  so.  We  have  been  under 
the  necessity  of  improving  some  of  this  vacant  land  which  we  have 
purchased,  and  that  has  cost  money,  but  now  instead  of  it  being 
unoccupied,  unimproved,  a  source  of  expense  to  the  Church,  we 
have  built  upon  it  and  now  it  pays  for  itself,  or  meets  its  own 
obligations  and  helps  the  Church  just  a  little.  We  have  helped  to 
build  one  of  the  most  magnificent  hotels  that  exists  on  the  conti- 
nent of  America,  or  in  the  old  continent  either.  I  am  told  that  it 
is  equal  to  any  in  the  world,  in  its  facilities  for  convenience  and 
comfort  for  its  guests,  for  sanitation,  for  its  situation,  and  archi- 
tectural beauty,  and  in  many  other  ways. 

Well,  some  of  our  people  have  thought  that  we  were  extrava- 
gant. I  would  like  you  to  turn  to  the  book  of  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants and  read  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  to  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  in  the  city  of  Nauvoo:* 

"Let  my  servant  George,  and  my  servant  Lyman,  and  my  servant 
John  Snyder,  and  others,  build  a  house  unto  my  name,  such  an  one  as 
my  servant  Joseph  shall  show  unto  them;  upon  the  place  which  I  shall 
show  unto  them  also.  And  it  shall  be  for  a  house  for  boarding,  a  house 
that  strangers  may  come  from  afar  to  lodge  therein ;  therefore  let  it  be  a 
good  house,  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  the  weary  traveler  may  find 
health  and  safety  while  he  shall  contemplate  the  word  of  the  Lord,"  etc. 

"This  house  shall  be  a  healthy  habitation"  etc.,  etc.,  and  again: — 
"And  let  the  name  of  that  house  be  called  Nauvoo  house, and  let  it  be  a 
delightful  habitation  for  man,  and  a  resting  place  for  the  weary  traveler," 
etc.  (v.  60).  And  like  the  corner  stone  of  Zion,  "which  shall  be  polished 
with  that  refinement  which  is  after  the  similitude  of  a  palace."    (verse  2). 

And  the  people  were  requested  to  contribute  of  their  means  to 
take  stock  in  this  building,  and  they  and  their  children  after  them, 
from  generation  to  generation,  should  have  an  inheritance  in  that 
building,  for  it  was  intended  for  the  beauty  of  the  city,  for  the 
glory  of  that  stake  of  Zion,  and  to  accommodate  the  stranger  from 
afar  who  came  to  contemplate  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  and  the 
work  of  the  Lord. 

We  are  not  responsible  for  the  character  of  men  who  come 

♦See  Doctrine  and  Covenants  Sec.  124:  22-24. 


174  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

here  and  are  entertained  in  the  hotel.  We  did  not  make  or  form 
their  character,  neither  are  we  responsible  for  their  conduct.  Men 
who  come  here  to  this  city  from  the  world  are  generally  men  of  the 
world,  men  accustomed  to  the  habits  of  the  world.  Now,  I  hoped 
and  I  prayed  and  I  voted,  and  did  all  I  could,  in  the  hope  that  the 
good  people  of  this  city  would  vote  it  "dry,"  so  that  we  would  not 
be  compelled  to  allow  a  saloon  or  bar  to  be  operated  in  Hotel  Utah. 
If  you  had  voted  it  "dry,"  we  would  not  have  had  any  bar  there. 
It  would  not  have  been  necessary,  because  the  people  that  come 
here  would  have  to  put  up  with  the  law,  and  with  the  conditions 
in  the  city,  but  it  "went  wet,"  and  therefore  the  people  that  visit 
us  want  something  to  "wet  up"  with,  once  in  a  while,  and  unless 
it  is  provided  for  them,  they  will  go  somewhere  else;  and  instead 
of  beholding  and  viewing  the  beauties  of  Zion,  they  will  go  where 
they  will  see  everything  that  is  not  beautiful,  and  be  associated 
with  that  which  is  not  good,  instead  of  being  where  they  can  see 
the  best  side  of  everything.  The  building  itself  has  been  built  by 
a  company  called  the  Utah  Hotel  Company.  Not  one  of  them  is 
a  hotel  keeper.  They  know  nothing  about  the  science  of  hostelries, 
or  of  keeping  a  hostelry,  or  managing  a  hotel,  so  they  rented  it. 
They  have  rented  it  to  another  company  called  the  "Hotel  Opera- 
ting Company,"  an  operating  company  which  has  been  formed 
with  a  capital  of  some  $300,000,  I  believe,  and  they  have  rented 
the  building  and  are  responsible  for  the  running  of  the  hotel. 
They  are  paying  those  who  built  it,  that  is  the  Utah  Hotel  Com- 
pany, the  interest  on  their  money,  as  it  falls  due,  and  also  interest 
on  the  bonds  that  have  been  issued  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
the  money  necessary  to  put  it  in  commission. 

Now,  we  do  not  want  the  Latter-day  Saints  to  go  off  and 
condemn  Joseph  F.  Smith  or  Anthon  H.  Lund  or  John  Henry 
Smith,  or  anybody  else,  because  there  is  a  bar  in  the  Hotel  Utah. 
We  are  not  responsible  for  it.  We  do  not  go  and  drink  there.  We 
invite  you  to  keep  out  of  the  bar  and  not  go  there  to  drink;  you 
don't  have  to;  therefore  we  advise  you  on  general  principles  to 
observe  and  keep  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  both  in  the  Hotel  Utah  and 
in  your  own  homes,  and  wherever  you  travel.  Keep  the  Word  of 
Wisdom,  which  is  the  Word  of  the  Lord  to  his  people.  I  could  say 
more,  perhaps,  but  I  think  I  have  said  all  I  need  to  on  that 
score. 

(The  concluding  part  of  Prasident  Smith's  remarks  on  other  topics  will  appear  in    the 
January  number  of  the  Era.) 


EDITOR'S   TABLE  l75 

Patriarch  John  Smith. 


The  Latter-day  Saints  were  again  called  upon  to  part  with 
another  of  their  beloved  leaders,  when  Patriarch  John  Smith  died. 
Nov.  6.  Faithful  to  the  gospel,  true  to  every  call  made  upon  him, 
energetic  in  his  labors,  and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  spirit  of 
his  holy  calling,  he  passed  to  the  life  beyond,  honored  and  respected 
by  his  people,  in  all  the  world.  And  more  than  twenty  thousand 
Latter-day  Saints  treasure  blessings  pronounced  upon  their  heads 
by  this  faithful  servant  of  the  Lord,  for  they  found  in  his  words  a 
source  of  comfort,  an  impetus  to  righteousness,  and  rich  prophetic 
promises  frequently  fulfiled  in  their  lives.  Through  all  his  trials 
and  hardships,  he  responded  to  every  call  with  alacrity,  and 
displayed  in  all  things  a  conscientious  regard  for  the  rights  of  his 
fellow  men,  and  a  spirit  of  fairness  and  honor  that  won  the  respect 
of  all.  In  private  and  public  life,  and  in  the  secular,  civil,  and 
religious  offices  which  he  held,  he  was  the  soul  of  integrity,  and  was 
as  honorable  and  considerate  as  he  was  honest  and  upright. 

John  Smith's  early  life  was  full  of  hardship  and  thrilling 
incident  Born  of  Hyrum  Smith  and  Jerusha  Barden,  in  Kirt- 
land,  Ohio,  in  1832,  he  was  left  motherless  five  years  thereafter, 
and  fatherless  when,  in  1844,  Hyrum,  the  Second  patriarch,  was 
cruelly  martyred  in  Carthage.  He  passed  through  the  severe 
Missouri  persecutions,  with  the  cold,  hunger,  and  hardship  inci- 
dent thereto;  and  the  lad  had  only  little  peace  in  Nauvoo,  before 
the  martyrdom.  Three  years  later,  early  in  1846,  he  started  west. 
On  the  journey,  he  herded  cattle,  drove  teams,  and  did  odd  work,  in 
all  kinds  of  weather — in  storms  and  driving  rain.  At  Winter 
Quarters  he  worked  at  building,  farming,  and  fencing,  taking  a 
man's  place  in  the  hay  and  harvest  field.  Coming  over  the  plains 
in  1848,  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  yet  took  his  place  with 
the  men  in  driving  team,  breaking  wild  steers,  standing  guard  at 
night,  herding  animals,  and  carrying  wood  and  water  to  the  travel- 
ling camp  of  pioneers.  On  his  16th  birthday  anniversary,  he  drove 
his  wagon  down  "Big  Mountain,"  on  the  old  trail,  and  on  the  day 
following  arrived  in  the  Valley.  Then  came  the  days  of  standing 
guard  to  protect  the  settlements  from  Indians — he  was  a  minute- 
man,  night  and  day — and  work  on  the  farm  and  in  the  canyons  to 
help  support  the  family.  He  married  Helen  Maria  Fisher,  December 


176  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

25,  1853,  and  with  her  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  He  was  a 
member  of  the  famous  Salmon  River  party  of  Prest.  Brigham 
Young,  in  1856.  On  Feb.  18,  1855,  he  was  ordained  Patriarch  by 
Prest.  Brigham  Young.  In  1859,  he  returned  to  the  east  for  his 
sister  and  her  family,  and  while  gone  visited  Nauvoo,  and  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood.  Returning,  he  conducted  a  company  of 
forty  wagons  over  the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  Valley.  Then  he  was 
called  to  go  on  a  mission  to  Scandinavia,  landing  in  Denmark, 
Sept.  6,  1862,  and  from  which  he  returned,  leaving  Copenhagen, 
April  13,  1864.  He  sailed  from  Liverpool  on  The  Monarch  of 
the  Sea,  with  a  company  of  973  souls,  the  largest  company  of 
Saints  that  had  left  Europe  up  to  that  time.  He  conducted  a 
company  of  thirty  wagons  over  the  plains,  and  arrived  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  October  1,  1864. 

Since  that  time,  he  engaged  in  his  duties  as  Presiding  Patriarch, 
in  early  days  covering  the  settlements  of  the  whole  Church,  blessing 
the  people,  and  administering  to  them  comfort  and  consolation. 
More  than  twenty  thousand,  as  stated,  were  thus  blessed  by  him 
while  he  officiated  in  this  holy  office  and  calling.  These,  and 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  others,  now  bless  his  memory.  Appro- 
priate funeral  services  were  held  in  the  great  tabernacle  on  Sunday, 
November  12,  and  his  remains  are  at  rest  in  the  City  Cemetery, 
until  the  resurrection  day. 


The  Rose. 


Thirty-one  crimson  stanzas,  full  of  poetic  fire,  fervor,  and 
philosophy,  in  the  author's  own  hand  writing;  and  twenty-one 
artistic  drawings  of  golden  roses,  in  every  attractive  position,  with 
love  as  all  the  theme, — the  cover,  title-page,  paper  and  general 
design,  in  the  highest  art  to  match — that  isTHE  Rose,  by  the  poet- 
artist,  Alfred  Lambourne.  In  every  part  of  its  make-up,  the  book 
testifies  it  was  created  only  for  the  love  of  poetry  and  art.  Only  a 
hundred  copies  were  printed,  to  be  circulated  among  the  poet's 
friends.  The  readers  of  the  Era  have  Mr.  Lambourne  to  thank 
for  being  favored  in  this  issue  with  four  of  the  stanzas  and  four 
of  the  artistic  rose  designs.  The  community  have  him  to  thank 
for  one  of  the  most  artistic  books  ever  made  by  a  home  printing 
office.     It  was  executed  by  the  Deseret  News  presses  and  bindery. 


Messages  from  the  Missions. 


Elder  Bert  Barrus  writing  from  Greenville,  South  Carolina,  October 
3,  relates  that  during  the  past  three  months  himself  and  Elder  S.  C.  Hall, 

have  been  laboring  in  Greenville,  meeting 
with  good  success  especially  in  disposing  of 
their  literature.  They  have  sold  nineteen 
Books  of  Mormon,  two  hundred  other  books, 
and  distributed  sixteen  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  tracts.  Six  well-attended  meetings 
were  held  by  them  the  preceeding  week,  and 
they  declare  that  a  great  many  people  are 
interested  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Latter-day 
Saints.  The  elders  have  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  are  gaining  new  ones  every 
day,  and  they  naturally  feel  that  the  Lord  is 
blessing  them  greatly  in  their  labors.  Elders 
from  left  to  right  are:  Bert  Barrus,  Grants - 
ville,    Utah;    S.   C.   Hall,   Bennington,   Idaho. 


The  elders  of  the  South  Dakota  Conference  have  been  meeting  with 
good  success  in  their  labors  during  the  past  summer.  They  are  being 
received  and  treated  with  friendliness  in  the  country  districts,  and  much 
of  the  prejudice  is  being  removed.  The  people  are  ready  to  receive  and 
entertain  them.  Top  row:  Carl  Anderson,  A.  F.  Marchant,  W.  C.  Oak- 
den,  J.  F.  Carter,  Lindsey  Ovard,  H.  J.  Crane,  Bottom  row:  R.  A. 
Goodey^H.  M.  Cardon,  Conference  President.,  W.  J.  Tanner,  B.  H. 
Sorensen. 


178 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


Elder  E.  F.  Baldwin  writing  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  September  30,  says 

that  he  and  Elder  E.  F.  Birch  spent  a  most  profitable  month  in  the  coun- 
try. They  started  out  without  purse  or  scrip,  and 
during  a  trip  of  sixteen  days  held  seventeen  meet- 
ings, some  in  halls,  some  in  cottages,  some  in  open 
air,  and  some  in  blacksmith  shops.  They  traveled 
through  a  territory  where  two  men,  travelling  ahead 
of  them,  who  had  plenty  of  money  and  who  had 
offered  to  pay  their  way,  had  to  sleep  out  seven 
nights  in  succession,  while  the  elders,  with  not  a 
penny  in  their  pockets,  passing  the  same  road,  were 
received  and  entertained  with  kindness  and  consid- 
eration, getting  three  meals  each  day  and  good  beds 

to      sleep     in.       Elders      Baldwin    and    Birch      also    visited    the     home 

town     of    Solomon     Spaulding.       They  visited  his 

grave    also   where   the     people       have      erected   a 

monument    to    his    memory,    believing   him  to  be 

the  author  of  the  Book  of  Mormon.     Solomon  died 

in  1816.    The  elders  visited  the  old  house  where  he 

is  supposed  to  have  written  the  famous   story,   and 

spent  one  day  tracting  the  small  town  of  Amity, 

endeavoring  to  show  and  to  prove  that  the  people's 

idea  of  Mr.  Spaulding  is  inconsistent  as  well  as  un- 
true.     They   left  three  or  four    Books  of    Mormon 

in  the  town. 

Elders  L.  R.  Howell  and  S.  I.  Johnson,  the  former  of  Preston,  Idaho, 
and  the  latter  from  Lovell,  Wyoming,  writing  from  Basic  City,  Virginia, 

October  10th,  state  that  during 
the  past  three  months  they  have 
baptized  twenty-eight  persons, 
held  seventy-nine  open-air  meet- 
ings and  cottage  meetings,  and 
during  the  time  that  they  were 
in  the  field  they  were  well  pro- 
vided for,  having  to  ask  for  enter- 
tainment only  once.  They  re- 
joice in  the  blessings  of  the  Lord 
and  state  that  the  longer  they 
labor  in  a  district  the  greater 
their  harvest  of  souls.  They 
have    been    laboring    in    Nelson  and  Augusta  counties,   Virginia. 

Elder  Milton  H.  Love  writing  from  Nottingham,  England,  October 
10,  states  that  the  Nottingham  Conference  was  held  September  2  at  which 
time  the  statistical  report  showed  that  during  the  preceeding  nine  months 
the  elders  distributed  184,  249  tracts,  3,934  books;  visited  2,202  families, 
held  875  meetings,  181  of  which  were  in  the  open  air,  and  baptized  21 
people.     The  Priesthood  meeting  was  held  by  President  Clawson  and  the 


MESSAGES   FROM   THE   MISSIONS 


179 


elders,  at  which  each  elder  expressed  himself,  bearing  a  testimony  to  the 
work  of  the  Lord  and  stating  that  he  was  pleased  he  had  been  called  on  a 
mission.  "Good  progress  is  being  made  in  this  district  where  we  have 
several  thriving  branches  all  self-sustaining.  We  have  many  friends  and 
hundreds  of  Saints.  The  English  folk  here,  as  is  the  case  with  the  English- 
men generally,  are  tolerant  and  lovers  of  fair  play,  so  that  the  recent 
anti-"Mormon"  agitation  so  prevalent  throughout  England  has  not 
effected  this  district  to  any  great  extent."      See  portrait  of  elders,  p.   136- 

Elder  R.  M.  Haddock  writing  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  October 
25,  encloses  a  picture  of  the  three  elders  who  were  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing a  branch  of  the  Church  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Maryland  conference. 
A  group  of  the  members  of  the  Church 
is  also  shown  in  the  accompanying 
picture.  The  elders  are :  left  to  right, 
Ambrose  Call,  Maben  Fox,  R.  M. 
Haddock,  conference  president.  There 
are  about  twenty-five  Saints  living  in 
the  section  referred  to.  Brother  Charles 
Knotts,  under  proper  authority,  is  hold- 
ing meetings  with  the  Saints  there,  and 
through  his  efforts,  coupled  with  the 
work  of  the  traveling  elders,  those  living 
m  his  immediate  vicinity  have  been  taught  the  need  of  having  familyprayer 
and  many  other  such  essential  principles.  Friends  have  been  converted 
and  are  now  trying  to  live  according  to  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.      This 

branch  in  its  organized  state  will 
serve  as  an  anwser  to  the  question 
that  might  be  asked — What  are 
the  elders  in  Maryland  doing? 
The  Saints  living  in  this  branch 
cannot  do  enough  for  the  elders. 
They  call  us  their  boys,  and*  help 
to  make  our  sojourn  in  their 
country  a  pleasant  one.  They 
do  all  they  can  for  the  spread  of 
truth,  and  are  ready  to  acknowl- 
edge the  hand  of  God  in  blessing 
them  for  so  doing.  It  is  inspiring 
to  hear  some  of  the  little  children, 
many  of  whose  faces  are  seen  in  the  accompanying  picture,  tell  what 
their  Heavenly  Father  has  done  for  them,  and  that  they  know  the  elders 
are  servants  of  a  kind  God. 

Elder  James  T  Blake,  President  of  the  Savaii  conference,  Samoa, 
writes,  September  11:  "Elder  Edwin  Moody  and  I  have  just  completed  a 
tour  of  this  island,  visiting  all  the  elders  and  branches  of  the  Church  in 
this  conference,  also  nearly  all  the  villages  on  the  island.      All  is  well  in 


^               1 

j8 

I  ■w\  — 

jr  !  -  m 

180 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


the  conference,  and  the  elders  are  happy  and  contented,  preaching  the 
gospel  in  their  respective  branches  and  stations.  We  have  five  flourish- 
ing branches  of  the  Church,  and  bright  prospects  for  more,  in  the  near 
future,  as  the  people  are  very  friendly  in  many  of  the  outside  villages. 
With  the  help  of  the  Lord  we  hope  soon  to  convert  them  to  the  gospel, 
and  establish  more  branches.  Our  band  of  six  elders  are  enjoying  good 
health  and  we  are  never  quite  so  happy  as  when  trying  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  natives  in  their  own  native  tongue. 


The  elders  herewith  are  lab- 
oring in  East  Texas,  and  are, 
back  row,  left  to  right:  R.  L. 
Telford,  Randolph,  Utah;  J.  H. 
Sparks,  Dingle,  Idaho;  front  row, 
George  A.  Pearce,  Roosevelt; 
J.  O.  Bankhead,  Paradise;  and 
William  J.  Riggs,  Jr.  Hatch, 
Utah. 


Elders  George  A.  Foote  and  Robert  M.  Garbett 
Louis,  Missouri,  October  23,  enclose  a  photo  of  what 
they  call  "The  long  and  short  of  the  Missouri 
conference."  They  state  that  they  have  met 
many  good  people  who  are  willing  to  listen  to  the 
message  which  they  have  to  proclaim.  In  St.  Louis 
they  have  met  many  honest-hearted  people.  Their 
hall  meetings  in  that  city  are  very  well  attended 
by  Saints,  friends  and  investigators.  The  street 
meetings  are  quite  a  success,  a  large  number 
attending  who  are  thus  reached  by  the  gospel  who 
would  never  hear  it  otherwise.  Opposition  is 
disproved,  as  evidence  crowds  upon  evidence;]  and 
the  message  of  "Mormonism"  rises  above  the  fog 
of  prejudice,  as  the  true  gospel  of  our  Lord,  revealed 
in  this  dispensation,  is  more  thoroughly  understood 
by  the  people. 


writing  from\  St. 


The  Most  Powerful  American  Fleet  of  Warships  ever  assembled  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  was  reviewed  from  the  Mayflower,  by  President  William 
H.  Taft  on  the  2nd  of  November,  in  the  New  York  harbor.  It  contained 
more  than  one  hundred  vessels,  including  twenty-six  battle  ships, three 
of  which  are  larger  than  any  other  three  in  the  whole  world. 


Priesthood  Quorums'  Table. 


Respect  for  the  Office  and  Priesthood|Held  by  Others.  In  the 
lesson,  "Reverence  for  Divine  Authority,"  in  the  1912  Elder's  Course  of 
study,  is  found  a  little  counsel  that  should  be  applied  now,  which  is  our 
excuse  for  copying  therefrom  this  bit  of  advice.  Two  reasons  are  given  for 
respecting  those  who  hold  the  Priesthood:  (1)  because  God  has  respected 
and  honored  such  men,  and  (2)  because  of  the  personal  benefit  derived. 
Then  we  are  told: 

No  more  profitable  lesson  can  be  taught  to  children  than  to  hear  from 
their  parents  respectful  words  concerning  Church  and  civil  authorities. 
Especially  is  this  true  of  Latter-day  Saints'  parents  who  pay  proper  re- 
pect  to  their  Church  leaders.  In  the  homes  where  such  parents  reside, 
the  children  constantly  breathe  the  atmosphere  of  respect  and  obedience, 
and  that  same  kindness  the  parents  show  the  authorities  the  children  in 
turn  unconsciously  manifest  towards  the  parents.  This  attitude  of  heads 
of  families  instills  faith  and  confidence  in  the  hearts  of  the  young,  at  a 
time  when  the  mind  is  most  impressionable.  Strict  observance  in  every 
home  of  this  one  principle  of  reverence  might  be  the  means  of  leading 
many  a  boy  and  girl  into  the  love  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  who,  in  the 
absence  of  it,  might  be  filled  with  disgust  and  doubt  that  would  crush  the 
religious  spirit. 

If  we  truly  believe  "that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God,"  let  us  show 
that  belief  in  our  home  and  business  life.  Let  us  manifest  our  belief  in 
acts  as  well  as  in  words. 

The  New  Season  of  Work.  The  Seventies  Quorums,  during  the 
coming  winter,  are  to  continue  the  study  of  the  Fourth  Year  Book.  Much 
suggestive  material  for  research  is  found  in  the  lessons  on  the  Atonement, 
and  it  will  be  well  for  those  who  have  completed  the  book  to  review  many 
of  the  most  important  topics.  In  fact  there  is  enough  material  for  years 
of  devoted  study,  and  the  Seventy  are  to  be  congratulated  on  having  such 
a  work.  The  entire  setting  for  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  given  in 
lesson  17  alone,  and  with  all  the  other  topics  suggested,  the  brethren 
certainly  have  a  splendid  field  for  research  and  study.  All  the  Seventy 
should  keep  in  mind  that  no  principle  of  the  gospel  may  be  mastered  in  a 
few  weeks,  or  even  in  a  number  of  years.  A  principle  of  religion,  science, 
or  philosophy,  is  only  noble  and  extensive  as  it  requires  thoughtful  study 
and  most  careful  reading.  The  Fourth  Year  Book  is  exceptionally  good 
as  it  is  suggestive  and  stimulating  to  a  great  degree.  In  fact,  it  is  said 
by  some  of  the  scholars  of  the  Church  to  be  one  of  the  most  learned  out- 
lines issued  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  It  should,  therefore,  be  appre- 
ciated. We  trust  that  all  the  quorums  will  approach  the  coming  season's 
work  with  enthusiasm  and  care,  knowing  always  that  knowledge  comes 
bit  by  bit,  through  careful,  patient  study. 


182  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Lesson  Preparation.  In  preparing  lessons,  each  member  should  keep 
in  mind  that  one  general  thought  clearly  defined  should  be  derived  from 
every  lesson.  In  this  way,  he  obtains  something  definite  on  which  to 
base  his  thinking  and  future  study.  One  should  learn  to  correlate  ones' 
thoughts,  and  to  make  those  points  remembered  a  part  of  one's  knowl- 
edge. Knowing  a  thing  is  not  memorizing  it,  but  making  the  knowledge 
a  part  of  one's  very  being.  Every  principle  of  the  gospel  studied,  should 
be  literally  thought  of  our  thought,  spirit  of  our  spirit.  It  should  be  a 
firmly  set  knowledge. 

Juab  Stake  Priesthood  Convention.  All  the  Priesthood  officers  of 
this  stake  met  October  29,  in  the  stake  tabernacle,  and  were  instructed 
in  their  duties,  having  been  notified  previously  to  be  in  attendance. 
Among  other  things  they  discussed  the  following  resolutions  and  scripture 
references,  and  adopted  the  resolutions  unanimously.  The  Priesthood 
generally  will  find  in  them  many  thoughts  worthy  of  consideration : 

1st.  Resolved  that  there  is  no  obligation  more  binding  upon  us 
than  the  magnifying  of  the  Holy  Priesthood. 

2nd.  That  inasmuch  as  we  have  been  called  to  be  the  leaders  of 
Priesthood  work  in  the  Juab  Stake  of  Zion,  we  will  show  forth  our  alle- 
giance by  responding  to  every  call  made  upon  us. 

3rd.  That  we  will  be  diligent,  energetic  in  the  prosecution  of  our 
labors,  to  the  end  that  the  greatest  possible  good  may  be  accomplished. 

4th.  That  we  will  qualify  ourselves  by  studying  the  scriptures  and 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  lessons. 

5th.  That  we  will  be  punctual  in  commencing  and  attending  all 
our  meetings. 

6th.  That  we  will  labor  with  the  members  of  our  respective  quorums 
to  create  a  stronger  fidelity  to  duty,  and  a  closer  brotherhood  in  the 
quorums. 

7th.  References:  Doctrine  and  Covenants  107:99,  100;  58:26-29; 
24:9;   84:33,34;   84:109,  1 10,  and  all  of  sections  84  and  107. 

Their  stake  slogan  for  the  Priesthood  is,  "Loyalty  to  the  Priesthood, 
application  to  duty." 

On  November  11,  at  the  regular  quarterly  conference,  a  convention 
of  the  Priesthood  workers  numbering  147  and  161  met  at  10  o'clock  and 
at  2  o'clock,  and  were  instructed  in  their  duties  by  the  presidency  of  the 
stake,  and  by  Elders  Joseph  J.  Cannon  and  Edward  H.  Anderson  of  the 
General  Priesthood  Committee.  The  work  is  being  pushed  with  vigor, 
and  doubtless  good  results  will  follow. 

Seventies  Convention.  The  Seventies  of  the  Taylor  Stake  held  a 
convention  November  17,  in  the  Magrath  public  schoolhouse,  at  which 
the  following  program  was  carried  out: 

1.  Calling  of  a  Seventy  and  necessity  of  preaching  the  gospel. 

2.  Membership  and  attendance  at  quorum  meetings. 

3.  Outlines,  class  leaders,  the  Improvement  Era. 

4.  Music  in  the  quorums. 

5.  Finances. 


Mutual  Work. 


The  Season's  Work  in  Debating. 


Debates  have  now  been  conducted  successfully  by  so  large  a  number 
of  associations,   that  there   need  no  longer  be  any  question  about  the 
advisability  of  making  debating  a  permanent  part  of  the  M.  I.  A.  work- 
Almost  every  association,  in  which  debating  has  been  tried,  reports  that 
the  good  results  of  the  work  have  been  many,  varied  and  great. 

Purpose.  Debating,  as  practiced  in  the  associations,  should  have 
two  main  purposes:  First,  to  train  the  young  men  and  women  in  public 
speaking,  and,  second,  to  train  them  in  clear,  logical  thought  based  upon 
accurate  information.  To  accomplish  these  purposes,  the  following 
procedure  should  be  followed  wherever  possible. 

Debating  Managers.  Each  stake  board  should  assign  to  one  or  more 
of  its  members  the  responsibility  of  supervising  debates  in  the  stake; 
in  each  ward  organization,  likewise,  one  person  should  be  in  special 
charge  of  debating.  If  agreeable,  the  young  ladies  M.  I.  A.  stake  and  ward 
boards  should  appoint  similar  debating  managers. 

Try-Outs.  One  evening,  probably  in  December  or  early  January, 
the  same  for  all  the  wards  of  the  stake,  should  be  set  aside  for  the  try-outs. 
As  many  as  possible  members  of  the  association  should  be  invited  to 
take  part.  The  try-out  should  consist  of  a  five  or  ten  minute  speech 
(the  time  to  be  definitely  stated  and  adhered  to)  on  any  subject  chosen 
by  the  speaker.  The  subject  of  the  speech  should  be  handed  the  presid- 
ing officer  at  the  beginning  of  the  meeting. 

Three  judges  should  be  appointed  to  note  carefully  the  full  merits 
of  the  speeches,  and  select  the  best  six  of  the  speakers  to  constitute  the 
debating  teams  of  the  ward. 

The  Debates.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  subject  for  debate 
should  be  chosen;  and  the  debate  prepared.  About  one  month  after  the 
holding  of  the  try-outs,  an  evening  (the  same  for  all  wards  in  the  stake) 
should.be  set  aside  for  the  ward  debates. 

The  victorious  ward  team  may  then  challenge  some  other  victorious 
ward  team  for  an  inter-ward  debate.  These  may  be  continued,  under  the 
direction  of  the  stake  debating  manager,  until  the  champion  debating 
team  of  the  stake  is  found,  which  may  then  challenge  the  corresponding 
team  of  another  stake,  for  an  inter-stake  debate. 

This  method  has  been  tried  and  found  to  give  splendid  results. 
Patriotism  and  enthusiasm  are  developed  by  it.  The  try-outs  give 
excellent  opportunity  for  extemporaneous  speaking;  the  debates  them- 
selves give  the  desirable  training  in  clear  thought  and  expression. 

In  carrying  out  a  debate,  the  following  rules  should  be  observed: 

Agreement.      Before   a   debate,    the   two   teams,    or   associations,    or 


184  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

sides,    should    formulate    a    written    agreement    covering    the    following 
points : 

1.  The  time  and  place  of  the  contest. 

2.  The  time  for  submitting  the  question  and  by  which  team  it  shall 
be  submitted. 

3.  The  time  for  the  team  receiving  the  question  to  return  its  choice 
of  side. 

4.  The  number  of  debaters  on  each  side  and  the  length  and  order 
of  their  speeches. 

5.  The  method  of  choosing  judges. 


The  Question.  In  selecting  a  question  for  debates  care  should  be 
taken  to  choose  a  subject  upon  which  difference  of  opinion  may  fairly 
exist,  in  fact  one  upon  which  public  opinion  is  divided.  Questions  should 
be  chosen,  the  study  of  which  will  be  worth  the  while  of  the  debaters,  and 
the  discussion  of  which  will  be  beneficial  and  enlightening  to  the  hearers. 
One  of  the  questions  suggested  by  the  General  Board  should  be  chosen; 
if  not,  the  question  proposed  should  be  submitted  for  approval  to  the 
General  Board. 

Number  on  Team.  Each  team  may  consist  of  either  two  or  three 
debaters.     The  contest  will  probably  be  long  enough  with  two  on  a  side. 

Length  of  Speeches.  Principal  speech  should  be  from  ten  to  fifteen 
minutes  in  length.  A  good  order  is  as  follows:  first  affirmative  speaker, 
15  minutes;  first  negative,  15  minutes;  second  affirmative,  15  minutes; 
second  negative,  20  minutes,  15  for  his  principal  speech  and  5  for  closing 
rebuttal  and  summary  for  his  side;  followed  by  a  five-minute  closing 
rebuttal  by  one  of  the  affirmative  speakers.  If  desired  the  five-minute 
closing  rebuttal  may  be  given  as  a  second  speech  to  the  first  negative 
speaker  instead  of  adding  it  to  the  time  of  the  second  speaker,  but  the 
affirmative  must  always  close  the  debate.  Another  plan  which  has  some 
advantages  over  the  first  is  to  give  each  man  a  principal  and  a  rebuttal 
speech. 

Judges.  Three  judges  should  be  chosen,  but  no  person  should  be 
retained  as  a  judge  who  is  not  acceptable  to  both  sides. 

Method.  It  .should  be  the  primary  purpose  of  each  team  to  present 
clearly  and  fairly  the  arguments  of  its  side  and  to  defend  its  position 
with  as  much  information  and  logical  argument  as  possible.  This 
requires  much  careful  study  and  preparation. 

Mere  assertion  of  one's  own  opinion  has  no  argumentative  force  and 
should  be  avoided.     Attempted  flights  of  oratory  should  also  be  omitted. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  there  are  two  sides  to  every  contro- 
versy, and  that  there  is  room  for  perfectly  honest  and  friendly  differences 
of  opinion  on  most  questions. 

Opening  and  Closing.  The  debates  should  be  opened  and  closed 
by  music  and  prayer,  and  conducted  in  an  academic  spirit  of  fairness  and 
with  a  view  to  getting  at  the,  truth.  It  is  no  disparagement  to  be  defeated 
in  a  contest  so  conducted. 

Courtesy.      Respectful  courtesy  should  be  shown  on  both  sides,  and 


MUTUAL    WORK  185 

all  personalities  avoided.  In  referring  to  the  debaters  on  the  opposite 
side,  no  names  should  be  used,  but  rather  the  expression,  "the  gentleman 
or  speaker  on  the  affirmative,"  or  "negative,"  as  the  case  may  be. 

Purpose.  Improper  motives  should  not  be  attributed.  Only  small, 
petty  minds  do  that.  A  debate  should  never  degenerate  into  mere  con- 
tention. It  is  held  to  get  information,  gather  knowledge,  and  ascertain 
the  truth,  and  not  to  gain  personal  advantage. 

Limits  of  Debate.  The  wording  of  the  question  should  be  agreed 
upon  by  both  sides,  and  a  definition  of  the  terms  should  be  thoroughly 
understood.  The  debaters  should  confine  themselves  to  the  points  of 
the  question,  and  not  permit  themselves  to  treat  topics  not  germane  to 
the  issue.  A  chairman  should  be  chosen  to  conduct  the  debate,  who  will 
announce  the  subject,  the  names  of  the  judges,  the  respective  speakers, 
and  the  decision  of  the  judges,  and  see  that  the  debate  is  carried  on  in 
fairness. 

Let  the  discussion  close  with  the  debate,  and  not  be  carried  on  later, 
nor  on  the  outside.  In  regard  to  the  judges,  let  it  be  remmbered  that 
their  decisions  are  only  the  opinions  of  three  out  of  the  many  who  have 
listened,  and  that  their  decisions  do  not  necessarily  settle  the  merits 
of  the  question, — only  the  points  of  that  debate  in  their  opinion. 


Suggested  Subjects  for  M.  I.  A.  Debates. — Season  1911-12 


POPULAR. 

1.  Will  the  West  be  developed  more  completely  by  dry-farming 
than    by   irrigation    farming? 

2.  Should  the  subjects  of  a  vocational  nature,  such  as  agriculture, 
sewirtg,  cooking  and  mechanic  arts,  be  taught  in  the  elementary  and  high 
schools  of  the  State  ? 

3.  Does  labor-saving  machinery  advance  the  industrial  arts? 

4.  In  the  growth  of  a  commonwealth  is  manufacturing  more  helpful 
than  mining? 

5.  Are  national  forests,  administered  by  the  Federal  Government, 
beneficial  to  the  states  in  which  they  are  located? 

TECHNICAL. 

1.  Should  the  United  States  Government  own,  and  regulate  the 
conduct  of  the  coal  mines  of  the  country? 

2.  Should  the  United  States  Government  establish  a  parcel's  post? 

3.  Should  the  administration  of  city  government  in  the  United  States 
be  non-partisan. 

4.  Should  all  studies  in  college  above  those  of  the  first,  or  freshman, 
year,  be  elective? 

5.  Should  the  playing  for  money  debar  an  athlete  from  college 
teams  ? 

6.  Is  the  system  of  direct  primary  nominations  preferable  to  that  of 
nomination  bv  caucus  and  convention? 


186 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


7.  Would  a  limited  number  of  endowed  newspapers  be  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  people  of  the  United  States? 

8.  Should  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  elected  by  direct 
vote  of  the  people  ? 

9.  Is  vivisection  justifiable? 


Champion  Base  Ball  Team  of  Weber  County 


The  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Base-ball  League  of  North  Weber  stake  was 
organized  early  in  the  Spring  of  1911  with  the  following  officers:  Henry 
A.  Anderson,  president;  Joseph  W.  Herrick,  vice-president;  Clar.ence 
Stephenson,  secretary.  Teams  from  Ogden  Third,  Farr  West,  Slaterville, 
Taylor,  West  Weber,  Warren  and  Plain  City  wards,  comprised  the  league 
and  played  the  schedule  of  games  which  lasted  until  September  10. 
Games  were  played  every  Saturday  and  holiday.  The  winners,  Plain 
City,  played  twenty-two  games  during  the  summer,  including  some  games 
outside   the    Leauge-schedule,   and  won   twenty,   making  for  themselves 


a  remarkable  record.      At  the  end  of  the  North  Weber  schedule,   Plain 
City  played  the  other  winners  of  similar  leagues  in  Weber  county  and 


MUTUAL    WORK  187 

won  the  championship  of  Weber  county.  The  trophy  which  they  won 
in  the  North  Weber  League  is  shown  in  the  photograph. 

This  is  their  first  attempt  of  this  kind  in  connection  with  Mutual 
Improvement  work,  and  its  success  encourages  them  to  greater  activity 
in  athletic  work  in  the  future.  The  League  remains  intact  and  will 
begin  a  new  series  of  games  next  spring.  The  towns  represented  in  the 
League  supported  their  individual  teams,  and  every  Saturday  afternoon 
the  people  all  attended  the  contests  and  rooted  for  their  favorites,  thus 
creating  a  spirit  of  true  sportsmanship  in  the  entire  district  embraced 
within  the  activity  of  the  League.  They  expect  the  work  next  spring  to 
cover  more  of  the  wards,  although  for  a  beginner  seven  of  the  twelve  wards 
in  the  stake  participated,  which  was  indeed  encouraging  to  those  handling 
the  matter. 

The  boys  are  as  follows:  Top  row  from  left  to  right:  Joseph  Hunt, 
Lewis  Poulsen,  W.  P.  Thomas,  Parley  Taylor,  John  Hodson.  Center 
row,  sitting  down:  H.  A.  Anderson,  pres.  of  League,  James  M.  Thomas, 
manager,  M.  Draney.  Bottom  row:  Oscar  Richardson,  captain,  Joseph 
Singleton. 


New   Wards  and   Changes   for  the  month  of  September,    1911,    as 
report  d  by  the  Presiding  Bishop's  office:  the  name  of  the  Richfield  ward, 
Oneida  stake,  has  been  changed  to  Banida.     Grady's  lake  ward  has  been 
transferred  from  the  Bingham  stake  to  Bannock.     Leo.   W.   Pack  was 
appointed  ward  clerk  of  the  West  Bountiful  ward,  Davis  stake,  t    succeed 
Harvey  E.    Coltrin.     Otto  A.  Kofoed,  ward  clerk  of  the  Weston  ward, 
Oneida  stake,  to  succeed  Alfred  A.  Kofoed.     Leonard  Olson,  ward  clerk 
of  the  Smithfield  First  ward,  Benson  stake,  to  succeed  Jos.  W.  Peterson. 
George   E.    Wilkins  was  sustained   bishop  of  the  Vernal  second  ward, 
Uintah  stake,  to  succeed  Frederick  G.  Bingham.     Yeppa  Benson,  bishop 
of  the  Weston  ward,  Oneida  stake,  to  succeed  Otto  Gassman.     A.  A. 
Anderson,  bish  p  of  the  Poplar  ward,  Bingham  stake,  to  succeed  John 
Benson.     James  T.  Brown,  bishop  of  the  Cardston  ward,  Alberta  stake, 
to  succeed  Dennison  E.   Harris.     Charles  M.   Shumway,  bishop  of  the 
Treasureton,  ward  Oneida  stake,  to  succeed  Benjamin  Hymas.     William 
C.  Field,  ward  clerk  of  the  Treasureton  ward,  Oneida  stake,  to  succeed 
David  Nelson.     John  J.   Gerstner  was  sustained  bishop  of  the  thirty- 
second    ward,    Pioneer  stake,    to    succeed    Robert    Sherw  od.     Thomas 
Alfred  Smith,  bishop   of  the  Cherry  Creek  ward,  Malad  stake,  to  succeed 
Joseph  A.  Jones.     John   A.    Israelson  was  appointed  ward  clerk  of  the 
Hyrum  third  ward,  Hyriim  stake,  to  succeed  Albert  J.   Williams;     J. 
Elmer  Johnson,  stake  clerk  of  the  Maricopa  stake,  to  succeed  W.  Aird 
MacDonald.     Paul  Soren  Hansen,  bishop  of  the  Roosevelt  ward,  Duchesne 
stake,  to  succeed  Dan  Lambert.     Jos.  T.  Wilkinson,  ward  clerk  of  the 
Hurricane  ward,  St.  George  stake,  to  succeed  Jacob  L.  Workman.  Daniel 
B.  Marble,  bishop  of  the  Deweyville  ward,  Bear  River  stake  to  succeed 
George  C.  Dewey. 


Passing  Events. 


Elder  Ernest  J.  Wright.  "A  cablegram,  August  21,1911,  fromPresi- 
dent  Thomas  E.  McKay,  of  the  Swiss-German  Mission,  announced  the 
release  from  this  earthly  life  of  Elder  Ernest  J.  Wright,  a  martyr  to  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness,"  writes  Elder  Alonzo  West,  of  Ogden,  to 
the  Era.  under  date  of  October  12.    "Elder  Wright  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Edward  H.  Wright,  of  Ogden,  and 
was  about  twenty-three  years  of  age. 
Quiet  and  unassuming  in  demeanor 
possessing  an  unspotted  character,  reg- 
ular in  his  habits,  and  strict  in  his  appli- 
cation to  duty,  he  won  the  love  and 
respect  of  all  associated  with  him.  The 
news  of  his  death  came  as  a  severe  shock 
to  his  many  relatives  and  friends. 
'Ern,'  as  he  was  familiarly  known' 
among  his  intimates,  was  of  a  cheerful 
disposition.  His  droll  humor,  always 
ready,  and  which  was  a  most  enjoyable 
feature  of  his  letters,  made  him  a  most 
congenial  companion.  The  deep  love 
he  bore  for  his  mother,  father,  sisters 
and  brothers,  shown  in  his  every  act, 
was,  however,  the  most  beautiful  part 
of  his  nature.  Elder  Wright  began  his  labors  November  26,  1910.  The 
letters  received  by  his  parents  from  President  Thomas  E.  McKay,  and 
Elders  Frank  Williams,  Robert  M.  Campbell,  Harold  C.  Kimball  and  Grant 
Young,  one  and  all,  bear  a  sincere  testimony  of  the  conscientious  manner  in 
which  he  performed  his  work.  "After  a  journey  of  about  three  weeks,  his 
remains  arrived  in  Ogden,  September  10,  and  on  the  day  following  were 
laid  to  final  rest  in  the  city  cemetery.  The  funeral  service  was  held  in 
the  Third  Ward  chapel,  Bishop  Wm.  Van  Dyke,  Jr.  officiating.  Numer- 
ous and  beautiful  floral  pieces,  mute  testimonies  of  love  and  respect,  al- 
most hid  from  view  the  speaker's  stand  and  the  casket,  and  the  many  rela- 
tives and  friends  filled  the  building  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Both  in  eulo- 
gies and  in  the  beautiful  songs  which  were  sung,  the  services  were  ideal. 
Elder  E.  Ray  Berrett,  of  North  Ogden,  accompanied  the  body  on  its  long 
journey  from  Karlsruhe  to  Ogden.  He  bore  testimony  of  the  good  work 
performed  by  his  co-worker,  and  told  of  the  services  held  for  Elder  Wright 
in  Germany  and  Switzerland.  He  also  stated  that,  although  the  task  had 
been  a  hard  one,  he  was  proud  to  have  been  chosen  to  accompany  the  re- 
mains home.  He  testified  that  Elder  Wright  had  gloriously  won  his  crown, 
and  the  privilege  of  rising  in  the  first  resurrection.  Other  speakers  were 
Counsellor'Myron  B.  Richards,  Bishop  Wm.  D.  Van  Dyke,  Jr.,  President 


PASSING  EVENTS  189 

James  Wotherspoon  and  Apostle  David  O.  McKay.  Elder  McKay- 
stated  that  there  had  been  four  similar  cases  in  Weber  County  during  the 
year,  and  continued:  "When  I  was  first  asked  to  speak  at  one  of  the 
services,  I  could  think  of  nothing  to  say  which  would  comfort  the  bereaved 
family  in  such  a  case.  But  after  I  had  thought  of  the  condition  of  so 
many  young  men  whose  lives  were  and  are  being  utterly  wasted  through 
sin  and  wrong-doing,  and  then  of  these  young  elders  who  have  given 
their  all  for  the  uplifting  of  mankind,  their  lives  stand  out  in  comparison 
as  the  sun  to  a  star."  The  grave  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Brigham 
Wright. 

The  Salt  Lake  Tabernacle  Choir  has  made  a  very  successful  trip  on 
their  eastern  tour.  They  gave  a  concert  in  Ogden,  October  23,  and  con- 
tinued their  journey,  holding  concerts  on  the  way  in  many  of  the  leading 
cities.  They  visited  Florence,  Nebraska,  where  they  sang  under  the 
great  Cottonwood  tree  planted  by  President  Brigham  Young,  receiving 
words  of  welcome  from  representatives  of  the  city.  On  October  29,  they 
visited  Kirtland,  were  hospitably  received,  and  sang  in  the  temple  there 
in  a  way  seldom  if  ever  more  effective  the  familiar  hymns,  "Joseph 
Smith's  First  Prayer,"  and  "We  Thank  thee,  O  God,  for  a  Prophet." 
The  occasion  brought  many  tears  of  joy  to  the  eyes  of  the  listeners. 
The  following  day  the  whole  company  visited  Niagara  Falls  where  they 
enjoyed  themselves  immensely.  Thence  on  the  next  day,  the  30th,  they 
enjoyed  a  glorious  pilgrimage  to  Cumorah  where  they  sang,  "An  Angel 
from  on  High,"  and  "The  Spirit  of  God,"  and  were  photographed  on  the 
crest  of  the  summit.  They  also  visited  Palmyra  where  they  had  a  good 
time.  In  Syracuse,  New  York,  they  sang  before  a  very  interesting  audi- 
ence which  was  at  first  as  cold  as  ice,  but  later  warmed  up  and  demanded 
encore  after  encore.  In  New  York  at  the  American  Land  and  Irrigation 
Exposition,  November  3—12,  the  choir  in  their  various  appearances,  at 
2 :30  and  8:15  daily,  made  a  fine  impression,  and  were  treated  royally,  and 
with  great  respect  and  appreciation.  This  was  the  case  also  in  Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore,  and  other  cities  visited.  On  Wednesday  night,  the 
15th,  the  choir,  on  invitation  of  the  President  had  the  great  honor  to 
sing  before  President  and  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Taft,  at  the  White  House.  While 
the  audiences  have  been  enthusiastic  and  the  listeners  greatly  pleased, 
the  choir  has  made  more  friends  than  money.  In  some  places  the  people 
came  to  the  concerts  with  looks  of  curiosity  and  almost  contempt,  but 
left  with  bowed  heads  and  praise,  after  hearing  the  songs.  As  a  rule  the 
papers  treated  the  choir  well,  though  some  were  loth  to  recognize  the 
superiority  of  the  singing  because  it  was  executed  by  "Mormons."  One 
paper  praised  the  singing,  and  said,  "if  we  could  esteem  the  choir  as 
Christians,  we  would  like  to  invite  them  to  return."  The  criticisms 
received  from  competent  and  unprejudiced  musical  authorities,  however, 
were  very  satisfactory  and  full  of  praise. 

Changes  in  Wards,  Bishop,  etc.,for  the  month  of  October,  1911.  as 
reported  by  the  Presiding  Bishop's  office:  Roscoe)  W.    Eardley  was 

appointed  to  be  President  of  the  Netherlands'Mission,  to  succeedJBrigham 
Guy  Thatcher;    Evert  Neuteboom  was  appointed  to  be  the  stake  clerk  of 


190  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

the  Weber  stake,  to  succeed  John  W.  Shurtliff ;  A  new  ward  was  organ- 
ized in  the  Pioneer  stake,  by  the  name  of  Garfield  ward,  with  Alfred  C. 
Reid  as  bishop;  Edward  M.  Ashton  was  sustained  as  bishop  of  the  31st 
ward,  Liberty  stake,  to  succeed  Lewis  A.  Merrill;  John  Clayton  was  sus- 
tained as  bishop  of  the  3rd  ward,  Liberty  stake,  to  succeed  Roscoe  W. 
Eardley;  Edward  Blaser  was  appointed  to  act  as  bishop  of  the  Pine 
Grove  ward,  Union  stake,  in  place  of  Hyrum  Weech;  James  L.  Adams 
was  sustained  bishop  of  the  Parowan  ward,  Parowan  stake,  to  succeed 
Walter  C.  Mitchell;  Alexander  G.  Matheson,  as  bishop  of  the  Cedar 
West  ward,  Parowan  stake,  to  succeed  Lehi  W.  Jones;  Silas  S.  Rowley 
was  appointed  to  be  the  Presiding  Elder  in  the  Spring  Glen  ward,  Car- 
bon stake,  to  succeed  Robert  B.  Morrison;  Samuel  E.  Holt  was  sustain- 
ed as  bishop  of  the  South  Jordan  ward,  to  succeed  Thomas  Blake;  Bishop 
Elias  S.  Woodruff  requests  all  his  mail  to  be  sent  to  P.  O.  Box  1508,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  Bishop  O.  J.  P.  Widstoe  has  moved  to  382  Wall  Street, 
Salt  Lake  City;  Daniel  R.  Lamb  was  appointed  to  be  ward  clerk  of  the 
Wales  ward,  North  Sanpete  stake,  to  succeed  Thomas  Edmunds;  C.  W. 
Hardy,  to  be  ward  clerk  of  the  12th— 13th  ward,  Ensign  stake,  to  succeed 
Hyrum  M.  Christensen;  George  Gottlieb  Ronnenkamp,  to  be  ward  clerk 
of  Herbert  ward,  Fremont  stake,  to  succeed  Robert  A.  Leatham;  W. 
Smith  Hoge,  to  be  ward  clerk  of  the  Paris  2nd  ward,  Bear  Lake  stake,  to 
succeed  Thomas  Minson;  Jesse  L.  Hiett,  to  be  ward  clerk  of  the  Vernal 
2nd  ward,  Uintah  stake,  to  succeed  Edward  J.  Young,  Jr. ;  Wm.  M.  Miller, 
to  be  ward  clerk  of  the  Penrose  ward,  Bear  River  stake;  Sarah  M.  Jones, 
to  be  ward  clerk  of  the  Marion  ward,  Summit  stake,  to  succeed  Elias 
Lemon. 

The  exile  of  some  elders  from  Sweden  was  mentioned  in  the  last 
number  of  the  Era.  This  reactionary  incident,  under  an  old  and  obso- 
lete law,  brought  about  by  the  self-sufficient  Swedish-American  pastor 
Alsev,  who  has  thus  humorously  sprung  a  joke  on  the  "grave  and  reverend 
Swedes,"  has  roused  the  liberal  press  of  Sweden  to  sharp  opposition. 
They  see  in  it  danger  to  religious  liberty,  and  from  the  complaints  printed, 
it  is  clear  that  unless  the  policy  of  the  reactionaries  is  changed,  the  gov- 
ernment will  soon  see  trouble  enough  in  other  lines,  and  from  other 
people,  to  make  them  willing  to  let  the  inoffensive  and  law-abiding 
"Mormon"  missionaries  alone  in  peace.  Here  is  a  characteristic  selection 
from  Arbetarbladet,  Gefle,  September  23,  1911: 

"It  is  which  and  t'other  with  religious  freedom  here  in  the  land. 
This  is  shown,  in  part,  by  the  recent  exile  of  the  'Mormon'  missionaries. 
It  was  believed  that  this  action  was  taken  because  of 'the  agitation  carried 
on  by  the  missionaries  in  encouraging  emigration  to  Utah,  but  this  seems 
not  to  be  the  case.  The  exile,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the, actors 
themselves,  is  meant  as  a  direct  blow  at  the  'Mormon'  propaganda  as 
such.  We  have  therefore  to  deal  with  blows  against  religious  freedom 
itself,  and  against  this  and  like  things  the  liberal  press  must  turn  with  all 
energy.  It  isn't  a  question  here  as  to  whether  one  favors  or  disfavors 
the  'Mormons.'  We  may  just  as  well  say  that  we  consider  this  so-called 
religion  especially  distasteful,  if  not  infinitely  worse  than  Waldenstromism 
and  other  spiritual  epidemics.  But  the  question  at  issue  is  the  right  to 
religious  freedom,  even  for  thoselwho  may  happen  to  be  imbued  with  the 
teachings  "of  Joseph  Smith.      It  is  a  question  also  of  opposing  the  officers 


PASSING   EVENTS  191 

^?^h^-e  taken  Up°n  themselves  the  task  to  carry  into  effect  the  driving 
of  the  Mormons  from  the  land,  for  these  same  authorities  may  at  another 
time  turn  themselves  against  the  members  of  other  religious  organizations 
11  the  right  against  'Mormonism'  really  is  so  necessary  as  it  has  been 
I  fi"u  g^nted,  then  it  must  at  least  be  definitely  demanded  that  it 
shall  be  carried  on  by  legal  means.  The  adoption  of  an  unprejudiced  and 
honorable  educational  campaign  is  the  only  method  that  can  be  unquali- 
fiedly recommended.  But  this  educational  campaign  must  not  be  handled 
or  directed  by  the  official  coterie  of  religious  intolerants  in  this  our  land 
for  in  such  case  it  will  be  immediately  subject  to  question.  It  is  just 
because  of  this  situation  that  one  can  scarcely  rejoice  over  the  an ti-' Mor- 
mon' propaganda  which  is  at  present  developing  in  Sweden,  through  the 
efforts  of  the  imported  American  pastor  Aslev.  It  has  always  been  con- 
sidered a  questionable  tactic  to  drive  out  the  devil  with  Beelzebub." 

Honorable  John  T.  Caine,  prominent  in  early  theatrical,  political 
and  business  circles  of  Utah,  died  in  Salt  Lake  City,  September  20,  1911. 
He  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  parish  of  Kirk  Patrick,  January  8,  1829, 
He  came  +~  TT+ah  in  September,  1S52.  He  filled  a  mission  to  Hawaii,  in 
1854,  returning  from  the  coast  by  horseback  to 
Utah,  via  San  Bernardino,  in  1856.  He  served 
that  year  as  assistant  clerk  of  the  Legislative 
council  at  Fillmore,  which  office  he  later  held, 
and  also  clerk,  for  many  sessions.  He  was  pri- 
vate clerk  to  President  Young.  He  became 
dentified  with  theatrical  amusements  in  the  So- 
cial Hall,  and  later  with  the  Salt  Lake  Theatre, 
erected  in  1862.  In  1870,  he  went  to  Wash- 
ington, carrying  the  protest  of  the  people  of 
Utah  against  the  Cullom  bill,  and  returning  be- 
came interested  in  the  Salt  Lake  Herald. 
Many  political  and  ecclesiastical  offices  and 
business,  positions  were  held  by  him,  and  on  March,  4,  1883,  he  suc- 
ceeded Hon.  George  Q.  Cannon,  by  appointment,  as  Delegate  to  Con- 
gress from  Utah,  Mr.  Cannon's  seat  having  been  declared  vacant. 
Later,  November  7,  1883,  Mr.  Caine  was  elected  a  regular  delegate,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  with  honor  until  the  adjournment  of  the 
52nd  Congress.  He  identified  himself  actively  with  the  Democratic 
party,  at  the  time  of  the  division  of  the  people  of  Utah  on  party  lines. 
In  every  position,  he  was  true  to  his  trusts,  and  religiously,  politically, 
as  a  man  of  business  capacity  and  character,  elicited  the  respect  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

The  Battleship  "Utah,"  turned  over  to  the  government  by  the 
builders,  the  New  York  Ship-building  Company,  on  August  30,  was  placed 
in  commission  at  the  Philadelphia  Navy  yard  on  August  31,  with  Captain 
W.  S.  Benson  in  command.  It  joined  the  Atlantic  fleet  soon  as  supplies 
were  put  on  board.  "Utah"  is  the  fifth  of  the  all-big-gun  type  to  be 
launched,  is  551^  feet  long,  and  has  a  displacement  of  21,825  tons.  It 
developed  21.63  knots  on  the  speed  test.  It  has  ten  12-inch  guns  mounted 
in  five  turrets.  The  silver  service  for  the  ship,  provided  largely  by  the 
children  of  the  state,  was  on  display  at  Ley  son's  in  Salt  Lake  City  until 


192  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

the  middle  of  October,  and  there  was  no  objection  by  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment to  receiving  it.  On  Monday,  November  6,  the  service  was  formally 
presented  on  board  the  vessel  by  Governor  William  Spry,  at  the  Brook- 
lyn Navy  Yard.  There  were  some  five  hundred  Utah  people  present, 
including  the  Tabernacle  choir  of  two  hundred  voices.  Captain  Benson, 
in  accepting  the  service  said:  "We  appreciate  the  honor  shown  us  by  the 
people  of  Utah,  and  we  hope  they  will  feel  as  proud  of  our  ship  as  we  are 
of  this  silver  service.  The  service  represents  the  state  of  Utah,  and  we 
mean  to  defend  to  our  utmost  the  honor  and  good  name  of  that  state." 
The  choir  sang  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  and  "Utah  we  Love  Thee." 

The  City  Elections  in  Utah  were  held  Nov.  7,  under  the  new  non- 
partisan law.  The  result  was  quite  satisfactory,  the  new  law  being 
generally  pronounced  good.  In  Salt  Lake  City,  a  non-partisan  Commis- 
sion, with  Samuel  C.  Park,  as  mayor,  was  elected,  and  the  "American" 
party  domination  was  overthrown  by  a  substantial  vote,  which  ranged  from 
4,146  majority  for  Park  over  Bransford,  the  "American"  candidate,  to 
6,459  majority  for  W.  H.  Shearman,  non-partizan  candidate  for  Auditor, 
over  Kimball,  the  "American"  candidate.  The  motto  of  the  non-partizan 
candidates  is  "Peace,  progress  and  reform,"  which,  being  greatly  needed, 
let  us  hope  we  may  get. 

The  Italian  Army  in  Tripoli  made  a  merciless  slaughter  of  Arabs  on 
the  outside  of  the  city,  October  26.  The  Arabs  had  attacked  the  city 
on  October  23,  in  an  attempt  to  support  a  general  movement  by  the  Turks 
to  retake  the  city.  In  order  to  overawe  the  Arabs  and  prevent  a  repeti- 
tion of  this  attack,  the  Italians  began  and  executed  what  the  correspond- 
ents of  the  daily  papers  describe,  as  a  merciless  massacre.  Tripoli,  the 
gateway  to  the  Sahara,  and  one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the  world,  will 
doubtless  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Italians.  Owing  to  Turkeys'  lack 
of  naval  strength,  over  fifty  Italian  transports  crossed  the  Mediterranean 
arid  landed  an  army  of  occupation  of  over  50,000  men. 

Sixteen  Cardinals  were  named  by  the  Pope,  November  27,  three  of 
them  being  Americans:  Archbishop  Farley  of  New  York,  Archbishop 
O'Conneil  of  Boston,  and  Archbishop  Falconio  apostolic  delegated  at 
Washington,  who  was  born  an  Italian  but  came  to  America  in  1865. 
Archbishop  O'Conneil  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1858;  and  Archbishop 
Farley  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1842,  and  became  Archbishop  of  New 
York,    in    1903. 

A  Strike  of  Shopmen  on  the  Harriman  and  Illinois  Central 
railway  systems  was  called  on  Saturday,  September  30,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m. 
It  involved  some  35,000  laborers,  and  locally  affected  about  650  men  in 
Ogden  and  200  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and  many  others  in  different  western 
cities  on  the  Union  Pacific  and  Oregon  Short  Line  roads.  Up  to  the 
middle  of  November  little  inconvenience  had  been  experienced  by  the 
railroads,  and  new  men  were  rapidly  being  imported  from  the  East  to 
fill  the  places  of  the  strikers.  The  men  in  these  parts  had  no  grievance, 
but  were  ordered  out  to  help  get  recognition  for  a  federation  of  shop- 
employes  who  desired  to  be  dealt  with  in  the  same  manner  as  the  indi- 
vidual unions  comprised  in  the  federation  are  dealt  with. 


WE     ARK 
RESPOND 
ATHLETIC 
GARDING 


PLEASED  TO  COR- 
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