Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-11
Tile City Of Nauvoo.

The editor Of the Kcokuk Gate City thus de-
scribes Nauvoo, Illinois, the former city of the
Mormons as it appeared to him on a recent visit !:
Putting up at the Nauvoo Mansion, the
former residence of Joe Smith, and the rendezvous
of his clan, we found il n cool, countriiied hotel
surrounded BY 'shrubbery, everything neatly kept
aud cared for, and imparting fresh wholesome
air. The hostess was the former wife of Joe, with
her present husband and children by her former
spouse, stl resides on the premises ehe entered
with the prophet when the Saints first founded the
city. She informed us she had resided in the
Mansion for sixteen years. During that period
she has witnessed the origin, growth and decay
OF the city; the inception of a new religion, the
most strange conglomeratc of truth, lanacism, su-
parstition, and arrant cheating that was ever inau-
gulated in civilized community has witnessed
It's development, been familiar with its spirit and
character and cognizant Of the motives which
ruled its leaders; seen the first aud last OF all the
strange things enacted there !, passed through all
the social changes incident to that community !;
observed all the important facts of its singular and
Interesting history, an, ut last finds herself the
quiet housewife of pleasant country tavern, which
VIA but recently the home and head quarters of
band OF men of peculiar character and preten-
i ons, aud OF her husband who was the chief
Nauvoo, and particularly the Mansion must pos
sess strange and remarkable interest for her.
daughter (now widow and several sons, children
oiSmith, compose her family. The property held
by Smith, and falling to the family, has left them
very wealthy, but there no signs of estentatous
LIE or inclination among any Of them.
Ascending the bill to examine the temple ;
and its surroundings, we came upon the commune
~ of Mons. CADET, who were gathered for dinner
in large house in the rear, which seemed to be
the common eating room of the Icarians. The
meal, economically provided, and with entire uni
formity in its character, was enlivencd by u band
OF instrumental music, numbering some thirty per-
f'rmers, and they seemed to be SO intent on cee-
brating, in their own way, the great anniversary,
(4th Of July, az anybody else. An address was
pronounced by Mons CADET, in the forenoon, in
French, and other addresses were made in German
and English.
"The temple is pile Of ruins, as most people
know, except tho front. That, with the exception
Of the tower, still remains There is enough in
that to afford some idea of its almost wcirdke, in
congruous, heathenish but fresh and vigorous ar
chitecturc. 1t is deeply to be deplored that vandal
ands should not have permitted IL to remain as a
monument of the strange religion that caused II to
he erected, and the strange worship to which it
was dedicated, The entrance to an underground
avenue is still discenibe among the rubbish on
the south side Of t. This avenue, and others
which the husband of Mrs. Smith informed us ex-
isted beneath the surface OF the ground, led by
connection with them TO several points where the
e,ders for various purposes assembled TO conduct
the affairs of the community, concoct their schemes
AMI execute their plans.
The large, and SO far as completed, thoroughly
built hotel, which Is situated close by the Man
sion, is to be finished up for mill, and machinery
which the heirs of the Prophet design putting into
It. Many OF the once fine but now dapidated
residences have latterly been occupied, and the
town Is evidently improving"