Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-27
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER p, 1883.
MORMON HYMN BOOK.

A little pa implicit has been placed upon
our table hearing the following title: "Select
Songs for the Latter Day Saints. Composed
by William Wiles, Great Salt Lake City
Printed at tie cf6ce Of the Deseret News
The book, plainly speaking, il Mormon
hymn book, and, it would appear, was COM
posed by it's author with no view TO
publication but haviog been seen and approx
I'd BY the prophets, and the songs it contains
having been circulated in manuscript, it vas
finally deemed advisable to have them pub
lisbed. In this connection We sutjoin the
authors preface:
ITO THE SAINTS The following productions
having met with favor among the authorities
and brethren in this church, induces me TO pup,
lish them, especially as ] am frequently asked
tor copies which the pen would not be ao'e 10
supply Most Of them were written since my
arrival in the land OF Joseph. WIN "iLLEs
Whatever faults cavaliers may succeed IN
fnc1ne in the composition, their certainly
viii, be none who will doubt the sincerity Of
the devotion to Brigham and the Elders
The style of these songs is DO more IKE those
Of Morris than Of Byron or Moore. Ii Is Pc
culiarly the authors own, AID if it does not
rival the classic beauty OF Pope, or the pur''
" of Shelley, the fault must be attributed to
his surroundings, and not to lack OF ability
in the author. The uupretending genius OF
Mr. Wiilcs lie evinced 10 the following char
acteris,ic lines from song on pages III and
! |, entitled the "A postate's Lament. Tune,
\ .nkee Doodle"
Meal bags grow empty now,
A pretty kind OF story;
Old Jack Frost has killed my COW,
Is this the way 10 gloryi
never knew such awful times
1t makes me quite uneasy;
For my poor stomach rings the chi'nes
Because il can't get greasy
wonder who il is that steals
Cur wheat and flour and taters
Nv blood within my veins congealS
To dwell with such vile creatures.
We call special attention to the intense
,.,,os IF the second staBza aud DEFY the
r,rld 70 rryduce 40 equal. We would quote
more largely from this little volume, CONT
dent that many Of our readers wonid con-
mend ia 10 so doing but that our space Wall
not instify. The Poet appears 10 be 40 OLD
iioe Whis--strsunously advocates home mar
ufactures, and in h,s advocacy begins with the
beginning. We will make one more quotation
from matter Of fact song, entitled Home
Manufactures: tune, Spr,g OF shi'iaieh;
AMI heartily recommend it to the present
head f the Democratic party. After having
10 bi, peculiarly poetical vein. shown the
aiap,edness Of the Territory Of Utah tor man
uCactases Of every description, Mr. wales
thus commences his catalogue OF articles, iof
toe manufacture of which the genius Of TIC
people is suited.
"The frs, on the list OF our wants Will mention,
Are the boys and the girls that most claim
our attention,
For building up Zion in these the last days;
And these must be- raised on the old fashioned
plan
Which Abraham Isaac and Jacob pursued,
10 give many women 10 every good man.
And raise up host from our own mountain
brood"
We are aware that we have done the book
and the poet injustice in not quoting more
exteudedly, but as before stated. our crowded,
columns must plead our excuse. The gimp
ses, however, which We have given our read
ers are sufficient to convince them that Wil-
les is duly entitled to a seat on Parnassus-
that be is poet of the first (Mormon) water
and under other ard more favorable e!rcum'
stances, would gain worldwide fame
Cories OF these hymns can be purchased at the
Office of the Deseret News, where We advise
ell 20 make immediate applicatlon.---&.
JOseph Gazette.