The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-09-20
From the Lansing Republican.
Letter from Miss III. X. Clapp.


The following interesting letter from
Miss II. X. Clapp was received by lady
of this city, who politely permitted us to
publish. Of which permission wc have a
vailed ourselves, believing it likely to in
terest Our readers:
GREAT SALT LAKE, July IL, 1889.
This Sunday is very much ike other
days with US here; although now we have
the privilege of attending Mormon meet
ing embraced the opportunity on Sun
day-went with my bloomcr dress and
hat, witt, my revolver by my side. Heard
Lord Pratt, and saw Prophet Brigham.
The congregation were seated in large
room, tie SCI is graduated from the pulpit
on three sides-ihc back seats as high as
the pulpit. The Prophet Brigham and
his counsclors, Kimbal and Wells, came
in back way, well guarded by soldiery.
The Lord does not always take care of his
Prophets, AID they are n little afraid of
their heads. The twelve Apostles were
seated in this pulpit, which has close
panncled wall around it, four feet high. -
The men como into this Tabernacle at ono
end door, and the women at the other
The appearance Of the congregation was
after their peculiar Observation-Disclosures
and no hoops; the men in their shrt-sleeves; /;
emierants in their emigrsnt clothes; all
armed-bowie knife ard revolver.
Salt Lake City is n largo place, situated
at the head Of the great valley; on the
east, the river Jordon; and on the east
and ro,th, la.crally, mountains. lis first
appearance, at distance, looked like an
Iri,h huddl D; but on approaching it, it
| looked better. 1t is laid out in squares of
forty rods each, streets crossing each other
at ri ght angles; and en- either sides, streams
Of water, brought from the mountains for
the purpose Of irrigation, as it seldom rains
! here.
The buildings ae made of adobe, n
kind Of sunbuIncd brick; all uopainted
except Brigham's Uorem, this is painted
| kind If cream. His buildings AMI garden
occupy one square. and are enclosed with
stone wall twelve feet high, laid in lime
mortar Every rod are pillars built up
four feet higher than the wall. These are
the "watchmcn on the towers of Zion."-
Over tie main door Of this Harem is
huge lion, carved in mmIlc, perhaps of
the "tribe of Judah" On the top of the
cupa.o j. a beehive. Over the main gate
is an eagle, with her wings sp,ead.
An armed guard is st ,ioocd at the
gates, and all on'ranccs into this enclosure.
No one is permitted to 60 in ullcs: he has
business with Prophet B. Some Of
our patty uicd to call on hiw. but coul
no, gain admitancc. ! told them |
meant to see Inn, still did not wish TO
show him the least respect. | consider
! hin guilty Of treason Against lie Govern
mcnt, and not worthy the rcc"g, i,ion of
an Amc:icpn.
| sent him a note, saving would lik.
/ to sec him curiosity Of coulsc-and if he
would name the hcur, would call, with
my escort. After mucl qucstonirg, the
messenger brought ne word that his Su
pc,ior, Prophet like Mai s,y woul attend
! To ny call at my earliest conv,nicncc.-
We were admitted into his august pres
ercr through guard. The room was la,ge.
There wre thirteen men besides himself
in tie room, all armed. lie sat in his
AIMED chair. L. back room were armed
goarls.
A man about fifty eight, Of medium
h, iglt, sanguiuc temperament portly, sal
low count"naucr, (ctinct Of bci 9 housed
up. uudcubtcdy.) arose from his chair to
receive us, we knowing hy this act that he
was tie man, &c. We had a very pleas
ant cal. After the first few moments, he
seemed much interested in the couversa
ton. We made a lcpg call, but when we
came to retire, he came to the door and
asked us to call again. Among the sixty
wives we did not see one. A little chap
came into the rOom while we were sitting
there, about eight years Of age. | asked
th, little fellow what his name was. He
replied. Brigham Young the Third
His grandpa replied that ''hc was the eld-
est son Of his eldest son" This is the way
the Brighams are counted.
The man Of the house whore we put up
while we were in the city, The Utah
House." had three wives. Tie first wife
was very talkativc. He was one of the
seventy, and kept preaching to me. One
day lie told me hat ''it would he the bust
ness of the Saints, in another world, TO
teach those Of the gontil that had not
heard the gospel in this life; hut he had
preached to me- and he feared if did
not embrace the doctrine | would 60 to
hell" think Governor Cummings wo'd
consider my life in danger if he knew
what ! said to them. will preach lit
tie to the women when | get chance, in
spite of the Governor.
We called on Governor Cummings. He
is n superanuated, brandy. soaked, Blu
chanan Democrat. Believes in the Terri.
tories co trolling their own peculiar insti-
tutors in their own peculiar way. lie
told us that "ue had nothing to fear Of
the Mormons while passing rough their
territory, if we would not talk their reli-
gicn with them; pass through quietly, not
argue with them at all or meddle with
their religious views" Oh! | know we
are in a foreign land; not American soil
here! This is the "Indcpendent State OF
Descret" To be sure the United States
has Consul here, in the person of the
Governor, as you would have known on
the glorious Fourth; for you would have
seen the American flag waving over his