The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-01


who came on the special train at wahsatch for that
purpose, reached the Townsend House of this
famous headquarters of the Latter Day Saints about
I'VE p. M. Saturday. Brigham Young and Mr..
Hooper, delegate IN Congress from Utah, were both
absent on preaching tour in the north part OF the
Territory. Mr.. Hooper telegraphed on learning Of
the approach OF the Committee of Ways and Means
that they were hurrying back to receive them; but
our stay here is so short that shall be denied the
honor OF an interview with the Prophet.
After late dinner the party proceeded en- anasse
to the theatre. the only institution Of the kind at
least within the limits OF the United States con-
ducled and sustained under the fostering care OF
"the Church." The performance did not rise above
the level Of fifteenth rate the players being nearly
all of them male and female SAINTS Several very
good hits were made which were universally appre
ciaed ny the audience, by interfering references
matters Of local interest generally referring to the
Pacific Railroad Company which is not popular In
stiton here because it failed to come nearer than
now process Of grading, which is to be under NOR.
mon control. and the completion Of which Is looked
forward TO as the coming event Railroad survey ors
0b)ects OF theatrical sarcasm. The remark OF the
head cannibal IN the play that he dined his party
and engineers was received with unbounded enthu-
slasm. But the audience itself was Q curiosity.
generally people OF moderate circumstances poor,
and yet their theatre as large as the Academy OF
Music IN New YORK. IS full to Overlooking six nights
In the week, paying, for the parQuet and dress cir
Gle, one dollar admission An Eastern circus on its
way to the Paclnc, was last night in full blast, at
uacting large crowd, yet the theatre with only its
ordinary attractions contained an audience Of not
less than 1900 persons-and such an audience On
box sat Mrs. Amelia Folsom the latest 't and
now favorite wife, handsomely dressed, opera
10 ne cosaa tss Scars
OF the parquet sat wife No. !, dressed IN
black. probably approaching fifty. matrony
and sedate. About her were three or four common
place looking, intervening wives, with various pro-
phetc offspring, apparently under the supervision
the dress circle nearest the private box some
twenty odd of Brigham's girls ranging all the way
Of nem e The BULK Of the
however, was made up OF very common looking peo-
pie, dressed in homespun, resembling very much in
appearance the crowd that collects in backwOods
country town In the East to witness the performance
Of travelling circus, including every age and
bald 10 the infant in arms the latter, in one part of
the house or another, keeping up q most unmusical
accompaniment from beginning to end.
The orchestra was furnished from Camp Douglas
by the Seventh United States infantry band, which.
after the performance. was joined by. Salt Lake
Of Ways and Means at the Townsend House. accom-
panied by several hundred Of the people Of the
town. Calls for speeches were made and responded
to in non-committai way by the acting chairman,
Mr.. Hooper, and by Judge Kelley. Then there came
general call for Anna Dickinson. Here was an
opportunity to elucdate female rights that was
never dreamed Of in the philosophy Of Elizabeth
did not come TO time. Whether the reason was the
same that induced a usually prOfane wagon driver
his load Of coal scattered all the way down because
he could not do justice TO the subject or not the
world will probably never know. The fair orator
evaded the point by answering my innocent inquiry
as to the cause by asking another question 10 wit
III supposed she hadn't any sense ~ she is to re.
main here for week or ten days.
This morning no Mormon service was held, but the
smaller tabernacle was assigned to Rev. Dr.. Todd
OF Plttsheld Mass, for Gentle service. At two r.
N. the Mormon service OF the day was held in the
Great Tabernacle. | may remark in parentheses,
that the architecture Of this building seems to have
been discovered In the culture OF Shanghai hens.
Take half an eggshel, cut into lOngitudnally, and
magnify 1t into dimensions capable OF seating 5000
extends almost to the ground s constructed double
with about ten feet space between the inner and
ina SO as to furnish sufcient support and the in
terror presents an arch Of white plaster uDbroRen
az pnr Se sS sSa Of any %a
church is in process OF erection at the big end Of the
eggshell In the absence OF Brigham the next in
authority, George A. Smith, q cousin OF the Prophet
Joseph favored the committee with discourse
for their especial benefit, giving comprehensive
the discovery OF the sacred book and organization of
the first Church OF Latter Day Saints In Western New
York through their various migrations and persecu
lions down to their present prosperous and enlarged
condition. The speaker INDUCED in no denunCiatons
or coarse language, though ne quietly suggested
several points that seemed to mean q good deal In
describing the expulsion OF his people from Missouri
he remarked that they were driven from lands for the
hundred Thousand dollars most Of which lands tney
still owned, and which they expected to return to
ton OF tae United States aSaranteSn sg proecson
with endowment Of civil and religious liberty, came
practically into operation He contrased, in very
clear and strong language the treatment Utah had
received from the United States government In
comparison with the muniflcent grants OF land to
encourage emigration and education In the neigibor-
ing Territory OF Oregon thanked God for the oppol-
UNITY the United States had now for the FIRST time
houses, though it might take away ali their money
III paying for IT. then closed his sermon with pro-
phecy OF the brilliant future of their people aud
prayer for grace to enable them to meet the great
responsibilities to which they were called--to which
a responsive amen" came from all parts OF the
house.
As usual every Sabbath, the sacrament of
bread and water was administered occupying for
the immense audience nearly the whole ho,ir and 81
half OF the service. But little sacredness seemed TO
be attached to the ceremony ut any rate among the
younger portion OF the saints, who joked about 1t
very freely, and whose physical and mortal thirst
seemed TO predominant over the spiritual Ia their
anxiety for the cup TO pass.
OF agriculture OF the salt Lake Basin within the past
1--WE years. In the first settlement OF the colony the
The Thousand streams supplied during the whole
summer from the melting SHOWS OF the surrounding
mountains furnished ample facilities for irrigation
which, wien applied rendered the soil exceedingly
fertile. Only once has failure OF crops been
threatened, when, as described by Elder Smith, in
his sermon, the crckets came down from the noun
tains, like the locusts OF Egypt destroying every
green thing In their path. All the efforts OF the
settlers TO arrest their progress utterly Ruthless
until in despair they dessted; when the Almignty
himself interfered for their preservation by sending
q multitude OF gulls from the lake. which deyouied
The cfickets until they could hold no more then
vomited them up and filled themselves again,
until the crickets were destroyed, and nave
never since appeared. The change or these
plains from absolute barrcnnoss TO luxurant
vegetation has produced its legitimate result
In the increased fall OF rain from year 10 wear.
Up to the present time this season the rain has Ieen
so abundant That irrigation has not been required
at all The Increased volume or rain from year to
year has, however produced another effect the ulti
mate result OF which VIII not undertake to forcte
NO anxiety on the subject seems TO be felt by the
ctiZens refer 10 the gradual and regular rise IN
the waters or Great Salt Lake. The variation Is
always considerable ut different seasons OF the year.
but the average volume OF water Is now ten feet
higher than five years ago. The lake has outlet,
and 10 II very easy TO understand what might he the
result u che rise continues.
1he COMMITTEE cave tonight again for the West.
Mhnnr