The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-03-23
Meadow Lake Valley.

Geo. w. Cassidy, writing to the Inland
Empire, from Meadow Lake Valley, under
date Of March 10th, gives the fcllwing descrip-
ton of his experience with tho Mormons Of
that locality:
have been sloshing around among the
Mormons of Meadow Valley and can not con-
clude this cpistle without brief reference 10
these unreconstructed people, The valley it.
self Is one of the most piciIresque in the State
and near Its center neStles Panaka City, n
Mormon town Of about sdventy-fiye houses,
wide streets, long rows Of shade trees, one
store and saloon. The principal beverage
kept at the latter Is VALLEY Tan whisky
villainOus compound Of Alkali, tish-berrics, CO.
clinical, and sage-brush, which, according to
reports II have sword OFF,. will Timber a
fellow up like boiled maccaroni, and cause
him TO turn double sommersault before he
can catch his wind. Over the door of the
store are these words, including the all-seoing
eye F "Holiness to ;he Lord - "2ion's Co
operative Institution - which Of course leaves
no room TO doubt that the concern is thor
oughy Mormon in all Of its dips, angles and
spurs"
When ~e entered this quiet village late in
the evening, we were naturally on the lookout
for place To stop for the night, and hailed
with delight the words Entertainment, by
Mrs. Lee" on q swinging sign in front OF the
most respectable looking house in the place,
Well. we tried Mrs. Lees "entertainmeut,
and must bear testimony to the hOspitable
treatment while We remained. The old lady
Is nov huisbandiess Int she mas largo fami.
ly OF children mostly grown. She one Of
the first settlers in The valley, and is zcalous
believer i'll the doctrines of the Mormon
Church and the Divine attributes OF brigham
Young and the rest OF "ZiOn's" prophets. |
''interviowed" her at considerable lungth. and
found her ''sound on the goose" so far as
paramount allegiance TO the Mormon faith is
concerned. She frankly acknowledged that
she was n polygamist of the first water, and
told me that all the women of Utah were IN
the same boat, fortifying her position by re-
fcrring to the virtuous indignation Of the fair
sex, as exhibited in the meetings now being
held by the "Saintesses' all over the Terri
tory, in opposition 10 the Cnllom hill, now
pending In Congress. She thought, though,
that Mormon gold would defeat the passage
of the bill. Az to this polygamy business,
however l am inclined to think that the old
lady is not entirely unseltish. She is not to
say comely, and somehow ] could not diycst
myself Of tho notion that she considered her
chances far better to get fractional portion
OF ono Of the Lords of Creation" than to
"gobblc up n whole one. Maybe, chats
what's the mattar'' with all OF the Mormon
women; for hs a rule there are none Of them
particularly attractive, and as for the men
honors Rro about easy. As "A class, they are
the most illiierate and worst knock -knced,
bandy.shnnkcd, pigeon heelcd, brick-topped,
sorrel.noustached, aud butter.milkcd eyed set
Of devils that have ever struck in all my life
There is not ono of them that my body
would want to kiss for his mother. +"
How such looking "roostcrs' (Jacl Perry
can manage 10 control plurality of wives is
amystery to me, But they do IL. and several
Of them who live In Panaka have IA many ns
four each including tow-headcd children
10 run district school This would appear
Ike spreading tho affections rather thin, but
II IL said TO work well. when judiciuusy dis
uou,ed. Generally speaking, the Moruons
are avery industrious and frugal people,
which is something in their favor. Those
who live In Meadow Valley have good homes
ana all appear 10 be thriving, and are 'happy
nnd content" | have been telling you dbont
ihe uncoineliness of the Saints in general, and
tnere IL one exception which desire to men.
uoh; Dame Lees daughter. ISIS, n charm
ing brunette Of nineteen summers, is n rcgu'
lar rustic beauty. Sho Is n Utah production
queehiy In appearance, handsome M n noun.
bln rose, and can get up ON short notice thC
squhrest meal or the post bowitching smile
inaglnablo. Most oil of tho boys arc
spoony on her, and my good looking trav
cling companion, Hutch, goi II worse than an,
OF hen. For dnys after we left Panakn, h,
appeared abstractcd, and constantly hummet
that plaintiff lovo-sick air: "iIor brigh
smiles haunt me still" +.H1'E IUT -