The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-16

'T say to you, /, that Joe Smyth is a mar:
tyr; that his brother Hiram is a martyr; and
that the prosecutions of the Union govern
ment will make a martyr also OF Brigham
Young. Who dares to say to the contrary?'
No one attempted to contradict the mis-
sonary, whose excitement contrasted strange
ly with his naturally calm phys;oynomy. But
without doubt his wrath was explained by the
fact that Mormonism has of late received
some hard blows. The United States has en-
forced its laws in Utah, after having imprison-
Brigham Young, accused OF polygamy and
rebellion.
He went on to recount the history of Nor
MISUNDERSTANDING the recital by the thun-
ders of his voice and violent gestures-since
Bible times that in Israel Mormon prophet,
of the tribe of Judah, wrote the annals of
the new religion and left it as a legacy to his
son Morrow; how, in later ages a translation
of this book, written in Egyptian characters,
was made by Joseph Smyth Jr., farmer in
Vermont, who revealed himself as a prophet
in 1928; how an angel appeared to him in an
Illuminated forest, and gave him the history
OF God. At this moment, some of the lis
teners, not interested in the miss;onary's
history of the past, left the car; but William
Hitch went on to tell how Snayth jr., uniting
with his father, two brothers, and few dis
ciples founded the religion of the Latter Day
Saints-a religion which has been adopted
not only in America, but in England, Scan
dinavia, Germany, and counts among its
faithful, men of all trades and professions;
how colony was founded in Ohio; temple
erected at an expense of 900 and city
built at Kirkland how Smith became an
audacious banker, and received from an ex-
hibitor of mummies, a papyrus, containing
history written by the hand of Abraham and
other celebrated prOphets
This narration became tresome and the
ranks gradually grew less, until not more
than dozen remained. But the elder, not
disturbed by the assertions, went on to tell
how Joe Smyth became bankrupt in 1887;
how the ruined stockholders covered him
with tar, and rolled him in feathers; how he
reappeared, more honorable than ever, few
years after, at Independence, Missouri, as
chief of flourishing community, which
numbered not less than 5000 souls; but, fol-
lowed by the hatred of the Gentiles, he was
obliged to fly to the far West. In 1889,
Smyth reappeared again in Illinois, and
founded Nauvoo the Beautiful, whose popu-
lation numbered $4,000 souls. Here he be-
came Mayor and Judge of the Supreme
Court, and, in 184S offered himself as a can
didate for the Presidency of the United
States, was drawn into an ambuscade at Car
thage, thrown into prison, and assassinated
by band OF masked men.
AT this moment Passepartout was absolute
ly alone in the car, and the elder, looking him
in the face. fascinating him by his words, re-
called to him that two years after, his sue
cessor, the inspired prophet Brigham Young,
abandoned Nauvoo and established himself
on the borders of Salt Lake; and there, in
this sterile country, upon the route of emf
grants going to California this new colony,
thanks to polygamy, rapidly increased.
"And behold the reason Why" added the
Rev. William ''behold the reason of the jeal-
ousy Of Congress. Behold why the Union
soldiers have overrun Utah-why our chief,
Brigham Young, has been imprisoned in
despite of all justice. Shall we yield TO force?
Never! Expelled from Vermont, Illinois,
Ohio, Missouri and from UUah-we have vet
some independent territory where we can
pitch our tents. And you, my faithful" add
ed the elder, fixing his eye upon his only au-
ditor,. "Will you spread yours under the shad-
ow of our dag?"
''No,' answered Passepartout, and left, in
his turn, the fanatic to himself
During this conference the train had moved
rapidly, and, at half past twelve, touched the
northwest point of Great Salt Lake. From
this point, the eye could embrace, on vast
line, the view of this interior sea-which al
so is called the Dead Sea, and into which
there flows an American Jordan. Beautiful
lake, shut in by grand barren rocks encruste
with a white salt; superb sheet of water
which covered formerly considerable space,
but with time the banks, encroaching little
by little, have reduced its size, and increased
its depth. 1t is seventy miles long and thirty
hve miles wide, and is situated $500 feet
above the level of the sea. unlike the Asphaltic
Lake, whose depression is said to be 1900 feet
below the sea level. 1t is very salt and its
waters hold in solution fourth of their
weight in solid matter. Their specific CRAWL
ty is ITO, while that of distilled water is
only 1000. Around the lake the country was
under admirable cultivation-ranches, corrals
for domestic animals, fields of wheat, maize
and sorghum, luXuriant fields, hedges of
wild roses, clusters of acacias and locusts.
Such would have been the aspect of the
country six months earlier; but at this time
the sun disappeared under heavy load of
snow, which soon began to fall.
AT two O'Clock, The travellers descended at
the station at Ogden. The train would not
leave until six P. M. Mr. Fogg, Madame
Aouda. and their companions had time to Wis
it the city of the Saints, by way of branch
which LETT the Ogden station. Two hours
sufiiced to visit this essentially American CITY,
built upon the model OF all the cities of the
Union-vast checker boards, with long cold
lines-''the mournful sadness of right an
gles," as Victor Hugo expresses it. The
founder of this city of the saints, could not
escape from this want of symmetry which
distinguishes the Anglo Saxon.
At three O'Clock, the travellers were prone
nading the streets of this city, built between
the banks of the river Jordan, and the first
unduations of the Wahsatch mountains.
They saw few churches, the house of the
prophet, the court house and arsenal; then
brick houses with verandas and balconies,
surrounded by gardens, bordered with AGA
cias.
A wall of shells and clay, constructed in
1853, surrounded the city; ON the principal
street, where market was held, were some no.
tells and, among others, the Salt Lake House.
Mr.. Fogg and his companions did not find
the city densely peopled. The streets were
almost deserted, except in the vicinity of the
Temple-which they could only reach, after
passing through many districts surrounded by
palisades. The. women and children were nri-
merous, but the singular composition of the
Mormon household explained that mystery.
At four O'Clock, the travellers returned to the
station and took their seats in the car. The
signal was given, but just at the moment
when the wheels of the locomotive turning
upon the rails, began to move the train, cries
Of stop! stop! were heard. The gentleman
who uttered these cries, was evidently be-
lated Mormon. He was out of breath, but
happily for him, the station had no doors or
barliers-he sprung upon the step, jumped to
the platform of the rear car and fell, breath
less, into one of the seats of the car.
Passepartout, who had watched with inter-
est these gymnastic exploits, looked at the
man with great interest when he learned that
he was citizen of Utah and had run away
from domestic scene. When the Mormon
had taken breath, he CHANGED to ask him DO
litely, how many wives he had-surposing,
from his way of leaving, that he had twenty
or more.
''One, Sir, only one," answered the Nor
mon, raising his arms to heaven, sand that
was enoughv'
Ito be contnued,]