The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-31
OUR SALT LAKE LETTER.
SALT LAKE CRY, Dec. %, 1s7.

Inc CHRISTMAS festivities nave COLne
and gone, freighted with joy and sor-
row. While many q young heart has
beaten high with joy at the prospective
pleasures Of the annual holiday, perhaps
to as many other hearts the scene
brought more of sadness, as the days ol
other years rushed over memory's tab
lets. "Friends fondly cherished that
mingled their glad and happy voices
with ours have passed away never to
return, and with whom we shall not
meet except on the "other side"
Thoughts sad and sweet came throng-
ing into my brain as / looked down the
lORg vista of years, and called to mind
the friends of my youth who, one by
one, have grown weary and folded
meekly the hand and lain down to rest
ere their sun had reached its meridian
'Tis well to think of the past, but not
specially interesting to your readers tC
moralize upon the closing year, so
will dismiss the subject by hoping you
had as merry Christmas as you de.
serve, and wishing you a happy and
prosperous New Year.
Since my last we have been treated to
change from our delightful weather tc
the mud and slush of the land Of "ye
Webfeet," and, not having any side.
walks, we have TO pick up our drapery
and, like Sally billiards. cousins wife,
"wade right through" 1t is anything
but agreeable.
In Cottonwood recently, during a
storm, snow slide covered up eleven
men who were going into the mines
Just think, if you can, of a body o.
snow, full half mile in extent, rushing
at one time down the mountain nearly
mile, and with such force that it went
across the creek and up the mountain
on the other side five hundred feet II
is perfectly appalling to think of, ye
such is the fact; and these poor fellows
trudging along, footsOre and weary, saw
the impending danger, but could not es
cape. 1t was q terrible fate. Some O
the bodies are not yet found, and viii
not be until the soft winds of sprin.
come to break the snowy bands tina
bind them.
Salt Lake City is insufferably dul
this winter in business point. Social
ly, there are balls and parties, churcl
sociables, etc, while there are lecture
and concerts to instruct and amuse.
In political matters speculations ar
rife rs to who will be the next corps o
officers for Utah, for it is generally be
lieved there will be an entire change O
programme within the next ninet,
days. 1t was rumored that the head o
Geo. i. Woods had already fallen, bu
it lacks confirmation. His successo
was named in the same dispatch, viz.
Judge Casey of Illinois, who is a fin,
lawyer and very clever gentleman
though in legal ability perhaps not tn,
equal of his predecessor.
Perhaps a sketch of Judge AIcKear
and his court would not come amiss (,
your readers. 1 will commence will
His Honor, who is n fine, bland-IookinG
gentleman of perhaps fifty-five, will
beautiful soft hair, wherein the "al
mond blossoms flourish" surmountinl
a fine legal head; his benevolent fac,
adorned with sweet, pleasant smiles; il
person tall and graceful; rather sligh
physical development; always wearing
the air Of Christian gentleman; il
faith a sterling Methodist. The Judg,
is great favorite with the ladies.
heard an enviOus gentleman say mo-
long since, ''The ladies are all in Low,
with Judge McKean.n I think this i:
drawing it rather strong, but they
would not show n lack of sense if it were
true. l hope the Judge will not blush
If he were at all possessed of the vanity
of some Of his sex, might have spared
that part of this paragraph.
Next comes Judge Strickland, who in
person is above medium height, has
florid complexion, reddish-brown hair
and face slightly pox-marked, his
physiognomy betokening good humor
and fondness of the good things of life.
He is no more a favorite with the
''Saints" than the Chief Justice, and for
similar reasons.
Then there is Judge Hawley, last and
least, physically, of the trio; but 1 am
told he is the best lawyer Of all. In
person he is rather below medium
height, thin, clean, lank and dyspep-
tic" His head is well shaped and set
firmly on his thin neck, face indicative
rather of ocidity than s'oeetness. His
thin, well-cut lips show strong and de-
termined will. He is not as general a
favOrite with the Gentiles as either of
the others, but from some cause, unex-
plained to me, is more in favor with the
"Saints." In faith he is strict Pres
byterian.
Therel I have imperfectly sketched
the Supreme Bench of Utah. The Bar
l will give at some future time.
As I said or intimated before, there is
a good deal of speculation in the minds
of both Saints and 'sinners" as to
what will be the policy of the Govern
ment in regard to Polygamous Utah,
and there is some uneasiness manifest
in the minds of those in authority in
the "Church."
Polygamous marriages are more num-
erous than formerly, or at least your
correspondent hears of more Of them.
heard of one last week where an old