The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-06
4 sKETCHOFsALT LAKE OITY.

It's Magnificent DiRtances-Its Other
Peculiarities-atreets and Gardens
Modern Improvements-Bigo Of the
Mormons-The Tabernaole-Politica
sermons-The Invasion Of Fashion-A
Remedy for Polygamy - Brigham's
Family, SO.
SALT LAKE CRY, UTAH. February 6.
Topographcally this city OF the "latter.d day
saints" is something like Washington, one OF
magnificent distances, and ls scattered ana
heightened out to such degree that 1t has the
appearance OF having undergone the spread
ing influence" Of some immense roller. As 10
city limits, they are imltiess except IN the
direction Of the lake. that stops the city from
going that way, and the government reserva-
ton stops it III another, but 10 any other way
1t extends as far as Brigham Young has build
ing lots. The streets are wide and regularly
laid ont, with streams OF water running down
each side, though in winter time they general
ly lake to the middle oil the street. The city is
beautifully lai out in squares OF large slze,
aud except IN the business portion OF the city,
most OF the squares are only paraaliy ouils
upon, the reminder being converted into gar
dens, apple and peach orchards, which, when
in full bloom in the spring, give to the city q
most beautiful appearance. and one oan hardly
tell wea her he is 10 oountryaed city or citl-
fed country. In winter it is The muddlest,
dreariest place west of ths Missouri, and one
can say OF it. as Tom Moore said OF lrelsnd,
sits beautiful place to live ont Of"
Since the arrival of the Gentiies Salt Lake
City has gradually improved 10 its bulldings,
and has received many Of the modern im-
provemeIts," such as gas works, steam nre
engines. street car railway, theatres ana re-
spectablo hotes-in tact changing, Itself
thoroughly, yet slowly, so that now as the city
stands It coneists Of palaces and hu,s placed
promiscuously side by side. and one can pass
from the sandstone pavement OF an iron
front" to the clayey walk OF an adobe brick
shanty. walking down the principal street OF
the city.
Much has been said about the .Mormons
during the last few years, 80 shall say pus
little OF them. In their religious duties they
aro GA bigoted as they are Careless. and oil that
their leaders ask Of them is strict payment
of their tlthing, and dislike OF anything anti
Murmop, Their church service is very like
that of the Methodist. Their place OF worship
Ia what is called the Tabernacle, the largest
building in the country. which will hold FOUR
teen thousand people sitting. Here they Wor-
ship and here they listen to sermons which
ars nothing but political harangues, or else
speeches to arouse feeling against the gov
ernmeut aud the "Gentiles." ,
AS said, the coming OF the "Gentiles" has
improved the city wonderfully, but the change
caused by them did not oease here; with them
came fashen, and that made the greatest, az q
to the husband of ten or fifteen wives, the sad
dest change. Before bis chief expense was in
buying glngham 10 make his wives bonpets.
Alssl now the envious wives won't wear ging-
ham bopnnets while their Gentle nelghbor can
wear s'those loves OF things" made up ofvelvet;
flowers &c. Nor would they wear unpanniered
oai,o while their more moCern nelghbor bus'
tied about in silks and poplins. 30 had the
green cotton ''umbrll" to give way to the sllk
parasol, and thus the change came: 1.-The au,
alone, fashion will kill it quicker than anything
that they can do for what man oan ts5 stand the
reouisitions Of several fashionable wlvesf
Let me say that Eastern people endeavor to
make Brigham Young, "the prophet. seer and
sage" Of Mo1monlsm, more miserable than ne
is; instead OF sixty some odd wives. be has only
nineteen, and instead of some two or three
hqudred children, he has only fifty or sixty;
still he has enough to make it quite an outlay
to furnish them all With Christmas presents.
There ,s garrison OF United States troops
stationed near the city. have not been up
there vet but can see from here that they
have yery commanding position over the city.