Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-06-04
A VISIT TO MORMONDOM.
What a Former Knoxville Lady Thinks of
Salt Lake City and the Mormons.

What n Former Knoxville Lady Thinks of
Salt Lake City and the MOrmOns.
We are permitted to make extracts from
a private letter of a late date from a Knox
vile lady now on the Pacific cost
How can l spare time for letter writing?
So much to see and so short time to see it
in, tonly year, But let me hurry it off
and-of myself.
] addressed my last letter from the Getty
of the Saints" and now it is my pleasure
to write you from the city of the Heather
Chinee."
l promised to tell you about Mormon
lation to Salt Lake City, not only tended
to prejudices me against the people, but
place also. Now, whatever view | may
entertain as to the saints, 1 can not but
write you that the city is garden home"
We arrived there Friday night. Saturday
morning we drove about the city, return
ing full of admiration and wonder. 1t
numbers about 10000 inhabitants, $4,000
of whom are Mormons. The streets are
regularly arranged, broad avenues, luXuri-
ant shade trees, on either side with
running streams from the mountains, adj
ding to its beauty, not little. This sys-
tenn of irrigation, with which you are
, familiar, is admirable. Many fine
dwellings are to be seen, spacious
taverns, fine orchards and flowers
in endless profusion meet the eve every
where. The business portion of the city
presented an animated scene. 1t was
filled with horses and wagons and the bus
tie and hurry reminded me of our own
busy Eastern cities. In the afternoon we
visited several business houses, houses
which would be credit to city of greater
pretensions. 1 saw there all the latest
styles in bonnets and dress goods, &c. The
sights impress you with the feeling that
in ri hoy
city ways, manners and customs in fact,
they seem to have all their hearts can wish
for. Who could have more? From our
elegant rooms at the "Walker House, we
looked out upon the mountains, white with
perpetual snow, while the hot sun came
teeming down upon us, making our travel
ling attire uncomfortable. Across the
street we could see California strawber-
ries, cherries, green peas, oranges, BAN
nanas exposed for sale, all of which pre-
scented an interesting sight which your
city can not afford.
Call Salt Lake Valley desert or will
'derness, il you please. Salt Lake City with
its thousands of trees and rich green
foliage, its sparkling waters and its beauti-
full homes, is an oasis teeming with life
and progression. OF course, we went to the
tabernacle and through ii, and what monu-
ment of religious enthusiasm or fanaticism,
costing half million of dollars The
feet by 100 in width. Forty-siX six columns
support the roof. In one end of this build
ing is the organ, second in size in Ameri
ca. This one immense room will seat TO-
900 people. The temple now in course of
construction is to cost SO, 600 900, nothing
but the foundation as yet appears, yet 81
,OO0, 900 have been expended. 1t is to be
built of granite, the money is raised by
tithing, one tenth of all earnings is do
mated to their 'dOIy.
We visited the menagerie, saw a fine COL
lection of Utah minerals, old Indian relics,
n few stuffed and still fewer live animals.
We heard more than we saw, as the keep
er was Saint and we interviewed HIM,
He said he had two wives and having
married the last from religious principle
he was happy AT night we attended
Brgham's theatre, a dilapidated but very
large building, well adapted for the pur-
pose We saw Brigham's seat, also his
families. The President was absent and
his family was represented by only 10
blooming daughters, the greater portion
was detained at home Brigham was out
of town. Ex-Governor Claflin ofMass. was
his guest and he was showing him the val
ley,so we missed seeing the great nlogul.
However, the Gentles may regard Brig
ham Young's religious belief they do not
question his business integrity or ability,
and are only too anxious to associate their
monied interests with his. Brigham
Young is wonderful man, as Salt Lake
City attests. Mormonsm is a fixed fact.
The President has resigned his trusteeship
of the church, but it signifies nothing. 1t
Is but preparatory for his final leave that
the church may not suffer by his depar-
ture.
sunday, we went to the Tabernacle
and listened to discOurses from Brothers
Nicholson and Orson Pratt, and what a
con gregation! what motley crowd! Is
this Mormonism? Are these Mormons? i
was not surprised that these people should
ad.yoca polygamy, the only wonder was
but II glance at the females settled the
ques lion, believe in Mormonism fol