The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-22

rspecial Correspondence 81 The Americana

accomplished at night. but was pro bah ii onlf
d repetition OF the prairie ride OF some days
before. Cheyenne is a town OF considerable
Importance, being the largest i, betWeen
Omaha and Ogden. In former times it was
A rendezvous for the worst men of the conn
try, but the swift justice Of a vigilance COM
ntttee settled that question SO decidedly that
the town has since been q model Of sobriety
and good order. Sherman Is the highest
point on the road, S,2a2 feet above the level
of the sea. In this region nelghboring
brooks start from their hidden mountain
springs, aud take separate courses, the one
seeking the waters Of the Atlantic, the other
those OF the Pacific. We had been travel.
ling many miles of desolate country since
leaving Cheyenne, but it was wonderful
the heights we had reached and the steep
grades we had climbed, without any special
appearance Of mountainous region. The
whole formation Is curious. The road
energies from rocky gorge to pass through
seventy or eighty miles of barren plain; then
another gorge and succession OF plain,
covered with a hardy sage bush. But (not
lonr) soon after beginning the descent we
were rewarded by the most novel sights Of
rocky foundations. Some queer contortionS
Of nature. ages ago, left out here mountain
empire which men will not be likely to istprb.
We felt me effect of a darkening shadow,
and, peering up, saw between US and the
sky long ranges Of beetlipg rocks, holding
their own state in msjestic grandeur and send
ing back defiant echo to our intrusion upon
their solitude. Again seeming to rise from
the plains before Us, stond towers and pill.
lars of ruined walls and temples, or any
other objects into which Imagination chose
to weave tDeir fantastic forms. Some look
ed worn and washed by the action Of wa
tiers rs though the barren spot might once
have been the bed Of 4 lake, or inland sea.
The first explorers gave them names to suit
their fancies. We would often conjecture
appropriate names for the queeriy-carved
rocks rs we slowly passed them, upon which
some practical member of our party would
inform us that the Guide-Book" had al
ready given it similar name, not permit
ting the least originality even ut this dis.
lance from civilization. Castle Rocks is the
name given 10 long row of old walls, that
look as though human joys and sorrows
might have been experienced there in by
gone ages. AS we rushed through Weber
Canon. the sky was fairly shut out by walls
of rock ON either side. and the river dashed
along with us in its wild race for the lake in
the valley below. The most noticeable
freak of nature on the road is the :" Devils
Slide" On the one hand rose wall. OF
rock, and on the other mountain side
covered entirely with sage bush with the
exception of this most wonderful Slide rum
ming from the summit to the foot OF the
mountain; two narrow slabs OF granite,
from one to two hundred feet high, and not
more than len or fifteen feet apart. This Is
avery wild ride, but all fear is lost in admit
ration in fact, we have long since ceased TO
think of our own safety, and learned to look
upon the cars as our present home, and en-
Joy them accordingly. A high state of ex-
element prevailed in our little party as We
reached Ogden and changed cars for Salt
Lake. How we pitied the poor unfortu-
mates who going on and could not at.
ford the time TO turn aside for few days
ramble among the much-talked-of domains
of Brigham Young. The ride from Ogden
took about two hours. We passed through
a highly cultivated valley. The Wahsatch
mountains rose on one side and the waters
OF Salt Lake came nearly even with the cars
on the other. Beyond the lake the sun was
nearing the horizon, and kindly sent its
most dazzling rays across the water TO iX in
our minds a neyerdyiug picture of peaceful
beauty. Salt Lake extends through the val
ley eighty miles in length and forty in
width. Church Island rises in the centre,
twelve miles in length, and forms the stock
grounds of the Mormons.
SALT LAKE CITY.
We entered the city about dark, and after
driving to our hotel and registering our
names we drove at once to the Theatre. We
found this to be pretty building, on the
stage of which there was being played some
sensational piece. On the way back to the
hotel we looked into some of the laundries,
where the patient Cinnamon Were ironing
ladies' fine dresses in way that would have
Instantly won the heart Of any Baltimore
woman, Next morning we were awake at
an early hour, for fear Of losing something.
We found our landlady to be shrewd, in
teligent Mormon, whose husband had other
wives, but they were not allowed to live in
the house that she occupied. We were de-
lighted to find that she not only understood
the workings of the society here thorough
IL, but that she was willing TO crafty a
pardonable amount Of curiosity in her guests.
As the best beginning of the day Weattended
St. Marks church, and heard very excel
lent sermon from Bishop Tuttle, the very
able head of the Episcopal church IN Utah.
Everything indicated u t1ourishing condition.
The school connected with the church is the
best in the city, and educates many Mormon
children, who in that way become alleDated
from their parents creed. Several OF their
best teachers were Mormons on entering the
school as pupils. We next found our way
to the Mormon Sunday school, where Gu
rious process was going on that OF conse-
Grating the oil used for healing. One OF the
wives of Brigham Young was there teaching
class, and she informed US that this Oil was
used to anoint the sick, and with the prayer
of faith by the elders met the needs OF any
class of diseases that in former times the
people depended entirely upon this mode OF
treatment except when surgical operations
were required: and that the people were
much more healthy than at present, when
they cannot resist the temptations OF
speedy cure by medicine held out by physi-
clans. Our landlady afterwards told US that
good nursing had always been sure attend.
ant of the prayer OF faith. Inc oil was con-
secrated by three elders, who opened the bot.
Ties. laid hands upon them, and prayed over
them. Mrs. Young was very kind ana COM
and told US the true version OF
the history of Sister Ann Eliza, or No. 10,
of eastern fame. 1t was the ola story Oh am
bition that caused the sisters trouble. IN
the afternoon we attended service at Inc
Mormon Tabernacle, and tried very hard to
receive our impressions with unprecedented
minds. The tabernacle is oblong, and about
$50 feet long and $50 feet wide. Fifty-six
columns support the roof, which is perfect
arch. The organ is second only to the Bos-
ton organ in SIZE. About 100 voices con-.
prised the choir, and gave us very enjoyable
music. The elders sat next the members OF
the choir, and on either side of the pslplt
and desks. in front Of which was long table