The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-07
AMONG THE MORMONS.

AMONG THE MORMONS.
\ Polysamous Household and the
MOrmOn Baby
New York Times
After riding miles through white
sand and sage brush, or lava rock and
scoria, they are delightful to contem-
plate at distance and more so when
landing from the dreadful vehicle to sit
down (if you CAM under the vine-clad
porch, feel the refreshing breeze, and
listen to the pleasant sound of running
water which you feel just like rolling
into. All Mormon towns are necessari-
ly located where water can be turned
to purposes as it flows from the noun
tain ranges behind them, and is turned
through the town and diverted to. the
purpose of irrigating gardens and fields
with water. They make an oasis in
the desert, and wherever it can be
found, there some hardy pioneer has
settled and tills the soil and raises his
stock. The extension of the Southern
Utah railroad has done much to bring
remote parts of the territory into no
tice. Hitherto southern Utah has been
almost unknown to the tourists, a few
hardy miners only having found their
way to the distant Mormon settlements
on muleback on prospecting tours.
Utah is unquestionably rich in minerals
Its gold, silver, coal and salt mines give
great wealth to the country, which the
railroads are rapidly developing. There
is bright outlook for Utah, now that
prejudice is giving way, and Mormon
and gentle fraternize, which they do to
4 much greater extent than heretofore;
business intercourse and mutual inter-
est is doing much to level the barriers
before existing. In my travels
through the territory on this and a pre-
vious occasion. found no cause to
complain, wherever I stopped I was
welcome; my wants We're supplied for
self and beast at very moderate charges
and no such rapacity exhibited as is
often met with nearer home, and no
such disposition manifested to take adj
vantage Of circumstances. A good bed
of clean straw, and often a hair mat
tress, good, wholesome food, nice fresh
vegetables, and cheerful. hearty well
come made tho stop refreshingly agree
able. All the Mormon Elders, and
even the poorest and most humble that
have met, have been civil, hospitable
and accommodating. At Cedar City,
the next town of importance to this, the
head man, Bishop Lund, is proverbial
for the warm welcome extended to all
Gentiles. The Bishop is character in
his way-one Of the Woodworking, fru-
gal sort. He has accumulated con-
siderable property, lives in roomy.
well-bult house, surrounded with his
four acres of fruit and shade trees, with
his four wives, and with the stray dol
lars he picks up by entertaining tray
elers, the Bishop manages to enjoy life
| very comfortably He always greets
one with heartiness and exerts himself
to make his guests comfortable. There
is nothing in the house too good to be
set before you. His last and Youngest
wife makes capital slapjacks, as can be
proved by your correspondent, who
gave them an unprecedented hearing.
What strikes the stranger most particu-
larly is the air of peace and quietness
prevailing in all Mormon households.
There is a cheerfulness that we do not
understand, and a serenity most aston
ishing, when we consider that there are
several women under one roof, and all
aspirants for one mans affections.
Show me parallel instance elsewhere
There must be something worth invest
igation in religion that can make
women amiable and charitable toward
each other-ours utterly fails to do it.
1t Is worth while to acquire the secret.
Then let ministers of the gospel preach
it and those who call themselves Chris
tian women practice it. The world at
large will be all the better for it.
There is one institution that is both
a wonder and an amusement-tha is a
! Mormon baby. At the house Ia private
one) where am stopping, there is a
little round fat fellow of nine or
ten months, whom have yet to hear
cry. He rolls around the floor, some
times down the steps, and takes care of
himself. He is no trouble to ANYBODY,
but a source of great amusement. This
morning he crawled to the top step and
rolled down, apparently unhurt, never
whlmpered, and commenced stuffing
himself with leaves. A pet tame chick,
en- Games long and stopped and eyed
him curbusly. The little chap returned
the stare, and was evidently studying
in his mind what kind Of bird It
could be. The chicken thought the fat
little fingers edible, and made sharp
peck at them. The little fellow looked
up at me with an inquiring look. as
much as to say, "What does he take
me for?' The chicken hoped up in
his lap, and the little fingers closed
around its leg, the chicken fluttered,
upset baby, threw a cloud of dust in
his eyes, struck him in the face with it's
wings, and finally escaped, leaving the