Litchfield enquirer., 1881-10-06
Mor,monism.

Mormonism.
 The Salt Lake valley is one of the garden spots of thls earth. Nowhere, in all our, land can you find more frugal, industrious, and noral-people.' They have neat, pleasant homes. with the surroundings of out-buildings, gardens, cultivated fields. trees shrubbeIy, and flowers. The orchards are loaded with fruit; apples, apricots, peaches, and other fruits are decaying On the ground for the req son that cars to convey them to market can- not be had. And these people are Mormons say to you that all the hue and cry about Mormons being an undesirable class of citizens is the variest bosh. While 1 would not stand uP as defender of polygamy, nor as an apole- glzer for Mormon theology, would not join in the city: "The Mermons must go." The history of our country presents no such specta. cle of determined will, the suffering of pri- vatlon for conscience sake, and success, from worldly point of view, as is exampled from the day Brigham Young first set up his can vas hemes on this spot until the present time, when you find fair city, with it's blocks of substantial brick and same buildings, wide streets, through every gutter of which flows an unceasing stream Of pure, cold water, with its city applcances of gas, telephones, street Cars, and electric lights. And the great differ enee from our Puritan ancestors, who in like manner fled for conscience to a far. of, un- known land, is that these people harbor and support their enemies. No shade of religious opinion but can worship as it's votaries choose. They do not hang Quakers nor banish Baptists. daily paper, the Tribune, is constantly filled with the most insulting articles, holding up the leading Mormons to personal abuse. and it's office is not mobbed, it's editors walk the streets in perfect safety and live peaceably with their families around them. All classes and qualities of life are found here, from the w-boy and prostitute to the General con- manding the United States forces, or the Methodist preacher and the Catholic priest, each following hls avocation with none to molest or make afraid. Can you conceive of more cosmopolitan and liberal state of socie- ty? As said, my sympathy is somewhat with the Mormons, even if they are fools enough to support ten or twenty wives, when one is usually enough. -C Correspondence Hart t01I Tunes. sGk -
 SOMETHING ABOUT THE BoERs The Boers don't care much abOuteducation. If they are only able to write and to help themseives- that is to become members of the Church. it is sufficient for them. They can never be on hearty terms with anybody who knows more than they do, no matter of what nation the man is; and from this is the antipathy against foreigners. They generally speak of them selves as being stupid. But don't have the courage to say that to them. And really they are not stupid but on the contrary, in some kinds of business they are very clever. They have to do the work of a carpenter, mason smith, painter and wagon. maker, without ever being an apprentice or having amaster. They learn themselves Sometimes you may be as tonished, coming on a farm, to see splendid k,~t lal~~: A. Al. 1. by nobody else than by the Boer and his sons On the farm are of course the workmen's shops, It must be an instinct {; otherwise it is not to be understood.
 In former letters had occasion already to tell you that the Boers are very religious Every morning and evening prayers are held, chapter read out of the Bible, and some hymns sung that is what is called "Huisgod. sdienst" house religion and on Sunday when the people are not able to go to church or to a farm where d clergyman will hold service, then printed sermon is read, sometimes a hundred years old or more. Four times in the year most of the people go to the "Nacht maal," that is the Holy Communion, when the children are christened, people married, and boysa girls accepted as members of the Church. All the people are gathered around the church in wagons, wherein the whole fam fly sleep. Some have tents only. It is a pretty view, such "Nachtmaal' meeting, and the store-keepers wish that every week one would be held.
 As there is no miiitia everybody is a soldier from sixteen to sixty. In some places there are volunteers, but not regular. When a. Kafir war takes place the people are comman. ded, each to take care of his own horse and gun, and sometimes they have also to give some cattle'or money. It happens, not sell dom, that just coming home some other Kaf frs are disobedient; and then the Boer has to leave his home again. and stand the chance to be shot. That they are good shots nobody can deny, and 1t Is no wonder. As boys al ready they are taught to be familiar with gun. When the father is going hunting he takes his boy with him, and the little fellow learns already in his youth to harden himself against rough weather and dangers. The Boers generally take off only their coats when going to bed, and their guns they have next to the bedstead. ... . In IS one of their virtues to be very hospit- able. When you have not too much ''air" you will receive on farm good reception. Of course the food is very simple meat or game with bread, mealies, or potatoes, but lot of milk for compensation. Except in some pla. ces, you have nothing to pay.
 The Boers like very much to talk about re- ligion, their own politics and about horses and cattle and when you can give some news about any of these you are very welcome. They don't care much about their toilet, but the young girls are just as coquettish asin any civilized State. On the farm itself you will never see drunken Boer. Coffee is the gen. eral drink from the morning until evening, and the lady of the house is the presidente of the coffee table. not ofthe dinner-table. If there are lot of men they have the first ta- ble; the ladies have to wait and after them the children make their appearance
 They have nc respects for banks, and it costs lot of trouble to let them understand that receiving check is just the same as hard cash. That is now, in short, sk etch of my count,ymen.-St. .Tanaes Gazette. .., r..'