The Rock Island Argus., 1883-10-13

States soldiers have invaded the soil Of
Utah why our chief, the prophet Brig
ham Young, has been imprisoned in de-
fiance of all justice. Shall we give up
to force? Never! Driven from Yer
mont. driven from Illinois, driven from
Ohio. driven from Missouri, driven from
Utah, we shall find some Independents
territory yet where we shall pitch our
tents. And you, my BROTHER added
the Elder, fixing his angry look on his
single hearer, Twill you plant yours in
the shadow OF our fagPn
NO" replied Passepartout bravely,
flying in his turn, leaving the fanatic TO
preach in the desert.
But, during this discourse, the train
had advanced rapidly, and about half
past twelve it touched the northwest
corner of the Great Salt Lake. Thence
could be embl aeed in vast circumfer-
ence the aspect of this inland lake,
which also bears the name of the Dead
Sea, and into which empties an Ameri-
can Jordan. A beautiful lake, hemmed
in by craggy rocks OF broad surface,
incrusted with white salt, q superb
sheet of water which formerly covered
a larger space; but in time, its shores,
rising by degrees. reduced its super
iicial area and Increased its depth.
The Salt Lake, about seventy miles
long, and thirty-fiYe wide, is situated
three thousand eight hundred feetabove
the level of the sea. Very different
from Lake Asphaltite, whose depres-
sion is twelve hundred feet below the
sea, it holds considerable salt in solu-
ton, and one fourth the weight of the
water is solid matter. Its specific gray
ity is 1.l70, that of distilled water be-
ing 1000 Fishes can not live in it.
Those that the Jordan, Weber and 9TH
er creeks carry into it soon perish; but
it is not true that the. density of its
wat ers is such that man cannot dive
into it.
Around the lake the country was ad-
mirably titled; for the Mormons under
stand agricultural pursuits; ranches and
corrals for domestic animals; fields of
wheat. corn, sorghum, luxuriant prai-
ries and everywhere hedges of wild
roses, clumpS of acaeias and euphorbias,
such would have been the appearance
of this country six months later; but at
this moment the ground was covered
with thin sheet OF snow. descending
lightly upon it.
At two O'Clock the travellers got out
at Ogden. TheEtrain stopping for six
hours. AIr. Fogg, Mrs. Aouda and their
two companions had time to repair to
the CITY of the Saints BY the short
branch from Ogden.
At three O'clock the travellers were
promenading through the streets of the
town. built between the banks of the
Jordan and the first rise of the Wah-
satch Mountains. They noticed there
few or no churches, but as monuments
the prophets house, the courthouse
and the arsenal; then houses OF blush
bricks with Yerandas and porches,
surrounded by gardens bordered with
aeacias, palms and locusts. A wall oil
clay and pebbles, built in 1855, sur
rounded the town. In the principal
street, where the market is, were some
hotels adorned with pavilions, and
among others Salt Lake House.
Mr. Fogg and his companions did
not find the town thickly peopled. The
streets were almost deserted, save per-
haps the part where the Temple was,
which they reached only after having
traversed several quarters surrounded
by palisades. The women were pretty
numerous, which was explained by the
singular composition of Mormon house
holds. 1t must not be supposed, how
ever. that all Mormons are polygamistS.
They are free, but it is well to remark
that all the females in Utah are anxious
to be married; for, according to the
religion of the country. the Mormon
heaven does not admit to the possession
of its beatitudes the unmarried of the
feminine sex. These poor creatures
neither seemed we'll off nor happy.
Some, the richer ones, doubtless, wore
a short, low cut, black silk dress, under
a hood or very modest shawl. The
others were dressed in Indian fashion.
Passepartout. in his position as one
convinced, did not regard, without a
certain fright, these Mormon women,
charged, in groups, with making a sin.
gle Mormon happy. With his good
sense, it was the husband whom he
specially pitied. 1t seemed to him ter
rible to have to guide so many wives
at once through the yicissitudes OF life,
conduct them, as it were, in body tC
the Mormon paradise, with the prospect
of finding them to all eternity in the
company of the glorious SmiIh, who
was to be the ornament of this place 0I
delights. Certainly. he did not fee
called, and he thought--perhaps he was
mistaken-thatt the women OF Salt Lake
City cast rather embarrassing looks al
his person.
Very fortunately, his stay in the City
of the Saints was not prolonged. At
few minutes past four the travellers wert
again at the station, and took their seats
in the cars.
The whistle sounded; but at the mo
ment that the driving-whcels of the 10
comotive, slipping upon the rails, com
| menced TO impart some movement tt
the train, the cry. Stop! STOP? wa
| heard
They do not stop trains just started
The gentleman who uttered the crI
was evidently Mormon behind time
He was hreathless from running. For
tunately for him the station had neither
gates nor barriers. He rushed, then
ON the track, jumped upon the steps o
the last car, and fell, out of breath, OIL
one of the seats.
Passepartout, who had followed will
emotion The incidents of this gymnastit
feat, went to look at the tardy one. il
whom he took lively interest, whei
he learned that this citizen of Utah has
thus taken flight in consequence of
| household scene.
When the Mormon had recovered hi
breath, PassepartOut yentured to asl
him politely how many wives he had {,
himself-aud from the manner in whicl
he had just run away he would suppos
that he had at least twenty of them
g One, sirr' replied the Mormon
raising his arms heavenwar me
and that was enoughp'
| CHAPTER xvii.
| IN WHICH PAssEPARToUT COULD NOT suCCnE
| IN MAKING ANY ONE LISTEN TO REASON.
1