San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-03-20
CHAPTER II.

BY THE DEAD SEA.
It was called the dead sea in the
old days by those who passed that way
The River Jordan still holds it's bib
lical name, as do many of the passes,
springs, valleys, and mountain peaks
surrounding Salt Lake.
My father was more puzzled as to
who this strange man might be, after
taking his hand and hearing him
talk in his quiet, unselfsh, and learn
ed fashion. than ever before. Was
he indeed a DANTE, or only some poor
Mormon, sort of insane man, doing
penance as he professed'
1t is great mistake to say that
only dishonest, ignorant, and impure
men are fanatics in religion. I fire.
quently recall, when thinking of these
things, the gaunt, lean figure of the
old learned Caliph who sat on his red
camel outside the gates of Jerusalem,
demanding the keys of the doomed
city. I see him dine, as he sits
there, on two dried figs and drink
of water from the leathern bottle at
his belt. I see him die at last, after
all the wealth of the East has passed
untouched through his hands, with
face lifted radiant in hope to the
gates of heaven. That his followers
were ignorant, bad at heart, is true.
They could not even plead redeeming
industry.
Pardon this depression. One is
tempted into noting parallels Of re-
lious fanaticism, folly and madness
by the singular similarity of the ply
sical characteristics of the two lands
Syria, and this Mormon region now
known as Utah.
It was a tired, dusty, disheartened
little party that touched the salt
white shore of the dead sea in the
heart Of the great desert and wilder
ness of this continent more than
thirty years ago.
The silent and melancholy man in
the long black barrow was quite well
enough otter the nights rest which
followed my fathers visit, to creep on
after his coffin the next morning; and
he kept up, lowering on our border,
keeping only a little way in the rear,
camping only little way off, living
his singular life all by himself, as be-
fore, till we reached the shores of the
inland sea.
1t is to be confessed that there was
not one of our little train that did
not hope, expect, almost pray, that
here this man would leave us-this
nightmare, shadow, and cloud; this
bird of evil omen, rise at last and fly
away. Not so.
The coffin took up position not
five hundred yards away on the bank
of the brawling little stream which
swept into the great black lake with
its cleaning border of crystal white
salt. The grass was long and strong
here. Some willows cast cooling
shade. Here the tall and hideous
giant with the hollow eyes sat and
read all day alone. But where was
he at night We children did not
fish in that stream once during the
whole week Of rest here, while pur-
chasing fresh supplies from Salt Lake
City, only few miles away to the
south. We stepped high and hur-
ried in the tall grass if by chance any
Of the cattle went too close TO that
shape, and we had to go
there TO drive them back and nearer
camp
Ny father bad been very anxious
all the journey to hear from the Lanes
He often asked men who had slow
teams ike our oVn if they had seen
this party pass. They bad been
seen often At the settlement Of
Salt Lake he asked for them in vain
One day be vsntured 10 approach
the uAtchful and silent giant Who
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