Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1889-06-20
A VERY QUEER BIRD.
The Man who Married Joseph
Smiths Wife-A Peep at De-
serted Nauvoo.
Special Correspondence to the Ledger.

IN population and influence until
hardly suggestion of its former
glory remains? Such a town is
Nauvoo. perched high on the Him
DIS bank ofthe Upper Mississippi.
The story of this city's magic
growth and its subsequent downfall
is history with which every one is
in "a measure acquainted. About
fifty years ago this early home of
Mormonism fiourished. Broad
streets were extended in all direc-
tons, splendid houses were pro-
]ected and temple that was the
glory of all this section was in
course of erection. Joseph Smith,
with his mysterious plates and slabs
of marble, had clung to his people
and their cause after having been
ousted by the Gentiles of Missouri,
and under his leadership the foun-
dation of what was thought to be a
permanent colony was laid on the
bluffy Mississippi banks. Ere the
grand marble temple, which, Mark
Twain says, achieved some celeb
rity in section where a brick court
house with a tin dome and cupola
on 1t was contemplated with rever-
ential ave." was completed, the
leader Smith was slain. With this
invasion commenced the downfall
of the prosperous city. Smiths
successor was a false prophet and
the great Brigham Young soon over
threw him. Dissension caused
trouble in the church, but under
Brigham's strong hand everything
was soon righted. The great lead.
er fgesaw that the colony could
never flourish among the Gentiles,
and heading the band in midwinter,
the Mormon chief passed out of the
Capital City and crossing the ice-
covered face of the mighty Father
of Waters, pushed his way into the
Western wilderness. The river
was crossed by the mellow glow OF
the burning temple, for the Nor
mons swore that no heather hands
should ever desecrate their holiest
Of holy places.
Nauvoo has never been favored
with a railroad. 1t is situated al
the head of the rapids, and the
river being two miles wide at this
point, the town may be seen fol
many miles before the boat lands
at the old stone warehouse. The
first thing seen is tall church
spire, which, the captain explains
to the passengers, belongs to Ger.
man Catholic church that rests on
the site of the razed temple. When
the great Mormon edifice was sack
ed of everything that flames could
devour, the walls of stone stood as
strong as ever. These were taken
down by the Gentiles and scattered
into new buildings throughout the
town. The German church men
toned is largely built of stone from
the temple. Many houses thai
were built by the MoImons are still
standing, but most of them are
deserted. These are the only in
dications of the city's former glo
ries. The streets are obliteratet
and forest trees of some size stanC
where once stood the home of the
Mormon. The houses that remain
have many outside doors, which
give them singular appearance
An old resident told me that each
outside door represented a Mormon
wife, and that the women had little
to do with each other, passing te
their respective rooms from an out
side door, and treating their queer
relations pretty much the same as i
each knew nothing OF the others
existence.
Joseph Smiths successor il
domestic life still lives at Nauvoo
He is eighty-fve years of age, large
fleshy and full of good nature
The old man seems rather prout
that he was the second husband 0
the Mormon leaders wife, and h
glories to tell of the earlier days o
Mormonism. He is always ready
to crack joke at the expense Of
his many visitors, and week aftel
week he perpetrates the same ole
funny gags and sells that thu
Mormon elders laughed al, probably
fifty years ago. The old man.
favorite joke is this
"Did you ever see red bricl
bat 2" he asks the visitor. Th'
stranger generally sympathizes
with the old fellow ,and rather thar
spoil his delusion that he is reall,
funny, asks:
"a red brick bat What kind o
bird is that?''
"I'll show you," the old mai
chuckles, running off into the yard
He returns shortly and hands th'
visitor a small brick bat. o
course it is time to laugh, then, ,ant
tor perhaps the FIVE hundredth tim'
the old successor of Joseph smitl
becomes convulsed over the ret
brick bat joke. The visitor laughs
too, out of common courtesy
The Mississippi resembles a lax
at Nauvoo, and SO attractive is thi
portion of the great stream that al
of the passengers of the big packe