The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-06-04
LITERARY NOTES.
HISTORY OF UTAH.

There is no section of the great west
that has been more fruitful in historical
incidents of peculiar and interesting
character than the territory OF Utah. Its
early settlement was really the opening
of this whole region to civilization, and
the people who pioneered the way are
worthy OF more credit than is generally
accorded them in consequence of the
prejudices which their peculiar religious
views and customs aroused. Exagger-
ated and distorted presentations of their
belief and conduct have placed them in
an unfayorable light, and it is pleasant to
contemplate the prospect of better
understanding in the world both of
Utah and her people.
The History OF Utah, written by o. F.
Whitney, and published by Cannon &
Sons of this city may be relied upon to
accomplish this Object. The first volume
received universal praise, both for the
reliable data it contained and the manner
in which the facts were presented. The
handsomely printed and bound book
which was furnished to the subscribers
was a surprise and a delight. The second
volume is just out and is even better than
the first.
1t is full of interest. From beginning
to end the story of early times in this re-
=
and the thrilling adventures and striking
occurrences related have all the charm of
romance, while the assurance that they
are not fiction, but veritable history, adds
to their attraction and stamps them with
no ordinary value.
The period embraced in the new volume
is from 1861, when Nevada was Topped off
from Utah, to 1877, when Utah IS founder,
Brigham Young, passed away from this
life. 1t would be impossible to give here
even an epitome OF the prominent occur
rences treated upon. All the remarkable
events of that period are related with as
full attention to detail as is desirable.
The advent of the trans continental
railroad affords opportunity to give a sue
cinct account of that project from the be-
| ginning, the accuracy of which is vouched
for by prominent railroad officials. The
noted Morrissite war, the opening of the
assault on polygamy, the Indian cam
paigns, the woman suffrage legislation,
| the organization and work of the Liberal
party, the Mexican judicial regime, the
Mountain Meadows trials-which intro
duce complete and correct account of
the noted massacre-the mercantile or
ganizations, the political disturbances,
the sensational arrests of prominent men,
the last important acts of President
Young, are few OF the themes dwelt up
on in this volume.
Absolute accuracy has been the aim Of
the author, both as to dates and to incl
dents, and he has endeavored to relate
without bias all that occurred of public
interest during those exciting times,
when opposing parties contended with
| fierce vlgor and Utah was in continual
turmoil. The style of the work is SUI
perb and while it is sufficiently ornate,
rhetoric is not attempted in place of the
plain narration of facts.
The portraits and other steel engrav-
ings are in the first style of art. The
likenesses are true to nature and the me-
chanical work of the volume i3 unexcep-
tionabie. 1t is a magnificent work of $50
pages, beautifully bound and being a
home production should be a source OF
pride to every resident of Salt Lake. Two
more volumes will complete the work
and if they are approximately equal to
those that have been published, the His
tory of Utah will be one of the finest pro-
auctions of the kind ever issued in the
United States.
woRTHINGTON's ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE
With the June number Wo1hington',
Illustrated Magazine completes it's first
volume under the most favorable auspices
Its table OF contents printed with this
number, shows remarkable variety OF
timely topics, most of which will be Of
more than temporary value, and the
pameS OF contributors are such as would
do credit to any magazine ten times its age
1t has been enlarged by sixteen pages.
and shows steady advancement in every
thing that helps to make up an exception.
ally bright, attractive, very entertaining
and instructive magazine. Indeed, in
genuine interest no other magazine excel:
this ever welcome visitor to our table.