The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-07
A TRANSFORMATION.
The Wilderness of Old and the
State of Today.

State of Today.
Nearly half hundred years have
passed into the shadows of the eternity.
which follows the light that shines on
the life of man. since to the wales of
Utah, there came a band of sturdy
men and loving women, seeking in the
wilderness a place of refuge; where free
from strife. from bigotry's blind hate,
to conscience true, their God, in peace
they might worship and adore.
Within these valleys then no flowers
grew; no blushing rose it's fragrance
spread upon une air; tine zephyls from
tine southland Kissed no trembling leaf;
no purpIe violet nodded i'll the gentle
breeze. The tiny stream from Wa
satch'S snowy peaks us waters lost in
hot and burning SANDS; all, all was
parched beneath the summer sun.
Through torrld heat and winters
cold, they toiled, Oft weary, hungry,
sick and faint of heart. But, e'er sus-
tanned by prayer to him VINO rules the
world, they worried IRON year 10 year
Kind nature, wooed by gentle touch,
by soft caress, at last for them a smile
put on. and where ulne wild and dwarf
ed foliage, its Stunted head bowed, as
If ashamed of Its lnSlgnfficance, grew
blossoms sweet, and trees beneath
whose shade tine toiier rested from his
laDOrS.
The years rolled by apace and others
came to JON in the sweet work of
building up q home, here in the val
leys, which in summer clothed in YER
dure. underneath the snow capped
mountain peaks a picture make, of
emerald in alabaster setting.
From cabin rude, of logs from can
yons dark spranS hamlets, which in
turn to cities grew. where commerce
reigns q. king; where busy men, their
arts and trades ply undisturbed. And
though all this change, from desert
wild TO smiling lana; Through all the
busy whtrl of shifting scene and
worldly matters deep; those pioneers
have ne'er forgot the one, whose nigh
ty hand guided their early footsteps
From north to south, and south TO
north again, fair temples stand. and
songs of praise and thankful prayer
cen now ON wings of love arise from
every quarter of the land.
Yesterday the fair realm of Utah
passed from the control of the general
government into the sisterhood of
states. Mid the ringing of bells. the
firing of cannon, blowing of whistles;
to the strains of the music of the I'M
ion. After years of struggle; of joys
and SORROWS; hopes and fears; tears
and smiles; triumphs and fluctuations
this fair commonwealth; this beauteous
maiden, joins her companions.
Not a modest child, of unripe years
is she, ain no. But a woman, trans
cendant, lovely beyond compare. The
rose is in her cheeks and the wind in
her hair; the light of love in her bonny
brown eyes; the smile of joy on her
dimpied face. The years which have
rolled into the past have ofttimes
caused a look OF pain to mar the love
illness of her radiant features, but
hopes bright look and kindly touch
have ever soothed the doubling heart.
and though sombre clouds have lowered
and tempests threatened, the sunshine
of peace now crowns her with a golden
diadem.
Not as a suppliant for favors does
this proud beauty enter the union: she
joins the group with a dowry richer
than any queen. Sheba's wealth pa.leS
before the treasures she lays at the
feet of Columbia, bidding her partake
of the rich bounty. Silver and gold in
abundance she pours on the altar of the
nation; flocks and herds she offers her
companions; the choicest fruits of the
vine are hers to give; the corn and
wine roll in rivers of purple and yell
low.
To the homeless she says Come to
me. Out under the opalescent skies,
where the light gildS the snow white
peaks and the rays dance on the green
waters, which blush rosy crimson at
the good night kiss of the orb of day;
where the ripping brooks sing laugh
ing songs to the purple hills and day
is ushered in with hymns of praise by
natures choirs, the birds, are valleys
green; where the trees entwine their
branches and whisper words of love
to one another; where in the years to