Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-05

Elder William p. Pratt, In a private
letter to friends, tells his experience in
the Southern States In the following
manner:
Shreveport, Ga, Feb. Is. 1898.
] and Elder Kerr are holding meet
ings on the street every night The
salvation Army comes out and gathers
crowd; when they get through we
step out upon the street and inform the
people to come this way IL they want
to hear the Latter-day Saints Elders
preach. The Salvation Army have a.
banjo and violin and are good singers
We are poor singers but ] believe we
have the biggest crowd. who generally
remain until we get through.
We have had many grand expert
cnces since coming here. Last Thurs
day was our fastday SO we went to
work without anything to eat. At
night We went by invitation of the pro-
prictor of the Pacific hotel to room
with him. He runs no restaurant SO
we sat up In the hotel office conversins
with n number of men until midnight.
While l was talking two more men
came and began changing the CONVEX
sation, when n travelling man from
Kansas city stopped them saying:
please let that young man talk until
he gets through, for | won't get an
other chance TO hear him" He gave
us his name and address in Kansas
city. saying ne Ied huCn men as us at
his house. We retired gaunt and hun
CRY but rested as well as possible un-
der the circumstances.
Next morning before we left our room
we asked the Lord to move upon some
man to give us breakfast. Then we
went down stairs and sat In the Office
q few minutes Then l got up and
went out and into the city hotel. While
there met man who asked II had
had breakfast answered. no. He
thrust his hand into his pocket and
gave me 30 cents, telling me that
could got good meals NJ certain place
for % cents. thanked him and re-
turned TO the office. I felt sorry for
Elder Kerr as I gazed upon his lean
countenance. and requested him to go
down the street with me. ! led the
way taking him into restaurant and
ordered breakfast. To sny he was
surprised docs not half express 1t. AZ
ter breakfast we went to work with
will canvasslng from house to house.
The next day We called upon the
editor OF the Progress "a weekly paper)
who had promised us his paper free or
charge. as have all the other editors.
His name IL Col Hicks. After n pleas
ant chat he inquired how we got along,
II we went without money We told
him the Lord provided for US Ike He
did the lilies of the field and the fowls
o, the air. He then went to his safe
and brought forth 80 cents apiece which
he gave us saying It was for Jesus
Christ We thanked him and left pay
Ing our board bill the following night.
Last night we had no place to stay.
We told the people so upon the street
when we We're preaching. after which
several men and boys came up and put
eor,,, change into my hand, being in
ell H.O5. Elder Kerr being otherwise
engaged did not get any Of the money
md didn't know that had got enough
to pay our hill for another night.
surprised him again by Inviting him
to come md stay with me at the Glen
hotel. ire quietly submitted. We
spent another night In sweet repose.
We went out canvassing to day
visited about nfty-fivc families. Thus
far we have canvassed this city with
out purse or scrip, one OF the greatest
accomplishments of the Southern
States mission When we first came in
town. we met friend In front of the
Methodist church. He invited us to
come TO his shop and see him. We did