Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-05
The Chicago Mission.
10 the Editor:

To the Editor:
We have mt present six Elders, who
are engaged In the great task of
preaching the Gospel to the denzens
of this great metropolis. Those who
are acquainted with this community
know that the people here are indus
trious and enterprising. 1t seems
their whole LIES aim is to hustle"
to accumulate wealth, and ito eat,
drink and be merry for tomorrow we
die This Is evident from the mann
moth stores, the numerous factories of
various kinds, employing hands that
number into the thousands, and the
vast numbers of theaters and other
places OF amusement which vary In
morality. as Josephs coat In colors
1t would be unjust, judging from
the many magnificent churches that
grace and beautify the city in all
parts. to say that there were not some
whose ambition and aspirations did
not extend above the top of their
heads. The great city has, 1t is true.
the undesirable name of being i'm
moral and wicked. but considering its
population. the people who live here.
seem to think Chicago is as good as
any other city, and this we have no
reason to dispute.
The great majority of the people are
those known as the working class"
ana these have to earn their bread
by the sweat of their brow" In very
deed. Rents usually being too high
near their place of business, they have
TO secure houses in remote districts.
thereby being compelled to ride to
and from their work each day on the
street car. In order to get to their
work at and o'clock in the morn
ing II necessitates their arising early
enough to make the distance, which
varies from two to fifteen or twenty
miles; or thereabouts. Six o'clock is
usually the time they are released to
return home from work.
win these circumstances and con-
ultions In view, 1t is not difficult TO
imagine why people in Chicago are
not enthusiastic religionists, and one
reason why our task to interest many
OF them in Mormonism, is great
They have as they say their Town
church" to attend to. and don't care
TO bother reading anything about any
other. We, however, find some ex-
ceptions to this rule.
me men being away to their work
IN the anytime, the women are the
only ones at home and the treatment
we receive liz regulated according 10
the mood the house wife happens to be
In which we ring the bell. IL abe hoa
Just had bout with the cook and in
consequence thereof her feathers are
"W VIII up up h httie, one may look for
Morinonism No, get
out Of here!" accompanied with n bang
or the door. on the other hand n
she is moderately pleasant one NAV re-
ceive, Il would we were either hot OF
cold, smile and an Indifferent, mo.
thank You or possibly be invited in.
me Elders express themselves that
II they had to depend entirely upon
the hospitality of the people here for
their meals they would have occasion
TO fast. when perhaps, they really de-
sired not to.
Chicago is infested by a class OF In
dividuals known as tramps Though of
course we don't want II understood
that we class ourselves with thern)
and men who outwardly appear good
and respectable, hut are wolves
and rascals. These go about from house
to house representing themselves as
one thing and another, they are In
vited in by some good lady, and when
In, take advantage of the mans alb
sence, and after insulting the lady
plumber the premises. Those occur
rences have become so prevalent that
people have grown suspicious of every
stranger that comes TO their door. no
matter who they represent themselves
to be. AS n means of protection. there
fore, every front door is provided with
a big strong chain. which, when fast
ered to the door, will only admit of its
tthe door being opened few inches. 1t
is often the case that we have TO do con-
siderable talking through the little
Aperture before we manage to con-
vince people that our motives In call
Ing are good enough to induce them to
open the door. sometimes we fail. at
other times we are successful. Then
again the people are not neighborly
and friendly one to another as IL GUS
tomary in other cities. Even those re-
siding in the same building scarcely
know each other, though they may live
there for years. This then accounts
for our not being entertained with
dinner thrown in. very often by those
upon whom we call.
The people OF Chicago almost uni
yersnlly live in "tiat' buildings, and |
admission thereto is generally gained |
through a common entrance. Each |
family has n private hall and n speak |
ing tube which connects their depart |
ments with the lobby. The door is |
usually locked. but can be readily |
opencd from above by pressing an
electric button. II the family desire Ia |
admit the one ringing the bell; II not, |
they can very conveniently speak down |
the tube: There is nobody home" or |
1--WE don't care for any today, thank |
Won" and the one who rang the bell |
can of course, govern himself accord |
inpIv. We are learning to desplse the
very looks OF these miserable things |
more and more every day. as they