Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-22


| obstacles they have overcome, the prop
erty they have accumulated. the sue
cess they have achieved. both at HON,
and abroad, nnd their general effect
upon society and the upbuiidinE Of thu
State. are some of the topics 10 bl
treated upon In this department.
Utah's literature must also he con
sidered. This VIII include the publica
tion of daily. semi weekly, weekly an,
semi monthly newspapers, also maya
zines, books, pamphlets. works In poe
try and In prose, the establishment o.
publishing houses. the founding OF lit
erary societies, contributions from
Utah's writer's to the literature nj
other parts OF the world, and the pro.
ductions Of literary genius and talent
from various parts of the State, which
through the modesty Of the authors, oi
for other reasons, have not been givcr
to the public.
The fine arts must come In for thei,
share OF attention. Among Utnh's sons
and daughters are artists of no NEAR
abilities and gttninmcnts. Painters
scuIptors, musicians, drnmatists, net
ors, decorators. fashioners of dainty
fabrics and Embellishments. are numcr-
Gus among them, and some have at
tained national and worldwide cole
brity Specimens of our sculptors' art
occupy alrcndy not only places in ouI
State Capital, but in the inches OF
fame abroad. Music sits enthroned in
these mountain valleys. the sound
thereof has gone abroad in mellihuous
tones TO the ends of the earth. Tho
paintings of our hone artists have APP
peared on the walls OF the worlds great
galleries and of wealthy collectors who
are conossieurs in art. The fair sex
excel in ceramics. the finest needle
work and other artistic productions of
skillful hands. and in various ways
4. L.. -. =
In the field of invention, the Patent
Office Mt the seat of government will
furnish evidence that Utah is not be-
hind In the march of the human
family.
The SocIal customs, manners and
morals of Utah will also engage the
attention of this society. Our COM
munity is made up of people who have
come from all the civilized nations and
from some of the semi-barbarous
tribes. while 1t has been surrounded by
savages the natives of the soil. The
languages spoken by the residents of
this State number at least twenty-five
The amalgnmation of these varied ele-
ments of humanity into one harmonic
Gus social organism, is something
worthy the attention of the student
and the labor of the historian.
The political department of Utah's
history Is also of vast Importance
From the time that the Pioneers es-
tablished local provisional GOVERN
ment, which afterwards took the shape
of the State OF Deseret, seeking ad-
mission into the Great American I'm
ion, up through the conditions of terri
torial vassnlage. the numerous efforts
towards enlarged liberty. the repeated
struggles and failures to effect this
grand end, until at length the glorious
boon of sovereign Statehood was OBJ
tained, and Utah gained her rights and
privileges and was crowned with the
glory of n free commonwealth, making
the foit--hfth star in the National
galaxy, points for the historian will he
bristling with interest and ready to be
recorded in the annals of our society.
The establishment of woman suffrage
by the Territorial Assembly in 1870,
its repeal by Congress. the incorpora-
tion of a provision in the State Con-
stitution for equal political rights and
privileges to both sexes. and Its statu-
tory enactment by the first State Legis-
lature of Utah, after animated debates.
are among those points that must not
be neglected. The conflicts of parties,
the works of our municipalities, our
county boards, our Territorial and
State Legislatures, the doings Of our
federal and local officials. the relations
OF our people to the government OF the
United States, the loyalty maintained
through all the complications. difficult
ties and MISUNDERSTANDING of the past.
and the great and benefcient change
that has taken place In the feelings of
our fellow-citizens towards us through
out the Union, viii all contribute to
make this portion of our history mo-
mentous and of immense worth.
Among the means of information
available on all these topics are the
files of Utah newspapers, magazines
and other periodicals, the local IL
braries. the State, county and munich
pal records. the Journals and diaries
kept by persons familiar with current
events. for their own benefit or pro
bono publico. The Genealogical Socie-
ty of Utah, Of which have the honor
to be president, has q library contain
ing valuable historic records, pedigrees
and kindred works. The collections in
museums, and the recollections OF old
inhabitants stlll sound in mind and
active in intellect. the libraries and
museums in other states having sim
liar purpose to that of ours Will also
no doubt furnish many things which
will aid in the work that lies before us
1t is obvious that this work cannot
he accomplished without expense.
Money will be needed for the prosecu-
ton of the labors of this society. and
that which VIII accrue from the Until
alton fees and dues of its members will
not be adequate to the growing de-
mand. / suggest therefore, that menRs
be adopted to obtain from our State
Legislature an appropriation to aid In
effecting the purpose we have In view
also to secure fe-memberships. .en-
dowments and other voluntary contri-
buttons. that the society may not he
crippled or retarded for lack OF neces-
sary funds.
regard the organization OF this
society as the foundation for super
structure which viii be continuously
added upon, MS the years pass by. until
an edifioe will appear which will COM
mand the admiration of successive
generations. which will be Invaluable
to our mountain State. which win rank
among the foremost institutions of the
kind in our beloved country. and which
Will aid materially in the education of
our peoplc and advance the welfare OF
mankind,
THE TRUE MISSION OF HISTORY.
Dr. Ellen u. Ferguson was the next
speaker. The lady's theme was the
true Mission of History. She said:
"Of all the departments of literature,
history is not only the most ancient
but the most important. To the stu
dent of today II is ut once the record
of human experience and the basis OF
human aspiration. Without 1t the lives
of nations are but as passing shadows.
and the achievements of mankind hut
the phastasma gora of dream.
Herodotus, who lived u. C. zoo has been
called the father OF history. and Is re-
puted to have said that History IL
teaching by example" He