davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

church should rule the state. That
is why the Mormon church interferes
in politics. OF course, the leaders
deny this, but their teachings prove
the contrary. In short, they claim
that the church is vested with both
temporal and spiritual power, with
the church-head as the supreme
ruler. It is we'll to understand this
subtle teaching, for behind it lie the
frequent "agitations" and political
troubles of which fasteners do not
get very clear idea. This is why
Utah made so many efforts to get
statehood, and why a polyga.nist is
wanted in congress. Perhaps Utah
furnishes solitary instance where
statehood was promised in considera-
ton that the people would cease vio-
lating a moral law.
About three-fourths of the popula-
ton of the state are Mormons, and
while many of the Mormons do not live
in polygamy, and have not, they believe
in it, nevertheless. If they did not they
would not be Mormons, for that is the
main tenet of their creed. Since the
recent agitation began those who were
lukewarm in the faith have rallied to
the support of the church. 1t has solid
lied the church, and those who think
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
ARE FULL OF FIGHT.
Mormons' Will Engage in a Titanic
Struggle for Existence.
Teneta Of Their Faith Not Fully I'M
derstOOd by Eastern People
-P0lygamy the Keystone
of the Church.
Especial Salt Lake City letter.

Especial Salt Lake City letter.
To eastern people it no doubt
seems very strange that the Nor
mon church has such a strong hold
upon its members, especially the wom-
en-. Therein lies it's greatest pow
er. There are fewer female than male
apostates, and not many of either. The
secret of the power of the church over
women is found in the "Book of Nor
mon," which teaches that woman's
chances for eternal glory depend upon
the number of wives her husband has.
IT her husband has only two or three
wives he does not stand so we'll as he
who has seven or eight. In taking these
wives the husband is, according to these
baneful teachings, obeying the Divine
command, and, through him, his wives
receive salvation. An unmarried per-
son, especially a woman, is held to be
of little consequence in this world,
and the creed teaches, by implication,
that an unmarried woman cannot en-
ter into the kingdom of heaven. That
people should believe such odious doc
trine in this age of civilization is indeed
strange. And those who. do believe it
are as fanatical as were the persecut-
ing fanatics of the dark ages who muir
dered those who differed from them.
In addition, the wives of numerously
married man become queens and rulers
in the next world, while those of man
not so numerously married become
only servants. Of course all women
want to be queens and rulers. 1t is
necessary to make this plain in order
that gentle" readers may understand
why women can sink all feelings of
jealousy, love and humanity and con-
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
THE INvlNClBLES.

With uniform gay and a laugh that Is
There comes every morning brave little
To wake the alarm clock which lags by the
And tell the whole house Of the breaking
of day.
The tune that he plays il the fav'rite
'mongst boys.
A small share Of rhythm and plenty Of
noise:
Hc startles the dog and surprises the cat
As he plays on his drum Major Ratatatat.
And following close with faithful refrain
Is the brother, who whistles with might
and with main
On his fife made Of tin. And the tumult
On our ears is enough to shake Jericho's
walls
He has never a fear as he hastes to the
fray,
Where mid pillowed intrenchments his
sire waits the day,
And vainly beseeches and begs him be
mute
Entreaties can't move Captain Rootytoo-
foot.
They ask no assistance. these officers fine,
But play their own music when they are in
line.
They are veterans bold. 1t is useless to
scold.
The enemy's weakness they've tested of
old.
In case Of repulse fortune can't 20 amiss,
For amnesty straight is obtained by kiss.
So you may as we'll yield when you hear
the salute
OF Ratatatat and of Rootytootoot.
washington Star.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

praying to the great morning luminary
to bestow all his best gifts upon them.
''But," you ask, "where are such be-
nighted heather as this to be found in
the United States?'
In Arizona and New Mexico. The
pueblo or town Indians of Isleta, La
guna, Zuni, Acoma, etc., are all wor-
shippers of the sun, and daily their
alteration is offered, as we'll as in spe-
cial ceremonies of great pomp and i'm
portance which occur less regularly.
If one leaves the transcontinental
line of the Santa Fe railway on the
journey to California, at the little town
of Laguna in New Mexico, and drives,
or rides horseback, II or Is miles south,
he will reach the wonderful "City of the
Cliffs" Acoma. Here, in the first day
of September of each year, the "feast of
St. Stephen" the patron saint of the
people, is observed. The feast is a
strange and interesting mixture of
Roman Catholic religious ceremonial
and pure and unauthorized sun wor-
ship. I have seen the dance and it's at
tendant ceremonies several times, and
each time the "joinings" of the two
kinds of worship become more appar-
ent. The old priests, when Acoma was
subjugated to Spanish rule $50 years
ago, were wise. Instead of totally pro-
hibiting the religious ceremonials of
the people, they gave new and Chris
tian interpretations to them, hence, to-
day, we see an orthodox Catholic priest
engaging in the rites of holy mass, and
then marching in a procession to the
plaza where the whole afternoon is
spent in dance performed in honor of
the sun.
During these professions the visiting
Mexicans often unite with the Indians,
though, regarding themselves as su-
perior to the natives, they head the pro-
cession, and slightly to one side, and thus
preserve their dignity unimpaired. One
of their number, on one occasion, was
induced to add charm to the perform
ance by rendition of certain airs on his
accordion. During solemn song,
when the Indians were praying for the
continued blessings of Those Above,
the accompanies compelled his accor-
dion loudly and insistently to give forth
the strains of Marching Through Geor-
gia." :Soon~he changed it to LA Palo-
ma" and then, when the most solemn
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
OLD MORMON PR1NT-BRING1NG HOME NEW WIFE

sent that another woman, or women,
should share her husbands affections.
They are more jealous than the
men. They not only consent to the
husband taking an additional wife,
but urge him to do so. There are
exceptions, but they are few. The
power the husband holds over his
wives is equally strong. According
to the false teachings of the Nor
mon church, wife cannot enter the
kingdom of heaven except through
her husbands mediation. In the
marriage ceremony a veil is placed
over her face, and also upon her
death. And on the morning of the
resurrection he raises that veil, 9th ar
wise she cannot be raised from the
grave. This not only compels obe-
dience, but inspires fear, and, if her
husband so wills it, she is doomed to
eternal death and damnation. Such
teachings as the foregoing would be
amusing, were they not so sacrile-
gious. Can it be any wonder that
people so stif1ed with ignorance as to
believe such teachings are so defiant
and fanatical? People here who I'M
derstand the Mormon people also I'M
derstand that the trouble with these
undemocratic and un-American inst;-
tutions has just commenced. In the
first place, the Mormon church
teaches that the ''saints" are the
"chosen people of the Lord" that the
church is destined to rule over the
United States, and, eventually, over
the entire world; that this is the
"true" church, and that, in order to
carry cut it's destined work, the
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

done before. Just before our civil war,
when they numbered only $4,000 in
Utah, they assassinated United States
officials, drove others from the coun-
try, defed the courts and with an army
of 5000 met the United States army,
which had been sent out to quell the
celebrated "'Mormon rebellion" The
same defiant spirit prevails now. They
do not believe that any human govern
ment has right to interfere with them
that theirs is a "divine governmen MT"
It is with this view that the Mormons
emigrated to the then far west, where
they could establish government, and,
though their scheme for an 'independ-
ent" government failed, they furnish
the only instance in this country where
in a state grew out of the colonization
of religious sect.
The Mormons have no politics, as a
principle-their first duty is to the
church, and they vote for the "church
candidate" irrespective of politics. In
this union lies their strength. This
unit system always has prevailed, and
no doubt will so continue. 1t was
thought by many that Mormonism
would soon Idle out under the influ-
ences of civilization.' But it is not
affected by surrounding civilization.
On the contrary, Mormonism grows
in spite of it. They claim that no
''commission, no law or earthly pow
er, can destroy plural marriages." 1t
has been tried and failed. In spite of
the anti-polygamy laws of congress,
polygamy still exists. It was thought
that statehood was the remedy, but
that has also failed. An amendment
to the constitution is proposed. But
in order to disfranchise a polygamist
the crime must be first proven. I'm.
der the Edmunds law many poylga-
mists swore that they were not ]iv.
ing in polygamy, and, consequently,
voted. It will be as difficult now TO
prove a secret plural marriage as it
was then. Furthermore, there is a
sufficient number of Mormons not iiv-
ing in polygamy to control all cleo
tions. In an issue between Mormon
ard gentle they are a unit, and this,
with their communistic principles,
gives them power possessed by no
other sect of equal numbers. Very
few ''gentile" women vote, but the
Mormon women never miss a chance.
and it is invariably vote for the
church theocracy. Strangely, where q
woman's vote is most needed, the gen.
tile women, now that they have got
suffrage, seldom exercise it.
What shall be done with the Nor
mon hierarchy in Utah, and how can
polygamy be suppressed, are questions
that will agitate the country for some
time, and will be live issues in con-
gress more than ever. The Mormon
trouble has just. begun.
M 2TANT
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

Now watch the dance. The :ncn
come two by :wo, followed at yard
or so distance by two women, side by
side, men rafting, women gently
shaking their pine twigs. The men
move their lower limbs in a wild,
quick, hippety hop fashion that is as
impossible to describe a. it is to imi.
tate, for verify believe a French
dancing master would strive in vair
to learn that 'step." The women, Oh
the other hand, follow the men in 4
kind of slow, gentle, shutting move.
ment, merely advancing a few inches
at each "shuffle toward" and scarce.
ly lifting their feet from the ground,
but keeping perfect time to the ges.
ticulating antics and frog-like jump.
ings of the men. ~:
By the side of the dancers is band
of men who form the chorus. These
are singing with lusty vigor never
excelled by the congregation at q
negro camp meeting. Their leader
gesticulates with hands and arms,
waving them to and fro, tossing them
upwards and thus invoking the favors
of the sun god and Those Above upon
the dance. Some of their music is
wild and crude, but one song WAS
sung with precision and accuracy OF
tone and attack that would have com.
PEELED admiration from the most crit
ical of eastern audiences.
Now the dancers face each other,
and march and countermarch, then
they march in open order, some 60
ing north and others south. Several
complex figures are danced with per.
feet time and order, until the dancers
are very weary and return to their I'm.
derground "kiva" for a rest. Then
the dancers from the other kiva come
forth and keep up the ceremonies w.
til they are ready to retire. And thus
the afternoon is occupied.
Here and there on the housetops
groups of interested spectators may
be seen, clothed in their picturesque
garments, highly colored, white and
variegated, and almost as interesting
because of their pronounced absorb.
ton in the ceremony as the dancers
themselves.
Do you see that energetic dancer
there? He seems to be the most sin.
cere and earnest worshiper of the lot.
And yet few years ago that young
man was taken into one of the kivas in
the dead of the night, bound hand and
foot and gagged, and whipped with
cruel rawhide scourge until his LAGER.
ated back flowed blood, because he had
ridiculed and scoffed at this religious
service of his people. He had been to
one of the United States governments
Indian schools, where he was tau9At
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

part of the ceremony was reached, he
thrilled the religious feelings of his
auditors by bringing forth with in
tense fervor and power that soul-stir-
ring melody, "After the Ball Is Over. -
But, happily unconscious of any incon-
gruity, the earnest Indians sang on,
and felt grateful to their Mexican
friend for his helpful accompaniment.
In one of the main streets was bow
er made of cottonwood benches, in
which the wooden figure of St. Stephen,
the patron saint, was placed, and here,
during the day, all the devout wom-
en- came to pray, offer up Thanksgiving,
and, at the same time, deposit at the
shrine corn, bread, melons, beans, and
other products of their gardens as
thank offering. Then began the dances.
Two families or clans took charge of
this portion of the ceremonies. The
women were clothed in all the finest
garments they were able to obtain.
Robes, elegantly woven and highly col
ored sashes, buckskin leggins, mecca
sins, necklaces and the like, and upon
the head each woman wore headdress
of wood or leather, foot or more high,
and painted or carved, or both, to repre-
sent symbols connected with the wor-
ship of the sun. The lightning, rain
clouds, the sun, the moon, the morning
and evening stars, the planets, the
milky way even, were all represented
upon these headdresses. The mems
chief article of clothing was the kilt,
made of white cotton of home weaving
and embroidered, in colors. Anklets,
moccasins, necklaces and banda
around the head to bind the hair, with
armlets and rattles, completed their
outfit, while the women held twigs Of
pine or juniper in their hands, which
they moved back and forth in time with
the rafting of tho men.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

that Mormonism II dead, 81 even dy-
ing, are greatly mistaken. II Is be-
lieved, and on good grounds, that pc
lygamy is as much practiced now as
ever. There is no way to prove the
marriages, which are celebrated in Sc
cret in the temple, but common report
and circumstantial evidence support
this supposition. 1t should also be
recollected that the Mormon church
officials never promised the govern
ment to permanently renounce spolyg.
amy. Had they done so they would
have renowned their church. Further
more, the officials claim that they have
not the power to do so, as it is 'sDivine
command" Consequently they only
suspended" it's practice. AS no defin-
tie time was stated, the manifesto"
suspending it can be repealed whenever
the prophet" has "vision" to that
effect. OF course, the gentle world
will not know of this; such orders are
issued secretly.
During the past year about 10000
converts were added to the Mormon
church-a greater increase than during
any previous year. The total number
in the United States, according to off,
cial church reckoning, is 100000.
In addition to controlling Utah, the
Mormons now hold the balance of po-
litical power in Idaho and Arizona. In
an interview leading church official
stated to me that the church was push
ing it's 'colonies" into every state and
territory and that fewer immigrants
are being brought to Utah than hereto
fore.
The reason, he stated, is that Utah
is 'pretty we'll filled up and other fields
must be prepared" In other words.
the Mormons have political control of
Utah and are colonizing other states
and territories with the view of con-
trolling them.
Considering these facts, it is not like
~ that the Mormons will give up the
political fight, no matter what con-
gressional legislation may be had. Be-
lieving that their "divine mission is
to rule spiritually and temporarily, they
may continue even to the point of re-
sisting the government, as they have
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
OPPOSED BY NAVY.
Suggestion to Create Two Grades Of
Vice Admiral Meets with Gen.
eral and Strong Objections.

There is general opposition through
out the navy to the creation of two
grades of vice admiral. This opinion
was expressed to the president at the
conference held with the Santiago cap
tains in regard to the suitable reward
which should go to the officers of the
North Atlantic feet. It is hardly like
ly the president will recommend con-
gress to provide for two such grades,
which is out of all proportion to the
requirements Of the service, and would
furnish three high grades beyond any
in the military service.
In the conference there was little Of
fered OF personal character, and the
discussion was on the broad lines of
the needs of the service rather than on
whether Sampson or Schley was en-
titled to the glory of the Santiago VIC
tory. The creation of the grade of vice
admiral will be used as an argument for
the revival of the grade of lieutenant
general in the army, and it is said that
one of the first actions of Gen. Miles
friends in the senate will be the intro
duction of measure which will have
the effect of creating the new grade for
him.
It is by no means certain, however,
that Miles will secure the place. There
is abundant opposition to him still in
the war department, and the withdraw
al of Alger does not appear to have al.
tered the conditions which prevailed
under the latter's administration.
Miles recommendations are unheeded
and his communications are practically
ignored.
It took three weeks of time and the
personal Offices of prominent army
officer to secure Secretary Roots atten-
ton to letter which Miles had written
to the war department concerning the
detail of a line major to his regiment in
the Philippines.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
ARIZONA sun DANCE.
Heather Ceremonials Observed bv
the Acoma Indians.
Although Ostensibly Christians the
PeOpl OF Various Far Western
Pueblos still Worship the
Orb Of Day.
Especial Acoma (Ari.) Letter.l

Especial Acoma (Ari) letter.
Travellers return from India and
tell US of the sun worship of the
Parsees; of the prayers offered to
the rising sun by devout citizens of
Bombay. They would lift up their
hands in amazement and horror were
they told that there are thousands of
sun worshipers in the United States of
America at the present time. And yet
such is the case. Every morning in the
year men and women may be seen
among our sun-worshipers, sprinkling
their sacred meal to the rising sun and
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

his town to love him and wait for him
until he could win fame and fortune
enough to wed her.
There was no denying that he was
superbly handsome in his captains
uniform, TO purchase which and his
outfit he had parted with his last re-
naming acre, and Marcella was des-
perately in earnest when she promised
to wait for him until the very last.
They had stopped dancing now and
stood in the shadow at the end of the
piazza, the scent of honeysuckle and
monthly roses all about them, the
moist air of the summer night ,robbing
her hair of curl and the frills of her
dancing dress of all their crisp fresh
ness. Some of the girls who passed
them half unconsciously envied Mar
celia. The devotion of the handsome
captain, spendthrift and ne'er-do-well
though he always had been and doubt
less always would be. And many
would-be suitors for the bright young
woman's favor wondered secretly
whether Marcella intended to waste her
sweetness and her small fortune on
such a worthless object as everybody
knew poor Hamilton to be.
"We are wasting this lovely waltz"
said Marcella after they had conju-
gated the verb to love through all it's
varying modes and lenses. LET us
have one more. 1t will be our last, I'm
afraid, for many, many days."
Marcella and her chaperon were the
last to leave and Hamilton had whis-
pered as he tucked her into her little
pony carriage beside her fat old aunt:
"I'll see your grandfather little later
to-day" for then the first pink streaks
of morning were beginning to show
above the black line of swamp that
bounded the .horizon on either hand.
1t was already dawn ere the pony car
riage reached home and Marcella could
eeher grandfather seated in his favorite
chair on the gallery facing the rising
sun, slipping his early coffee and ready
to review the hands as they passed in
along struggling line before him.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
( The News In the Extra :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THEY were dancing, she with reck-
less abandon of enjoyment as of
one fully determined to drain to the
very dregs the cup of pleasure that fate
held to her lips with rather a grudging
hand.
She loved dancing for the pure pleas
ure of it, with its accompaniment of
lights, flowers, signing, sobbing rhyt thin
of music and the throb of hurrying feet
over glistening floors. She loved it al
ways, but best when his arm encircled
her, when his quickened heart beat
against her shoulder and his breath
sent the lovelocks about her temples
futtering.
The brown eyes were looking down
into the gray ones tenderly, appeal
ingly. "Are you not just little sorry
that I am going?" their owner asked.
''Tell me that you are just the least bit
sorry to have me go and can do any,
thing, face any difficulty and surmount
it to bring you back success. That I
am going to bring you loyal heart
I won't promise, Marcella, for I am
ACoV1uE5 "uO1c ucdIC here Ill YOUR
keeping to treasure or cast away as
you see fit.''
Rather long speech to be made in
the whirl of a dance, but the young
fellow was desperately in earnest and
was making his last plea for what he
thought his life's happiness. Marcella
loved him he knew, but did she love
him enough to wait until he had
achieved fortune enough to justify him
in making her his wife? All Marshall
town would have smiled broadly at the
notion of Hamilton Stewart making a
fortune. That he could and ha1. made
tworatherlarge ones fly with great ease
and dispatch was we'll known, but if he
had ever made penny by honest labor
or otherwise the fact had never come
to the knowledge of even his most in
innate friends. Yet here he was, penni
less and deeply in debt, asking one of
the prettiest and most eligible girls of
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26

Lord Potsoftin-Do you know what
happened at your dance last night?
No? Well, I'll tell you. I'm going to
take away your sister. Does that sur
prise you?
Tommy-No fear! Why, mother said
it was to 4 on about your popping; Sis
said it was skies; dad laid to against
and I had bet on at evens!-Ally
SlOper.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
Barred Out.

Dashaway-Hello, old man, what
makes you look so sad?
Billboard (the tragedian)-A friend
of mine who lives in town in Connec-
necticut has asked me there to take
dinner with him, and I can't go.
Dashaway-Why not?
Billboard-I acted there last month.
Harlem Life.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-26
Not Heart.Runxry.

"Are you one of the heart-hungry
women of whom the poet talks ?" asked
the soulful young man.
NO." replied Mrs. Parvenu, with de-
cided shake of her head. II can't say
that I am. My preference is for live:
and bacon."-Chicago Post.