Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-04

There was a tIme--twenty-ilve years
ago-when Dixie was talked about and
written about a great deal, In those
days 1t often came to pass that the
great men Of the Church spent their
winters there, Brigham Young loved
the sunny sandy land Of Dixie. And
so did that other great heart and big
braln-Erastus Snow.
What wonderful times those We're
The long caravan would start out from
Salt Lake city, President Young in his
Concord buggy in the lead with Orson
Arnold as driver. behind came Presi-
dent Geo, A. Smith. and after, trailed
buggy after buggy, women and chill
dren always yut in the most comfort
able places, while the whole party were
In their holiday mood and on their best
behavior.
The meetings along the route crowd
ed 20 sulfocati0n; the Sunday school
children lining the village streets with
bloom Of youth and beauty of banners
and flowers; the prancing horsemen
coming out to meet the party and escort
them into the town the brass band
blowing It's hardest and loudest while
the people stood with loving eyes,
watching the approach OF lions lead
ers. All this was In the long ago.
The towns between Salt Lake and
Dixie are silent now--almost forgotten.
Other interests, other duties have alb
sorbed the passing hours. But mem
ory't eur il open, ana the echo OF those
long some happy days rings its chime
forever IN the loyal heart
Brigham Young, George A. Smith and
Etastus Snow have gone. But many
OF those who knew and loved them
vel are still IN Dixie, and in the towns
leading there, The black ridges and
the white and red tabled hills are there;
ana Pine Valley mountain still looms,
somber and grand. over all the confu.
SION OF sand and lava rock which the
Pioneers dubbed as Dixie.
The road bumps and jabs and knocks
ana tumbles you, pretty much as OF
yorei and although the twist has been
taken out OF the Cameron Valley pass,
laofe Is still enough twist left TO UNI
couple the yetebras OF any one not 10
We Dixie road born. There is some
dust left also, although our party took
enough away, sJsome of them thought
70 make a tidy bit Of real estate In any
smart northern town.
Looking away down into that lake Of
fyd and black as seen from the tor
OF Cameron Valley some one, strange
10 The country, said:
! can't see a spot Of green anywhere
wNaI do you raise In this country eny
now ana how do you raise III"
Cuck as thought came the answer
PRESIDENT Young told us once that
10Y our chief crop In this country, We
would raise Latter-day Saints; and We
ma they flourish pretty we'll on strug'
se and prlvatlon."
W course that's true, too; but as oul
nappy party drove into the north END
VI ne tiny vale which holds st. GeorsC
~ us center. We were surprised 20 SEE
many evidences OF prosperity SnC
lull ioyement There are no signs Of
,ya' poverty anywhere. Thrift and hop,
nave Kept up fences, whitewashet
houses and made this lonely deser
W olossom as a verltable rose.
ror some years back, we were told
analrs In Dixie were at very low
eepp; but evidently the upward turn O
sne wheel has begun for her faithful
ana deserving people.
me stake conference was on, and al
ION as the dust OF travel was remov
we nastened down TO the tabernacle
On mat familiar wading through thu
Sahol We had not noticed Il years ago