The Van Buren press., 1903-08-08
Big Minstrel Hillarity -.
80 Royal Entertainers !.
ADMISSION, IS and so Cts.

home of Mormonism, we all wished 10
see Mormon services, so at 2 p. IN. all
repaired to the tabernacle where we
found seats had been reserved for the
entire party The tabernacle, which is
Just west of the Temple, is one of the |
architectural curios of the world. Its
illiptical shape looks ike vast terrapin
back, or half of pgodigious egg-shell
cut in two lengthwise, and is built
wholly of wood iron, glass and stone.
the building is $50 feet long, $50 wide
and 10 feet in highth from the floor to
the ceiling. The interior presents the
appearance of an oval arch without any
center support, being one of the largest
self-supporting arches in America, and
probably the largest iD the world that
is constructed wholly Of wood.
1t will seat about 10, 900 and contains
one of the finest organs in the world.
1t is claimed for the tabernacle that 1t
is possessed of the finest acoustic
properties of any public building in the
country. We had heard at different
times of it being possible to hear the
drop of a pin the entire two hundred
feet of distance between the pulpit and
the gallery opposite, but had classed
these tales as being due to an over
wrought imagination, but after the
services were over Mr.. Geo. A. Smith,
one of the leaders Of the Mormon church,
demonstrated to the entire satisfaction
of the party that all that had been
claimed was true. To Mr. Smith and
his co laborers the party was also in
debted for much interesting information
regarding the Mormon church and its
history Before leaving Il was announced
that a special organ recital at the taber
nacle had been arranged for that evening
complimentary to the visiting editors by
the Utah Press Association.
All had assembled by $50, when the
doors were locked and for two hours the
editors listened TO a recital that it would
@ hard If not impossible to duplicate any
where else IN the country. The organ
is the second largest in the United States
and the choir, when all are present, Il
five hundred strong. At this recital
there were about three hundred and
fifty of the members of the choir
present,
Another object Of interest in Temple
Square is the temple. The corner stone
WAS laid April 9Th, 1853; finished April
9Th, 1893, 1t is 900 by 100 fee wide,
and the eastern tower is 23j feet high.
1t is built entirely of granite, No
gentle and only the higher dignitaries Of
the Mormon church are allowed to enter
this building,
The next day was spent in seeing the
sights. In the forenoon the entire party
was taken by special trolley cars, in
charge OF u competent man who ex
planned and pointed ont all points Of
interest, all over the city, Salt Lake Is
beautifully located and one Of the
prettiest kept cities In the country, In
the afternoon the entire party WAS taken
to Saltair beach and there given the
chance to take dip in the briny deep
Of Salt Lake, a chance which all took
advantage Of, IL Is an experience no
one should foregO who visits that section
| during the summer months. We would
however, caution them against getting
any Of the brine into their throat or eyes
for we had all the experience we want
In TINT line, The evaporation Of water
from the lake for the salt is quite an
industry, The lake IL said to be gradual.
ly drying up. Beside these there were
numerous other points Of interest we
visited while in Salt Lake City,
Next morning tfuesday July, id) we
bid the city adleu, going out over the
Oregon Short Line, our objective point,
being Monida situated on the boundry
line of Montana and Idaho, hence It's
name, This place Is where entrance to
the Yellowstone National Park IL had
from the west, While passing through
Salt Lake valley, for distance Of hity
or more miles whore irrigation was
carried on the country IL u veaitable
garden spot After that It again assumed
the character OF the plains, except
here and there whore irrigation was
practiced on small scale, and settle.
ments became spere,