Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-08
a BUSINESS MANS VIEW.

Mr. Louis j. Livingston, of St. Paul.
Mimi, short time ago was sent to
these parts of the country in the in
terest of well known ST. Paul bust.
ness firm. on Decoration day he
found himself in Preston, Idaho, ana
the places of business being closed ne
spent part of the day In writing TO his
firm, stating his Impressions about the
Lattcr-day Saints. A copy of the let
ter has been forwarded to us, and it
gives us a great deal OF pleasure to
publish it as an expression of the views
of an impartial and dlsinterested ira
veler.
Mr. Livingston writes:
Preston. Idaho, May 30, 1908.
Dear Sirs-Inclosed find reports, con-
tracts, etc, for week ending today.
This being legal holiday CDecora-
uon day., and tomorrow being Sunday,
the express agent here win not receive
any packages until Monday. On this
account | Will not be able to send the
matter for Franklin Malad, and Pres
ton until Monday or Tuesday.
Il am glad to have this opportunity
to say here that this circumstance, ap.
parently trivial and unimportant, Is
one of the strongest endorsements of
the Mormon virtue of patriotism-one
OF the many virtues of this splendid
people Heretofore In every Gentle
community that j have been in / have
had little difficulty In either doing bust
ness. or sending off express matter ON
a national holiday or on Sunday But
this being Mormon community and
81 H.
oil our national holidays, every Mormon
place OF business is closed tight. ana
the few houses that are open are run
by Gentiles. This is only ono of many
Illustrations of the sterling Mormon
virtue of patriotism. the malicious lies
OF their enemies To the contrary, not
Wlthstanding II might be well to ada
mere mat one of the things taught b.
Mormon missionaries throughout the
world is the divine inspirat ton OF the
constitution of the United States
j had another opportunity, today of
witnessing another strkingly beautiful
phase of Mormon life. From far and
near, all over this section of Idaho and
Utah came men, women and children.
representing all pursuits. every rank in
life, and all conditions of wealth, pow
erty and social standing, to pay the
last sad tribute to one of their most
beloved dead. The place of assembly,
the Oneida stake academy, was the
scene of the earthly labors of this la
mented man. The bier was covered and
surrounded by floral tributes of eX-
qnisite taste and construction, and on
The platform We're seated all the lead
ing Church dignitaries of this section.
Around the bier were the sorrowing
family and nearly 100 relatives. The
Mormon funeral service, full Of the
simplicity, democracy and ferYor that
marks every phase OF their daily, as
well as religious life, was so touching
that tears stood In my eyes through
out the entire ceremony. With the eX-
ccpuon OF an opening and a closing
prayer and several beautiful solos and
hymns sung by one of their noted
choirs this consisted entirely of eulo-
giles of the lamentcd dead by Church
d.sntaries and friends who had known
him since boyhood, Incidentally some
of the speakers contrasted the pros
porous condition OF their people at the
present day and the hardships and trl-
ais of their pioneer fathers and moth
ers Every tribute to the departed was
eloquent with love and grief, of the
slnoerest kind some of the speakers
being SO overcome with emotion that
they could hardly speak, And every
tribute ouued with a blessing for both
the dopaiied and his family, and was
invariably invoked in the name of Jesus
Christ, The academy assembly room
was filled 10 It's fullest capacity there
being AT least 500 or 500 people present
one of tho speakers said that n was
the largest funeral assemblage in the
history OF this section OF country. And
10 whose memory We're all these trl-
butes OF reverence and love pald2 no
"A merchant prince, TO great states
man, 10 a cigritary Of the Church, 10
a professor of the academy MOI only
arNl.a HNVaaH lNaN.
rity gentle heart ana pure life who
had done his humble work faithfully
and well and had, In the language OF
his earthly friends, gone 10 join his
friends IA the other world.
This Is only one of many instances
In which the virtues and sterling traits
of the Mormon people have shown forth
IN my contact with them IN the last
few weeks the first time In my HE that
! have had the pleasure of being
anon. them
Utah and southern Idaho are living
testimonials 10 the Mormon virtues OF
thrift, sObriety practically and love
of nature ana the beautiful The Nor
mon cities aud towns are the most
beautiful and sanitary In the United
States, and the people, even IN small
towns, ere progressive and up-to-dnte
No fner physical specimens OF man
hood and womanhood, no better dressed
people can be found anywhere, ana the
fine arts, especially music, dlvlnest Of
All. hpVe their shrlnes In every CONS
munity Though an essentially religr
ious people, they are sensible enough
to know and 10 enjoy tho Joys OF life,
no town being without us dance hall or
theHter
Nowhere In the Union have ! seen
the purely American traits-simpliclty,
democracy, fair pay-so strikinsly and
al a La AZ
Alormons, ana every thing they DO Ia