Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-19

Young soon found that the building
would be insufficient for the whole, and
hence many Invitations were extended
over to a second nights entertainment.
There were thus two opening nights,
the first Thursday, March 8, 1859; tho
second Saturday. March s, 1852. The.
program on the opening night was o
mixed one, and right here may be set
tied, at last, once and for all, the con-
flict in the memory Of many old timers,
Some OF whom insist that the comic.
drama, 1.-THE Pride Of the Market"
was not presented until the Saturday
night performance. While the account
of the program on the opening night as
printed In the Deseret News Of March
10. 1882. is not entirely clear (because
the paper was only q weekly IN those
days, and the dates of theatrical events
were not always prtnted), still 1t may
BIO set down as certain that he Pride
Of the Market wound up Thursday
evenings entertainment. This is bornc
out by the memory of several survivors,
including Mrs. M. G.. Clawson. who
took part In the play, and who ren1em-
bers sitting In costume in the wings
waiting for the dedication services to
be over. Mr. David Mckenzie, James
Jack. and the late 3. 81, schettler We're
equally positive on this point, and the
matter is clinched by an extract from
the diary OF George Goddard, which
the writer has lately perused. and in
which II Is stated, under date OF March
o. 1862: AT p. m. the new theater
vas dedicated, after which q new play
was performed. Eliza and Mary (his
daughters) took part az French market
girls. A Very snowy day"
The main Interest Of the first eve-5
ning,s program conferred in the address
of President Brigham Young, who. with
his counselors. Heber G. Kimball and
Daniel r. Wells, presided. The dedi-
catory prayer,a most eloquent and feel
ing effort, was offered by President
Daniel H. Wells. The house was pack
ed with members of the high council,
bishops of the city. county and terri
torlal officers, the men who had been
working on the building and the eni-#
ployes of the temple block,
President Young took as the theme
for his address The Capacity OF the
Human Body and Mind for Improve
ment and Development" He said that
generation after generation of men had
lived upon the earth, and from neglect.
of their duties they had passed away
and had failed to enjoy the privileges
tor had placed within the reach OF His
creatures. They had lived and died
without learning the object Of their ex-#
istencc on the earth. He alluded to
the notions entertained by some "unco
cody Christians against amusements,
because OF the evils sometimes attend
ant ut places of public resort; but It
was fortthe saints to neither follow the
traditions of the one. nor to fall Into
the errors Of the other. He had him
self been so 'piously" raised, that he
could never have thought of visiting a
theaterSand ike other youngsters, I'M
der such an Influence. had his doubts
that IL even listening to the vibrations
OF the fiddie' was not a step in the
direction of EDavy Jones. The Lord look
ed upon the children of men az they
We're. saw their deeds. and understood
Them, andgso should the saints under
stand whan was in the world. and learn