Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-21

OUR FRIEND DMNEK.
A recent call from "a friend Of Ions
ago reminds us ~ many facts and con-
dltions in the earlier days in Utah that
are unknown 20 the youth Of today
and are often misrcpresented 20 stran-
| gers by q mistaken or perverted idea
~ those times put forth by enemies of
! the people OF this state
a photograph Of Mr. James Dryer.
I one Of the early and long-continued
residents OF this city appears else
whore in this issue.
We beg 20 add the tribute which
friendship would pay 90 our book-lov-
Ing brother who has now taken up his
abode upon ranch On wyoming For
we knew wen this genial and genuine
spirit in what we now would call THE
earlier days" and on the occasion Of
bis recent visit 20 the home city. ex-
uerienced once more the old-timc pleas
uro which we always felt ia meeting
him. FIo is today as men reckon the
timc. old in years. but young la spirit.
Zoo fact he cannot well grow old. for
no. has the secret Of eternal youth with
him kind heart. clear conscience.
and e. knowledge of the truth
We have called him lover 81 books
and his book store thrivcd so well and
so long because he was such His taste
for good literature and his Judgment
Of what is best therein have received
the candid and sincere praise OF many
a. discriminating scholar OF today. not
few Of whom attribute their best
guidance in the choice Of books 10 Mr..
Dryer.
Education was with him a passion
As early as the year 1855. IL memory IS
not al fault he made a tour Of the
Territory i'm company with the Super
intendent OF Schools, Mr.. o. H. Riggs.
In those days some Of the country
schools were exceedingly primitive
fact that touched deeply Mr. Dryers
sensibilitIes and aroused his efforts i'm
behalf Of better education. on his re-
turn, he began an active campaign In
favor Of the establishment Of a Ter
ritorial Normal school for teachers. A
normal course was first given in con-
ucction with the University Of Des-
crct now the University OF Utah) In
the year 1860. No small share OF the
credit for Uath's early start in the
training ~ teachers may he accred-
tied to the efforts Of our old friend.
Devoted. as he was. to the perusaI
Of books. he could not deny books on
credit from his store IN any youth who
applied for them and the records show
a large aggregate Of such sales. Icav-
ing the payment entirely to the honor
~ the youthful purchasers II was
his daily practice 20 recommend TO
young men. the best books he knew Of
for character-buildlnF He was thus
a teacher or youth In a wide and benef-
cent sense; and several state leaders
I'm education today recall with pleas
ure how much they owe 20 Mr.. Dryers
spontaneous direction Of their reading.
The most modern appliances known
to educational methods of the day were
his hobbies and he was In constant
communication on these topics with
such men as Or Park Dr Maeser, or
son Pratt. capt Bishop. r. p. Lewis,
d Toronto. and others
The Deseret Museum. also, while un-
der the direction ~ Prof Jos. l.. Bar
foot. received hearty support from tho
veteran boolman; its successful con-
tlnuance and untold usefulness IN those
DAYS were favorably affected by the
stimulating support Of Mr.. Dryer.
Teachers Institutes too. regularly held
IN that early period. were a source NJ
great pride 20 him. and his attendance
upon these conventions was both char
acteristic and habitual
Not few 81 the local men proml-
ucut in political HE or Ia scientific,
literary or educational achievement
remember with many q pleasant re-
minisccnco. the part taken by Mr
Dwyer We venture 60 guess that Hon
o. r. whitney, Senator Rawlns. Gov
ernor Wells, Hon. "a. j. Grant, Pres. j.
r. Kiugsbury Judge Booth, Prof
Stewart Prof Paul, and a host OF 9TH
crs. could relate items OF unusual fell
city about this Wen known pillar OF
progress in the time OF their school
days.
such record clearly entities a man
20 the modest boquct which we would
present 90 him iu the days of his re-
urcmeut from the more strenuous life
from the firing line Of the education |
al battle May his years be as se- |
rene and happy today as his earlier
Dncs were honest and fun Of good en-
dcavor' and may there be many OF |
them.