The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-12-17
this lake. 1t is said it is very nice to
feat in it if you keep your head out of
che water and YOUR feet in.

, this lake. 1t is said it is very nice to
| feat in it if you keep your head out of
J che water and your feet in.
/ We were told that the lake exercises
| a peculiar influence on the climate of the
/ surrounding country, temperlng the ex-
! tremes of summer and winter, and CIV
| ing delightful softness to the air. Thus,
i the residents near by have the anomaly
of sea air at 1000 feet above sea level.
In scenic way the lake is always con-
spicuous. Its green surface, broken by
many picturesque islands, and extending
in wavering line around the foot OF Its
mountain barriers, is beautiful sight.
At evening, when the sun is setting, the
spectacle is sometimes such as to I'LL the
soul of an artist with ecstasy. Such unr
folding of azure and gold occurs as was
never seen before, and the whole west
ern sky presents picture that a gifted
writer calls "a drop-curtain' representing
the birth of world, or the dissolving
view of fading universal picture
fairer than ever elsewhere hung in the
gallery of the skies. The rising saline
vapor from the lake seems to lend these
marvellous colors to the rays of the set
ting sun.
Cities, like men and women, have an
individuality of their own, and Salt Lake
City is in a class by itself. 1t is situated
at the base of the Wasatch Mountain,
on the bank of the river Jordan, twelve
miles from the great Salt Lake, and has
a population of 125, 1000. 1t is laid out
chess board fashion. The streets are
very broad, being 1877 feet wide, and all
blocks 40 rods square. There are many
fine shade trees, and next to the curps
on all streets running north and south
flows stream of pure sparkling water
from the melting SHOWS OF the was
tach mountain.
1t seems to be the desire of every one
to see and talk with Mormon, and
shared in that curiosity; and it happened
this way. l went into a jewelers. to
have my eyeglasses adjusted, and when
the clerk came forward to wait upon me
| thought, she is Mormon. Having
read in the paper that morning OF con-
vention that had been held there during
the week, | asked if he could tell me II
the meetings were over. hoped not, as
| would have been interested IN them.
He SAID they were, and assured me L mad
missed fine opportunity OF nearing
some of their best speakers. The inter-
est showed was enough tJstart MIN on
their religion, their church and mucn
pertaining to it. He said he had just
returned. Had been out in the field.
did not know what that meant, but learn
ed that is the term they use when they
90 out for converts. He had been TO
Australia, and l asked him if ne had
been successful, and although he did not
tell me how many came back with MIN,
he said it was goodly number. He was
not very interesting, but looked as l
hoped a Mormon would. his hair rather
long, and he was sad looking and seemed
depressed. l thought if he could go so
far afeld as Australia and bring home
converts | felt like asking him to come
here and see what he could do for our
church. | seemed so interested IN what
he told me l think he thought he had
added one more convert. to his llst. ne
advised me to 60 to the Bureau OF In
formation, where could get reliable IN
formation. which we did.
This is an attractive building, at the
entrance of the Temple grounds. COM
fortably furnished, where at brief IN
tervals parties are formed and SHOWN
through the buildings and grounds by
ladies and gentlemen who give their time
freely for the entertainment OF VISITORS.
All they ask for this favor is that you
will write your name and residence IN
their guest book. "No fees charged and
no donations received" is watchWord
on these grounds. An attendant told
US that as many as 80 States and Tor
eign countries had been represented on
the register in one day. The ink was
hardly dry where our names were writ
ten when two men came In. Ihey were
asked to register. The man who sat
down to the desk first said to his friend,
'Look who's been here. People from
Maine" I felt like saying. mot been,
are" waited until they went out, as
was anxious to know where they were
from. They were from Virginia: We
were most fortunate in our guide,
pleasant young girl with red hair, blue
eyes, lovely smile, and most wonder
full memory. Her face l have always
remembered.
The Temple Block, which is situated
in the very heart of the city, is ten.
acre square surrounded by stone and
adobe wall IL feet high and feet thick.
Through large gates on either of the
four sides one gets glimpses of the beau
tifully kept grounds. We were taken
first to Assembly Hall, which is semi |
Gothic building Of grey granite. 1t has
a seating capacity of about 1900 and is
used for religious services, including
German and Scandinavian meetings, pub
lie lectures and concerts, for which the |
big Tabernacle would be larger than
The plain seats IN the Hall
are sensible and sanitary. There are no
rented seats or pews in any of their
places of worship. All people are served
alike, banker and day laborer seating
themselves side by side. We were told
that the Mormons have ne professional
or paid preachers, but that the presiding
officer at any meeting calls members of
the congregation, frequently without
previous notice, to address the meeting.
The church is supported by tithes, every
person giving one tenth of his earnings.
The women conduct their own ser