The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-05
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
~ FRED c. KELLY
Copyright, 1915. by Fred c. Keliy)

From Diary;
The rising generation Of Mormons today i'm
press one with nothing so much as their close
similarity TO other people. They viii buy a
dinner. crack a joke-eyen joke based on
polygamy-and behave in every way like any
body else. II seems TO be standing JOKE To thf
younger Mormons. and 20 other residents OF Salt
Lake City as we'll that the visitor comes e1pfct-
ing to find every other male citizen with a
clump OF wives 20 his credit
Amateur testers when about 10 sign hotel
register in Salt Lake City almost Invariably
make some laughing remark TO the effect that
one wife along Then the clerk forces smile
and observes:
You have IL easy All three Of mine insist on
going with me when travel
Even the lecturer on the sightseeing wagon
will have his Joke He points 70 home and
says
There is the dwelling place Of Mr.. Taylor.
one OF our most prominent citizens. He has
buried thirty wives
Everybody gasps and the lecturer continues
Doubtless he viii bury great many more, for
he is our leading undertaken"
The Mormons have a clever scheme for get
ting their people 10 church-a scheme that Il Is
wonder other denominations do not adopt
Instead OF exhorting people TO 90 to church they
make il difficult 10 get in or at least into one
branch OF the church. They have their taber-
nacle and also temple: anybody can attend the
services In the tabernacle. but 10 get Into the
temple one must be vouched for AS very good
Mormon. One may not even peek lllD Nle tFfii-
pie II Il guarded the same az the lodge room
OF secret order The consequence OF All this
is that people get their curiosity aroused and
determine % see what the temple looks like on
the inside Scores Of Mormons lead exemplary
lives Just for the satisfaction OF being permitted
TO enter the temple when they see fiji Imagine
living ia town and having 10 pass day after
day a building that you are not allowed 10 en-
ter I presume a lot % people In Salt Lake City
join the Mormon Church and behave themselves
for a long time, just to acquire the good stand
ing necessary 20 enter the temple and satisfy
their curiosity
Many business men am told. become Nor
mons after taking up their residence In salt
Lake City simply because II f. good policy 70 do
so-just as a Republican becomes a Democrat
when ne moves 20 the sunny south.
Salt Lake. City has the Longest city blocks.
reckon, 20 be found In the entire country. When
native in Salt Lake City tells visitor place
10 himself arerVard Even II a place II only
one block away the person who wishes 20 con
serve his strength will be wise 20 call taxlcab
IN Reno. New the other night. I asked a by.
stander az the station how the people aVsiting
divorces put in their time Promptly he re-
piled
aGoing to Los Angeles and San Francisco
mostly"
Reno Is another town set in the desert The
sight OF the mountains In the distance saves tho
SURROUNDINGS, however. from utter desolatio1,
Even AZ that, IL seemed 20 me as ! looked about
nae that regardless Of how much my Wife might
annoy or harass me. ] would try 20 cheer her
UP and make her do. rather than spend a long
period IN Reno in order 70 effect a change