The Clio messenger., 1916-10-27

hensive, because he had not known of
the facts, and asked them how it was
they did not attempt to escape when
they were allowed 80 much liberty.
They replied that they were enjoying
freedom from prison walls and allowed
to work on the highways. with only
camp boss over them. through being
placed on their honor, and that the men
who were mean enough to try to escape
were very few indeed. Among these
convicts were one or two men from
Michigan and Mr.. Rose learned later
that the system of placing convicts at
work upon the public highways, where
they were restrained mainly by the con-
fidence reposed in them, was proving
very satisfactory.
Another point of exceeding interest
visited by the party was Salt Lake City,
Utah. Here, contrary to general un-
derstanding, they found the city gov
ernment controlled by gentiles, though
the state is considered to be under Nor
mon domination. They visited the great
Mormon tabernacle, 200 feet long by
$50 feet wide and 80 feet high, where
they were shown every courtesy by the
guide kept on duty there for the pur-
pose of showing visitors through.
Though the interior of this building is
so vast. its acoustic properties are
probably unequalled by any other build.
ing of similar size in the entire world.
This was made strikingly plain to
the visitors when, standing nearly
feet from the rostrum, they were en-
abled to hear the noise made by the
guide rubbing his hands together. to
hear the sound made by the dropping
of pin and even to hear whispered
words. For period of about twenty
five minutes. about the noon hour, each
week day, concert is given on the
great pipe organ in the tabernacle, ia
which the public is freely admitted.
The Mormon temple was another mas.
terpiece of architecture which chal.
lenged the admiration of Mr. Rose ano
his family, but they could only view
its beauties from the outside, as nc
gentle foot is ever permitted to pro-
fame its precincts, dRd even the lay
members of the Mormon church are not
permitted to enter, the right of acces:
to this great building being limited t.
the so-called saints and apostles. Thi.
edifice is constructed of white marble
its cost was four millions of dollars ant
its spires pierce the sky to height o
: : 400 feet. Mr.. Rose says they found tn
common people of the Mormon churcl
: to be very poor, but the dignitaries an,
: ecclesiastics are rich and have surround
: ed themselves with every comfort
They were told that every Mormon il
: expected to give two years of his lif,
!, to the work of the church. and that tn,
: missionaries who are frequently seel
preaching the doctrines of Mormonisn
on the streets of cities and village
J throughout the United States are en-
y gagged in the service before mentioned
. which they perform without pay.
q The desert of Wyoming, crossed b.
q the party of Michiganders, notwith
, standing its almost illimitable waste
A was also not lacking in interest. l
!. was evidently once the bed of a vas
inland sea and is now covered by pet
\ bles worn as smooth as glass by tn
q action of the waters or glaciers of som
&c prehistoric age.
10 Mr., Rose made this transcontinent;
v trip partially as prospectcr, with
IS view to settling in some spot wher
If conditions of soil and climate and oI
E. portunity might be superior to those {
ID Michigan, but his quest, like that {
,s Ponce de Leon, four centuries agon,
,t was in vain. He never saw the spot
at any of the states through which /
r. passed. not even in Washington, Or
" gon or California, where he thought IL
ir opportunities were superior to those o
w Michigan, surrounded by its great il
* land seas, rendered charming by bea,
ne tiful lakes and rivers, its cities thro
ir bing with industry, irrigated by Il
n rain from heaven and the fruitful sc
vs. producing about everything essential
a human happiness. He found mar
ad beautiful places on the Pacific coas
lie Puget Sound was beautiful. the Gold,
he Gate was beautiful, Portland, San Fra
MS cisco and Los Angeles were beautif
US cities, but he found no place where Il
chances for livelihood were better
f. the comforts of life more widely distr
?. buted than in Michigan. And then,
. was fine to hear him say that he hs
a not, in all his long journey, come in col
NJ tact with any people more inteligen
lv more public spirited or more hospital
III than the people of Michigan, and th'
he had come back to dwell among tf