Evening star., 1946-09-15

mental pilgrimage to the Mormon
cities of Ogden and Salt Lake City
Is a part of the last lap of my West
ern summer as turn homeward.
Here, In these two mountain
fringed centers, which are now about
as crowded proportionately as
Washington is, I spent my later
childhood after my father, Joseph
N. FAINT of Virginia and Washington,
left the United States Indian Serv-
Ice to become division superin-
tendent of the Union Pacific Rail-
road
War has left little impress on the
fundamental characteristics of the
people out here. Much of the simple,
warm-hearted hospitality and CO.
operative friendlineSs of pioneer
days still prevails. AS a matter of
course, it is accepted here that one
Is either Norman or a gentle,
the term gentle being used gen.
orally to include all -Mormons,
whether Jews or Christians
In this mining country, silver dol
lars are far more plentiful than
paper ones. so that ones purse is
likely to be sagging with even,
modest funds.
School Days Recalled.
1t was in Ogden that my educa-
ton began at the Weber Academy.
sponsored by the Congregational
church. The place now has become
Weber College, with a capacity en-
rollment of veterans, and it was
: difficult for me to visualize myself
IN one of its composite classes of
the earlier days, where eighth
graders and beginners alike were
often learners together.
But it seemed as if time had stood
still at the Sacred Heart Academy.
situated on the crest of one of Og-
den's many hills and close to my
one-time home, where the noun
tains come down to the towns
edge. Under the guidance Of gentle
Sister Alette, who affectionately and
merrily remembered me as the
little Jessie FAINT who asked so many
questions we sometimes wondered
how she could think them all up" l
once more made the familiar rounds. |
Even more lovely than I remem-
bered them are the tree-shaded |
shrine, the rose garden in full flower |
and the soul-satisfying memorial
chapel with its Italian marble altar
and shrines. Sister Marie, who was
also one of my former teachers in |
Ogden, is now with the Holy Cross
Academy at 1886 Upton street NV, /
In washington.
No Slums or Race Problems.
In Salt Lake City, was the guest
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Orval Adams, who
are among the States most promi-
nent Mormon families. She is
leader in womens activities. He is
president Of the Utah State Ma
tional Bank, a former president of
the American Bankers Association.
chairman of the financial board of
the. Norman church and a leader
In general civic and welfare af-
fairs.
Next summer, the Mormon
church will undertake to tell in
pageantry the dramatic story of
the Tooth anniversary of the COM
Ing Of the Mormons to Utah in the.
Utah Centennial Here in this part
OF our national domain, settled by
Brigham Young and his followers.
sort Of Utopia still exists. There
are no slums and no race problems.
The highest rate of Iiteracy in the
United States is claimed. Only a /
few people are extremely rich, few
are desperately poor, for the Nor
mon church runs one of the great /
est mutual aid societies in the
world. Over 70 per cent of the State |
is Mormon with 50 per cent of the
population of Salt Lake City and
Ogden belonging to this church.
Childhood Experience.
During my visit to the great
Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, I was
reminded of my first childhood ex-
perience there. While the bread
and water of the sacrament were
being passed during a religious
service, I reached out to my Epis-
copalian mothers embarrassed con-
fusion, took two fstfuls of bread
upon which I Immediately began
munching.
To avoid similar breach of
church manners when the water
was about to be passed, she reached
over, took me upon her lap and
barricaded my arms. Whereupon
the kindly Mormon elder said,
Madame, after all that bread, don't
you think you would better have
this child partake of enough water
to at least float .it?" So I then
drank to my hearts content.
Travelling with me on the train
from San Francisco to Ogden were