A Young Lady’s Reply to Missionaries: Appreciation; Questions and Answers; Defends the Truth

EDITORS TABLE. 629 request of the president, whether the latter be present or whether he be absent. Should our young people be encouraged to hold and attend "Character balls?" Are they beneficial to the young in any way? Are thej calculated to cultivate and encourage spiritual growth? (1) If the balls are high class, and well conducted, and the characters selected are of the good and noble order, there can be no more harm in a ''character ball," than in any other ball. It can be made very detrimental, however; so can any dance, or ball. (2) Character balls, like other amusements, may be beneficial, because they provide diversion which, if healthy, is very necessary to the young. Character balls may be made valuable in the study of historical characters. (3) No; dances, or amusements of a physical nature, are not calculated to cultivate or encourage spiritual growth, only as they may aid in providing a good body which is very necessary for spiritual and intellectual growth. The above applies to "character balls," not to "masquerade balls," which are bad under any conditions, and should be shunned entirely. DEFENDS THE TRUTH. From Cardston, Alta, Canada, comes the following, dated April 14, 1905. There are thousands who can bear similar testimonies: Editor Improvement Era: — Dear Brother: It is very seldom that I care to have my name before the public, but there are times when I think it a duty to give one's thoughts to defend the truth. When I hear and read of evildesigning persons speaking disrespectfully of President Smith, I feel father, for I have that they are casting reflections upon my deceased that there was not often heard my father state, in private conversation, man upon the earth than Joseph F. Smith, a more honorable, God-fearing Smich would give his life and all he possessed for and that President