Events and Comments

EVENTS AND COMMENTS, BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. Finnish Diet.— On May 25, the first Single Chamber Diet of Finland waa opened at Helsingfors. It was elected under the new Constitution, and includes nineteen women, being the first national assembly in the world to admit women to membership. There are two hundred members, seventy of whom are Socialists. The Governor-General, representing the Czar, read the speech from the throne. Visit to Antelope or Church Island— On Tuesday, June 4, through the courtesy of John H. White, of the Antelope Island Improvement Campany, seven invited guests were taken by him to his ranch on the island. They were Chas. H. Wilcken, Oscar Young and Sol. P. Kimball, old Church pioneers in ranching on the island, and who had not visited the old stamping ground for from thirty to thirty- five years, also U. S. Marshal William Spry, Robert Taylor, a correspondent of the Intermountain Republican and the writer. The first twenty-five miles from the city to the ranch house, built by Fielding Garr, in 1849, were made by team in four hours, including the slow drive over tha lake bottom, which had only a few inches of water in narrow depressions. Notwithstanding the wet season and that the water some five feet higher than last year, there is still a four-mile gap is between the waters west and the waters northeast. As much as twelve to four- teen feet of water, and often four feet, have covered the island bar over which the company were driven. At the ranch an enjoyable dinner was served, a new relay of horses provided, and a trip of sixteen miles taken to the north end of the island, Messrs. Kimball and Young pointed out Daddy Stump's pioneer camp on one of the springs in a little canyon where the old trapper lived both before and after the arrival of the Utah pioneers. The fine herds of Hereford cattle, in num- bers of from six hundred to a thousand, sleek and fat from native grasses upon which without further attention they feed winter and summer, were observed^ — — Among them a huge bull the Catalo the only bull-cross in existence between a cow and a buffalo. Unfortunately the herd of buffalo were on the steep, rocky west slope of the island and was not seen by the visitors. On the rugged north end of the island one could look out over the lake to Hooper, on the opposite shore, and n the misty north, on the Lucin cut-off, see a train slowly gliding over the water. A climb over the hills; a quick return, against an invigorating sea breeze, behind White's fine horses, driven by Young in his old style; more pioneer stories by Kim-

764 IMPROVEMENT ERA. ball and Young, probable and improbable; a fine supper at the ranch, and inspec- tion of its beautiful horses and cattle; a lovely evening ride to the city, where the company arrived at 9:30, finished the enjoyable outing. Thanks to our host. President Young's Birthday. — A large throng of people celebrated the 106th anniversary of the founder of Utah, at Wandamere, Saturday, June 1. A iprogram in the large, new pavilion, music by the Fort Douglas band, an oration by Elder Orson F. Whitney, a speech by President Joseph F. Smith, games and amuse- ments, were features of the day's celebration, in honor of the great leader and pioneer. President Smith said among other things In the spring of 1847, I distinctly recall, the pioneers, \e<^ by President Young and others, started on their journey westward. A portion of my mother's family accompanied the pioneers. Brigham displayed, then, the qualities that made men love him. As a boy I looked upon him as a father and a protector of widows and orphans, and many others looked upon him not on'y as a president and leader, but as a personal friend, and a counselor. No man, woman or child who placed confidence in Brigham Young was ever disappointed, for he was loyal and true to his word, inspired and gifted man that he was. In every position, with all people, he was true and honorable in all his dealings with men. I honored B igham Young while he lived, and sustained him by faith and by works. I had faith in him and in his mission, and that faith has grown stronger with the lapse of time, for I have become more capable of appreciating the nature of the grand work which Brigham Young set out to accomplish. I wish to say to friends and to the strangers within our gates that I knew Brigham Young perhaps as intimately as almost any other living man, and I know that he was God's servant, and that it was through the power and inspiration of •God that he accomplished his mission. I would like to make this declaration and assertion as my firm belief and faith, that it was God Almighty that made Brigham Young great. It was the work of the Lord in which he was engaged and that ; the Almighty called him and gave him the power to lay the foundation of the great commonwealth is true beyond doubt. It was through God's providence that he did it. It is impossible to separate the work of Brigham Young from his ministry. 'The Lord made him great. Brigham Young of himself, as a man, could not have accomplished the work; no, five hundred Brigham Youngs could not have accom- plished the work, had not the Lord been with them. I was proud of my association with Brigham Young; I honored him in life, I honor him still, and I expect to honor and uphold him as the man who established the gospel and built up a great commonwealth in these mountains. May the peo- ple ever hold him in honor and reverence — may they love and honor Joseph Smith's name as Prophet and founder of the Church, and love and honor the memory of Brigham Young as his lawful successor. — Joseph Felt. A pioneer Mutual Improvement worker, was Joseph H. Felt. For about eighteen years he was president of the Y. M. M. I. A. of the Salt Lake , stake, when it covered the whole of Salt Lake County. He worked diligently for the benefit and advantage of the young men under his charge. He died June 15, 1907. He was born in Salem, Mass., May 9, 1840, and went with his parents to Nauvoo about 1844, thence to St. Louis in 1845, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in 1850. He took part in many of the organizations for the public good in early days, having been a member of the military organization known as Minute Men, formed for pretection against Indians. In 1862 he was one of President Lincoln's

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 765^ volunteers for the protection of the mail and telegraph line out West, and after performing his full duty was mustered out of service in March, 1863. In the spring of that year he was called on a mission to England, laboring in that coun- try during most of 1863-4, and in Scandinavia during 1865-6, reaching home late in the year 1866. In 1867 he was called to open up the settlement on the Muddy, passing through all the hardships incident to pioneering that forbidding section. He returned to Salt Lake in 1869, and in 1883 filled a mission to the Indian Ter- ritory, returning the following year, and was again sent on a mission to the Eastern States in 1885, from which he returned in 1887. He was an indefati- gable worker both in business affairs and in the Church. Except during his absence on missionary work, he was connected with the Z. C. M. 1. from 1869 to the date of his death. With the young people he has been a power for good, and has taken special interest not only in the Improvement Associations, but in the Lesser Priesthood, and his memory will long be cherished by those who have come under his influence. Jefferson Davis.— On the third of June a heroic memorial to Jeffer son Davis was unveiled at Richmond, Va. The monument was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy, as "a tribute to the man and the cause. " It was imveiled on the 99th anniversary of Jefferson Davis's birth, and formed the clos- ing feature of the annual reunion of the Confederate veterans, of whom more than two-thirds now living, were present, perhaps for their last reunion, as many are growing very old. Mrs. J. A. Hayes, a daughter of Jefferson Davis, unveiled the monument. In many of the towns of the South business was suspended for five minutes during the unveiling. To men of middle age who remember the bit- ter conflict and feeling of the late 60' s, it will appear strange that the speeches and unveiling are discussed by the Northern press so dispassionately, and at times, even with a note of sympathetic interest. General Clement Evans, of Georgia closed a eulogy of Jefferson Davis with the following words: "He outlived oblo- quy he saw detraction die by its own sting ; ; he saw vicious censure put to shame he beheld sentiments of the South and North withering in stem and root, leaving no seed. He was not faultless in judgment, but he was upright, brave, fair and absolutely incorruptible. He is entitled to the generous American judgment of the present sober age, which will be rendered on consideration of the facts of his whole career." The Southern papers an unanimous in their belief that such memorials can be only beneficent in their effect, and that there was nothing dis- loyal to the American Union in the demonstrations, nor anything unpatriotic in any words spoken. Dissolution of the Second Duma.—The text of the Czar's manifesto directing the dissolution of the second Duma, and providing for the election of a new Imperial Legislature, was printed on the 18th of June. The proroguing of this Duma can scarcely be said to have created the same excitement that the dissolution of the first Duma occasioned. The Czar states that the second Duma failed to justify his expectations. It did not lend its moral support to the gov- ernment in the restoration of order, and, as a consequence, Russia continues to-

766 IMPROVEMENT ERA. suffer from the shame of an epoch of crimes and disasters. He fixed September 14 as the date of the convocation of a third Duma, and declared that it is de- cided to modify the procedure in choosing representatives of the people to the Duma, in order that each section of the country may have its own representative. The Duma should be Russian in spirit, and other nationalities, it is declared, ought not and shall not appear in such number as will make it possible for them to be arbiters on questions which are purely Russian. He closes with a declara- tion as follows: "God has given us the power of the Czar over our people. It is before the throne we shall answer for a firm resolution to carry on to the very end the great work begun by us for the reformation of Russia. We give Russia a new electoral law, and order its promulgation in the Senate. From our faithful subjects we look for united and vigorous service in the direction indicated by us whose sons have in all times the support of its strength and its glory." To Young Men Wishing a Business Education. —We call the atten- tion of young men who are desirous of a thorough business education, to the announcement in this issue of the Bra of the Latter-day Saints Business College. Here is an opportunity just such as you want: a school of recognized standing, with every facility to give you thorough and practical training in business affairs in the shortest time possible, and in the most economical and effective way. Agricultural Learning. — Young men who wish to prepare themselves in a, thorough manner for scientific farming w;ill do well to read the announcement of the State Agricultural College, Logan, Utah, in this issue of the Era. This school Eas revolutionized the methods of farming in Utah, and young men who expect to keep pace with the times in this splendid line of Independent labor, should pre- pare themselvds for the conflict by a course of study in this institution. You may wish to choose some of the other courses offered, also. To Fight Labor Unions. — At its recent convention in New York, the National Association of Manufacturers authorized a committee of thirty-six to con- sider ways and means for raising half a million dollars a year for three years to be used in a campaign against the labor-unions. As to the wisdom of this move- ment, opinions differ. It is said Gompers of the American Federation of Labor has a million or so, and the manufacturers naturally think that they also should have a fund to open "peoples eyes to what the many unions really mean." Lead- ing papers question the wisdom of the movement. Cooperation, not war, should be the program, is their idea; while others think a better understanding concern- ing black-lists, boycotts, the open shop, and other questions, may better be ar- rived at if there is a strong organization to meet that of the labor-unions. *t;,George Careless Concert.— One of the features of the M. L A. conference was the Prof. George Careless Testimonial reunion, held in the large tabernacle, on Monday evening, June 10. Many of the delegates stayed over and attended, tickets being presented to them by the General Board. There were 3, 646 tickets

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 767 received at the door, and many hundreds were purchased and not presented, so that besides being an artistic hit,it was a financial success. It was good to see the veteran leader of the choir again directing the great body of singers, and while the several artists on the program received enthusiastic applause, the ova- tionwas reserved for Prof. Careless. He conducted five hymns: "Repose," "Bereavement/' "Reliance," "Bethlehem" and "Courage," the latter being re- peated at the call of the enthusiastic audience. Willard Andelin, the Pyper- Whitney- Ensign quartette, Emma Ramsey Morris, Profs. McClellan and Shepherd, Willard Weihe, Arvilla Clark Andelin, made the remainder of the evening a feast of gems by first class artists seldom heard in one evening together. Prof. Care- less is a pioneer musician of Salt Lake, and has done much to encourage the study of music. He has written music to about 70 of the hymns found in the L. D. S. hymn book, and has led hundreds to an appreciation of the holy influence of song. He was born in London, September 24, 1839, and became a pupil at the Royal Academy, playing under such leaders as Costa and Benedict, at Exeter Hall, Drury Lane and Crystal Palace. After he joined the Church in London he directed th» choir there and achieved a wide local fame. He emigrated to Utah in 1864, and «oon after took charge of the Theatre Orchestra and the Tabernacle Choir, holding the latter position for fourteen years. In 1875 he produced -the oratorio, "The Messiah," and was director of the Philharmonic Society, and first brought out "Pinafore," "The Mikado," "Trial by Jury, " and other operas. He organized the Careless orchestra in 1879, and issued The Musical Times while a member of the firm of Calder and Careless, in which was printed during 1876 and '77 the most of his well known hymns and anthems, many of which are now printed in the Latter-day Saints Psalmody. He has devoted his later years to teaching music, and his pupils are numbered by the thousands, and are scattered all over the West. The testimonial given to him was well-deserved, and the Latter-day Saints will long remember George Edward Percy Careless whose hymns and anthems are sung wherever the congregations of the Latter-day Saints assemble in worship. Japan, France and the United States. —Negotiations have been completed at Tokyo, looking to an understanding mutually guaranteeing the political and commercial interest of France and Japan in the far East. The agreement, which is thought to be decidedly anti-German, is limited to present conditions which will not be changed. Those who are authority on this subject say that these negotiations, taken in connection with the Russo-Japanese and Anglo-Russian agreements, will promote the stability of international relations in Asia. The situation between Japan and the United States was reported anything but peaceful, and the diplomats of both nations are keeping the lid hard down, so to speak, on talk of war. On the 13th the Japan-France treaty was handed Secretary Root by Ambassador Count Aoki. France some days previous made bold to offer mediation between the United States and Japan, and our Government wanted to know if under the new treaty France was obliged to make the tender. No decisive understanding is arrived at by this writing. It appears quite plain, however, that Japan is now the arbiter of affairs in the East, and that the United States is excluded from any co-partnership.

768 IMPROVEMENT ERA. George Teasdale.— On Sunday evening, 9:15, June 9, Elder George Teas- dale, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home in Sugar House ward, Salt Lake City. He had been feeble for some time, but his death was unexpected. Elder Teasdale was born in London, December 8, 1831, and received a liberal education in the public schools and in the University of London. The gospel found him laboring as an upholsterer, in "ISSl. He joined the Church, and for nine years preached the gospel in his native England, emigrating to Utah in 1861. He and his wife and two children settled in Salt Lake City where he engaged in teaching, merchandising and other pursuits. At the organization of the Juab stake, he was called to preside, and removed to Nephi where he resided for many years. He was called to the apostleship by rev elation and ordained anapostle October 13, 1882, at the same time that Elder Heber J. Grant was called. He performed several missions, and from 1886 to 1890 presided over the European mission, being released in October, 1890, by Elder Brigham Young. He was the author of several gospel writings and was an active worker in the cause to the day of his death. He had a liberal education, and was a man of culture and refinement, lovable and of kindly disposition. Though a man of serious mien, he bore acquaintance well, and his word of greeting came from a warm heart, and made friends for him wherever he came in personal contact with men. Funeral services were held in the Assembly Hall on Wednesday, 12th. President Joseph F. Smith who met him first in England, in 1861, President Anthon H. Lund, Elders Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Dr. Seymour B. Young, President Frank Y. Taylor, Bishop John M. Whitaker and others addressed the congregation. John E. Hansen. —In the prime of his life, the brightest part of his career yet before him, John E. Hansen, city editor of the Deseret News and associated with the editorial department for eighteen years, died at the L. D. S. Hospital on Friday evening, June 7. Be had rallied from a successful operation for appendi- citis, but caught cold resulting in pneumonia and death. He was born near Ver. non, Tooele Co., Utah, April 23, 1863, his parents being Frederick P. and Annie L. Hansen. In 1897, he was secretary of the state senate , and a member of the state legislature, in 1899. For two terms prior to 1897 he served as a member of the City Board of Education. In the religious world he took a lively interest, be- ing connected, in the 20th Ward, Ensign stake, with the Sabbath Schools. He filled a mission in the Northeastern and Southern states in his youth. He was a tireless worker who possessed high ability, faith, earnestness and untiring energy. Mrs. McKinley. — In hei" 60th year, Mrs. Ida McKinley, died at her home in Canton, Ohio, May 26. She married the late President McKinley in 1871, and lived in retirement after his assassination. Her health was poor for years. In her early married life she lost two little children, and never recovered from the effects of her double grief. She was of great help to her husband in his political career. Orange J. Salisbury— Owing to ill health Hon. 0. J. Salisbury resigned on June 10, from membership in the State Board of Equalization, Governor John C Cutler appointed his son, R. W. Salisbury to fill the vacancy Mr. Salisbury died . in New York on June 18, aged 68 years.