Editors’ Table: Welcome

Editors' Table Welcome The Improvement Era bids the teachers of the National Education Association a hearty welcome to our city and state. We hope that while they sojourn among us they may enjoy themselves and be pleased with what they see, hear, and learn. We trust also that they may inform themselves correctly on the educational and social conditions in our state. We believe that in these respects our people are not a whit behind the best in the land ; — neither are they in teachers, buildings, environment, resources, climate, and all that goes to favor intellectual advancement and physical health and comfort. We believe, too, that the people of Utah and surrounding states will compare favorably in earnestness, intelligence, devotion to God and to truth, and in the purity of their social lives, with any other community in our nation. We ask only that the truth concerning them be learned and told, and, of course, that falsehood and falsifiers be refuted. In this number of the Era, largely devoted to educational information, our readers will find reliable data relating to some of the intellectual efforts of the people of Utah, past and present. Aside from illustrated articles that deal with the National Education Association, the history and evolution of education, and the present public school system in Utah, there will be found excellent papers on the organization and government of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its missionary and financial systems, and its schools, — papers, brimful of interesting and up-to-date matter on these subjects, which we trust not only the visiting teachers will read and appreciate, but which we hope may prove valuable also to the missionaries and to our readers in general. There are thirty-two extra pages in this number, yet we have found little or no space to devote to the material and scenic interests of our state. Even though only comparatively little could be said in detail of the many forces that tend to educate, comfort, and render service to the community, the idea of the magnitude of

964 IMPROVEMENT ERA the work is grasped to some extent as one reads this number of the Era, and one is really astonished at what has been and is being done and expended by our citizens towards intellectual and social progress. Our splendid choirs, our musicians, artists and authors, who contribute very largely to our education, blessing, and enjoyment, though so deserving, have received no attention. In agriculture, in mining, in manufacture, in happy homes, in natural beauty, and in many of the business interests which go to make a great state and a prosperous and contented people, Utah stands pre-eminently in the front rank of the western states ; while in climatic conditions no other state in the Union can show anything more favorable. We thank our contributors who have so willingly and efficiently aided us in preparing the information contained in these pages. Without their help the work could not have been accomplished. And now, to the visiting educators, a hearty welcome, and may your sojourn together and with us be fraught with benefit and pleasant memories. Joseph F. Smith. A BUSINESS DISTRICT, SALT LAKE CITY, LOOKING NORTH-WEST

L. D. S. Knitted Garments made especially for hot, summer days. COOL AND COMFORTABLE. No. 60M. Our Superior Mercerized Garment. The finest made. Suitable for hot, sultry weather. Price, per pair, Postpaid $2.15 No. 59M. Another excellent Mercerized Garment. Nicely woven and finished. Price, per pair, Postpaid $1.50 No. 99A. Fine weave, light weight, bleached. Special Price, per pair, Postpaid 70c No. 51K. An excellent close, fine weave garment, light weight, bleached. Very popular grade. Price, per pair, Postpaid $1.00 No. 52B. Medium light weight, bleached ; strong and serviceable. Price, per pair, Postpaid $1.10 No. 57. Medium light weight, unbleached ; a well-made, durable garment. Price, per pair, Postpaid $1.10 FREE! A Beautiful Teaspoon! During June, July and August we will give absolutely free a Famous Roger's French Gray pattern Teaspoon, with every $2.00 order. Six Teaspoons with every $10.00 order. GARMENTS MARKED FOR 20c PER PAIR. We ship garments to Elders in all parts of the World. Send for our complete set of samples of garments. West's Mail Order House 258 So. State St., Salt Lake City, Utah. WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION THE "ERA"

SOME POPULAR SUGGESTIONS Your Choice: Santa Catalina Long Beach "Los Angeles Ocean Park l :~>;fo.J" Venice Limited Newport Beach " Pacific Redonda Limited" Santa Barbara ttr\ 1 J Santa Monica Overland ^ Huntington Beach Express" San Diego Excursion Tickets on sale daily June 1st to September 30th Stopovers and Diverse Routes Write for California Literature TICKET OFFICE, 10 E. 3d South T. C. PECK, J. H. MANDERFIELD, G.P.A., Los Angeles A.G.P.A., Salt Lake City Three Daily Principles The Result "SAFETY FIRST" High Quality Service when 2 you travel via "COURTESY" "The Stand3 CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAILS" ard Lines of the West" By These each operating employee of the Automatic Eledtric Safety Block ^^T^TB Signal pg Protection 1 pledges his faith 1 CITT TICKET OFFICE I HOTEL UTAH 1 SALT LAKE CITT 1 READING COURSE That the General Board Committee selects for their Reading Course — the kind of books we always sell — is a good indication of the kind of books we have. It should prove to you that the ONE BEST PLACE to buy your GOOD BOOKS is our store. SENIORS 1. Reign of Antichrist — 50c postpaid. 2. House of the Lord— $1.50 postpaid. 3. The American Government — $1.00, postage extra. 4. Corporal Cameron— $1.25, postage extra, 12c. 5. History of Joseph and the Land of Egypt — 30c, postage extra, 5c. 6. Making the Farm Pay— $1.00, postage extra, 12c. JUNIORS 1. Courage of the Commonplace — 50c, postage extra, 5c. 2. Stories of Inventors . . $1.25, postage extra, 14c. 3. Heroes of Every-day Life — 50c, postage extra, 10c. 4. Pioneer Trail — $1.00, postage extra, 10c. These and all other Good Books at the Deseret Sunday School Union Book Store 44 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City - WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, VLEaSE MENTION THE "ERA"

GREATEST FRONTIER SHOW OF ALL THE STAMPEDE Salt Lake City, Utah July 4th to 10th First official World's Championship contests in broncho riding, steer roping, steer bulldogging, fancy roping, fancy riding, etc. Races of All Kinds Cowboys, Cowgirls, Relay, Indian, Chariot, etc., etc. Six Big Days of Frontier Sports World's champions from all parts of the West will compete. EXCURSIONS ON ALL RAILROADS COME!! "Lerar Enje)-o WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION THE -ERA"

"Voice of the Intangible," a thrilling story of life on the range in southern Utah, will be continued in the August ERA. "Some Obligations of Citizenship," a strong and striking paper by Dr. Ephraim G. Gowans, superintendent of the Industrial School of Utah, will appear in the August number of the ERA. The August Number of the ERA will be devoted largely to the Mutual Improvement Associations, though enough other matter will be interspersed to interest all our readers. M. I. A. workers will need the August number. "Hebrew Idioms and Analogies in the Book of Mormon" by Thomas W. Brookbank, editor of the "Millennial Star," is the title of a series of articles that will soon appear in the ERA. To" the student and investigator of this divine record, the text will be very enlightening. Improvement Era, July, 1913 Two Dollars per Annum with Manual Free Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Joseph F. Smith, ) Heber J. Grant, Business Manager Edward H. Anderson, j Editors Moroni Snow, Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS Hon. P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commissioner of Education Frontispiece Education in Utah 841 The National Education Association, Its History, Work and Misison. Illustrated Edward H. Anderson 843 Residence District, Salt Lake City. Illustration 853 A Sketch of the American Buffalo in Its Picturesque Relation to the West. Illustrated. Levi Edgar Young, M. A... 854 Accounting for Every Idle Word Edwin F. Parry 860 A Story of Pioneer Days Jennie Leigh 861 Hill and Valley. Illustration 863 Customs and Legends of Utah Indians. IV.. Enoch Jorgensen 864 John Ericsson Monument, Sweden 867 Thorns. A Poem Hope 868 The Artist vs. the Poet Alfred Lambourne 869 G. N. Child, Director for Utah of the N. E. A 876 Education in Utah. Illustrated Levi Edgar Young, M. A. . . 877 Evolution of Education in Utah. Illustrated. .Dr. Geo. H. Brimhall 895 Scene in Ogden Canyon. Illustration 903 Utah Public School System. Illustrated State Supt. A. C. Nelson... 904 Organization and Government of the "Mormon" Church. Illustrated Joseph B. Keeler 928 A Mountain Lake in the Cottonwoods. Illustration 928 The Church Schools.. Illustrated Supt. H. H. Cummings . . . . 929 The "Mormon" Finance System. Illustrated. .Bishop C. W. Nibley 941 Educational Value of the "Mormon" Missionary System. Illustrated Nephi Anderson 944 Utah Agricultural College. Illustrated Dr. John A. Widtsoe 953 Alfred Lambourne. Illustration Mahonri M. Young 957 Supt. D. H. Christensen, Salt Lake City. Illustration 958 The Latter-day Saints' Hospital. Illustrated 959 The Y. M. M. I. A Edward H. Anderson 962 Editors' Table— Welcome Prest. Joseph F. Smith 963

A NEW ERA has begun in the commercial world. Time was when men of business acquired whatever special preparation they possessed in the course of their employment. Today the first essential of a successful business career is commercial education. The more thorough the training the more certain the progress. Through our co-operation with lhe High School we are able to give more courses, more thoroughly taught, than any other business school in the West. We meet every need. Why pay twice as much for half the Efficiency? L. D. S. BUSINESS COLLEGE SALT LAKE CITY REMINGTON AUTOLOADING SHOTGUN— ONE OF BROWNING'S PATKNT8 DON'T WAIT TILL NEXT SEASON TO HAVE THAT GUN REPAIRED SEND IT TO US NOW and HAVE IT READY FOR NEXT SEASON Send Postal for onr Catalogue, 150 Pages, Illustrated. FREE BROWNING BROS. CO.. S?2SN THE NEW MODEL FIVE L. C. Smith & Bros. Typewriter Has all the successful features of earlier models with new ones added It anticipates the demands of owners and operators and is an example of the highest refinement of mechanical skill. The ball bearings at all cardinal points, the inbuilt attachments, the keyboard ribbon control, lightning escapement, rigid carriage, are some of the reasons why this machine produces neat, accurate copy with the least amount of effort. L C. SMITH & BROS. TYPEWRITER CO. Head Office for Foreign and Domestic Business, Syracuse, N. Y., TJ. S. A. SALT LAKE OFFICE, 379 South Main St., Salt Lake City WHEN WRITING 'I U AUi fci,//jt»>, / t^tzHzb MENTION THE "ERA"

EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN THE REPUBLIC HAVE A BIRTHRIGHT OF EDUCATION Such is the inference of American democracy and such is the wonderful achievement of the State of Utah in only two generations, due to ;in early reverence for education hy the found ers. The glory of such a heritage as this is spurring the educators of Utali on to an absolute fulfillment of the ideal of the pione< the State. And so the Utah Agricultural College announces that always will its doors be open to the State's men and women and boys and pirls, the essential question asked being one of sincerity of purpose and the only requirement demanded being one of industry. The College has re-grouped its practical courses. Any person over 18 years of age may enter these practical courses without examination. Any person under 18 who has completed two years of high school work and has then decided to enter practical fields may enter these courses. Such courses include Agriculture, Home Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Commerce, and Mechanic Arts. Correspondence courses are given in all departments. The courses of the College leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science require certain high school preparation. These courses are broad and liberal. Address, FRONT OF MAIN BUILDING UTAH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, LOGAN, UTAH THE PRESIDENT, THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, Logan, Utah. PROTECT!! Your dependent ones and yourself with a policy in the Beneficial Life Insurance Co. of Utah A HOME COMPANY Joseph F. Smith, President Lorenzo N. Stohl, Vice-Pres. and General Mgr. Axel B. C. Ohlson, Secretary Lead all companies in Utah in amount of New Insurance written during past three years HOME OFFICE, VERMONT BUILDING - SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH Buy the Wagon that runs 40 per cent Lighter Why shouldn't you when every other Rood wagon quality goes along with It? LISTEN HERE— You pay the sme as for a high grade wooden wagon and } ou get twice the life of the best wooden wagon made. It's a matter of simple economy. Figure it out for yourself. No drying apart, no resetting of tires, no breakdowns, no repair bills. Any way you look at It the cheapest wagou you can buy Is the DAVENPORT ROLLER BEARING STEEL WAGON ALL STEEL GEARING. Angles, I-beam and channels, steel In its strongest form?, hot welded and put together like a bridge. STEEL WHEELS that are genuine trutses. weight borne try all parts of the wheel alike. HUB LIKE AN AUTOMOBILE. Straight spindles not tapering. ROLLER-BEARINGS that are enclosed and protected from all mud, water, sand and du*t. OIL without removing wheels, SAVE YOUR IIOU.^E FLESH AND SAVE YOUR POCKET BOOK. No other wagon like the Davenport, none as good. Don't buy a wagon till you know all a>>out It. Our catalog will explain all. Write for it today CONSOLIDATED WAGON & MACHINE CO., UT^oIDTAHoStSvger«E.v.ADA WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION THE "ERA'