Passing Events

Passing Events Albert Goodwill Spalding, one of the pioneers of American base ball died in San Diego, California, September 9. Anthony Comstock, for more than forty years an active crusader against vice, died September 21, 1915, in Summit, New jersey, age seventy-one years. John D. Long, former governor of Massachusetts, and secretary of the navy under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt died at Hing- ham, Massachusetts, August 28, 1915. Dr. Dumba, the Austrian ambassador to the United States went to Europe under safe-conduct October 5. Word came from Vienna that the Austro-Hungarian government by reason of the request from the United States had formally recalled him. The Panama Canal has had a slide which is likely to prevent ships from passing the canal until January one. More than a hundred ships with great cargoes will either pass round the horn or have their cargoes sent by rail across the Isthmus. The G. A. R. forty-ninth annual encampment was held in Wash- ington, D. C, during the week of September 27. President Wilson reviewed the parade on the 29th in which were thousands of the sur- vivors of the grand review held in May, 1865. John T. Olsen, for thirteen years engineer of the Salt Lake Temple, died September 15, 1915, in Salt Lake City. He came here fifty years' ago from New York where he lived seventeen years after leaving his native land, Norway. John H. Brinton, 63 years of age, died at Holliday, Utah, Septem- ber 12, 1915. He was born in Big Cottonwood, April 8, 1852, being the son of the first bishop of that district, David B. Brinton and Har- riet Dilworth Brinton. The joint Anglo-French financial commission succeeded in borrow- ing five hundred million dollars in the United States. The loan is made on 5% short term bonds issued by the two European Govern- ments, and underwritten by a syndicate of the largest American bank- ing institutions as guarantors. John A. Egbert, bishop of West Jordan for more than twenty years, was struck by an Orem line train at Gardner's Station and was instantly killed. He was born in Hancock County, Illinois, March 28, 1842, and came to Utah in 1849. He was an active worker in both Church and business affairs and was widely and favorably known among the people. The Utah State Fair, of 1915, was more largely attended than any other ever held in the state. The value of the exhibits was greater, and the exhibits were more artistic than ever before. The total value of the livestock exhibit is said to have approximated $700,000. The mineral as well as the fruit and manufacturing displays were admir- able.

PASSING EVENTS 95 John A. Maynes, president of the London conference, died in Lon- don of pleurisy, October 13, 1915. He was born 55 years ago in Hull England, and came to Salt Lake City in 1890. lie had been away from home twenty-six months, on a mission. His predecessor, Stewart Eccles, died about a year ago in England, and his brother also died while on a mission some years ago. The Arrow Rock Dam, built in a canyon near Boise, Idaho is the highest structure of its kind in the world. The concrete wall rises 351 feet from bed rock— is 67 feet higher than the Roosevelt dam in Ari- zona, and 23 feet higher than the Shoshone dam in Wyoming. Its curved crest is 1060 feet long, its masonry resting on an acre°of bed rock. The project cost five million dollars. The purpose is to con- serve irrigation water for 250,000 acres of desert land. Vilhjalmar Steffansson, head of the Canadian Arctic expedition; sent a message, September 17, announcing his safe return to Banks- land after a journey over the ice with three companions. He had not been heard from for a year and a half. He had discovered land hitherto uncharted near 78 degrees north latitude, and 117 degrees west longi- tude. He will remain another year to learn the extent of this Arctic land which many men of science believe is the edge of a continent in the polar sea. The Great War. During the middle and latter part of September great activity continued in the west, in which the French made some headway at Arras and along the heights of the Meuse and on the right banks of the Aisne-Marne canal, also northwest of Reims. In the east, General von Hindenburg continued his eastward march of about one hundred miles, since the fall of Brest-Litovsk on August 25. The war in the Gallipoli peninsula continued, and the German minister an- nounced, on the 16th of September, that a great German army is on the way to Turkey. The Russians claim a number of victories in east- ern Galicia, and the Germans began their attack upon the Serbians. Vilna was evacuated on the 19th. Several Zeppelin raids were made during September on London, a raid on the 14th of October killing fifty-five and injuring one hundred and fourteen. September 16. — The Russian Duma was prorogued until the mid- dle of November, arousing much feeling among the people. September 21 The British chancellor of the exchequer an- nounced that Great Britain's debt, at the end of the fiscal year would be eleven billion dollars, and he proposes to add forty per cent to the income tax. — Berlin announces that submarine commanders are given strict instructions to give all liners the benefit of the doubt where the intentions are uncertain, and to permit the ships to escape rather than run the risk of error. September 28. — The British took exceptionally strong German lines of trenches at Loos, and on the day before the Allies advanced south of Lille. The losses of the Germans were forty thousand dead and wounded with nearly an equal number of prisoners taken. September 29. — At Lens and Champagne the Allies estimated that the German losses are placed at one hundred and twenty thousand men.— The third German loan was closed— two billion, seven hundred and fifty million were subscribed which is a half billion more than was subscribed for the second loan.— Reports have reached Washing- ton that about five hundred thousand Armenians have been slaughtered by the Turks and Kurds, or lost their lives as a result of the recent Turkish deportation order.

The Pan-American conferees who had previously been called to con- sider the Mexican situation with the United States government announced early in September that the leader of the strongest Mexican faction will be recognized. Villa then made active efforts to show that Venustiano Carranza governed only a small part of the Mexican territory. Then followed several conflicts between the United States soldiers and the Mexicans. On October 9th the Pan-American conferees proposed recognition of Carranza to their respective governments, the United States representatives having agreed. Carranza was overjoyed by such a final recognition which he has been laboring for so long, while General Villa departed with forces for Casas Grandes after voicing his defiance of the action and threatening a veritable war of extermina- tion. General Carranza later took a trip through the northern part of Mexico accompanied by Geneal Obregon. The "Mormons" in the Casas Grandes district were again threatened with extermination, and some of them made their way to El Paso. Improvement Era, November, 1915 Two Dollars per Annum with Manual Free Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Address, 20 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah Joseph F. Smith, ) Editors Heber J. Grant, Business Manager Edward H. Anderson, \ Moroni Snow, Assistant In the Heart of the Yellowstone National Park Frontispiece To Thee. A Poem Alfred Lambourne 1 A Notable Feature of the World's Congress of Religious Philosophies Dr. James E. Talmage 3 Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant Heareth. A Poem Annie D. Palmer 6 Brotherhood Joseph Quinney, Jr , . . 7 Poetry for the Way Up 13 The School Over the "Tater Hole." A Story. Ida Stewart Peay 14 How Success Comes. A Poem 22 Outlines for Scout Workers. Illustrated Delbert W. Parratt, A. M... 23 Governor Blease on Smoking 26 Free and Useful Education E. G. Peterson 27 Man Sent of God— II Newel K. Young 30 On what Day was Jesus Christ Crucified? . F. M. Darter 33 The Miracle of Day. A Poem Ethel Jarvis 43 A "Mormon" Captain in the British Army F. C. Steele 44 Incompetence F. W. Cope 45 Keeping One's Life in Tune 47 Do You Believe in Lady Missionaries? Edna Crowther 48 Vocations and Industries Claude Richards 50 "Safety First" Charles T. Richardson 53 Helping the Stranger. A Poem Erne Haskins 60 The Lesson Taught by a Healing George F. Richards 61 M. I. A. Scouts at Vernal, Utah. Illustrated : 62 How to Enjoy Life Dr. Charles L. Olsen 64 Three Points in the War Dr. Joseph M. Tanner 68 Editors' Table — General View of Church Con- ditions President Joseph F. Smith ... 71 "History of the 'Mormon' Church" 80 Thoughts in Brief 83 Messages from the Missions 84 Priesthood Quorums' Table 88 Mutual Work 90 Passing Events 94