--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 21 number: 9 published: 1918-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Passing Events," *Improvement Era* 21, no. 9 (July 1918): 838–844.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2109unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2109unse start_page: 838 end_page: 844 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1918-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2109unse publication_year: 1918 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1918, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events 840 IMPROVEMENT ERA June; 500 of these were to be sent to Camp Lewis within five days from June 24, and 453 were to be Grammar School graduates with some experi- ence along mechanical lines and aptitude for mechanical work who were to report to the commanding officer at the University of Utah on June 15. These letter will receive a course of training at government expense to fit them to serve in army positions requiring knowledge of auto-mechanics, driving, blacksmithing, carpentering, electricity, gas-engine, concrete work- ing, wireless operating, and many kinds of military service both at the front and behind the lines. When the United States troops arrived in Britain in April, King George personally welcomed the soldiers and addressed to them a letter of welcome which reads as follows: Windsor Castle. Soldiers of the United States: The people of the British Isles welcome you on your way to take your stand beside the armies of many nations now fighting in the Old World the great battle for human freedom. The Allies will gain new heart and spirit in your company. I wish that I could shake the hand of each one of you and bid you God speed on your mission. George, R. I., April, 1918. The American casualty list for June 14, contained the names of two Idaho boys who were killed in action Corporal George Bell, of Winchester, : and John F. Kemig, of Spalding, Idaho. Charles E. Nelson, son of Nels Nelson, 1034 West Second North street, Salt Lake City, and Bates Bryan, of Moutpelier, Idaho, another marine, and George Mantas, of Tooele, Utah, were all reported in the list as seriously injured. Nelson left his home in Salt Lake City a year ago, enlisting with the marines. Mr. Kemig joined F Company, 2nd Idaho Regiment, after his return from the Mexican border, and was later placed in the 116th engineers. His mother, Mrs. William Steith, resides in Spalding, Idaho. The daily casualty list of the Americans has ranged from 10 to as high as 188 per day, during the past month, the total deaths from the beginning, a year ago, to June 16, being 3,193 wound- ; ed, 4,547; missing, 346; grand total, 8,085, out of 800,000 now overseas. Our soldiers have distinguished themselves in many belles. Danquart Anthon Weggeland, widely known for many years as the father pf art in Utah, died in Salt Lake City, on Sunday afternoon, June 2, 1918. He was born in Christiania, Norway, March 31, 1827, being therefore over ninety-one years of age. At twenty years of age he left his native city, Christiania, and went to Copenhagen, studying there for three years at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. At the age of thirty-four, he came to America, remaining in New York for a year. In the fall of 1862, he came to Utah, and was commissioned by President Brigham Young, to assist in doing the scenes and art work in the Salt Lake Theatre. He has worked also in many of the residences of the state, and in the public buildings. In history and literature he was well versed, as he was in art. By Utah painters, he was considered the father of them all. Mr. Weggeland had a wife and nine children; the widow and four of the latter surviving him He was of gentle and kindly disposition, taking a fatherly interest up to the last in the younger artists. "The Gypsy Camp" is one of his most noted and original pictures which is now the property of the University of Utah, and may be seen in President John A. Widtsoe's office. A serious railway accident occurred on the 12th of June at 1:25 o'clock on the Denver & Rio Grande R. R. as a westbound passenger train was entering Salt Lake City from the east at the rate of fifty miles an hour. A PASSING EVENTS 841 gang of section hands had been engaged in repairing the tracks and had neglected to leave a danger signal for slowing down. The result was that the train jumped the tracks and the cars tumbled down an embankment. One person, Andrew O. Collings, Salida, Colo., was killed, and some fifty-three others were injured. In the car which suffered the greatest damage in the wreck, were four Latter-day Saint missionaries returning from abroad. According to W. C. Spence, transportation agent of the Church, they escaped entirely uninjured. Mr. Spence states further that during the thirty-three years he has arranged routes for missionaries traveling to and from all parts of the world, none have been seriously injured in accidents, although at times some have narrowly escaped death. The missionaries in this accident were: Eletha Simmons, Byron, Wyo.; Alma Findlay, Bloomington, Idaho; Raymond W. Peck, Cove, Ore.; Fred G. Hansen, Aetna, Canada. Among the injured in the wreck were C. D. Simpson, brakeman, of Ogden, Utah, and Thomas F. Durkin, assistant superintendent D. & R. G., and William Rettstat, both of Salt Lake City. © Underwood & Underwood, New York A German submarine, in the days from May 25 to June 4, appeared upon the New Jersey coast and sank about fifteen vessels, among them being the steamer, Herbert L. Pratt, shown in this picture, still flying Old Glory, lying in shallow water off the shore which she managed to reach before she sank, being thus damaged by a mine laid by a submarine. This ship has since been raised. Her bridge and most of the stern are seen above water. Among other ships sunk was the steamer Texel, the steamships Carolina and Winneconne, the schooners Edna, Haskell, Wiley, the transport, President Lincoln, and many others. The U-boats raiding our coastwise shipping, from the Virginia capes to the New Jersey coast, up to this writing, have escaped. Albert G. Clayton, Co. B 161st Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces, via New York, writes to a friend from "Somewhere in France:" "When I : 842 IMPROVEMENT ERA live, with everything Stop f<»r a few minutea ami think of Ihe life I used to the most pleasant end peeeefnl you could wish, and then compare it with ..in constantly moving life here in France, where we never know from one minute to the next where we are likely to be, it makes me wonder if everything i> still BJ beautiful BS it used to be in Utah. Wecertainly have to gel a tastfl of the world to really appreciate what great blessings we have at home. Since I have been away from home, I have learned many, many things; one of the biggest things I have learned is to know just how big and grand the gospel is. I never felt while at home that I could really say, I know the gospel is true.' I can now. I have also heard people say they were spiritually hungry, I have also experienced that feeling, and how welcome the day will be when I can again enjoy the privileges I used to. Life in France, of course, is much different from what it was in the United States; however, it seems to agree with me. I certainly am glad to have the privilege of being over here; it is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and if I can succeed in doing just a littfle good to someone, I shall feel repaid." Brigadier-General Richard W. Young, on May 3, 1918, made this interesting and inspiring speech at Camp Kearny, to the Utah boys, on the occasion of his relinquishing command of the 145th F. A. to assume command, May 6, of the 65th Artillery Brigade, consisting of the 143d and 144th California regiments and the 145th F. A. (1st Utah) To the 145th Field Artillery: In relinquishing command of the 145th Field Artillery, it would neither be consistent with my own feelings, nor, I believe, with the expectations of the regiment for me to remain silent. Upon the declaration of war by the United States, it appeared to me as an imperative duty, by reason of my past experiences and the vital character of the present crisis, again to cast my lot with the Colors. It was my happy fortune to be appointed by Governor Bamberger to the command of this organization. It is the consensus of official opinion that you have made an enviable record. That record, all are confident, is but a faint indication of the greater honors that must and will come to you through the real test and ordeal of war. I am not so egotistical as to arrogate to myself any undue, or much, credit for your achievements— these are to be ascribed primarily to the high average of-your soldierly characteristics, and, secondarily, to the quick and full response that you have made to the instruction imparted and discipline enjoined by the trained officers and men of the First Separate Utah Battery, the efficient artillery nucleus of the regiment, and by the experienced officers and men of the cavalry and other organizations of our National Guard, and in no small degree to the dominating intelligence of Brigadier- General Lyon, our esteemed and popular brigade commander. Among the members of the regiment are numbers of men whom I — count as personal friends the acquaintances, some of them, of many years, including a handful of beloved compatriots with whom I served in the Spanish-American war and the Philippine insurrection. Many of the officers and men of the regiment are sons or brothers or other relatives of old-time companions, while still others are from; families with whose names and history I have long been familiar. It has been my constant regret that, conditions have made it impossible for me to make a close personal acquaintanceship with each of you— that opportunity, as to many of you, may happily present itself in future days. To the casual observer, the soldier is without identity, a mere item of — ; PASSING EVENTS 843 a mass of entirely similar beings; but to him who has the good fortune to mingle closely with the troops, the soldier emerges as an individual, distinguished, often, by such qualities as lend value and charm to the race. In the mass and before acquaintance, the soldier may not seem to be intrinsically of very great value, but when you come to know him, you find out that he is worth a million dollars of any man's money. Then you understand why he is the very apple of his parents' eye, and why he has been able to grapple friends to him with hooks of steel. Knowing this well, I regret not knowing you better. At the present moment I am not advised as to what my immediate assignment to duty may be, but most devoutly hope it may be to the command of the 65th Artillery Brigade, composed, as it is, not only of our own regiment, but of other organizations whose excellence is attested and whose membership is of the highest type of American manhood. We are enlisted and hope for the privilege of playing an adequate part in a great cause. I was told yesterday of a man who, after the delay of months, has at last donned the olive drab because he cannot see how he would ever be able to explain to his son his failure to enlist. I am tempted to quote a few lines from King Henry V, as applicable to you and to the situation, if, perchance, we shall be permitted to play the higher part in this historic drama: If it be a "sin to covet honour," You are the "most offending" souls alive. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours; Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars . . He'll remember with advantages . What feats he did that day; then shall our names, Familiar in their mouths as household words, Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; And gentlemen in England, now a-bed, Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks, That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. In conclusion let me assure you of my undying pride in and affection for you, and adjure you to be true to the ideals that have characterized and distinguished your forefathers, and that, thus far, have been conspicuous in your own records, namely, obedience to constituted authority, dependability, sobriety, cleanliness of life, stoutness of heart, uncapitulating loyalty. Richard W Young. . W. Clarence Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Smith, 1101 South 8th East street, Salt Lake City, who arrived in France in March was surprised to find at one mobilization camp alone about five hundred men from Utah, fully one-half of whom he found to be "Mormons." These have formed a branch organization, the Y. M. C. A. building has been thrown open for their services, and some interesting meetings have been held. At the first meeting it was learned that some fifty young men present had been on missions. Elder Smith writes, according to the Deseret News, that Elder Stewart was made branch president, W. Clarence Smith, First Counselor, and Vernon Dean of Sugar House, Second Counselor. Mr. Smith was at Camp Lewis, American Lake, November 8, 1917, remaining there only three or four days before he was sent to Camp Clary. He is a member of the signal corps of the 148th Field Artillery, and sailed for Europe in January. He was just eight hours ahead of the ill-fated transport Tuscania, which was torpedoed. In the "Improvement Era" Story Contest for May 5, Milford W. Foshay, Painesville, Ohio, won first place with his story entitled, "The Streak of Gray;" and Henry Nicol Adamson, Salt Lake City, won second place with his story entitled, "The Escape." This closes the contest for 1918. Albert S. Anderson, Private, Battery B, Fifth F. A., American Expeditionary Forces, France, via New York, writes, May 25: "The Era reaches me each month, and I wish to thank you for it. I am at the front and it is great to have it to read. I only read it over about a dozen times." A Story and Conference number will be the Era for August. You will enjoy it. If you wish extra numbers order them today. Improvement Era, July, 1918 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, { Heber J. Grant, Business Manager Editors Edward H. Anderson, \ Moroni Snow, Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS President Wilson on Fifth Avenue, New York Frontispiece To the Sons of Freedom. A Poem Alfred Lambourne 753 A Plucky Pioneer Mother Prest. Joseph F. SmitJi 755 Why Should I Sing? A Poem Grace Ingles Frost 758 Gold Mines and Riches Nephi Anderson : _ 759 Liberty Louis L. Allen 763 Back to the Faith. A Story Annie D. Palmer 765 The Return of the Jews I — E. H. Lund 773 Lucy Mack Smith. A Poem Minnie Iverson Hodapp 779 The Makers of Science—VIII Dr. John A. Widtsoe 780 A Scene in the Red Cross Pageant 782 Outlines for Scout Workers—XXVI. Illustrated. Delbert W. Parratt, B. S 783 Strength to be a Helper. A Poem Grace Ingles Frost 786 Home Defense Song Evan Stephens 787 French Refugees, on the Road to Somewhere 789 — The Sick are Healed Vital Differences -_^—J oseph A. West 790 The Grizzly of the Idaho Woods Claude T. Barnes 793 German Prisoners Captured 798 Problems of the Age—XXII-XXIV Dr. Joseph M. Tanner 799 Prohibition in Canada De Voe Woolf, LL. B 806 The Meaning of Education—X E. G. Peterson, A. M 808 Experience at the Front . Jesse Frederick Harrington.... 810 Thoughts of a Farmer—XV ~ Dr. Joseph M. Tanner. 813 M. I. A. Reading Course Books, 1918-1919 .:.. : 814 Testimony of a Japanese Member of the Church G. Inonye 815 Sagebrush. A Poem J. S. Stanford 817 Are Men Born Equal? Dr. James E. Talmage 818 July 4, 1918 Alfred Lambourne 820 Editor's Table — The Foreground of Fundamental Things Lieut. B. H. Roberts 821 Nation-Wide Prohibition 824 Messages from the Missions .• : 826 Mutuil Work 832 The Gold Star in the Service Flag Maud Baggarley 837 Passing Events , „ „ 838 Monumental Granite BARRE VERMONT has come to be known as the largest monumental granite center in the world. This is due to the fine uniform grain and color of the stone. There being distinctively three kinds: light, medium and dark. They are uniform in being grey— that is a beautiful mixture of blue black and opal white. For axed and hammered surfaces the light and medium are perhaps the preferable stones, while for polished work there is no granite in America—if in the whole world, that surpasses Dark Barre. It takes plate-glass finish and on account of its dark color inscriptions cut into it are plain and easily read. These are the two chief requisites for monumental use, especially in cemeteries; there being nothing so rich and refined as a brilliantly polished surface and satisfactorily useful as a plain and enduring inscription. Combining these qualities so preeminently the Dark Barre Granite is now recognized as the leading monumental granite of America, and is being placed in cemeteries over the whole country in greatly increased quantities. The Mormon people are among those who have chosen this granite in preference to all others— and monuments, headstones and markers made of it are being placed in many of their cemeteries. The most recent dintinguished use of it is in the Hyrum Smith Monument, on the family lot of Pres. Joseph F. Smith just erected in Salt Lake City Cemetery; while the great Centennial Memorial to Joseph Smith the Prophet at his birthplace the largest and most perfect is example of its use in existence. There is no polished monument in the country that surpasses in size and finish this one at Sharon, Vermont. That this peculiarly rich stone should be coming into its place recognized for its monumental value and beauty— is evidenced by the fact that last year the quarries of the firm named below produced about half a million cubic feet. ' DARK BARRE GRANITE BOUTWELL, MILNE & VARNUM CO. MONTPELIER, VERMONT