Passing Events

ii Hyrum Fisher Smith died, March 9, at his home in Provo. He was the eldest son of the late Patriarch John Smith. Princess Yolanda was married, April 9, in Rome, to Count de Bergolo. She is the eldest daughter of King Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helena, of Italy. Utah's wool crop, this season, is estimated at fourteen million pounds, valued at $6 500,000. Pre-shearing sales have ranged from 43 to 50 cents a pound. The D. H. Peery building in Ogden, was destroyed by a fire, March 14, which, at one time, threatened the entire business district of the city. The damage is estimated at $360,000. Former Quen Milci.a, oi Mont~nogro, did at Antibes, France, March 16, at the age of 76 years. She was known among her people as the "pea- sant queen," because she had spent part of her early years on a farm. President Heber J. Grant was elected a director of the Union Pacific Railroad Co., April 10, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Wm. G. Rockefeller. The meeting was held in the Salt Lake offices of the com- pany. Fascisti societies are being formed in the United States, according to an announcement by the Fascisti prime minister of Italy. His idea is to keep the Italian "colonists" in America "strictly Italian and devoted to Italian interests." The new Ensign tvard chapel was dedicated, Sunday, April 1, by Presi- dent Heber J. Grant. The building is situated at Ninth Avenue and D St., Salt Lake City, and is one of the very handsome and convenient places of worship in the city. Elders Charles S. Hyde and Fred Tadje left for Europe, March 16, where they will preside over the Netherlands and the Swiss and German missions, respectively. They were accompanied by their families and six missionaries appointed to labor in various parts in Europe. Rodney C. Badger, Salt Lake City, died, at a hospital, April 12, of blood poisoning. He was born in Salt Lake City in 1848, and has lived here ever since. For the last five years he has been in the service of the Zion's Saving Bank and Trust Company. For many years he was a member of the General Board Y. M. M. I. A. Human flesh is sold for food in Russia*, according to a statement made by Dr. Hamilton Holt, is an address to the students of the university of Utah, as reported in the press. Dr. Holt is the editor of the Independent, and a member of the National League to Enforce Peace. U. S. Senator, Samuel D. Nicholsen, of Colorado, died, at Denver, March 24, after a month's illness. The cause of death was declared to be cancer of

PASSING EVENTS 673 the liver. For some time previous to his fatal illness, he suffered slight pains which he ascribed to indigestion, but his condition grew gradually more serious until the end came. John M. Redmond was 100 years old, April 11. He ceieorated the day at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. James Allerman, Salt Lake City. He gave several vocal solos in a creditable manner. He nas been a resident of Utah since 1877, and a member of the Church for 82 years. He was converted in England, his native country. The population of Salt Lake City is estimated at 126J241, by the census bureau provided that the growth conditions have continued as they were in 1920. That was the report sent out from Washington, April 6lh. New York, by the same report, is nearing the six-million mark; Chicago has nearly three millions; Philadelphia two, and Detroit, one million. Stuyvesant Fish died, April 10, as he entered the National Park bank, of which he was a director, to attend a meeting. The cause ot death was heart trouble. Fish was formerly president of the Illinois Central, and a dominant figure in the finan: ial world. He was born in New York, June 24, 1851, and served in President Grant's cabinet as secretary of state. A neiv anesthetic was declared a success, in an announcement from Chicago, March 16. It was discovered fourteen years ago and has been perfected and tried in several hospitals. With the new gas, we are told, t^ere is no choking or gagging. It deadens pain and leaves no bad after- effects. The anesthetic is called athylene gas and is formed from illuminat- ing gas. William H. Cussily, Tooele, Uiali, died in that city, March 18, after an illness of five weeks. At the time of his death he was city judge; also first counselor in the North ward bishopric. He has held many important positions both in the Church and the community and filled them with ability and devotion to duty. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., March 14, 1856. He came to Tooele City 50 years ago. Utah rises to second place in beet sugar production; Colorado stand- ing first. The lineup of the other states is in the following order: Ne- brsaka, Michigan, California. Idaho, Ohio, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Wis- consin, Minnesota, Indiana, Washington, and Kansas. The total production of beet sugar in the United States for the season of 1922-1923 was 13,498,- 900 bags, while that of the previous season was 20,403,384 bags. Tlie Earl of Carnarvon died, April 4, at Cairo, Egypt, of blood poison- ing, due to the bite of an insect. He has been prominent before the public lately, as the discoverer of the grave of Tut-Ankh-Amen in the Valley of Kings, near Luxor, Egypt. Shortly before his death, an Arab priest, Ab- dulla Ben Aliba, said he would die at the time of the full moon, because the curse of Allah was upon him for having disturbed the grave of the pharaoh. Ezra Thompson, a former mayor of Salt Lake City, died, April 8, at his home in this city, from a complication of diseases, 73 years of age. He was born in Salt Lake July 17, 1850, and became one of the largest real estate owners here. In 1898, he was elected mayor of Salt Lake and remained in office till 1904. In 1906 he was again elected on the so-called "American" ticket. At this time he resigned after a year's service. He was also a suc- cessful mining operator. William E. Cunninglwm perished in the flames which destroyed the Arlington hotel, March 14. He was a veteran railroad man, known as "Bingham Bill"1 Cunningham from the fact that he was formerly conductor

674 IMPROVEMENT ERA on the Denver & Rio Grande Western train operating between Salt Lake and Bingham. The partly charred body was found in the ruins of the hotel at 11:30 o'clock March 16, by E. S. Barker, Ezra W. Paul, and C. E. Perry. Soon after the removal of the body to the Kirkendall mortuary, Wells Cun- ningham, a son of the veteran, identified the body. Elder Harden Beniiion was appointed first counselor in the Salt Lake Stake presidency, March 11, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elder Edward T. Ashton. He was born at Taylorsville, Utah, 1862. Legislative duties first brought him to Salt Lake, when he served two terms in the state legislature from the Twelfth district beginning in 1899. For eight years he served on the state board of equalization, resigning in 1916 when he was elected secretary of state in which capacity he served a four-year term. Elder Bennion has been a member of the presidency of the Uintah stake for two years and has held various offices in the Church. President Heber J. Grant arrived home from the coast, March 19. Dur- ing his visit to Los Angeles he addressed a number of well-attended meet- ings. The following ward officials were appointed: Hollywood. Melbourne C. Stewart, bishop; Angus E. Peterson, first counselor; Wilbur W. Conover, second counselor; Mathoni Mead Pratt, clerk; Boyle Heights, Daniel P. Cheney, bishop; Charles C. Brent, first counselor; John T., Arbridge, second counselor; Ezra L. Marler. clerk; Adams ward, Hans B. ^ielson, bishop. Gatherings in Los Angeles were also addressed by Presiding Bishop C. W. Nibley, President Joseph W. McMurrin of the California mis- sion. Elder John A. Widtsoe and Oscar A. Kirkham executive director of the Y. M. M. I. A. The Party of Freedom, or the League of Liberty, is the name of a new political organization. Ernest Bamberger is mentioned as one of the leaders of the "conservative wing" of the party. There is, also, as appears from the Tribune, April 1, a "Bolshevik" wing. To place a ticket in the field in the fall city election and to support men for office for all city, school district, county and state elections who believe in the liberal policies of the organization embodied in resolutions passed by the Party of Freedom at a meeting, March 31, is the aim of the party. Plans for its perpetuation were discussed. The right of American citizens to use public restaurants as smoking rooms was not discussed, but it was stated emphatically that a party was needed that would not stand for "religious interference in government." Samuel A. Whitney died, March 16, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Stringham, at Millville, Utah. He was born at Palmyra, Union Co., Ohio, Nov. 10, 1840, and was the son of Alonzo Wells Whitney. The elder Mr. Whitney joined the Church early in 1840 and not long after moved to Nauvoo, 111. There he passed through the persecutions and was finally driven across the Mississippi and died there. At the age of nearly 7 years Samuel A. Whitney started with other pioneers across the plains and arrived in Utah September 29, 1847, with the second company of pio- neers that came to the valley. Mr. Whitney came to Logan, April 19, 1860, and has lived there ever since that time. He served with the Thomas E. Ricks company of minutemen in Indian fights in the valley and fulfilled a mission for the L. D. S. Church by herding cattle on the Church farm for three years. In 1864 he married Fannie Vail. Twelve children have been born, ten of whom are living. President Anthony W. Ivins was elected president of the board of trustees of the Utah Agricultural College, Logan, April 2, when the board

PASSING EVENTS 675 met to reorganize and plan for its ministration. New member-, of the board who qualified were Hamilton Gardner and Lorenzo N. Stohl of Salt Lake, Roy Bullen of Logan. A. R. Mclntyre of Ogden and Randall L. Jones of Cedar City. Mr. Stohl has just been appointed but served as member of the board and was formerly its president for many years. The retiring members are Frank B. Stephens of Salt Lake, W. S. Hansen, George "V . Skidmore and Mrs. Lois Hayball, all of Logan. John Dern and A. G. Barber, two board members, died during the past year. Ihe holdover members of the board are President Ivins, Mr. Howard L. Judd. of Salt Lake, Angus T. Wright of Ogden, Dr. 0. H. Budge and C. P. Cardon of Logan and J. D. Peters of Brigham City. Senator Reed Smoot returned home from Washington, March 15. He praises the work done by the short session of the last Congress. Speaking of the present condition in the country, he says, as quoted in one inter- view: "At the beginning of the session agriculture was in despondency. There were millions of unemployed and idle cars were noted everywhere on the railroads. While agriculture has not fully recovered, it is on the high road to normal conditions. There are no unemployed, except the lazy. The chief trouble the railroads are having is to get cars enough to handle the traffic. Building is on the boom. Deposits in savings banks have in- creased and interest rates have declined. Our foreign trade is increasing with leaps and bounds, contrary to all prediction of the calamity howlers. Taxes for federal purposes have been reduced. Military armament has been limited and our chief foreign credit, with England, has been funded. Peace is assured on the Pacific and emigration has been restrained, within rea- sonable limits and the American business world has confidence m the future. The Einstein theory of relativity has been confirmed, says Dr. W W. Campbell, of the Lick Observatory, Cal., by calculations based on photo- graphs of the sun taken by him during the total eclipse of the sun, September 21, 1922, at W nihil. Australia. Einstein maintains that light is matter, and that the rays of a star passing close to another large celesnal bodv would, therefore, be bent out of their course by gravitation. This, Mr. Campbell thinks, the photographs prove. But Prof. F. J. Lee, government astronomer at Mare Island, says he does not believe the theory is capable of proof. The so-called Einstein theory, as explained in the dispatches, also regards time and space as relative, distance having meaning only in relation of objects to each other, and time, being measured by the relation of events, and sub- ject to motion for its existence as a method of measurement. But it goes further than that away from the beaten track. It regards time as a fourth "dimension" and presents to us a "world;" composed of events, each of which is described by four numbers namely, the three well-known space co-ordinates and a time co-ordinate. A four-dimensioned w»nd is, by no means, a new concept, but it fits well into the new theory. Indiarts go on the ivarpath, near Blanding, Utah, to rescue two of their band sentenced to jail for robbing a sheeytherder. A pitched battle was fought March 20, and one Indian known as Bishop's Boy. was killed. The trouble dates to May, 1921. At the sheepcamp of Floyd Nielson numerous petty rob- beries had occurred. One night Bishop's Boy and another Indian Miown as Dutch's Boy were caught. It was thes; two who were placed on trial for the thefts in Blanding before a justice of the peace. Meanwhile members of the band had been notified. They appeared in a body in a village street bedecked in war paint. At noon time, the two prisontrs disarmed the sheriff and es- caped. Armed posses were then sent into the hills and the battle ensued. Nine Indians were captured and one was killed by the posse, March 22, in Dark canyon, beyond Comb wash. Five of the captives escaped

676 IMPROVEMENT ERA during the night, and the other four were taken to Blanding. The Indians, it was said, had been reinforced by Utes and Piutes from Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. The leader is "Old Posey," who led the band in the dis- turbances and looting expeditions some years ago. On March 24, a reward of $100. was offered by the state for the capture of "Old Posey." Aretta Young, born September 10, 1864, in St. Charles, Idaho, was the daughter of Franklin and Anna M. Sabin Young. She died Sunday, March 25, 1923, at Provo, Utah. She entered the Brigham Young University first in 1883. With the odds of ill health against her, she made an heroic struggle to remain in school a year and had it not been for the kindness extended to her by Dr. Karl G. Maeser she must have given up in despair. She returned to the Brigham Young Academy three different times after her first entrance into the school, and graduated from the normal department. She was gifted in art lines, and no person ever connected with the insti- tution has done more exquisite needle work than she. Since her return from Columbia University, where she made a specialty of drawing and painting, her creative instinct has expressed itself mainly in drawing and water color. She has written all her life, chiefly poems. Practically every magazine in the Church has published at some time or other her verses. Always very fond of flowers, she has been more responsible than any other person connected with the institution for the cut flowers found on the rostrum, in the faculty room, and in the offices of the president and president emeritus. With the exception only of President George H. Brim- hall, she was the senior member of the faculty of the Brigham Young University. An excellent teacher, she at one time stood at the head of the normal training school of the Brigham Young] Academy, gaining recogni- tion for the clever manner in which she presented stories to children. Madame Sarah Bernhardt died, March 26, at her home in Paris. The death was due to uraemic poisoning. At her bedside were the widow of Edmond Rostand and the poet's son, Maurice Rostand; also her grandson, M. Gosse. During a period of consciousness extreme unction was ad- ministered to her which she acknowledged with a faint movement of her hands, being too weak to speak. She suffered greatly in her last illness, except in the closing hours, but, ever thoughtful of others, she concealed her pain from all but Dr. Marot. From time to time she became delirious and declaimed passages from the tragedy "Phedre" and "L'Aiglon," her two greatest triumphs. Madame Bernhardt was born October 22, 1845, her mother being! a Putch Jewess and her father a Frenchman. At the agu of 12 she was sent to a French convent. At the age of 14 she was sent to a conservatory and displayed wonderful genius for tragedy. In August, 1862, she made her first appearance at the Comedie Francaise, and a few years later she was one of the brightest stars in the theatrical world, and she has held her popularity to the last. Madame Bernhardt has been in Salt Lake City several times. In 1906 she played Camille at Saltair. In 1911, she presented UAiglon at the Salt Lake theatre. In 1913 she appeared at the Orpheum, then at State St. At that time the great Ohio flood had taken a toll of many lives, and she volunteered to sell newspapers for the benefit of the flood sufferers. The first paper she sold was, as the writer remembers it, a copy of The Deseret News, which brought a price of $100. In 1917 she paid another visit to Salt Lake City. At that time she had an artificial leg, but she appeared in a sketch written especially for her and so con structed that she delivered all of her lines either standing with something to lean upon, or reclining on a couch.