Passing Events

PASSING EVENTS 181 Former U. S. Senator Cornelius Cole died, Nov. 3, at Los Angeles, 102 years and two months old. He had a touch of pneumonia and heart disease, but old age was the chief cause of his death. During the Civil War he occupied a seat in the house of congress, and in 1866 he was sent to the U. S. senate, where he served until 1873. In 1922 he made a trip east and received the degree of doctor of laws from the Wesleyan College, 75 years after he graduated. He was born at Lodi, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1822, but has lived in California since he was 27 years of age. Senator Reed Smoot was appointed an elector of the Hall of Fame, Nov. 1 1 , and will take a special interest in the 6th election next year. The Hall of Fame was originated in 1900, when the University of New York received a donation of $250,000 for that purpose. By the provision of the donor, 150 panels were to be provided for memorial bronze tablets in honor of American celebrities. Fifty could be selected at once, and there- after there was to be a selection of not more than five every five years. Sixty-three have thus far been honored. Next year will be the sixth quin- quennial election. The McDonald government was overwhelmingly defeated in the parlia- mentary elections, Oct. 29, and the Conservative party received a large working majority. It is evident that fear of Bolshevist influence rallied the English voters around the Conservative standard. Bolshevist proclama- tions, calling upon the laborers to revolt against the government are said to have appeared both in England and Germany. The Conservatives have more than 400 members of a total of 615 in the Commons. The Laborers have 149, the Liberals, 40, the Independents 4; cooperatives 5; Con- stitutionalists 3; and Communists 1. H. H. Kohlsaat, famous newspaper editor, died, Oct. 17, stricken with paralysis, at the home of Secretary Hoover, Washington, where he was visiting. He was 71 years old. Mr. Kohlsaat came to Washington about ten days prior to attend the world series baseball games as the guest of Com- missioner Landis. In a statement announcing his death, Secretary Hoover said he had seemed tired and had consented to remain at his home for a rest. A severe headache developed Sunday and was followed by a stroke. Mr. Hoover recalled that the deceased had been a "valued friend of every president since McKinley." The Shenandoah arrived at Lakehurst, N. Y., Oct. 26, having suc- cessfully completed a journey of 9,000 miles. The Shenandoah cast off the mooring at Lakehurst and started its long cruise at 10 a. m. Oct. 7. At 11 o'clock Oct. 26, 445 hours had passed since the start. In that time the Shenandoah had been flying with its engines running for 257 hours and 35 minutes and moored to a mast for 187 hours and 22 minutes. The latter includes five days, or 120 hours, that the ship was being repaired. The actual flying time between cities, deducting the time taken in locating the mooring masts through the fogs, was 235 hours and 11 minutes. The resignation of Dr. Harry E. Fosdick was accepted by the con- gregation, as a meeting held Oct. 22. On the preceding Sunday he preached his farewell sermon in the Fifth Ave. Presbyterian church, where he has held forth for five years, without being a member of the church. The house was crowded. Among the strange things he said on that occasion, as quoted was the following: "Oftentimes you will find a spirit of Satan in the churches and the spirit of Jesus outside * * * but I can hear Paul say * * * 'y°u are right about the churches; they may be even worse than you describe, but let thou remain in the church.' That is the right spirit."

182 IMPROVEMENT ERA To change quicksilver into gold will be attempted under the direction of Prof. H. H. Sheldon of the New York University, according to an announcement made by the Scientific American. The experiments will take from two or three months. The possibility of such transformation was discovered some time ago by Prof. Adolph Miethe in Berlin, by accident. Using a quartz lamp and quicksilver vapor, he was seeking to determine the effect of violet electric rays upon the vapor. After 200 hours of opera- tion, his apparatus became clogged. He took it apart and discovered its tubes were choked with pure gold. A repetition of the experiment gave the same result. It will now be tried in this country. Secretary of Agriculture Henry C. Wallace died Oct. 26 at the naval hospital in Washington of toxema poisoning, after an operation for sciatica. He was born at Rock Island, 111., May 11, 1866, and was graduated from the Iowa state college of agriculture and mechanic arts in 1892. Before entering the institution and while studying he was engaged in the breeding of purebred stock in Adair county. From 1893 to 1895 Mr. Wallace was professor .of dairying at the state college and at the same time editor of the Creamery Gazette and Farm and Dairy. He was manager and associate editor of Wallace's Farmer, from 1895 to 1916 and from then until he entered the cabinet served as editor of the publication. William C. Spence, transportation agent of the Church, retired, Oct. 31, 1924, from that position after a faithful and efficient service which has extended over a period of 52 years. Born in London, he came to this country in 1864, having crossed the plains with ox team. Eight years later, in 1872, he entered the President's office. President Brigham Young was then at the head of the Church. Brother Spence has, it is said, written more than twenty thick volumes containing copies of letters, many of them written by hand before the days of the typewriters. As transportation agent Mr. Spence has made innumerable friends, both at home and abroad, and the many missionaries who, through all these years, have had the benefit of his assistance will always remember him as a congenial and helpful friend. Archaeological research in Nevada is being carried on by M. C. Har- rington, representing the museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, N. Y., and Captain Alan LeBaron, a British archaeologist, who are exploring ancient ruins and examining rock writings and fossils near Beatty, Indian Springs and Forty-mile canyon. Mr. Harrington says: "Nevada is the real background of antiquity and an archaeologist's paradise;" and LeBaron, still more enthusiastic, says: He once believed that the beginning of the human race was in his native land, the far east, but after twelve years in America he is now convinced that Nevada is the "cradle of civilization." "And," he added, "I can prove it." From Beatty, Nev., the find of ancient Pueblo cities was reported Oct. 26, by a party composed of M. R. Harrington, Colonel Thomas Miller and Mr. C. E. Miller. A number of mummies and skeletons were found. President Calvin Coolidge will be the next president of the United States, with General Charles G. Dawes as vice president, as a result of the presidential election, Nov. 4. It is estimated that he will have 382 electoral votes to 136 for Davis and 13 for La Follette. The estimate of the popular vote on Nov. 6 was 18,000,000 for Coolidge, 8,000,000, for Davis and 4,000,000 for La Follette. Here, as in the recent election in Great Britain, the conservative and liberal voters in the two main parties united on the Republican nominees against the third party candidate. In Wyoming Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross, widow of the late Governor Ross, was elected "governor" on the Democratic ticket. In Texas, too, a woman, "Ma" Ferguson, wife of former Governor Ferguson, who was

PASSING EVENTS 183 defeated in a conflict with the K. K. Klan, was the successful candidate of the Democrats. These are, undoubtedly the first two women to hold the position of state governors in the United States. The house of rep- resentatives is Republican. Of the 435 members 246 are classed as Republi- cans, 183 as Democrats, 3 Farmer-Labor, 2 Socialists and 1 in doubt. In the Senate there will be 55 Republicans, 40 Democrats and 1 Farmer- Laborjte. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge passed away at the Charles Gate hospital, Cambridge, Mass., Nov 9, at the age of 74 years. The illness, it is said, was similar to that of President Woodrow Wilson, and the stroke which he suffered on Nov. 5 was much the same. On July 27 the condition of his health was such that an emergency operation was thought necessary. He recovered quickly, and three months later a second operation was performed. Again he seemed to recover completely, and he planned to leave the hospital and get ready for congress. Henry Cabot Lodge had served continuously in the United States senate since 1893, as Republican leader since August, 1918, and was one of the most prominent members of his party for a generation. Statesman, publicist, author, lawyer and historian, Mr. Lodge's manifold activities made a wide impression on contemporaneous events. Chief prominence, perhaps, came to him as leader of the senate opposition to the league of nations and the treaty of Versailles during 1918, 1919 and 1920. As chairman of the senate foreign relations committee and Republican floor leader, he led the contest with former President Wilson in the fight against ratification. He was the author. of the "Lodge reservations" and was credited with a large part in moulding the policy of the Harding administra- tion against American entrance into the league. Richard Dye died, Sept. 28, 1924, at Riverdale, Weber co., following a few days' illness. He was born in Herefordshire, England, Jan. 2, 1832, the son of Thomas and Sarah Gower Dye. With his parents, he became a member of the Church in 1852, and left England with his brother, Samuel Dye, who died in Ogden a few months ago, the same year. Mr. Dye first settled in Massachusetts, where, for two years, he presided over the Charleston conference of the Church. He left Boston in 1858 and crossed the plains by ox team. Upon his arrival in Utah late in 1858, Mr. Dye settled in Salt Lake, where he lived for two years, and then came to Riverdale, in Weber county, where he was among the first settlers. Mr. Dye was a man of considerable talent. Being a musician, he was leader of the Riverdale ward choir for forty years, was superintendent of the ward Sunday school for thirty years, president of the seventy-sixth quorum of seventies for seven years, and at the time of his death was a high priest in Weber stake. In 1859 he married Mary Maiden Peek, who still is living. The following children survive: Richard T. Dye, Preston, Idaho; William M. Dye, Joseph H. Dye, James Dye, and Walter Dye, of Firth, Idaho; Samuel G. Dye, Ogden, and Mrs. Walter Jarrell, Creston, Utah. Fifty grandchildren and forty- four great-grandchildren are living. President Heber J. Grant, with wife and niece, Mrs. Helen Winters, arrived home, Nov. 8, from a three weeks' trip to the east. During his absence, President Grant visited Indianapolis, where he was entertained by Henry Warrum, a brother of Noble Warrum, also held meeting with the Saints there. The following Sunday he attended a conference at Minneapolis, where the Saints have just completed a very creditable meetinghouse, which costing about $15,000 was dedicated by the president. The Saturday night previous to the quarterly conference, a meeting was held in the L. D. S. chapel at St. Paul. During the week President Grant visited Detroit and held a meeting Wednesday night with the Saints there. He also visited the Maxwell automobile factory. The following Sunday he attended the Milwaukee conference.

184 IMPROVEMENT ERA While in Chicago, the president went through the plant where the Bell telephones are made, and was advised they have sometimes as many as 40,000 employees in this one plant. The other plant in New Jersey some- times has as many as 25,000 employees. He said he was astonished to learn there are fifteen and a fraction million automobiles in the United States and about one hundred thousand less telephones than automobiles. In all the above places and in Chicago, President Grant held meetings with the missionaries. They were all in good health and enjoying their labors. The Associated Newspapers, the Beobachter, the Nederlander, the Bikuben and the Utah Poster), published under the auspices of the Church in Salt Lake City, issued an enlarged conference edition, of 10,000 copies immediately before the October conference. The edition contained a very good picture of the First Presidency, and a special presidential message to all foreign-born members of the Church; also a gem of an article by Dr. John A. Widtsoe; a brief historical sketch of the First Presidency; a lengthy review of Utah's Resources, by the business manager, Mr. Adam L. Petersen, and a number of articles on various subjects. The special edition has been well received both at home and abroad in the various mis- sions. The president of the Swedish mission, Elder Hugo D. E. Peterson, speaking of the Utah Posten generally, has this to say in Nordstjarnan: "The paper is not large, as compared with the larger and older colleagues, especially those published in the eastern states of America, but, as to its contents, it is worth infinitely more: It is the quality of a paper and not its quantity that must be considered." And that expresses fairly well the estimate in which the Associated papers are held by those who read them. In this connection it may be stated that the Church authorities are issuing circular letters calling attention of stake presidents and bishops, to these papers and also to the religious meetings for the benefit of foreign-born Church members in every stake where necessary. The papers and meetings are under the supervision of a committee consisting of Dr. John A. Widtsoe, chairman; President Rulon S. Wells, vice chairman; Bishop John Wells, President Nephi L. Morris, and Elder Serge F. Ballif, with Elder Franklin S. Davis as secretary. -'■ To My Wife She toils by my side through the daylight hours. She rests by my side through the night. She like the radiant June-kissed flowers Contributes to make my grey world bright. There's a bright, bright gleam in her merry eyes That tells me there's joy in her heart; And all too quickly for her, time flies, For she with the day's loath to part. What would a winter evening mean At home in the firelight's gloom, If she did not grace the humble scene, Casting her halloed spell o'er the room. Oh, may that happy light in her eyes Still burn at the even of life! God, how I trust that no shadows arise To mar the pure love that I bear her — my wife. Belleisle, N. B. Canada. ALAN REIDPATH.

"We are always glad to receive the Improvement Era. It is an inspira- tional and uplifting magazine. It is certainly a help to us in a spiritual and educational way." — Elder J. Leland Anderson, of the Norwegian Mission, Christiania, Norway. "We are always pleased to have the opportunity of sending in new sub- scriptions for our splendid magazine, the Era, as we are interested in its welfare and desire to see its circulation increased in this mission. Its good work cannot be over-estimated." — Rulon H. Tingey, mission secretary, Auck- land, New Zealand. IMPROVEMENT ERA, DECEMBER, 1924 Two Dollars per Annum Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2. 1918 Heber J. Grant. ) p ,. Melvin J. Ballard, Business Mgr. Edward H. Anderson, j Moroni Snow, Assistant. CONTENTS Portrait of Prest. Anthony W. Ivins and Elder Richard R. Lyman, taken in Honolulu Frontispiece The Other Wise Man. A Poem . Ruth B. Musser 95 A Visit to Hawaii. Illustrated Elder Richard R. Lyman 97 A Sonnet Joseph Longking Townsend.. 107 "The. Water's Testify" Dr. John A. Widtsoe 108 As a Watered Garden - 113 An Eye for an Eye. A Story Ivy W. Stone 114 Thoughts Webster Tucker 1_ 122 All Hail the Christmas Tide. A Poem Ida R. Alldredqe . 123 What Will It Be? A Story ..Agnes Just Reid 125 God's Garden. A Poem Lamont Johnson 127 "We Are Seven" Junius F. Wells..,^ 129 Strength of Desire. A Poem Maud B. Rasmussen 130 The Heritage and Promise — I, II John Henry Evans 131 Heroes of Science — 6. Helmholtz Prest. F. S. Harris and N. I. Butt - 137 The Time to Pray Joseph Quinney, Jr. 139 Messages from the Missions. Illustrated 140 "When the Summer Bids Farewell." A Poem JV. Owen Catmull 145 Gems of Wisdom by Brigham Young Preston Nibley 146 Making Friends and Losing Enemies Russell L. Hess 148 Church Music Committee _' Edward P. Kimball 149 Supporters of the Christmas Seal James H. Wallis 151 Prophecy and History — X-XII Prof . Levi Edgar Young 152 Determined Youth and Education. Illustrated G. P. Barber 157 Judge Not. A Poem Leo W. Allen..... 161 Recreation and Social Service Oscar A. Ktrkham .— 163 Contrast. A Poem Grace Ingles Frost 164 What Will it Get Me? Louis W. Larsen... - 165 Editors' Table — At Christmas Tide Jjj Celebrating our Fiftieth Anniversary \nr\ Intellectual vs. Manual Education 7Q Gulls Destroy Grasshoppers . J 72 Jesus the Christ. A Poem David Archibald .— 173 Priesthood Quorums J ' Mutual Work \ 76 Passing Events - 'J To My Wife. A Poem Alan Reidpath 184

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