Passing Events

PASSING EVENTS 615 A burning sea was the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, March 2, 1925, when burning gasoline from thousands of cases spread over the water, owing to an explosion. In the morgue were 274 bodies on March 2, and it was feared that hundreds more would be found. The 274 bodies were all from Cajus Island where the explosion of 38 tons of dynamite on Feb. 27, resulted in more than 600 deaths and 1,3 79 injured on the Island and in the city of Rio three miles away. Eighteen are dead in Rio. In addition to the fatalities the enormous number of injured include more than 200 rendered deaf by the explosion. A number went insane. Five additional explosions occurred on March 1, destroying remaining quantities of dynamite on Nichteroy Island. Friederich Ebert, first president of the German republic, died, Feb. 28, 1925, of peritonitis, following an operation for appendicitis. He was elected provisional president Feb. 11, 1919, receiving two-thirds of the votes cast in the German assembly. Despite his vigorous opposition to the varied movements of the Spartacists and Communists, President Ebert handled the difficulties of his position so well that in 1922, he was requested by a coalition of several parties to remain in office until June, 1925. One danger after another threatened Ebert's government, with riots breaking out in many parts of Germany, with food extremely scarce and the mark plunging down into an abyss of financial ruin. Ebert weathered storm after storm, watched ministry succeed ministry and worked out each toward his country's rehabilitation. Hyrum Smith Young died, Feb. 28, at his home in Salt Lake City, of blood pressure. He was born at Salt Lake, January 2, 1851, and was a son of the late President Brigham Young and Emmeline Free Young. In 1872 he married Georgiana Fox, daughter of Jesse W. Fox, one of the original surveyors of Salt Lake, the marriage taking place in Salt Lake City. In 1882 he entered the banking business as a profession. That year he went to Ogden and helped organize the First National bank, now the First Utah National bank. Mr. Young returned to Salt Lake in 1889 and be- came cashier of the Deseret National bank, which position he held at the time of his death. He is survived by the following children: Mrs. W. D. Nebeker, Mrs. C. W. Gates, Leslie G. Young, who is assistant cashier of the Deseret National bank; Mrs. George H. Taylor, Miss Georgia Young. Dow H. Young and Dale S. Young. A railroad through the Uintah basin may be constructed in the near future. At a annual meeting, March 9, in Salt Lake City, of the Salt Lake and Denver Railroad company and the Utah-Colorado Industrial corporation, a resolution was passed authorizing the application to the interstate com- merce commission for a certificate of convenience and necessity for the con- struction of a railroad from Provo to connect with the Denver and Salt Lake railroad ( (Moffat line) at Craig. Colo. The granting of the application would mean the construction of a railroad from Craig, Colo., through the Uintah basin to Provo, thus opening up a region in Utah unusually rich in resources. With the construction of the proposed line and the com- pletion of the Moffat road through the Moffat tunnel, the distance from Denver to Salt Lake will be cut from 745 miles to 575 miles. , Michel Harry De Young, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle, died in San Francisco, Feb. 15, 1925, after an operation for intestinal trouble. He was 75 years of age. Mr. De Young was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1849. He was descended from a French noble family. At an early age' he removed to San Francisco where he was educated. In 1865 Mr. De Young, with his brother, Charles, established The Dramatic Chronicle, which was made a leading newspaper on the death of Charles in 1-81S0. At that

616 IMPROVEMENT ERA time Mr. De Young became sole proprietor of the paper and its editor-in- chief. The Chronicle publisher often told of how he and his brother started their little paper on a borrowed twenty-dollar gold piece. The Chronicle today is one of the largest daily newspapers in the United States. The 16th legislature of the State of Utah adjourned March 13, 1925 at 2:43 in the morning. Before closing, the Sharp bill concerning the use of schoolhouses in the State was passed. As amended it provides "that no public schoolhouse erected by school funds, shall be used for any religious purpose whatsoever, except funeral services, until thirty minutes after school shall have closed on any day in which school is in session in such school- house." The bill, as originally proposed, was intended as a blow at the religion classes of the Church. As amended, it permits such classes in the schoolshouses after school hours, provided half an hour's recess is given for the purpose of airing the schoolroom and giving the children needed exercise. This compromise was accepted in the interest of harmony. The bill seemingly permits funeral services to be held in the schoolhouses during school hours, and without preceding ventilation. The tide against tobacco is rising all over the country among athletes and athletic organizations. Three state high school Athletic Associations — Minnesota, North Dakota and Kansas — have taken positive action, pro- hibiting any student who smokes from being a representative of the school he attends, in any kind of athletic contest. The effect for good is seen in many schools in the above states, not only among athletes, but among other students, to whom many of the athletes are heroes. Its influences reach down in the grades, as well. Prof. Ringdahl, superintendent of the school in Dawson, Minn., says: "I have heard grade boys say 'I'm not goingj:o smoke, because when I get into high school, I want to play basketball.' Walter Christie, coach at the University of California for over twenty years, said to a group of high school boys: "Tobacco is the greatest curse in America today, doing far more harm than liquor has ever done." — Will H. Brown, Oakland, California. The body of Floyd Collins was found, Feb. 16, 1925, by one of the laborers of the rescue party. Death had come, according to the opinion of physicians, only 24 hours before the arrival of the rescuers. Collins entered the cave January 30, in order to explore it, although this was known to be a dangerous undertaking. When he failed to return the next day, his relatives became anxious for his safety, and a friend entered the cave to look for him. He found him about 65 feet from the mouth of the grotto, unable to proceed any further, because his left foot had been caught by a fallen boulder, holding him as in a trap, pinned to the spot. Shortly after- wards a brother accompanied his friend to the imprisoned man. They brought with them food and blankets, and a lamp attached to an electric wire but could not liberate him. Then a rescue party was organized. The fourth day after the accicdent, Collins was entirely shut off from the rest of the world, through some displacement of the earth and gravel. It was then decided to sink a shaft from the top of the hill. It was this work that ended in the finding of the body, seventeen days after the accident oc- curred. It is^ estimated that $150,00-0 was spent on the rescue work. Waldo and Thon Call were cruelly murdered, March 5, 1925, near Penuelos ranch, Chihuahua, Mexico, by a Mexican, whom they befriended. According to a communication to Pres. A. W. Ivins from Joseph C. Bentley, president of the Juarez stake, the boys, 20 and 5 years old respectively, had been transporting merchandise from a store at Dublan to the Garretas ranch. While on the road they overtook a Mexican man, a woman and child. The Call boys invited them to ride and gave them food. The group camped

PASSING EVENTS 617 near Penuelos ranch. It appears that Waldo was preparing supper at the fire and the Mexican was splitting wood behind him with an ax. With robbery as the probable intent, it is supposed the Mexican slipped up behind Waldo and hit him over the head with his own ax. Waldo's body was found near the wagon tongue, with evidence of a struggle and his clothes were covered with dirt and blood. There were eight or nine wounds on his head. The small boy was cut in the forehead, and apparently died instantly. From the description of the persons riding with the boys, it is thought they were prisoners liberated from Nueva Casas Grandes, and that the man was probably insane. Waldo was the son of Dottie Call, who died 10 years ago, and Thon's mother is still living. Edwin Hamblin's death is more than the going of an individual, it is the passing of an institution — one no longer understood and not appreciated now, 'tis true, but an institution that was very, very useful in its day in the west. When Brigham Young came with the pioneers to Utah he saw that it was cheaper to feed the Indians than it was to fight them. This required a lot of men to go on to the frontier and learn the Indian language, the Indian ways and to get their confidence. He picked Jacob Hamblin, the greatest of them all, Thales Haskell, Ira Hatch, Edwin Hamblin, and later Dan W. Jones to go to Arizona and A. E. Teitjen to go to New Mexico, and make this their life work. To do this they gave up all that most civilized people think is best in life, but they did go and they were devoted — devoted to the Church and white friends left behind and to the Indians among whom they went. With the passing of Edwin Hamblin, all the older ones are gone, and only A. E. (Hans) Teitjen, of the younger ones, is left. Those men saved lives by the thousand. In the whole settlement of the west, none were more useful. In my opinion, there is no more honored grave in all the west than that of Jacob Hamblin. at Alpine, Arizona, and that of Edwin Hamblin, in St. George, deserves to be classed with it. — George H. Crosby, Jr., Green River, Wyo., Jan. 26, 1925. Alma Eldredge passed away in'his home in Salt Lake City, Feb. 22, of pneumonia, 83 years of age. He was born near Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 13, 1841, the son of Ira and Nancy Black Eldredge, and late in the year 1847 crossed the plains to Utah with his parents in a train commanded by Captain Daniel Spencer. In 1861 he went to Coalville, where he engaged in the ranch- ing and stock-raising business, and was one of the four to construct the first ditch to tap the Weber river in Summit county for irrigation purposes. In 1863 he was married to Marinda M. Merrill of Ogden, who survives him. Later he followed freighting from Salt Lake City east along the mail line, and in 1868 was occupied in grading of the Union Pacific railroad company east of Evanston, Wyo. From 1869 to 1871 he filled a mission in England and Ireland. In 1879 he entered the mercantile business, and was also for a number of years identified with the Johnson coal mine at Coalville. He took a prominent part in local politics, having served in the offices of sheriff of Summit county, prosecuting attorney for that county, and for three terms as probate judge. He was a member of the last territorial legislative council from his district, and took an active part in all legislative matters. He was also a member of three state constitutional conventions the last one of which framed the present constitution of the state of Utah. In 1898 he was his party's candidate for congress, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee. In L. D. S. Church matters he took an active part, and at the time of his death was a high priest. Calvin Coolidge and Charles G. Dawes assumed their high offices of president and vice-president, respectively, on March 4, 1925, when the 68th Congress came to a close and the Senate of the 69th was called into extra session. Mr. Coolidge renewed his oath of office on his grandmother's Bible

618 IMPROVEMENT ERA and in a short inaugural address restated his policies of government frugality. General Dawes furnished a succession of surpises and thrills that stirred senatorial ire. First, he read the riot act to the senate on the necessity of revising its rules to outlaw the one-man filibuster. Then, instead of swear- ing in the new senators in fours, he ordered them brought up in a bunch. Then he cut short the ceremony of senators signing the book, and finally, without any senator having made a motion to adjourn, he announced that the deliberative body would proceed to attend the inauguration. President Coolidge in his inaugural address declared that the condition of the world is satisfying and encouraging and that our own country is leading the world in the general readjustment of the results of the great conflict. He continued by saying that human nature is the most constant thing in the universe, and that essentials of human relationship do not change. Our country represents nothing but peaceful intentions toward all the earth, but it ought not to fail to maintain such a military force as comports with the dignity and security of a great people. It ought to be a balanced force, intensely modern, capable of defense by sea and land, beneath the surface and in the air. He said he was strongly in favor of a continuation of conferences on the limitation of our sea power whenever conditions are such that there is even a promise that practical and favorable results might be secured. He expressed himself as being in favor of economy and toleration and concluded by declaring that America seeks no earthly empire built on blood and force * * * She cherishes no purpose save to merit the favor of Almighty God. Spring Through the dreariness of Winter Comes the morning light of Spring All our lives and loves are brightened With the beauty that it brings. All the silent velvety stilness That comes on the heels of a heavy storm Has been filled with chirps and singing That always greet the new Spring morn. Upward springs the lovely flowers Glad to feel the warmth and light. All the world looks up with gladness Beyond the clouds of fleecy white. With it comes the birds returning From the sunny lands beyond, And the little quacks and hisses Come from off the old goose pond. Should we not then all endeavor To keep the happiness and cheer That comes directly after Winter Throughout the whole long year? San Francisco, California. ANNIE WEBB.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Agricultural College of Utah Salt Lake Knitting Store Beesley Music Company So. Pacific R. R. Lines Beneficial Life Ins. Co. Jos. Wm Taylor Bennett's Service Stations University of Utah Deseret Book Company Utah Farmer Intermountain Life Ins. Co. Utah Home Fire Ins. Co. h P-S Business College Utah-Idaho School Supply Model Knitting Works Utah Power & Light Co. Modern Furniture Co. Zion's Co-operative Mctle. Inst. IMPROVEMENT ERA, APRIL, 1925 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 foe in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2, 1918 Heber J. Grant. \ Editor Melvin J. Ballard, Business Mgr. Edward H. Anderson, \ Moroni Snow, Assistant. CONTENTS Fremont River, Near Fruita, Utah Frontispiece April. A Poem Alice Morrill 497 Faith in the Living God Prest. Anthony W. Ivins 499 The Reason. A Poem Agnes Just Reid 507 The Heritage and Promise — Part II (III) John Henri/ Evans 508 "He that Would Be Greatest," — I. A Story Mary H. Woolsey 513 Still Voices. Illustrated Joseph Hickman 520 Three Phases in a Life. A Poem Alan C. Reidpath 526 Picture Shows W. H. Boyle 5 27 My Ambition. A Poem A. Henderson 523 Who were the Builders of the Lost City of Nevada? George C. Sutherland 529 Opportunity. A Poem Joseph Longking Townsend .. 534 The Valley of Fire. Illustrated Edward G. Wells 535 Vindication _„_' Frank C. Steele 537 Success. A Poem Nellie Skinner 539 Harvest Scene near Cardston, Canada Joseph Y. Card 540 Scene on the "Church Ranch" near Cardston, Canada 5 4 1 Wings of the Night. A Story Fred McLachlin 542 The Dawn Joseph Quinney, Jr. 549 Heroes of Science — 10. Mme. Curie F. S. Harris and N. I. Butt .. 550 To My Son. A Poem Lucy Wright Snow 552 The Fourth of the Far Fifteen. A Story Alfred Powers 553 One Good Work. A Poem Elsie Parton 566 My Day of Silence. A Poem Alfred Lambourne 5 67 Language of the White Indians J. M. Sjodahl 568 Start Smiling. A Poem Roberta Flake Clayton 571 Greater Love. A Story Georgia L. Pinkerton 572 Adversity's Test. A Poem Vance O. hind 575 How I was Cured of Purloining. A Story Glen Perrins 576 Moroni. A Poem Ruth May Fox 577 "Bread Cast upon the Waters" Harold H. Jenson 578 Till the Victory's Won, Male Chorus Brigham Cecil Gates 5 80 Prophecy and History — XXII-XXI V 582 American Indian Traditions 583 Messages from the Missions. Illustrated 584 Sympathy -Lucy G. Bloomfield 594 Editors' Table — Faith in God an Impetus to Righteous Living 595 "The Lord is Risen Indeed" 595 Religious Training in the Home 597 Bits of Philosophy Nephi Jensen 596 Easter Bells. A Poem David Archibald 598 Priesthood Quorums 599 Mutual Work 600 Passing Events ,-. rr __..—, $ 1 3