What I Did Not See in Utah Together with Some Things I Did See

What I Did Not See In Utah Together With Some Things I Did See WHEN in Canada last sum- mer, I read an article in the Cardston News en- titled, "What I Saw In Utah." The author had lately returned from a pleasure-bent trip to that state, and seemed very happy to be back again in his native land with its cooling breezes and majestic grain fields. While some things in Utah were not all honey to him, yet in a most pleasant and optimistic way, he mentioned the valleys in their beauty, the productive fields, beau- tiful groves of shade trees and Salt Lake sunsets. He found industry everywhere. To see Utah and not see that would be about as impossible as to find a hive of bees asleep on a June morning. Farmers especial- ly, he says, usually start work at 4 a. m. and quit about 9 p. m. Work is the middle name of every man, and his wife's first and last names. "THE writer speaks graciously of 1 the people and how they live, and enjoy life in this farm-land. Mention is made of their agricul- ture, dairying, gardening, and many beautiful worth while things, including lovely homes, parks and monuments; and the re- markable transformation of this one-time desert into farms with trees and gardens surrounding most beautiful homes completely mod- ern with automatic force pumps for baths, showers and beautiful flowers. I was much surprised to read in this article that Utah exports more than fifteen carloads of eggs a day, and does it the year around, main- taining a price of 45c to 50c a dozen. That which I did not see during my brief sojourn in Utah, and that surprised and pleased me most, was the scarcity of police- men. Salt Lake City is the center of a large tourist travel, with about 600 passing through there By ROSE MURPHY HILLIS daily. On the main street cross- ings we saw a great deal of traffic. It was not the intense, hurrying, blustering kind one sees in the city of Los Angeles, where at the main crossings, although the signals are working, stand one and sometimes two policemen, blowing their whistles, tossing their heads, fling- ing their arms, dangling their hands, all to control the hurrying, scurrying mob. There was an orderliness about the city and its people which we had not seen else- where. HPHIS speaks very highly of these ■ law-abiding, industrious peo- ple whose sense of justice seems to be much in evidence. I won- dered if the method of tithing, a custom of their Church, may have something to do with instilling within them this fine sense of high honor. This custom is the giving of one-tenth of their income to the Church. All in good standing do this, I was told. The poorer farmers, with so little money to give, come to the Bishop's house with their one-tenth in eggs, but- ter, chickens, or perhaps a pig. The next thing that pleased me most, coming from the land of subdivisions where you can buy property situated in almost any location between the poles, was the absence of billboards and all the paraphernalia that go with sub- dividers, such as banners, flags, solicitors and dust. No Utah charm of valley or mountain is marred in this way, and what a joy to behold the immense, long stretches of beauty, unobstructed. TUHAT a joy to be in the city and not to have tickets poked into your face by smiling solicitors for free luncheons and bus rides to goodness-only-knows-where or what. Among the what-nots one sees in some coast cities is a trip to a laundry, and they hand you a quarter when you leave. Another is a visit to a dairy where orange juice and cake are served. How- ever, it is a fine way for tourists to see the western coast, and we could not have sub-divisions with- out them. But everyone is too busy in Utah to show imposing tourists around free, and I thought they did not care a hang whether you saw Utah or not; they were too busy working and singing. I did not see anyone sweating or having spasms over landing the dollar. Nor did I see any lazy, idle loafers, although some some- times seemed idle when working as the work was done in such an easy, restful way, mingling a bit of talking and laughing with it. \7HILE attending the Organ recital in the Tabernacle I did not see any one who did not seem to be all attention and devo- tion. How could there be any restlessness, whispering or noise, anything except Divine Silence with the organ pealing forth those "Old Melodies" or the beautiful old song, "As The Dew, From Heaven Distilling." How restful to walk the streets and not to see a parade of these glaring and too often dowdy Deauville scarfs. I did pass an old Indian woman with one tied to her wrist, floating its gay colors to the breeze, and also one around her head. "Glory be, I have at last found you, Deauville scarf, where you seem just to belong; and that is around this old copper-colored face, with long, straight black hair, and sandals. Here your ro- guish Gypsy touch blends in so much better than with the French heels and permanent waves." I loved the Gypsy Indian com- bination. What cared she if "the corner touched the elbow" as Dame

36 The Improvement Era for November, 1930 Fashion has decreed for the latest arrangement. Nor did I see girls using street corners, cars, loges, cafes, for bou- doirs to apply a new make-up. No condemnation to the girls, but it was just a rare and strange thing not to see it. T DID not notice rudeness or dis- ■*■ courtesy. The youth instead of running half-way down the block to be sure of a good seat on the car, take their chances with the rest of the crowd in scrambling aboard. In looking over the papers, the weeks we were in Utah I noticed not so much space was given to social events, and wondered if the society matrons were a bit negli- gent in keeping the public in- formed of the social activities of their fair ones. Or are they too aristocratic? Why, in the city in which I live, the society page is sometimes my comic sheet. We who read it are likely to have handed out to us quite a discourse on their affairs, especially the weddings. Yes sir, we are told all about them usually weeks before, then on the day be- fore the event, the day after, the following Sunday, and if there is no front society page publicity on the Sunday after, it may come months later. Then after the re- turn of the honeymoon we get it over again. It is up to us to read these interesting (almost as inter- esting as Webster's dictionary) biographies, because these write- ups seem to involve a great deal of research work in giving all the data concerning these interesting, attractive daughters (always that, even though the accompanying photograph may look like — well, perhaps enough on that subject.) They carry you through the schools attended, sororities made, the lineage on both sides back to the Revolution or to the May- flower. That poor boat — I won- der what hand of fate kept it afloat. Now I am for the girls; to me, they are the sweetest flower that blooms, and this is not to be taken as criticism. T DIDN'T see much evidence of T shrewd, grasping, cunning in- telligence among my "Mormon" friends, but rather a primitive and simple beauty. Although they live close to nature, they seem to have as yet, little understanding of the forces of life whose transforma- tion into fruits and beauties might be more wonderful than the trans- forming of their once desert-land into gardens' fruits. What life re- quires of them seems to be all settled. I am so glad to have known them. All these things I did not see may be common every-day events, but in my two weeks' stay in Utah I just did not notice any of them and being so accustomed to them, I missed them. I could not have enjoyed Utah more. I found it an ever-delight. I am so happy to have met and known the "Mormon" people in the intimate way we did, usually as neighbors in pleasure resorts. Although not a highly awakened illuminated people, or keenly grasping and cunning in line with much modern thinking, I shall al- ways remember them as a most courteous, kindly people. I shall always remember them as perhaps a bit too generous in offering favors and service. They always seem to be so busy. The nick- name of Utah is certainly most significant of its people, The Bee Hive. Without the buzz — -they are almost too busy for that. In- diana, for instance, is the opposite of its name. It is the native state of more noted living writers, be- sides many other celebrities, than any other state; yet we are called the Hoosiers. And then there is Missouri, with the Pukes, for a nickname; and with all of her il- lustrious sons. XTOW to all those considerate •^ people who were our neigh- bors and with whom we tramped — I still am living in your cheer and kindness. Your songs along the trails, down the canyons, across the water, from the moun- tain tops, around the camp fires, we will not forget. Especially the six young Elders who were our neighbors just for the night, around a campfire on the brink of Bryce Canyon, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. I wish the whole world might see Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Zion National Park. And especial- ly the Great White Throne! I wonder if you dear "Mormon" people will not be a bit disap- pointed in Paradise. Were I governor of Utah I should be inclined to compel all my people to see this fairyland of Southern Utah and by some means create a fund for all those financially unable. The trip is a delightfully easy one by private car or auto bus. The roads are splen- did. The railroad and connecting auto busses have made the trip so simple a child would be safe in taking it. And the tourists have responded in huge numbers, in taking advantage of these ac- commodations in connection with these greatest beauties. I have never seen more careful or courte- ous bus drivers. We found them without a single exception con- siderate of the touring autoist, as well as of those whom they were transporting. COME day I hope to be able ^ to write of the thrill and ever- lasting joy I imbibed from this wonderland. I would not write of the scenery, for where that be- gins, there silence begins and words cease. When I go back, I may be pinched, sign boards may slap me in the eyes, and I may have a few free bus rides, and hear the buzz of the bee hive. I hope to meet these kind peo- ple on the trails and in the moun- tains again and to know them better. A CERTAIN khan of Tartary, traveling with his nobles, was met by a dervish, who cried, with a loud voice, "Whoever will give me a hun- dred pieces of gold, I will give him a piece of advice." The khan or- dered the sum to be given him, upon which the dervish said, "Begin nothing of which thou hast not well con- sidered the end." The courtiers, hear- ing this plain sentence, smiled, and said, with 2 sneer, "The dervish is well paid for his maxim." But the khan was so well pleased with the answer that he ordered it to be written in gold letters in several parts of his palace, and engraved on all his plates. Not long after, the khan's surgeon was bribed to kill him with a pois- oned lancet, at the time he bled him. One day, when the khan's arm was bound, and the fatal lancet in the hand of the surgeon, the latter read on the basin, "Begin nothing of which thou hast not well dbnsadered the end." He immediately started, and let the lancet fall out of his hand. The khan, observing his confusion, inquired the reason; the surgeon fell prostrate, confessed the whole affair, md was pardoned; but the conspirators were put to death. The khan turning to his courtiers, who had heard the advice with disdain, told them that the counsel which had saved the khan's life could not be valued too highly.