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Lake County Press, Issue 903, 22 March 1900, Page 7

Modern Utah. Socially, as well as politically, Utah Is undergoing revolution. Where there was a few years ago but little coniact between sects, there is now a gradual breaking down of barriers. Gentiles who have shown a kindly spirit in the past are now - welcomed in the best Mormon social circles. The abolition of polygamy has divided up Mormon families and made new homos. It is a curious fact that the splendid home for discarded Mormon wives, which the Government has erected in Salt Lake City at great cost, has never echoed to the trend of a Mormon woman. Ir is sooc to be devoted to some other purpose. The theory that in the breaking up of polygamy' scores of Mormon wives would l>e given over to poverty has not been sustained. The polygamous Mormons have oil selected one wife, and for the others and their children equitable provision lias been made. Bishop Hiram Clawson, one of the ablest men T met in Utah, had three splendid families. When the decree came, he elected to live with his first wife. His Immense estate was divided on strict lines of equity between the three families, and'they are all living in affluence and happiness. Just before my arrival In Salt Lake City the good bishop had a family reunion or " round up" on the lawn of one of his estates, and had the Ineffable pleasure of counting seventy odd children and grandchildren, all healthy and happy. With Angus Cannon, the adjustment to the new order has been difficult He married three sisters in the temple at the same time. He could not conscientiously designate his "lawful" wife, for he felt that they all had equal claims upon him. Pie has undergone considerable martyrdom in trying to elucidate the problem— including a terra in gaol—tout there has been, I believe, same satisfactory adjustment. The educated class of Mormons are essentially sociable. It was the order of Brigha.m Young that his colonists should be kept steadily at labour in the daytime, while the evenings should be given up to social entertainment. He specially commended dancing. In every ward of the city of Salt Lake there is a Mormon building containing a hall for meetings and dancing. Frequently these dances are opened with a sort of " grace" on the part of the presiding bishop. The young people are all adepts In dancing. Music Is also much cultivated, as well as private theatricals. There is scarcely a young Mormon woman in Salt Lake City who has not had a musical education. The . schools, which are among the finest in the country, all teach music. Nearly every young woman performs on the piano, harp, or vio'in. -Many are showing great talent, and are being sent abroad to be further educated. The prettiest and sweetestnatured girl I have seen in many years I was presented to at one of these Mormon dances. She Is only 1(>, and yet she Is recognised as a violin virtuoso, and is soon to go to a conservatory in Paris. It is the boast of the Mormon lenders that can produce with home talent, and most .acceptably, any opera that New York can present. The great home-made organ in the tabernacle—marvellous instrument that it. Is _has boon a great educator to these people cut off for years from the world oC art. The tabernacle choir of 500 voices is a specimen of what the Mornions ran do in the musical way. Young men are taking to art in various forms. I met many promising young painters

a:ul sculptor*, and was tr>7rl of others In Hip schools of Munich. Faris. and Rome. The fact is ihe ris'ne: generation of Mormons is to bo hoard from. It -Is made up of the grandchildren of strong men and women who developed under persecution and privation. A people who could drag their weary way across the unknown plains from the Mississippi River to rise valley of the Salt Lake, ever in a state of apprehension, often hungry and never comfortable: who could labour incessantly, fight Indians while erecting a new world, and love and protect while facing a future more uncertain than usually falls to the lot of man could not fail to be followed by progeny blessed with physical and intellectual vigour. T predict that before a great while the dramatic and lyric stage will both draw heavily upon the artistic talent of Utah.—" The Cosmopolitan."