CHAPTER XVI.

SCHOOLS-LITERATURE-INTRODUCTION TO ELDER KIMBALL,

A

ETC.

S might be suppose 1, the Mormon schools have nothing

to boast of, being little more than an appanage of the church, where the children and youth may be trained in its doctrines, and brought up in habits of unlimited obedience to its requirements. The elders appoint the teachers, select the books, and superintend the general affairs of all connected with them. The Catholic Church in its palmy days nevez manifested more jealousy of heretical doctrines, or was more vigorous in the expulsion of all works considered of that tendency.

"What sciences do they teach, then ?" you question. "What principles of political or domestic economy are instilled into the tender minds of their youth?"

My dear friends, I cannot tell you; but of one thing you may be sure; it is nothing of a democratic tendency, it is nothing that can be presupposed to give them an independence of thought or feeling, but directly the reverse.

The school teachers are generally old, decrepit persons, who would be objects of charity if not thus provided for. One of these ladies, females are all ladies in this age, came one day to the house of Mrs. Farrow to purchase necessaries, as she termed it. These consisted of half a pint of molasses, half a pound of coffee, three candles, and an ounce of tea. I thought she must be well qualified to give the children lessons in economy. She was altogether one of the most remarkable specimens of womanhood I had seen in Utah-tall, though much bent, stout, bony, square-cornered--with cold, yet eager grey eyes, grim aspect, and great volubility. A paralytic attack had deprived her of the use of one side, her arm was useless, and she was obliged to walk with a crutch. Indeed, she was down on the list as a pauper, till Brigham Young, actuated either by motives of charity or the desire to relieve the church of a burden, gave her the appointment of school-teacher, with the understanding that in such a situation she must take care of herself.

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Yet this singular woman had seen better days. where in the states she had a husband and children, but their hearts having proved too hard to be softened by the new revelation, she abandoned them in the company of the first Great Prophet's family. She had one thousand dollars in her own right, and after managing to get hold of this the rogue, by the power of a special revelation, delivered her over to the keeping of another. She remained with him a year, when he died, and she was left without friends

or means.

But she had great industry, and having cast her lot with the saints, would not be separated from them. So she floated along in the current of emigration to Salt Lake City, working all the time like a slave.

"How many scholars, have you ?" I inquired, when informed of her profession.

"No particular number, sometimes near forty, and at others not over ten."

"Then the children are not regular in attendance.”

"I don't think it makes much difference," she replied. They do little besides knitting, sewing, and saying their catechism."

"Manual labor, and theology," I suggested. "Do you not teach grammar?"

"Grammar, no; what's the use of grammar? I never could see any sense in it, and very much doubt if any body else can. I wish my scholars to understand what pertains to their salvation, rather than the wisdom of this world, which fadeth away."

"But, madam, life and its trials are here."

She turned curtly away and made no answer.

Yet so far as I could learn, she was a tolerably fair example of the class of school-teachers; but priestcraft, all the world over, has been afraid of knowledge. The spirit of the age demands a school of some kind. It might be dangerous to refuse, hence the school is established, but is contrived to be only an accessory of superstition.

The Mormons have what they call a Library, though it

is not very well supplied with books. To make up the deficiency, however, the works, as a general thing, were well selected. Hume and Paine found a place side by side with Robertson and Volney. The most approved histories of ancient and modern times were conspicuously displayed, but there was little poetry, and less light literature, though a few standard novels were there, among which I particularly noticed the works of Dickens and Marryatt.

He

While conversing with the librarian, Elder Kimball was seen approaching. I knew him to be one of the first men in the place, and when he entered we were introduced. was very sociable, expressed great pleasure at seeing me, though I doubted his sincerity, and even went so far as to insinuate a desire that I would make his country my permanent home, declaring that it was one of the finest places on the earth, that the beauty of the climate, the magnificence of the scenery, and the fertility of the soil were altogether unsurpassed. He then expatiated largely on the unity and brotherly love that prevailed—the obedience and fecundity of the wives-with the wealth and generous tempers of the husbands.

I was not disposed to controvert his position, but made some inquiries about the general appreciation of literature, and whether or not the use of the library were permitted to all indiscriminately.

The librarian looked at the elder, and for a moment his countenance changed.

"To all indiscriminately," he replied,

"with certain reser

vations and exceptions, that mean nothing."

"But meaning nothing, why are they made?"

He laughed lightly, and turning to the librarian, inquired if I had seen "those choice manuscripts."

As I had not; they were immediately produced.

The one was a volume of poems by Eliza Snow, of which the principal ones have been published in the Deseret News. They were written in a fine, though legible running hand, and were much more interesting as a specimen of chirography than as poetry. The other was on the subject of theology, by Parley Pratt.

"These works have never been published ?" I said.

They have not," he answered. "We prize them very highly, and that is probably the reason why they have never been published."

"Indeed."

Certainly; there can be no doubt that if given to the world there would be a diversity of sentiment about them; at present there can be but one."

"An original reason, truly."

"You must remember," continued the elder, "that the Mormon church is yet in its infancy. Under the pressure of persecution, misrepresentations, and false doctrines from without, there could be little encouragement for the exercise of original genius. We value these works rather for what they portend than for what they are. The Mormon people