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' ... II , .... THE DESERET NEWS : SDMI-WEEKLY- ". . GEORGE Q. CANNON, EDITOR. Tuesday, December 10, 1867. FEMALE RELIEF SOCIETIES. We have fairly tillered upon tbe Winter; but, so far, we have experienc-ed very little severe weather. If we were to judge by preseut appearances, ve should conclude Jhat our Winter would beaniild one. But in our change-able climate it Id not safe to truel to each appearances. A mild beginning is not a sure eign that tbe entire Win-ter will be similar. So far, the season resembles the first Winter we spent here 1847. Plowing was done during every month of that Winter, the gro md being frozen only at short Intervals. The mild open Fall that w have had has been one of great advantage to everybody engaged in The farmers have taken advantage of it, and in the city, improvements of va- - - tIoub kinds have been pushed forward with energy. With the rich, or those who are well , provided with the comforts of life, the severity of the Winter makes but little difference. The intensity of the cold outside, by its contrast with the com-fort s, enhances their eujoymcn t. With good food, and plenty of it, warm olothing and oemfortable houses, and an abundance of fuel, most people can oontrivo to pass the winter very plea-santly. But to the poor, in niost north-ern lands, the Winter comes laden with terror. They dread the approach of its bleak winds and biting storms. The wintry landscape possesses no charms in their eyes; for with them and their little ones it is a season of fufferiuor. now desirable that that Department 'should be relieved from their calls, that the work of cutting stone, &o., for the Temple may be prosecuted. The care (of the poor, therefore, now devolves upon the Bishops. President Young has suggested a plan which, if rightly carried out, can not fall to relieve the Bishops from the care which they otherwise will be likely to have in providing for the poor., lie suggests the organization of Female Belief Societies in the various Wards, whose duty it will be to visit the sick and the helpless and the needy, and learn their wants, and, under their Bish-ops, collect the means necessary to re-lieve them. This suggestion must strike every one, who rellects upon the subject, as admirably adapted to meet the wants of the case. These duties would be accepted readily,.we believe, by our sisters, if they were satisfied that it was the wish of their Bishops for them to attend to them. There are very many who, we feel assured, would take especial pleasure in the vocation. It would preseut a field of usefulness to them that they Mould gladly enter up-on. Though women are precluded by their sex from going abroad as mission-aries, and from performing many labors which fall to the lot of man, they are not, therefore, devoid of Interest in the progress of the Work, or destitute of the desire to contribute, to the full extentof their ability, to the accomplishment of God's purposes. In the sphere which the President proposes they should oc-cupy, there is room for extended useful-ness. Woman is peculiarly adapted to fill it. She is, by nature, kind and sympathetic, and the sight of suffering awakens the kindliest emotions within her breast, and until that Buffering is alleviated she cannot rest. Man has his calling there are duties for which he is peculiarly fitted. But for this class of duties to which we al-lude he has not the adaptability pos-sessed by woman. They Bceni to come particularly wltnln lier pruvluce, and we hav'3 no doubt, if the Bishops will act upon the suggestion of the Presi-dent, and organize these societies, and call the sisters to ttieir aid, they will find that they have an auxiliary force on which they can rely, and one, too, that will relieve them from duties which sometimes press heavily upon them. It is President Young's wish that the Bishops take this suggestion into consideration, and that in the Wards of this City, and in the country Wards where such Societies can fiud employment, they will take early steps to organize them. Our land is a cold oue in Winter; but for the number of our population, and the large proportion of laboring people there are here, we Lave comparatively few who are destitute. Hundreds of poor people have been brought here yearly, most of them entirely ignorant of the modes of obtaining a living in a new country, and in many instances they have had to adopt new employ-ments. But, through the guidance and example of experienced men, they have been enabled to live, and, not uu fre-quently, surround themselves with the oomforts and even the luxuries of life. The success which has attended the labors of the people is truly wonderful. But though prosperity generally pre-vails throughout our settlements, there ate some helpless persons in every Ward who are dependent upon the Bishops for the necessaries of life. The care of the indigent at this season of the year forms no small portion of a Bishop's labors and responsibilities. As a peo-ple we should be sensitively careful of our poor. Their prayers and cries as-cend to the Lord, and the people whose hands are open to relieve their wants, are blessed of Him. There is really no necessity for any person to suffer in this community for want of tho necessaries of life. Our people believe too firmly in the Scrip-ture that "he that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth to tbe Lord," to know-ingly permit any person to go destitute while they have anything to share with them. The Bishops Lave so many cares devolving upon 'them, so many duties to attend to, that it would not be surprising if, occasionally, some per-sons, who need assistance should escape thefr attention. If proper measures, however, were taken. In the various Wards, the wants of all might be duly attended to. Many of the poor have heretofore, been dependent upon the Tithing O.Bce for their support. It is into half a do.eii streams by dark rocks rising out of its flood. A littlo farther on, divided into three streams, It bounds down a wall of rock some sixty fect in depth; while still a littlo farther on, its waters sud-denly narrowed to about four hundrod feet, the whole river leaps In one unbroken body down a precipice uf two hundred and ten leet. The ever rising mist, with its chang-ing prismatic hues; the w ild leap of the mad river down into the abyss beneath; the frowning and jutting rocks 'of black and grey, which oast their shadows over tho sluggKh, leaden-lookin- g water, that seems exhausted afier its desperate leap; the dark look of tho towering banks which rise a thousand feet alxjvo the river; and the deaf-ening roar which ever meets the ear, com-bine to form a picturo of nature's power, sublimity and grandeur, before which man can only stand aw filled with rev-erence and admiration. Thcso Falls are four miles from the crossing of Rock Creek, on tho coach road be w teen this city and Boise, the capital of Idaho. Another view is that of tho rising of the Unknown River, a marvel in nature which will attract many a tourist. It pushes out of the bank of Snake River Valley, near the Overland Ferry, with a volume equal to that of Big Cottonwood, and empties into the river. Then follow scenes at and around Bear River bridge, including tho bridge, the hotel of God bo &. Hampton, and the offico Of Wells, Fargo, A Co. at Bear River north. The hotel is a much liner looking building than any one would expect to see in such a locality, being built of rock, two stories high and beautifully finished; and is presid-ed over by our well known citizen Ben. Hampton, Esq. Tho bridge, also erected by Messrs. CJodbe of this city and Nichols of Box Elder, is a substantial looking and ap-parently wellbuilt structure, judging by the sharp and well defined photograph of it which has been made. But tho points of greatest Interest are those first mentioned, least known, and now for tho lirst timo photographed, though, we believe, they have been sketched before. Messrs. Savage Ottinger descrvo credit for their enterprise, in giving to tho world, for the first time, correct views of these scones and marvels of nature, which may be expected to bo soon much sought after by thoso who admire nature in fier wildest and sublimest moods. Tho public will bo interested in knowing that tho great Shoshone Falls, or Snake River Falls, and absorbingly interesting natural wonders which abound in that re-gion can be reached, within a short distance, by Wells, Fargo fc Co's regular coaches on 4he northern line. THE NIAGARA OF TUB "W EST. A week ago, Mr. C. R. Savage, of the firm ofSavage & Ottinger, went north to obtain by photographic process, pictures of some of tho linest scene at and around the vicinity of Snako River Falls. Tho result of his trip appears in a series, of views, which aro entitled to rank very high as works of art for their delicacy of outline, and the exquis-ite manner in which they aro toned, tho manipulation being very superior. But apart from their superiority us works of art, thcso view s aro interesting and valuable for tho scenes represented. Tho Great West is still to a considerablo extent unexplorod; and its beauties and sublimo scenery, now comparatively unknown, will in a few years attract the attention oHhousands of sight-seers, tourists, and earth-wanderer- s, who, tired of tho scenery of Italy and Switzerland, will seek the wonderful and sublimo in nature now hidden In the Rocky Mountains, or yet to bo developed in Central Africa. Here, in tho views before ur, is tho "Ni-agara of tho West," tho great Snake River Falls, tkosavago graniour and wild sub-limity of which are almost indescribable, j Snake River, or tho Lewis Fork of the Co-- I lurabia, winding its way in a north-westerl- y ( direction, suddenly reaches and dashes over a full of thirty foct, its volume being broken And, in 1852, it wasdS-- " of recreation and ipU hat Winter the AssoclaSoTEa formances on its boards to il H satisfaction of the people failed, especially of later years its walls whenever IU UooCtfi opened. We still remember thl S Hons of pleasure which we exDI?BH at witnessing the performance ! S elegant little hall. Every to unrestrained enjoyment, for I at home. The audience were ' good humor, and very readily oveK ed any defects in the scenery a?,1 polntmenta or shortcomings ia a, formers they were "our folks." As population Increased, Hall was therV' found to be too maU to? commodate the public. Theerecti the present Theatre was decided 1? This magnificent building wll0 to the publio early in 1803. if J doubts ever existed as to the proprlett of building such an edifice and f0,8ui uses, they must, In view of subsequw occurrences, have long since vanUhel The good that it has accomplished cu not now be questioned. Like even great movement thatjias been und-ertaken by the Latter-da- y Saints, under tho direction of the President of tie church, it was the right thing at the right time. There is a class of people in the world who have a holy horror of the very name of theatre. Such persons imagine that impiety and vice are inseparable froa dramatic representations. But in this country, with a theatre conducted u oura has been in this city, there is do room for entertaining such feelings. The moral purity of the drama has been maintained, and nothing has been pe-rmitted, knowingly, to appear on the stage that would cause ablush to mantle the cheek of the most sensitive and vi-rtuous. In order that these results might be attained, and that the drama might be the means of elevating and instruct ing the audience who would be likely to frequent the theatre, President Younj, for some years kept the entire control of everything connected therewith in hii own hands. lie was determined that the Influence of theatrical represent-ations here should be healthy; and, therefore, watched them with jealcra care. Now, his scrutiny is still exe-rcised, but he can intrust the care to other hands, who carry out the design for which the building was erectei It would be unwise to underrate thl power for good or for evil, which the drama is capable of exercising. I" every age, and among every people who have been Its patrons, the results accom AMUSEMKNT3. In the first settlement of this valley, the people were thrown upon their own, resources for means of amusement. If they had any fun, they had to create it. Performers could not be imported, nei-ther did they come with the same faci-lity as at present. But the necessity for some means of innocent amusement was soon felt. The unremitting toil, which wa3 necessary In the beginning, was too heavy a strain on the physical energies of the people to be continued for any length of time without relax-ation. Dancing, therefore, became very popular. Old and young alike enjoyed the social intercourse which gatherings of this character afforded. Balls were not patronized so much for the sake of dancing as for the opportunities they presented of meeting with friends and enjoying their society. Years have elapsed since then; but our balls still maintain these. characteristics. They are social gatherings, where friends meet and Indulge in friendly intercourse and conversation, and brighten up old acquaintanceship. But this amusement did not supply all the wants of the people.. Recreation of a mental character was needed. The recognition of this want gave rise to the "Deseret Dramatic Association" a society which was organized under the auspices of President Brigham Young. He erected the Social Hall,' plished by it have been very great. H early ages, especially amoDg the Gr-ecians, the drama was intimately asso-ciated with religion. The influence of such representations upon them aJ almost unbounded. Evtn the news r-eceived by the Athenians, while engagw in witnessing a play, of the total defeat of their army before Syracuse, could noi j to t check their enthusiasm or cause them withdraw their attention from tbeper- - , formance. Among the Romans tw drama became terribly degraded, ere" ally in the latter days of the emj t It is an agency that must be contro ? Too strict a surveillance can not maintained over it. It is capable or complisbing much good; but, , directed, its power for evil is great. It is the earnest wish of WW that the sam right-feelin- g person which has heretofore been , exerc amusements may stU o over our tinned. EveiythlDgthatirouMtaWMr to excite Noughts or tarW impure corrupt, should be '"'gUt It is better to err on the too fastidious, than to permit double entendre to find P |
