Show POLY OR MUTUAL improvement probably the first organization in utah for mental musical and social nodal entertainment originate ori ginat id with preal dent firenzo Lo Snow who la in the winter winte of 1864 1854 invited once a week to his big residence nee la in this city a few who had bad pro and more or lots talent suitable for such a when the names of the choice tipi rito who contributed there are joked evoked from the not often aed deathe of memory it is easy to see bat many of the elements elem euta of success were within reaca and it Is ia also alio eay easy to account for abe refinement and increased interest in an such entertainments which came attee president snow snowa a appointment to preside at box rider elder he had already designated as aa him hia successors in the control ot of those a entertainments n men to brothers Brot bere 8 W Richard Bio barda ii C V spencer and wm and as aa tuese were more or leaa laws familiar with incoming talent from the old world a greater variety was waa all the time being added to the me I 1 already active few instrumental and vocal music brief leo turea and essays and anecdote ne odete poetry and song made an evening to be looked for as aa well as ae loog long remembered so ao the attendance in creased beyond the accommodation alma nd a committee of twelve was waa formed to secure further influence and variety irbe original Poly society abu e met with and concentrated congenial element in so BO modest yet effectual a wy way that president brigham young tendered the be use of the seven ples hal 1 where be and big bia family became con tent attendants attena anta and contributors contributor and toia his counselors and their families w with ith other prominent brethren were regu lr jar visitors tora and patrons all the time but the seventies hall became altogether too also when to the surprise of the committee president young removal to toe social rail hall which was Imme immediate auder ilia his control here the committee elded aided alternately with a generous gene roua I 1 mental rivalry which was ever active to make each entertainment better than its ita predecessor and it cati can be said now after the lapse of so lauy years that those gathering for talent Vin terest and the refinements of culture have not since been equaled much jess excelled aromi nent and alone as the tb society did it had bad command of ability when t eli milar lc nilar entertainments were created in several wards drew draw oft off a large por uon lion of the selected looted and available material theo then within reach of that oom drawing room entertainments were given quarterly with an coca ional dance and refreshments and obese popular feature while not dot the primary object of the he organization were yet as adjuncts and concessions to temperaments temperament less lees decidedly mental and these adden ad dendas daa swelled that im tetus etui which led to imitation aad and poly societies sprang ioto into existence with a readiness nese which exhibited demand and also popularity ward after ward and outer settlements one after another did likewise until kindred societies bade fair for universality so 80 ready was the response that the possibilities of a strictly mormon 12 literature began bean to dawn upon toe minds of that committee and it was continuously in contemplation to issue a quarterly volume of original contributions illustrated by the portraits portrait of the leaders leaden of the church but in an unexpected way and an ai preparatory to the so called reformation reform ati od 11 1 the poly soph loal yielded its iti prestige pree tige to the theological speedily perished of inanition until today the original aw name dame la Is only retained so far as remembered by the brigham young academies in provo and logan president snow the first projector is till still living hale bale and hearty his immediate successors are also yet in the flesh but of that committee of twelve seven have passed away while the five remaining have the privilege legood of beholding everywhere in ila the like the phoenix Pho anix arising from old aahmes aibes 01 the young I 1 menla mena and young ladles mutual improvement association ii based upon the same ame lines linea and carrying on the same work almost all the young men and young women of utah are enrolled in this way and the gions where most successful are officered by the brethren anti and slaters of more varied experience than the native borni born th the observant eye however ores that the former clan are gradually passing away but it also alao saes the wonderful development and gradual improvement of the latter class where originally and partly yet these associations bad to allure the youth by amusement and sometimes nonsense there is ia a growth toward that which is ia less leaa frivolous and in oi j elation lately visited where a manu script paper is ia presented occasionally there is ia a marked advance toward an enlarged mental or intellectual status articles Art lolea or essays essay contributions 0 of f one kind and another have been presented quite in advance of much which passes as literature to in many periodicals of this country and ana wails gladness glad netis of heart to is bonse bent on albis after all that fact carries with it a tinge of regret for as yet the vehicles for preserving many of these good things are not within our reach nevertheless this mental aptitudes aptitude the product of physical organization schools and culture is being aided all alona the line and as the love jove of composition and literature growe grow so will profundity of thought facility of expression press iono and mental power to grapple with a thousand problems problem religious social civil political and financial these will command we the earia eol attention of this element which originating in these mountain valley als yet destined to be felt around the world it to la impossible to see ee how any man can retrain refrain now from predictive predict inc ine frood things concerning israel 19 1 9 he way may not forget the doubts and team lean of years yean ago may know of long periods when seed sowing bowing and gathering were far from being synonymous synonym oua or as a consequence when hope deferred made the heart sick nick as an it were when the laborers in the vineyard were few and far between 11 when to be educated was deemed by some rome all aa equivalent or preparatory to sure aure apostasy when to educate the rising generation was accounted account eJ superfluous and when discipline and restraint rei ren of the hickory of zion was waa denounced in unmeasured terms destiny willed it ft otherwise correction and direction acquisition ana use uee of every faculty have now become imperative pera tive equally with wildness Is eschewed eso hewed and to leeore sure knowledge it if not wisdom is deemed the crying necessity of the times but bat the latter ingredient of human character and progress will develop itself under enlarged experience and unavoidable responsibility for all opportunities 1 port unities and acquirements acquire ments this gen 8 oration is in far ahead of its fathers and mothers things sealed to the latter are an open book to the formet former while not unlikely many things me are today studied or known which are of doubtful advantage to the be recipient ci particularly it if a dislike for labor and an aa overweening desire to lo live by a profession legal med medical loas political sobo lattio financial or otherwise to Is the conclusion or to look upon these avenues of occupation as am the only honorable respectable or desirable methods of livelihood as an so BO far ahead of creative energy and capacity that the artisan or mechanic is deemed less legs valuable to society and so unworthy of recognition or association J from present drift this thin idea of superiority needs to be hold held in check even if a son does doea really know more than ban his bin father in some directions the experience of the latter waybe way may be best ablott able to direct into profit able directions the acquisitions of we he former youth is in prone enough already read y to look down on their progenitors a as doboe lep as far from bel being ax smart verbs everis incompatible with abe he intent and spirit of ef the latter day work ind and unless due honor is awarded to the authority of relationship go some me things mines meant tor for blessing may prove to be the opposite ot that for many yean yes rit labor labar for the preset t development has been a joy anticipation has been without dubiety the results are gres greater zer grander and of wider sweep than once expected faith looking into the future discerns the abe ever overruling hand band and in this increasingly crea cres singly active mentality of budding utah it sees the fulfillment of prophesy it receives anew the assurance that bet nothing shall be withhold withheld from the humblest seeker among the chosen seed until israel shall be the head in alt ait science literature and government the observed and entrusted entrust edof ef all the nations the depository of the oracles the favored of the heavens |