| Show THE CHOIRS JOURNEY DENVER DiF NvER colo aug SO 80 agreeable to promise I 1 take this first opportunity of dropping you a lew few hurried liner linee relative to our excursion party to begin at the beginning when we arrived at the depot moat of et us made our way by dint of much crowding through the throng that blocked the train to our respective oars care only to be met at the steps by the information that all baggage even lunch baskets must muel be checked at the baggage room and placed on the baggage car a very dis heartening of information 10 those who in the burry and excitement of getting off 11 nad tailed failed to eat din before starting arting at an AB soon se RB the train was well under way all seemed moved with a desire to locate their particular friends and a good natured crowd jostled anu elbowed each otner through the aisles before reaching ogden woodruff candon anu and smith nassea through the oarb care exchanging and shaking hadus with alt the entire party the first stop atop was made at ogden laore an crowd of friends and recorded us ua a hearty welcome during the few minutes the train waited many of our or parly pan mingled with the crowd on the plat torm lorm rece receiving lying the well wishes of 01 friend tor for a safe and successful trip rip at all the settle settlements manta along the weber we found crowds ahu cheered heartily as our train sped past them warming our hearts with the knowledge that we were accepted b by y them as the of the mormon people at chicago soon utter atter leaving bobo as ji ii moved by ono one impulse all ajl began pret Bg forward to the baggage car tu to look up in lunch ach baskets ba eReis and those inose w whose hose berths bertha were nearest certainly hao had cause to congratulate themselves ou on that fact by the time supper aupper woo was fairly over we were rolling ailo jilo the hospitable town of evanston wyoming where we were accorded a royal welcome A brass ba d ren dereu a selection as our train drew draw up at the depot and fully one thousand voices were raised in ily wele owing cheers alighting from the cars care many of the baloes and tenors tenor sang a selection which was bear heartily tily cheered j W y hamm who is in well known known in salt lake on behalf of the mayor and town council of evanston gave a short abort address of welcome and tendered us the freedom of the city even for our abort stay regretting that it could not be b longer said he be the Taberna tabernacle ol choir to ie an organization of which the people of this intermountain region are justly proud you take with yuu you our beat wishes for your suc BUG case in the contest at chicago ron HOD J john T came caine responded in behalf ai of prof stephens and the choir in ilk nig his vel vein evoking hearty laughter and cheers cheera the choir sang gang sn another othol selection which ended aft athe the train b be gan to move and there was a rather undignified scramble ramble eo to get aboard oue one young m man a n I 1 in H h hla in f fear OR r of be being I 1 n g 1 e it plunger head foremost fore moat through a an open window to the no small diversion oa of the bystanders leaving evanston mansion van sion we sped out into the darkness feeling that we left be hind us warm friends and taking with us pleasant recollections of our neigh borto born on the east As we passed rock bock springs the vanio bing notes of a strain of music rendered by 8 a brass band out to welcome us lingered for a in our ears awakening feel ings of regret that we could not s top stop to acknowledge Knowledge ao the courtesy an and a V bood will that prompted the welcome in tended next morning at eight we stopped at laramie Lia ramie for breakfast or tor for tea ta coffae or milk for those who were supplied with lunch the rho mule male chorus sung sang a selection alich which was alip applauded lauded by the assem assembled blea multitude another was sung eung and as n j warmly received at cheyenne arriving at denver at a 3 p va n choir proceeded to the concert hall ball the M E trinity church for instruct in ill tion lion and short abort rehearsal thou then alter altar dinner dispersed lor for sight seeing to as aa gemble again at eight lor for the concert to dispose of the eu subject abject offhand one need only say eay that the concert was waa unqualifiedly a success both financial ly 9 and ad artistically but that would doorly express the enthusiastic a with which every number was waa recel received VW the male chorus and every one of the molo lots was given a rousing recall T the he large hail bal I 1 a and nd ga gallery alery ot of t the b e M ME F trinity church was crowded to its tout at most capacity aid many ladles evens even were obliged to stand during th the whole evening as every seat had been been take babeo in the advance sale immediately after the close 0 of f will the concert we boarded our giec special tal train and nd were soon whirling rapid rapidly ly to words kansas city p KANSAS CITY mo sept I 1 whon when we returned to the depot at denver city after our concert we found everything arranged for the night and with out waiting even fir fi r lunch we all took possession of our berths and were wrapped in restful slumber alter the wor excitement ot or a long dayss days travel followed by the anxious sus still pence of our first appearance JI in the morning we awoke to find ourselves speed lug through the il limit able plains of kansas which extended in gentle undulation on every handzo band to the bo barizon bori zoo during the forenoon we passed many small villages surrounded surround eo by treeless wasted which the energy of man wa endeavoring with but poor success apparently to convert into fertile farms water was evidently the one factor wanting As wa oame came further eastward the face of nature began to lay jay its stern and forbidding forbid features and to assume an aspect of rural beauty and peaceful comfort yet at the same game time we were 0 struck with one feature that seemed to indicate an ever present feeling of fearful precaution this was an all occasional dugout or cellar roofed over oter as a place of refuge when the terrible cyclone spreads destruction in its ita patti path while the beauty of the land gently sloping hills and 1101 pe with its verdure covered valee vale might lor for a time tempt us to forget our mountain valeo yet the general verdict vt was that the picture I 1 lacked eked the grand arid and sa ea estial feature fester of our mountain ramparts to complete it As ala an stop was made at various stati stations olIN along the route our young people gladly availed themselves of the opportunity to vary the monotony of the journey by a run lu in the bracing air the health of our party is generally good though some lew few have been slightly indisposed from the effects of a change in drinking water the spirits of all seem to be buoyant and at ti times mesquite quite irrepressible and everyone seems to enter thoroughly into the enjoyment of the tri trip yesterday afternoon at junction city miles from kansas kaneas city we met the train bearing the company of henry irvings irving the abe greal actor and our male chorus 8 sang ng for them be ore we parted cump company by much to their enjoyment it one M may sy us be permitted to ju juge ge by the hearty applause we receive i it was about 1030 p m when we reached the union depot at kansas city instead of 6 5 P m our schedule time and we all remained in the cars instead of beginning our sightseeing sight seeing after all what we deemed a misfortune at first was no doubt a blessing in disguise as it enabled us to 1 lepare tor for the arduous tolls toils of today by a good nights s rest daylight lio however wever found many of our party lait nt and up town viewing with wonder the bights ol of this wonderful city beside which our awu salt lake sinks into the insignificance of a village just before 9 we were visited by a special committee of five appointed by the citizens of independence to wait upon us and assure us of the be hospitality and warm welcome awaiting usi us there berv soon after our special train with the she independence committee ablard drew out lor jor the land ot of our fond pilgrimage A run of half haff an hour brought us to the depot where we found many carriages and conveyances on hand to carry such as wished to ride to the temple lot jot many preferred walking up cp the gently sloping hill bill to the sacred spot and the serious cast of all features gave a sure indication ot of the deep feeling feell ngo that stirred the heart as we trod the land by a sacred ties to the abe children of upon the temple lot we found a large concourse of people assembled to welcome us ta the choir gathered eo bd the south side alge of the small frame house on the temple lot used as aa a house ot of worship by the Hodric kites A platform had benn been urr Mr ranged angea anil and on this were seated sealed the first presidency eticy and the leading men of independence after tile singing by the choir of the thrilling hymn the spirit of god like a fire is burning the crowd adjourned to the handsome church across the street which was soon picked packed with an appreciative audience eager to near more singing when all were assembled the mayor of independence addressed us in welcome as aa follows to you american freemen visitors from the far west from a land ot of fruits fruite of flowers of milk and honey I 1 am here as aa a representative of the citizens of independence moa broad open people tree from bigotry generous law abiding god goa fearing and lovers of liberty and extend in their names and in their bedah the right hand band ot of fellowship and a hearty welcome to our city hoping that the memory ot of this day any may ne be ever garnered in each of our hearts and treasured irea Lrea aured as aa one ot of the most happy events of our lives PY president woodruff rep responded dd thanking the people for their warm welcome aud invoked the blessing oi 01 heaven upon them he then introduced president Pre eident cannon who briefly followed in the same strain and said eaid the welcome we bad received while it was unexpected was wae all the more deeply appreciated he closed by blessing them iu ia the game of the loril lord and the choir sang the anthem light and truth and in answer to an enthusiastic recall sang tile temple anthem hosannah Hoa annab 11 R C easton by request sang 0 my father anu ana with such euch power e r that the effect on ciany hearts softened by the memories that thai hover around that historic spot was witnessed n the warm tears that welled unbidden to tile eyes these exercises exercise while brief had bad occupied all the time allotted to our visit and with deep regret we returned to the oars cars bringing with us some memento of the spot in leaf stone or twig gathered from the sacred acted soil hut but carrying in our hearts more lasting remembrance to in abe joy we had experienced in being permitted to visit the land dedicated to the building of the new jerusalem in the afternoon we gave a matinee performance to a small but thoroughly appreciative audience anti and at bight sang to a lull bodao la in the he auditorium the reception our concert received recel veu amounted almost to an ovation the applause was hearty for every number and the soloists were all enthusiastically rt recalled called weihe helhe received the third recall ST loujis LOUIS mo sept bat the close of our concert last night we returned direct to our train and at 1180 1130 p MA continued our eastward jour ey very early this thin morning th the 0 boru was passed through the oars care that we were about to pass through the state capital and many MADY got up to get a view of the renowned renow Bed state prison and the capitol capital the former has so many buildings devoted to various manufactures fac tures connected with it that it presented the appearance of a considerable manufacturing village aw route lay jay along the south bank I 1 of the missouri river until within a few miles of st louis bouls at that point the river bears away to the left and joins the MiNIS mississippi SipPI about twenty m miles iles above the city the country through which we were pass ing was very picturesque and beautiful the soil seemed to possess a denul fertility every thing thina is raised without irrigation and in many bolus we noted with wonder that the corn stalks attained a height of ten to twelve feet and the ears seemed fully one root foot long yet with all the advantages of apparent spontaneous growth farming steamed to be carried on in a slovenly manner compared with the care our farms at home receive many of us realized for the first time the sacrifice our parents had made in giving up such lands as these and go ing out into the inhospitable wildrof the be far west and at the same time never before realized the credit due them for causing the desert to blossom like the rose it was the subject of conversation aang am ang us that tha it if more of our young people could take the ob eject lesson this trip affords us they would view with greater reverence atie tri pioneers pioneer of the desert and appreciate more fully the glorious land bequeathed to them as a heritage of privation toll and death we should have arrived at st louis at am but were fully one hour and a bulf late we separated into three parties to take breakfast as an no one hotel in the city could aco accommodate ommo us ua all ail at such snort notice atter alter breakfast we met attebe at the Mer cbanta exchange building by invitation of the citizens of st louis louie re we were accorded a hospitable welcome during the interim of wait inic we had an excellent opportunity of witnessing the excited throng who assembled there every day to gamble in stoc stock kiv it was very amusing to watch the bulls and bears knocking each other about jamming hats over each others eyes aud kaphing ties etc we remarked that nobe were so bold as to appear in a stovepipe P and the head bead gear of all seemed to be of rather interior inferior quality for men dhove daily irai motions run sometimes to the millions As one ot of tur ur singers who boasts a silk milk tile the mounted the steps surrounding the pit we watched to see it receive the same treatment the hats hate of members of the exchange change 1 were receiving but he fortunately withdrew in time lime to save it from such indignity at noon the president of the ex change called the assembled crowd to order and introduced the mayor of the city C P who delivered a warm address or welcome he spoke of the groat great achievements of our fathers in building up a worthy and ana prosperous erous commonwealth in the midst of the forbidding desert and in lose less than fifty years being able to end out such an aa illustrious body ot of singers to cum compete pete against the world as one of the wonders of the age hou hon john T calne caine responded thanking the mayor and citizens for the distinguished honor conferred upon us in such a flattering natt ering reception alter which the male chorus sang love of home 91 and in response to the hearty applause with which it was received sang the rhe soldiers evs farewell PP at pm the entire party asted in a piquant excursion of two on the mississippi river on the steamer Par gond which H W brolaski muster master had bad kindly placed at our disposal it woul i be preau presumptuous m at least tot for a stranger who has spent but one day in this great city to attempt any description of the many interesting things we saw there were so BO many things to te engage our attention that the amina is burdened in trying to recall a tithe of them we met many warmhearted warm arm hearted friends who endeavored in every way to make our visit a plessant pleasant pleasnt nt one among these none labored more effectually than mes mea rs re W B bechold Bec told and andrew of the firm of bentold bechold co |
