It Is Charming Up There - In The Post - And The View Is Magnificent.
We
sat out on a vine-covered porch during the inspection, and watched the
troops and the review.
It made me so happy, and yet so homesick, too,
to see Faye once more in his uniform. The inspection was all too
short, and after it was over, many officers and their wives came to
call upon us, when wine and delicious cake was served. We were at the
quarters of the colonel and post commander. That was the second post
we had taken Mrs. Ord to, and she is suddenly enthusiastic over army
people, forgetting that Omaha has a post of its own. But with us she
has been in the tail of the comet - which made things more interesting.
Army people are nice, though, particularly in their own little
garrison homes.
There is only one mormon store here, and that is very large and
cooperative. Every mormon who has anything whatever to sell is
compelled to take it to that store to be appraised, and a percentage
taken from it. There are a few nice gentile shops, but mormons cannot
enter them; they can purchase only at the mormon store, where the
gentiles are ever cordially welcomed also. Splendid fruit and
vegetables are grown in this valley - especially the fruit, which is
superior to any we ever saw. The grapes are of many varieties, each
one large and rich with flavor, and the peaches and big yellow pears
are most luscious. Upon our table down in the dining room there is
always an immense glass bowl of selected fruit - peaches, pears, and
grapes, and each time we go down it seems to look more attractive.
We have been to see the tabernacle, with its marvelous acoustic
properties, and the temple, which is not yet finished. The immense
pipe organ in the tabernacle was built where it now stands, and
entirely by mormons. From Brigham Young's old home a grand boulevard
runs, through the city, across the valley, and over the hill far away,
and how much beyond I do not know. This road, so broad and white,
Brigham Young said would lead to Jerusalem. They have a river Jordan
here, too, a little stream that runs just outside the city.
There are grand trees in every street, and every old yard, and one
cannot help feeling great indignation to see where in some places the
incoming gentiles have cut trees down to make space for modern showy
buildings, that are so wholly out of harmony with the low, artistic
white houses and vine-covered walls. It is such a pity that these
high, red buildings could not have been kept outside, and the old
mormon city left in its original quaint beauty.
We will return to Omaha soon now, and I shall at once become busy with
preparations for the winter East. I have decided to go home in
October, so I can have a long, comfortable visit before going to
Washington. Faye wishes me to join him there the last of December. I
am not very enthusiastic over the prospect of crowded rooms, daily
receptions and "teas," and other affairs of more formality. But since
I cannot return to the plains, I might as well go to the city, where
we will meet people of culture, see the fascinating Diplomatic Corps,
and be presented to the President's beautiful young wife. Later on
there will be the inauguration - for we expect to pass the winter in
Washington.
THE END
End of Army Letters from an Officer's Wife, 1871-1888, by Frances M.A. Roe
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