1 that the next time he marries he will marry a virtuous woman, is, in my opinion, unworthy to be called a man. This is what some of our girls have to endure, besides the remorse of conscience that never leaves them, no matter though they may be forgiven, they never can forgive themselves nor forget the past. Girls, take warning and profit by the sufferings of others. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT. READ IN CONJOINT CONFERENCE AT EVE HATTIE C. JENSEN. VER since the organization of the Mutual Improvement Societies, much has been said to the members thereof concerning the development of the faculties God has given us. One might say, "all that is necessary to say has been said." This may be true, but "He is a wise man who doeth his task for the first bidding." Allowing the supposition that we are not all "wise men" I will endeavor to point out a few ways wherein we might improve. In the first place it is necessary for us to understand why we are here upon the earth, what is our relation to our fellow beings, and our destination after this mortal career is ended. After these facts have been fully established it is time to begin the improvement of our temporal and spiritual attributes. Improvement may be effected in many ways: one good way is by observation. So if we have exemplary men and women placed over us for our guidance, we cannot help admiring and wishing to emulate their goodness and intellectual perfections. If we could fully understand the depth of the impression left upon the minds of the young, I think we would be more exemplary in our habits and manners than we sometimes are. I can remember of good impressions being made upon my mind, when very young, by Sabbath school teachers, friends and parents, that have never been effaced; but have been a constant reminder of the goodness and nobility of others; being an incentive to my search after the lofty attributes of my religion; showing the good from the bad, the pure from the impure, and the righteous from the unrighteous. Had it not been for the good impressions of our youth, many who now are honored members of the Improvement Associations and who are themselves an example for all to imitate, might not have chosen the "better way." For we all know that the weakness of the flesh and the vanities of the human mind, when brought to bear upon spiritual things and subjects of high moral culture, will inevitably tend towards the grosser qualities of our natures unless propitiated by truly practical as well as theoretical influences. Considering the advantage of exemplary lives, would it not be well for all who are or ever expect to be placed in positions of honor, to practice well and understand thoroughly the gifts of the gospel, that they might be successful in the fulfillment of their callings? Notwithstanding all this, however, if the members have no desire to improve, and have but little faith, if any, in their religion, the precepts of the most zealous, most exemplary and wisest of teachers will amount to little or nothing. I fully believe the desires of nearly all are good, and resolves are made every time meeting is attended to improve at once; but when the labor and diligence necessary for a reformation are brought into requisition, courage fails, or indolence prevails, and the would-be reformer falls back into the same old condition, until a new revival of feeling is experienced. Now it is all very well to have this feeling, but if we wish to improve, we will have to get "right down" to hard study, and hard work in real earnestness. And though the improvement may not be seen at first, yet there is a gradual development of the faculties that will in time, with proper culture shine forth in brilliancy and power when lighted up by the Spirit of God, bringing credit and renown wherever our lot in life may be cast. In order to gain this desired end let us live so that the Holy Spirit may always be with us, for P. P. Pratt says: "The Holy Spirit quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adopts them, by the gift of wisdom to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our natures. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and feature. It tends to health and vigor, animation and social feeling. strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short it is, as it were, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being." Let improvement be our motto, It T Let us put aside our follies, Let us by our good examples So that when we join the angels, And the Savior, He will greet us, CRITICISM. MARY J. HUGHES. HERE are few who possess the tact to minister censure in the right way, in a way that will not wound the feelings or discourage the one in fault. There are none of us that are entirely exempt from criticism, and while harsh criticism by our friends and acquaintances may do great injury, yet a little good, honest censure in time of need may be the means of much improvement and cause of reformation in many ways. We often see the young people in their amusements and jestings, criticise and make fun of the aged, which is very wrong; and it surely must be offensive in the sight of the Lord. While it is wrong to criticise any one, whether old or young, in a manner of ridicule, it is much more a sin to do so to those that are deformed and feeble. We, as young ladies, in responding to any call made by the President of our association, seem to fear nothing as much as the criticism of each other. This should not be, we should aim to assist each other by our faith and prayers, and meet together as a band of sisters with a humble and contrite spirit, with a desire to assist one another and to learn everything that is good, grand and wise, ever desiring the welfare and happiness of others as true happiness is always found in making others happy. If we will only reflect on this we will find how much we need each other's assistance, and we will have no time to criticise the failings of another. Byron says, "A man must serve his time to every trade, save sensual critics, who are ready made." a man cross any quicker than to do a hard day's work and come home and find a dirty house and no supper ready? And is there anything that will so surely call from his lips a word of appreciation as a well kept house and a wife with a smile on her countenance and supper ready? The wife is pleased to know that she has added in the least degree to her husband's happi. ness. The mother's influence in a home is almost magical; husband and chil dren alike are irritable or happy just as she is. The best housekeepers sometimes have things in disorder, but as a rule meals can be prepared regularly and the home kept neat and tidy. If there is a room in the house that should be kept cleaner than the others, it is the kitchen. If the floor is spotless, a white cloth on the table, the knives and forks bright and the food well cooked, even though it be simple, it will always be relished. Would it not be well for mothers to do all they can to make the home a heaven on earth, so when the children leave to make houses for themselves they can say they are leaving a home that has always been happy and pleasant to them? OUR SHOPPING DEPARTMENT. are going to give our readers some information shopping facilities in their own county as to the seats. Now Salt Lake is, of course, the capital of the territory, but as Salt Lake is to the territory, so is Logan to Cache County, Ogden to County, Provo to Utah County, and Weber other large towns to their respective counties. So we have deemed it wisdom to secure the advertisements of some of our best merchants and bankers in the various county seats. We have a large number of readers of them are more or less acquainted in Cache County, and, no doubt, all with the excellent reputation borne NOTE. The accompanying photograph should have appeared with the article on Hattie Critchlow Jenson in the June number. To correct the mistake we therefore reprint the article and insert the proper picture thereto. [ED.] OUR PICTURE GALLERY. HATTIE CRITCHLOW JENSEN, WAS born at Ogden City, Utah, the 31st day of January, 1864. My mother, Mary E. Brown Critchlow was Utah born and bred. She was the daughter of Captain James Brown of the Mormon Battalion, and she has also the distinction of being the first white girl born in Utah. My father was born at Pennsylvania, but came to Utah when a very small boy. At the age of twenty-four he married my mother who was only fifteen. They have had fourteen children, of which I am the eldest. tual friendship sprang up, and when I returned home it was with the assurance that ours would be a lasting, tried and true friendship. This has been the case, and the years that we have spent together socially have served to strengthen and secure the affection we each formed for the other. While on my visit aforementioned I became acquainted with the brother of Sister Minnie-Ephraim Jensen, who was about to go on a mission to the North-western States. We corresponded regularly while he was upon his mission. He returned home in My early childhood and until I was sixteen was nearly all spent in school. Though my assistance in the household work, and in the care of my younger brothers and sisters would have given rest to my mother, she scarcely ever kept me from school, but nobly sacrificed herself that I and the other children might get the benefits of an edu- | dowment house by President Wells. cation. Oh, how little do we appreciate our dear mothers, and how little we realize the sacrifices they have made for us until we become mothers ourselves! I loved school and made such progress that at the age of sixteen I was able to take a school in the country, where I taught for one year. The next two years of my life were spent alternately in teaching and attending school at Ogden. By this time cir cumstances were favorable for my attending the university at Salt Lake City. Accordingly in August, 1883, I enrolled as a Normal among the students of that institution. I attend ed for three months, but owing to my health becoming greatly impaired, I was obliged to return home. After a rest of a month or six weeks I began teaching at the Central School at Ogden and continued to teach until the 28th of March, 1884. Two years prior to this while on a visit to one of my friends at Brigham City, I met and became acquainted with Sister Minnie J. Snow. A mu October, 1883, and on the 1st day of Since my marriage my home has been in Brigham. I have had four children, three sons and a daughter. September 10th, 1884, I was chosen as one of Sister Minnie J. Snow's counselors. I found great satisfaction and joy in my labors among the different associations; and my companionship with the Stake Board has been one of unity and love. Although my home duties and the care of my little children would have completely taken my time, I contrived by the help of my heavenly Father to take an active part in my labors among the associations, especially so in our officer's meetings. I believe that by taking this course my home duties have been made less monotonous, and I have had more wisdom in the performance of them. I wish I could impress upon all the young ladies of Zion the importance of becoming members of the Mutual Improvement Association. I know from experience that we are better prepared for the duties of life-of wifehood and motherhood-when we take active parts in these associations. |