226 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
death as the punishment inflicted by them for female in 
delity? Surely because they feel how impossible it is 
maintain such fidelity in a community like theirs. 
Eyery spot upon American soil, not occupied by t 
Mormons, is open to the world for trade or settlement ; but; 
Gentile settler in Utah finds himself beset on all sides by 
many petty annoyances, that he invariably decamps. Lette 
advising him to join the community are followed by others 
a threatening character; and if these fail to convert dim, mo 
active means are taken to prove how useless, and even unsaft 
it is for him to resist the pressure of Mormon tyranny 
Only conceive how offensive this is to the feelings 
Americans ! 
The degradation of women, however, is the deepest griet 
ance of all. There, in the midst. of a country where wom 
appears to stand higher than anywhere else—where she is, ¢ 
the whole, better educated—where her influence is greater, afl 
where more homage is paid to her—a community rises 
which is trying to lower her position to that of a servant i 
her own household. It may be very utilitarian, but it 1 
extremely revolting to a people so sensitive on this subject 4 
the Americans. It is rare to hear a Mormon husband ta 
of his wives, he always calls them his women, and this littl 
fact speaks volumes. Usually, if you dine at an elder’s table 
his guests will be men, and his wives will wait upon th 
party. 
It is customary to envelop Mormonism in a _ highl i 
coloured cloud of religious fervour; we are told how 
devotedly they trust to the oe of God; how s ict 
they are in their religious observances; ae they b ng 
religion into their daily life, and walk as iat upon e 1 
Jp pewty, however, there is, amongst the Mormons, an et ire 
