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Show COME FROM. 167 difficulty secure their passage without prepayment ; but an educated man, with a family, may be unable to procure any of the benefits of the emigration fund if his services are useful in England. Nor indeed are such always allowed to go, when they can raise the funds, but are told they must be further " tried " before going up. to Zion. The separation of families for shipment to this country is one of the great evils of the emigration system. As an ex ample I would mention an instance when Apostle Cannon was in charge of the mission, only three or four years ago. He allowed fourteen young girls, from twelve to fifteen years of age, to be taken from their parents and friends, and without a protector to embark on an emigrant vessel, and then jour ney almost across the continent to Salt Lake valley. Not long after their arrival a lady met one of these girls she knew in England, and inquired where her mother lived, suppos ing, of course, she was in the territory, and was quite sur prised to learn of the circumstance I have mentioned. This girl then described the journey and remarked that soon after sailing she sprained her ankle, when she " felt the need of mother, but oh !" said she, " how much more did I need her when crossing the plains," and then related the shame ful insults to which she had been subjected which the mod esty of the lady would not allow her to repeat to me. What eternal disgrace should cling to the character of the man, who would willingly risk and expose the virtue of helpless girls in this way ! To populate Utah with women as fast as possible, is one great end of emigration, and it is now u counselled" that poor men who are unable to raise the price for the emigra tion of their whole families, should send their wives and daughters first, and go afterward themselves, when they could collect sufficient means. This is reversing the order of things formerly practiced, when the husband and father went first to provide a home. In former years the emigrants all collected at Liverpool even from other parts of Europe j but now the ships receive their loads from ports most convenient to the localities where the emigrants reside. |
