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Show AND MORMON DIGNITARIES. 179 Mormonism led them to close their stores were honored by a band of music playing in front of each closed store about noon. The Fourth of July is but little regarded by the saints. There is nothing peculiar in the dress of the Mormons. It presents a great variety of styles, unequalled in that re spect by any people. The wives and daughters of the President generally dress tastefully and fashionably, as do many other ladies in Salt Lake City. The masses of the people wear every variety and style of garment worn in any part of Europe during the last century, but the majority wear cloth of their own making. I was much amused one day, during their last semiannual conference, at the appearance of a sister who came into the Bowery shortly after I had been seated there. She was probably one of the late arri vals. Her dress attracted the attention of even her sisters, who have become accustomed to every variety. The strik ing peculiarity was a white lace veil of immense size, most elaborately embroidered, which was thrown over a decid edly antique- looking bonnet, and hanging to the waist alt around. It reminded me of one my mother had when I was a boy, something less than fifty years ago, that she preserved as a curiosity of the times when her grandmother was a girl. The dress of the men is about as varied as that of the women. I have frequently seen the clergy go into the pulpit with linen coats and no vests ; and on one very hot day I think I saw a brother, who was actively engaged in passing the bread and water from the stand to those who administered it to the congregation, in his shirt- sleeves. I should have remarked before that education is most shamefully neglected. They have no system of public schools. There are schools in each ward, and during the months of November, December, and January, are pretty well attended by scholars of both sexes, varying from five to twenty- five years of age, but the standard of education in them is very low. During the winter months a school will number seventy- five scholars ; but as soon as the farming season begins, it will fall off to fifteen or twenty, and those |