The King of the Kodak Brigade

By H.R. Merrill, Oneida Academy, Preston, Idaho

I am the King of the Kodak Brigade;
My army is ten million strong;
We carry no guns, nor pistols, nor swords,
When we go a-marching along;
We go with a smile, for the earth is our own –
And is pleasant as true hearts can make it;
And if some bright spot seems worthy to us,
There’ll be none to oppose when we take it.

Most of the soldiers have kodaks all set –
A corps in each land can be found;
They’re dashing young men, and fair, winsome maids,
You’ll meet them the big world around.
Their munitions of war they carry on spools,
And the brand is N.C. altogether,
For those films are sure – they never miss fire,
In rainy or in sunshiny weather.

Glories of youth with their tinsel and gold
Evanish with oncoming years,
And the dreams that we dream just dreams may remain
In spite of our labor and tears.
I’ll lead out my army, some ten million strong,
And we’ll catch the old world as she passes,
And scenes we behold with the clearness of youth,
Someday we’ll review with our glasses.

While we are young we’ll imprison the earth,
Its flowers, its grasses, and dews;
We’ll get the old home and the garden and well,
And the orchard with its many hues;
We’ll keep the old folk as we love them today,
Ere their youth and their roses can fade,
Then we’ll laugh at old Time, we’ll battle him quite,
We are Scouts of the Kodak Brigade!

(1915)

In 1851 Thomas Bullock created a federal census mortality schedule for Utah County using forms hand-drawn in Utah Territory. The mortality schedule was supposed to document the people who died in the year before the census. Thomas Bullock wrote four names on the schedule with information provided by families passing through Utah County at the time: Mormon Pratt, John Tanner, James Flake, and Mary Finley. Although the form says they died in Utah County, at least three of them died elsewhere.

The four entries written on this paper in Bullock’s small, deliberate handwriting represent people whose lives include stories of polygamy, the first Mormon mission to Chile, great sacrifices, slavery in Utah Territory, the settlement of San Bernardino, and a mystery. (more…)

Uncertain Possession

By Beatrice R. Parsons

Previous chapter

Chapter 7

Synopsis: Lorna Ashton, an orphan, who has no home of her own and has lived with a cousin, marries Dr. Matthew Wire and goes to live in Westfield, Nevada. She is afraid that Matthew’s relatives and friends, and even his patients, will continue to mean so much to him that he will never be wholly hers. However, she gradually finds a place for herself in the community and in the affections of Uncle John, Nurse Hallie, and Carole, a little neighbor girl. She becomes acquainted with Jim Nason, an eccentric man, who has been asked to help financially in building a much-needed hospital for Sky Valley. Two small china kittens which Lorna has treasured since childhood have become to her a symbol of possession, and she finally gives them to Carole, and feels that she is becoming more willing to share herself and her husband with others. When Lorna finally meets Margaret Benson, an invalid, and a dear friend of Matthew’s, she regrets her attitude of indifference and makes an effort to be friendly and helpful.

During the following month, Lorna and Margaret became fast friends. It was easy for Lorna to know just how Matt had grown so fond of Margaret. She was a fine person, intelligent, thoughtful, kind. She never complained, though there was a quiet, waiting look in her beautiful eyes that told Lorna that she knew how very ill she was. Lorna was glad that Hallie had showed her the truth about Matt and Margaret.

(more…)

If you had been a resident of Prague in 1930, you might have met a Mormon elder on the street who handed you this leaflet, inviting you to a public presentation on “100 Years of Mormonism.” Would you have come?

(The phrase Církve Ježiše Krista sv. p. dnů is the name of the Church. One of the two short phrases in the bottom right corner no doubt is the Czech equivalent of “no collection taken.” Otherwise, you’re on your own.)
(more…)

6 May 1900

After the regular afternoon meeting held at the Amphion Hall in Brooklyn the ladies of the church and congregation met with President Howard Garrett and Elder W.J. Snow to organize a “Ladies Relief Society.”

Meeting opened with prayer by Elder Snow.

President Garrett then proposed the following names for office.

President — Mrs. E. Milligan
1st Counselor – Miss S. McKenna
2nd counsellor – Mrs C. Laine
Secretary – Miss B. Shaffer
Treasurer – Miss B. Shaffer

Every lady accepted position assigned her promising to do her best for the advancement of the society. They were supported by all present.

(more…)

(Previous installment)

Tues. Aug. 24.

Wrote letters nearly all day. The boys got up at daybreak and had the washing done and out on the line before I got up.

Wed. Aug 25.

Had another surprise this morning. The boys had all of their ironing and part of mine done, and breakfast already on the table before I came down stairs. An old blind Josephite man and his wife brought us three small banana trees in from Faa to plant in our yard.

(more…)

For background, see here
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.
(more…)

Snuff

Dumb: “I’ve got a cold in the head.”

Patient: “Well, that’s something.”

War!

“I hear the country is starting a campaign against malaria.”

“What have the Malarians done now?”

(more…)

Uncertain Possession

By Beatrice R. Parsons

Previous chapter

Chapter 6

Synopsis: Lorna Ashton, an orphan, who has no home of her own and has lived with a cousin, marries Dr. Matthew Wire and goes to live in Westfield, Nevada. She is afraid that Matthew’s relatives and friends, and even his patients, will continue to mean so much to him that he will never be wholly hers. However, she gradually finds a place for herself in the community and in the affections of Uncle John, Nurse Hallie, and Carole, a little neighbor girl. She meets Jeanne Beatty and Anne Clayton, friends of Matthew’s, and becomes acquainted with Jim Nason, an eccentric man, who has been asked to help financially in building a much-needed hospital in Sky Valley. Two small china kittens, which Lorna has treasured since childhood, have become to her a symbol of possession, and yet she gradually learns to share herself and her husband with others. One day, while Matthew and Nurse Hallie have gone out on an emergency call, Carole cuts her hand and Lorna attends the wound and gives the little china kittens to Carole.

Lorna was fast coming to know her husband. The almost fierce independence in him, the almost terrifying impatience to learn all there was to learn about the mysterious working of human chemistry. He studied eagerly while Lorna sat quietly sewing, glad to be alone with him, even though he was deep in his book.

(more…)

Book of Mormon Alphabet

Want to test your knowledge of Book of Mormon people and places? Identify one or two of the names in these rhyming clues. (A couple of them are a little odd:  “F” is for “Flower” but the name of the flower doesn’t begin with “F”; “Q” is similarly off.)  Remember, just one or two, to allow more people to play.

A was a martyr for God and the truth.
B was a prophet king, righteous from youth.
C was a Jaredite king left alone.
D was a land of which little is known.
E while around him his people were killed
Lived to see all his prophecies fulfilled.
F Of all flowers that bloomed in the sun
But one is mentioned, find out which one.
G was a robber band wicked and vile.
H was a builder whose ships reached far isles.
I was of Ephraim from a land far away;
J was so faithful, the waves did obey.
K was an anti-Christ seeking a sign;
L was an Israelite Patriarch benign.
M gave a name to people of God;
N in a vision saw “The Iron Rod.”
O righteous king with thirty-one offspring;
P was chief judge, when the Nephites were warring.
Q was a queen converted by dream;
R was a hill where the records were seen.
S his people all murdered, S lost his head;
T mighty general, the Lamanites dread.
U was a Bible king known by Isaiah;
Z mighty city, burned up with fire.

(1923)