(20) WHOLESOME RECREATION SUSTAINED SPIRITS OF UTAH PIONEERS By Henry Smith The courage of the "Mormon" pioneers has been heralded throughout the length and breadth of the world. Their treks across a thousand miles of prairie waste and the blistering and waring tribes of savage Redskins to combat and their colonizing of the west and making of the desert to blossom as a rose have been oft related in tales as thrilling and heartbreaking as the most breathtaking novel. Their courage and stamina stands unsurpassed in the annals of history. Often when a tale of hardship has been related by a grandmother, eager listeners have asked the question "How could you stand it?" Several important psychological points might be brought to light as having a bearing on this courage displayed by the pioneers. One of the most impotrtant of these and one which cannot be lost sight of by the student of pioneer life and accomplishments is the fact that these pioneers were banded to-gether in a social unit that could not and has not characterized any similar movement in the history of the world. Their journeys across the plains were not pleasant ones. The conditions they met in building up the great empire of the west were great hardships. Yet with all this to meet they found time for varied entertainment and diversion in the face of these untold hardships. It took real men and women of un-limited faith and courage to relax after a hard day's traveling (21) or a day of colonizing amidst the creulest of pioneer conditions. Yet these diversion participated in oftimes to the tune of coyote howls, wolf shreiks and other hideous noises of natures darkened wilderness, and while a vigil was kept for amurading Indians, were the means of acquiring that necessary courage to face the trials of tomorror which were as sure to come as the sun was to shine. Bound together with a unity of faith and purpose almost everything accomplished by the pioneers was done on a com¬munity basis. They worked together, they worshiped together, they suffered together and they played, sang and rejoiced together. From the very first under the direction of their be¬loved Prophet Joseph Smith, the "Mormon" people were taught that wholesome enjoyment of any kind tending to build up physically and spiritually the minds and bodies of the Saints was to be considered as a part of their religous life. In Nauvoo, the first settlement of the Saints that had any degree of premanency, cultural and recreational activities were first founded, by the "Mormon" people. Knowing of the value of these to get the minds of the people from their daily strain occasioned by persecutions and the hardships encountered in the trek across the plains, Brigham Young, the stalwart, powerful leader of the Saints, saw to it that wholesome activities were carried on as part of the pioneer daily program. Following the adage that "necessity is the mother of invention"," the pioneers with (22) little or no facilities with which to entertain themselves, set about with their ingenuity and recreative ability and made for themselves their own entertainments. Their first entertainments indulged in during the march across the plains consisted of dances about the bonfires and songfests, during which the pioneer travelers sang buoyantly, forgetting for a time their weariness and the obstacles to be faced on the morrow. The evening's entertainment included violin and vocal music; dancing to the tune of the fiddle, relating of campfire stories and experiences, spiritual feasts when a leader was moved on by the spirit to address the groups giving them encouragement. Side games of checkers, dominoes and other articles of entertainment were often in progress during these evenings. Dancing was not late, however, because of the march sche¬duled for the next day. We learn from several pioneer journals that the merrymaking and fun was often in full swing when the bugle calling everyone to bed was sounded at 9 p. m. What a sight it must have been, what a display of cour¬age to see, miles from nowhere, weary from a long day of travel and admist the ever present danger of Indian attacks, these pioneer men dressed in rough clothing and boots, swinging their partners in dance. Oftimes men danced with each other if there not enough women to complete the couples. Every unusual happening was made the occasion for entertainment. Mock court trials, for imaginery offenses, formed a frequent amusement in (23) the camps. Often a traveler or a friendly group of Indians were met with the pioneers and hours of interesting conversation and exchange of news resulted. This kind of life, constant association and meeting of hardships together, made the pioneers love one another. These were opportunities for finding out the true character and abilities of neighbors and associates. True as the years passed subsequent bands of pioneers which followed the first pioneers had greater facilities for entertainment. As these groups reached the valley their possessions and abilities were added to those already here and the social life of the community continued to grow. In the first busy years of colonizing this social activity of th pioneers was not lost sight of. As a matter of fact the strong desire for social union on the part of the people was a major factor in causing the pioneers to colonize in small communities up and down the state. Unlike other attempts to colonize in this country, these pioneere b built their homes with the small but suffieient chapel as the center of the town. Their farme were often miles distant from their homes, but social life had become such a factor in the daily activities of these pioneers that they built their homes together. Even when these chapels were built a foremost consideration was t provide a place were the Saints might meet in religious worship and also in social enjoyment. Amusement (24) halls were established in connection with ward chapels up and down the state. These amusement halls were the centers of recreational activities. From them radiated the cultural and social life of the pioneers. First places of such social life and amusement for the pioneers were the firesides of log cabins, homes of the pioneers. Family gatherings with the neighbors invited in were frequent means of passing away long evenings. These consisted of dancing, games, and other forms of amusements to suit the occasion. Sewing bees, spinning bees and even literary circles were sponsored among the women, these pioneer women finding time for this cultural enjoyment in addition to the multitudinous duties of pioneer life. A pioneer woman of 1847 says: " I always liked to dance a great deal. Mother frequently sang and we children would dance. We had many parties in the school house and I often danced in the same set with President Young or President Kimball at the Social Hall. Then we'd call in a friend to play and have dances right in our own kitchen." Typical home made amusements were quilting bees, birth¬day and surprise parties, candy pulls, etc., each followed by serving of home made refreshments. These indoor socials were augumented by outdoor activities such foot races, games, sleigh rides in the winter and a ride on the family hay rack in the moonlight of the summer, usually ending up in some (25) neighbor's melom patch by permission of the owner. It was not so much a desire of the pioneers to utilize their leisure time in this way, for they didn't have much time to spare. Instead these parties, dances, etc., were squeezed into the busy life of the pioneer as a means of "diversion, to help them manitain their courage and desire to carry on in the great work of building a western empire. Music for the dances was mostly played by "fiddlers." Occasionally, and it was a real event, a harmonica player joined the fiddler and the music was Supreme. The desire to cultivate the soul of the pioneers as well as have the pioneers cultivate the soil, Brigham Young and others banded together for the purpose of providing supervised cultural entertainment for the pioneers. This was done principally with the promotion of the drama and music. As a matter of fact the history of the drams in Utah is so closely interwoven with the history of the pioneers and the Church as to absolutely inseperable. In fact the drama history of the west is associated with the trek across the trackless wastes of prairie land. Its history begins with the use of the wagonbox as an improvised stage to its culmination and highest level with the completion of the magnificent Salt Lake Theater. From the very first the leaders of the Church have fostered the drama as a wholesom amusement and a means of (26) cultural enrichment of the pioneer life. The drama of the "Mormon" people began in Nauvoo, and was carried across the plains. After their arrival here in 1847, they held with them the memory of their Nauvoo dramatics and as early as 1857 the first regular drama in the Western Empire, "The Triumph of Innocence," was presented in the Bowery, on the Tabernacle grounds, by Henry P. Richards. "Robert Macaire" was staged about this time and during this same year Phil Margetts, one of the lovable characters of Utah dramatic history, organized the Deseret Dramatic association. The old Bowery, covered with the branches of trees and with its temporary stage was the first dramatid temple in the west. Then came the Social Hall, located on the east side of State street between South Temple and First South street. This building was dedicated in 1853 and until 1857 became the center of social life of the pioneers. It was the first real theater west of the Missouri river. Its basement was used for dinners and general receptions of which there were many in the social life of the pioneers. Dramas were given almost continually there until the Salt Lake Theater was built in 1862. There came a lull in the social life of the pioneers in 1857 with the arrival of the Johnston's army. But at the very time news was received in Utah of the approach of the army, the pioneers were engaged in a gigantic social fete, a pinic (27) and outing at Brighton in Big Cottonwood canyon, cele¬brating the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers in the valley, July 24, 1847. President Brigham Young was presiding at the celebration, when the news of the army's approach was brought to him. H. B. Glawson, one of the earliest drama enthusiasts in discussing theatricals in early days said: "President Young insisted that we write to the noted publishing houses for the best plays that could be procured. President Young was so desirous that we give only the best plays that he had a bust of William Shakespeare placed above the stage for inspiration of the members of the com¬pany and to direct the minds of the audience to the plays of the English master." Some of the conditions under which these first plays by the Dramatic association were produced and which are typical of all parts of the state, where this form of acti¬vity was sponsored, is found in a statement made at the close of the theatrical season in the Social Hall. "In presenting ourselves as a company of players, we have done so under such circumstances as characterize no other company in the world. The Deseret Dramatic society is composed of men and women who toil to the best of their ability. Our ladies have to nurse between the acts and scenes, the "little responsibilities" of domestic life. Many of them are distant from the theater and have to travel (28) to learn their parts." From the speach by Brigham Young at the dedication of the Salt Lake Theater, the following shows the high plane which he kept and expected to be kept in the dramatics and amusements of the Saints during his presidency: "When the Saints come into this building and look oil this stage, to see our brethern and sisters perform to satisfy the sight, to satisfy the ear, and the desires and mind of the people, I want you to pray for them that the Lord Almighty may preserve them from ever having one wicked thought in their bosoms, that our actors may be just as virtuous, truthful and humble before God and each other as though they were on a mission to preach the gospel. "I say to those who perform, if anything is discovered contrary to the strictest virtue and decorum, the offenders must leave this building. I intend this remark to apply also to the musicians. I wish the dramatis company to seek dilegently and in all kindness to promote the happiness of all concerned. "Unless by my order I do not wish a drop of intoxicating liquor brought into this house; I want the actors behind the curtain, the musicians in the orchestra, and the audience to hear and observe this. "When this house is finished, there will be places in the passages where cakes, pies, fruits, etc., can be bought; but no intoxicating liquor will be allowed in these saloons. (29) No drunken person will be permitted to enter this house; I will not have it poluted and disgraced by the presence of the drunken, nor my brothers and sisters, who strive to do right, annoyed by the filthly breath of a poor miserable loafer. "We intend to observe the stricted order here; we do expect the people to come to this house praying, and their whole souls devoted to God, and to their religion. "Tragedy is favored by the outside world; I am not in favor of it. I do not wish murder and all its horrors and the villany leading to it portrayed before our women and children; I want no child to carry home with it the fear of the fagot, the sword, the pistol, of the dagger, and suffer in the night from frightful dreams. "I want such plays performed as will make the spectators fell well; and I wish those who perform to select a class of plays that will improve the piblic mind, and exalt the literary taste of the community. "If we wish to hold a conference in this hall, we shall do so, and we shall use it for all purposes that will satisfy our fellings in doing right, and no evil." Music was another social indulgent which enabled the pioneers to build up the west. Through the years of bitter hardships and trials the Saints have sung their way to buoyant spirits and have built up their weary with songs of fortitude. Singing bees in the homes in the evening, ward choirs, orchestras, and even bands were among the first song activities. (30) These were carried on under expert leadership, and from them as well as from the dramatic efforts of the pioneers has been produced musical and dramatical ability that has gained for Utah a wide recognition in the cultural centers of the country. Ever singing their way to hope, ever playing their way to buoyancy and ever building up their weary spirits with their social contacts, the pioneers maintained that courage necessary to fight for their religious liberty in the midst of the Rocky Mountains and establish this great Intermountain Empire. The above sketch was read by Emma London at the meeting held May 26, 1933.