Mark Twain's comments after a visit in Salt Lake City.
Concerning polygamy: "With gushing self-sufficiency of youth I was feverish to plunge in headlong and acheive a great reform here-until I saw the Mormon women. Then I was touched. My heart was wiser than my head. It warmed toward these poor, ungainly and pathetically "homely" creatures, and as I turned to hide the moisture in my eyes, I said, "No- the man that marries one of them has done an act of Christian charity which entitles him to the kindly applause of mankind, not their harsh censure- and the man that marries sixty of them has done a deed of open-handed generosity so sublime that nations should stand uncovered in his presence and worship in silence."
I assume uncovered means with hats off. It is no wonder I may be the most attractive woman in Utah. This may be humourous but it is truly Twains writing.
He also said that the Bible proves that polygamy is wrong. "Why right here it says no man can serve two masters."
Mark Twain wrote a lot of things, some of which were true.
Roughing It is a pretty darn funny travelogue.
Buck Fanshaw's Funeral (http://www.mtwain.com/Roughing_It/48.html), which comes from the book, is one of my favorite Twain stories.
Quote from: Mark TwainHe was on a sorrowful mission, now, and his face was the picture of woe. Being admitted to the presence he sat down before the clergyman, placed his fire-hat on an unfinished manuscript sermon under the minister's nose, took from it a red silk handkerchief, wiped his brow and heaved a sigh of dismal impressiveness, explanatory of his business.
He choked, and even shed tears; but with an effort he mastered his voice and said in lugubrious tones:
"Are you the duck that runs the gospel-mill next door?"
Oh gosh, he was about the funniest guy in the USA, which is not a small feat, but he ranks up there with Lenny Bruce, the Smothers Brothers, and, in particular, George Carlin, who was very Mark Twain in his material.