He went on, “There’s an article here entitled, ’The City of Nauvoo.  The Holy City.  The City of Joseph.’  I’d like to read it to you if you don’t object, Sister Halsey.”

The pronunciation of the last title seemed to inflate him; his hands ceased to tremble.  A flicker of amusement lighted the gravity of Susannah’s mind.

Joseph read, “’The city is laid out in streets of convenient width, along which are built good houses, and around every good-sized house are grounds and gardens.  It is incorporated by charter, and contains the best institutions of the latest civilisation.’” He gave this the emphasis of pause.  “Is that true.  Sister Halsey, or is it not?”

She smiled as upon a child.  “Yes, Mr. Smith, it is true.”

“’Most conspicuous among the buildings of the Holy City is the temple built of white stone upon the hill-top.  It is intended as a shrine in the western wilderness whereat all nations of the earth may worship, for on March 1, 1841, the prophet gave it as an ordinance that people of all sects and religions should live and worship in the City if they would, and that any person guilty of ridiculing or otherwise deprecating another in consequence of his religion should be imprisoned.’  Is that true?” Smith inquired again.  His questions came in the tone of a pompous refrain.

“Except in the case of those who have joined you and gone back from your doctrine,” she said, but not thinking of herself.

He read on:  “’Here, as elsewhere, Mr. Smith has attended first to the education of his people.  The president of the Nauvoo University is Professor James Kelly, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and a ripe scholar; the professor of English literature is Professor Orson Pratte, a man of pure mind and high order of ability, who without early advantages has had to educate himself amid great difficulties and has achieved learning.  The professor of languages is Professor Orson Spencer, graduate of Union College, New York, and of the Baptist theological seminary of that city.  No expense has been spared upon school buildings for the youth of both sexes, and the curriculum is good.’  Is that true?”

“Yes,” she replied.

He read on:  “’The population is made up chiefly from the labouring classes of the United States and the manufacturing districts of England.  They have been grossly misunderstood and shamefully libelled.  They are at least quite as honest as the rest of us, in this part of the world or any other.  Ardent spirits as a drink; are not in use among them; tobacco is a weed which they almost universally despise.  There is not an oath to be heard in the city; everywhere the people are cheerful and polite; there is not a lounger in the streets.  Industry is insisted upon, and with the hum of industry the voice of innocent merriment is everywhere heard.  Now, as to their morality, if you should throw cold water upon melted iron, the scene would be terrific because the contrast would be so great; so it is with the Saints; if a small portion of wickedness happens among them, the contrast between the spirit of holiness, and the spirit of darkness is so great that it makes a great up-stir and excitement.  In other communities the same amount of crime would hardly be noticed.’” Again he asked, “Sister Halsey, does this evidence of an impartial witness coincide with your observation?”