IN LIGHTER MOOD.

A baker who bought his butter in pound rolls from a farmer, noticing that the rolls looked rather small, they were all under a pound in weight.

into the county court.

weighed them, and found that Thereupon he put the farmer

"These butter rolls," said the judge, "are certainly under a pound in weight. Have you any scales?" he asked.

"I have," said the farmer.

"And have you any weights?

"No, sir."

"Then how do you weigh your butter?"

"That's very simple," said the farmer. "While I've been selling butter to the baker I've been buying pound loaves from him and I have used them for weights on my own scales.”

As Artemus Ward was once traveling in the cars, dreading to be bored and feeling miserable, a man approached him, sat down and said,— "Did you hear that last thing on Horace Greeley?"

"Greeley? Greeley?" said Artemus. "Horace Greeley? Who is he?” The man was quiet about five minutes. Pretty soon he said,"George Francis Train is kicking up a good deal of a row over England. Do you think they will put him in a bastile?"

"Train? Train? George Francis Train?" said Artemus, solemnly, "I never heard of him."

This ignorance kept the man quiet about fifteen minutes, then he said,

"What do you think about General Grant's chances for the Presidency? Do you think they will run him?"

"Grant? Grant? Hang it man," said Artemus, "you appear to know more strangers than any man I ever saw."

The man was furious. He walked off, but at last came back and said,

"You confounded ignoramus, did you ever hear of Adam?"
"What was his other name?"

OUR WORK.

THE ERA AS A TEXT-BOOK.

In order to bring the exercises of the Improvement Associations and the contents of the IMPROVEMENT ERA more closely together, that they may become more directly co-operative and inter-dependent, the General Board offers the following suggestions to presidents and officers of the associations:

The manual work, as heretofore, should constitute the chief part of the weekly program. In addition, however, there is frequently time left for miscellaneous exercises; and it is suggested and urged that where such is the case, (and it would be well for each association to have some time remaining, at the close of the regular manual exercises,) that a lesson be provided from the ERA for each program, both of the weekly meetings and monthly conjoint sessions. For example, let the officers carefully read the last current number of the ERA and then select, say four articles, to be considered during the coming month, appointing some member to make a report of the substance of each article, or, if it be short, perhaps read it, as a part of the regular program. We have in mind several articles, in the October number, for instance, that could be treated in this way with much profit. As examples of these Dr. Brimhall's article on "Continuity in Character;" Dr. Young's article on the "Evils of Drink and Tobacco," and two articles in "Our Work” department on "Writing as a Means of Improvement;" and "Just a Hint or Two," by Elder Naisbitt. Other articles, also, might be named from this same number that would prove interesting if studied and thus presented. It is also suggested that the officers occasionally put to the whole association some question that can be answered by reference to the ERA, as for example, in the October number, What is the plain duty of every young man as to his course regarding evil? page 946. Who was William Wilberforce? page 935; Relate the anecdote illustrating the power of

environment over us. Page 932. What leading lesson in the article, "A Message to Garcia?"

These hints on program-making are worthy of adoption by the presiding officers, and we will be pleased to hear from those who shall put them into effect, as to their results and practicability.

As a further example, the following articles and questions are named for November study: "First Mission to the Lamanites," "The Original Book of Mormon Manuscript," "The Zionist Movement" and the article on Joseph Smith by Edgar Young. Questions like these may be asked: What was the testimony received by Dr. Maeser, after baptism? What leading thought do you get from the article, "The Returned Elder?" Relate an incident showing an Elder's influence? Page 32.

PRINTED INVITATIONS TO ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING.

Among the many changes made in Stake officers recently, the change in Weber Stake is to be numbered. This occurred on Sunday, May 21, last, at which time Elder B. H. Roberts and other members of the General Board visited the Stake and attended the conference held in the Ogden Tabernacle. Superintendent Angus T. Wright, his counselors, Thos A. Shreeve and H. H. Thomas, and other officers of the Board, after years of faithful service in the improvement cause, were honorably released. The following officers were then presented and sustained:

John L. Herrick, superintendent; John V. Bluth and Heber Scowcroft, counselors; T. Y. Stanford, recording secretary; J. W. F. Volker, corresponding secretary; Parley T. Wright, treasurer; Wm. E. Newman, M. H. Thomas, Geo. W. Baker, J. W. West, J. F. Snedaker, J. R. Beus, W. G. Cragun, aids. At a subsequent conference Elder Willard Scowcroft was added to the board as chorister.

The new board began its labors this fall by instituting an active campaign in behalf of mutual improvement. Among the new ideas advanced was that of printing a circular letter, at the expense of the Stake Board, and supplying the president of each association with enough copies to send one to every member of the ward who should be a mem

ber of the association. The presidency of each association addressed these letters and filled in the blank left for the date of commencing the season's work. After being signed by the president and secretary, these letters were delivered to the members of the ward who were, or who should be, enrolled as members of the association.

The idea, we think, is a good one, and we print the circular below for the benefit of others who may desire to adopt this plan of inviting their members to attend the opening meeting each year.

...UTAH, OCT. 1, 1899.

DEAR BROTHER:

As the time is approaching for us to begin our season's work of the Mutual Improvement, we desire to call your attention to some things of importance in relation thereto.

Our first meeting will be held on...

p. m. sharp, in our meeting house.

....at..........

As the study of the new manual, which is entitled, "The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times," is a very interesting one, and also instructive, it will be to your individual benefit to attend every meeting if possible, commencing with the first, and we are certain that at the close of the season you will feel that the time spent in attending to these meetings and studies, will have paid you immensely, as it takes up history and other studies, which will increase your intellectual qualities and strengthen your spiritual life.

We want to make this season one of the best ever known, and as it will be to your personal benefit to take hold of this matter with zeal and energy, we have no doubt but what you will give us your assistance and attend the first meeting, as we will have a program arranged and studies will commence at that time.

We also call your attention to the Improvement Era, which is published monthly for the benefit of the young men of Zion. It is very instructive and interesting, and we desire you to subscribe or renew your subscription to this magazine.

The subscription price is $2.00 per annum in advance, including copy of the manual, which makes the subscription for the Era $1.75 per

annum.

We sincerely hope and trust that you will help us in this matter and assist in making the meetings for the coming season as interesting as possible, so that all our young people will feel encouraged in the cause in which we are engaged.

Please do not forget the date of our first meeting, as we certainly

expect you to be there.

Manuals can be procured from the undersigned.

Your Brethren,

President.

Secretary.

The general night of meeting in the Weber Stake is Tuesday, and the third Sunday evening of each month is given over to conjoint meetings with the Y. L. M. I. A. A uniform meeting night has been of great value to the associations of this Stake.

THE MISSIONARIES, THEIR PREPARATION AND LABOR.

At the last annual conference of the Y. M. M. I. A., it was intimated that possibly some change in the system of the missionary branch of our labors would be inaugurated. After some discussion, the details of the new movement were left with the General Board who decided to call some fifty Mutual Improvement Missionaries for 1899-1900, instead of a greater number, as heretofore. It was also decided that instead of laboring entirely with the membership, their special work would be with the stake and ward officers. They were to be direct representatives of the General Board, while the local missionary work was to be performed by ward officers or their delegated representatives. The missionary committee of the General Board, composed of Elders J. Golden Kimball, Frank Y. Taylor and Thomas Hull, were charged with the details of calling and instructing the missionaries.

The following brethren, out of those who were called, responded: Alexander Campbell, Cardston, Alberta Stake, Canada; Alfred Kearl, Laketown, Utah, Bear Lake Stake, Idaho; Robert Andrus, Leorin, Bingham Stake, Idaho; Nels Madsen, Brigham City, Box Elder Stake, Utah; Jos. Richardson, Smithfield, Cache Stake, Utah; Willard Baxter, Mount Sterling, Cache Stake, Utah; Brigham H. Telford, Lewiston, Cache Stake, Utah; Moses Smith, Marion, Cassia Stake, Idaho; Alonzo G. Sedgwick,