In 1870, according to the United States census report (taken in Utah by
_non_-Mormons), Utah's enviable record stood as follows:
Comparative Statistics from Census of United States, 1870.
School Illiteracy, Paupers. Insane Convicts. Printing Church
attendance, cannot read and and Edifices.
5 to 18 or write, 10 Idiotic. Publishing
years. years and Establishments.
upwards.
UTAH 35 11 6 5 3 14 19
UNITED STATES 31 26 31 16 9 6 17
PENNSYLVANIA 30 10 45 17 9 9 14
NEW YORK 21 9 59 23 12 7 12
MASSACHUSETTS 25 12 55 20 11 11 12
DIST. OF COLUMBIA 27 40 23 35 9 11 8
CALIFORNIA 24 10 41 22 19 14 9
{345} THE BOOK OF MORMON.
Among the many theories advanced by the opponents of truth, to account
for the existence of the Book of Mormon, is the untenable, but widely
believed, story that one Solomon Spaulding wrote it, and that it was
surreptitiously appropriated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Thousands,
doubtless, believe this silly attempt to an explanation to-day; but the
following correspondence will probably serve to enlighten the minds of
those who wish information on this subject.
Letter from President Fairchild, of Oberlin College, Ohio, New York
_Observer_ of February 5th, 1885: