[174:A] April 8, 1858, _Deseret News_, Vol. III. No. 12. [176:A] _City of the Saints_, pp. 397, 398. [176:B] The 24th of July, 1847, was the day when the first Mormons arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The 24th of July is therefore celebrated by them as the 4th is by gentiles. CHAPTER X. BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. Brigham's Block.--The Lion House.--The Tithing-House.--The Bee-hive House, Office, etc.--Description of the Harem.--Plan, Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same.--Life at the Harem.--Brigham at Home. [Illustration: The Prophet's Block.] Brigham's Block consists of about twenty acres, situated in the northern part of the city, and on the "first bench." These "benches" are level plateaus, or ridges running along at the base, and parallel with the mountain sides, and rising one above another, in regular succession. They are supposed to have been formed by the action of water, which doubtless at one time, covered the whole country, half way to the mountain tops. These benches overlook the city, which is mostly built on the flats, or bottom lands of the Jordan River. From Brigham's Bench the view is particularly beautiful, including the lake spread out in all its grandeur to the westward, with mountains rising in and beyond it, and mountains bounding the horizon in every other direction. The grounds are surrounded by a wall from eight to ten feet in height, built of pebble-stones, cemented with mortar, and strengthened and supported by semicircular buttresses, at equal distances. The main entrance faces south, and the gateway is surmounted by a huge eagle carved in stone, which sits in a very uncomfortable position, and looks as though desirous of soaring to his native hills, or of making a descent upon some of the denizens of earth. His business is to watch and see who enters this sacred precinct, and to see that every third load of wood brought from City Creek (or Brigham's) Canyon, which leads into this enclosure from the north, is deposited at the Prophet's door. The only entrance into this canyon is _through_ this gate, and the canyon itself contains the only wood within fifteen miles of the city. The gold also, which it is well understood lies embedded in City Creek Canyon, is thus pretty well guarded. The grounds are regularly laid out by William C. Staines, one of Brigham's adopted sons. The Prophet himself is very fond of fruit, and has carried its culture to a considerable degree of perfection. Large numbers of apple, pear, peach, and apricot trees, have been set out, and are producing every year. Grape culture also has not been neglected. It is a custom here to present the President with a specimen of every new variety of fruit and vegetable raised, and he receives very graciously anything presented, from a barrel of brandy to an umbrella, and is sure to think more of the donor, ever afterward.