Paris - 1930

Our examinations consisted of a three-hour written test in each subject and then a personal oral examination with the lecturing professor. It was quite an experience. I was very happy when I learned that I had passed all six subjects, and received a "Mention Bien" for scholarship. Rulon also passed all of his subjects and received his diploma.

I ... went from [Paris] up through Belgium where I bought some Leige Linen, which I also gave to Dorothy. As far as I know, it has only been used once or twice and I hope that someday my daughter or if it last that long, her daughter will be able to use this linen.

I went from Belgium to Holland. I visited both Amsterdam and Rotterdam in Holland. I was in Holland only briefly but found it to be a very clean and beautiful country. While in Rotterdam I bought an unmounted diamond to bring home for an engagement ring.

Finally I sailed from Cherebourg, France on the Laviathian, the largest ship then afloat (60,000 tons). There were nine other missionaries in the party. We had quite a rough crossing and the second night out, only four of the nine showed up for dinner. During the course of the meal two of them clamped their napkins to their mouths and made for the stairs on the run, not to return. I and another fellow stayed and finished our meal.

On the Leviathian we found as director of recreation, Claude Cornwall, a member of the Church, from Salt Lake. His brother is J. Spencer Cornwall, the director of the tabernacle choir. It was his job to see that all of the passengers had a good time. He organized games, shows, contests,and used the missionaries as a nucleus for these events. As a result we had a wonderful time on the return trip, met several good looking girls, danced, and generally had a good time.

One of the things that I will always remember is the morning we steamed into New York harbor. The old Statue of Liberty standing up there welcoming you home is a sight you can never forget. There is really no place anywhere like the good old United States, and you just begin to realize it all over again when you see the old lady standing up there with the torch of freedom burning.

In company with two other missionaries I went from New York up to Buffalo and from there to Niagra Falls. It was a beautiful sight. We took a trip on the "Maid of the Mist" a small steamer that goes out almost under the falls. These falls as did those I visited in Yellowstone Park filled me with a sense of terror as I stood on the brink and watched the tons of water going over them. From the falls we went to Palmyra, New York to visit the sacred grove, the Joseph Smith farm, and were told in which direction to go to reach the sacred grove. The grove was much like any other grove of trees, but there was a feeling of reverence about it that impressed you with its sacredness. This was in 1930 and at that time the Church did not own much of this property.

To reach the Hill Cumorah we had to hike about six miles down the road. The hill was there with a small sign at the bottom stating that this was the hill in which Joseph Smith found the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. As I recall, the hill was covered with a scattering of brush but no trees of any size. There was a barbed wire fence around it by the road but it was not otherwise enclosed.

(PARIS JOURNAL OF JOHN GRIFFIN - page 6)

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