Giais-Selva. Commune Aviano. Provinzia Friul. Upper Italy Europe November 27th [18]89. Reverend first President and Head of the Church of Jesus Christ. Electrified by the deep philosophical thruth's of your religious system, especially in the spirit of the genial "Pratt," I would desire today (although a Catholic at present) to be batized ^into^ and to unite myself with the Church of J. C. of L. D. Saints. I am 28 years of age, unmarried, the son of a pretty somewhat wealthy ...

I have put away all foolish nonsense of life and have retired into an Italian village, called Giais-Selva, where the suitable climate for orchards and the raising of fruit, as also the utter retirement from the noise of the world, corresponds with my feelings, and where I have obtained my own property. Here, at the foot of the Venetian Alps—only surrounded by peasants, I have found, that the spirit of man gains that freshness and strength necessary to distinguish Truth from Error. To ...

there would be many, who would join this Church. There are also in Europe many nice poor children—(I could and would adopt many.) my estate is large enough, that many could live therein, food and plain clothing costs not much; I would bring them up in the spirit of the Latter day Saints, would teach them in horticulture and farming—in short, I would in a quiet and practical way work for the ^interests of the^ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints ...

How many Spirits are waiting, to clothe themselves with mortality! oh what a Sinner am I, to be 28 years old, and have not yet been married, and brought forth an ofspring. Like a heavy weight lays this sin upon my soul, and I realize that, although perfectly healthy, I am just as likely to be swept away from life by an accident, and then be doomed to live alone through the immeasurable spaces of the creations. In asmuch as I am healthy, well build and young ...

such a spouse might even turn a Traitor, and in that case the laws of Europe would place power into her hands, to make it mighty uncomfortable for me. Consequently there are only two ways, either to adopt a little girl ^without relatives,^ about 4 or 5 years, and bring her up entirely excluded from all outside controlle entirely in the spirit of the Church of J. C. of L. D. Saints, and then, when arrived at the suitable age, to be "sealed together," ...

case would pass as relatives, cousins etc. and you could depend on full secretiveness on my part. Perhaps it would be advisable for you to send to my residence one of your Swiss Missionaries, so I could talk with him. If it would be ^deemed^ advisable, I could come at my own expense next Summer to Utah and present myself to you, and I could return after some months stay to Europe. Should my proposed missionary labors prove a failure, I ...

central point of a mighty lever in advancing the interests of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. With deepest respect and devotion Hugo Dewald Giais-Selva. Comune Aviano. vicino Pordenonne Provinzia Friul Italia. Europe.

Hugo Dewald 27 Nov. 1889