Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-10-27
Polygamy amongst the Mornons.

t. -.
A lady, writing from Salt Lake, speaking of
this much mooted question, says:
GA second class here equally deserving of
commisseration, are those who have adapted what
is called with singular decacy, the rurality sys-
tem," and who attempt to discharge their multi
piled duties in strictly just manner. There is
about as much wisdom in this arrangement, as a
mother would display if she bestowed precisely
the same attentions on all her children of differ
ent ages, and because she made little turnovers
and saucer tarts for there years old thinks she
must make the same for the one at fifteen. The
husband is determined he will treat all his wives
alike; it shall never be said that in his administra-
ton there is any favoritsm. No, indeed! even
handed strict and equal justice is his motto in all
cases. Behold him then, as he undertakes to car
ry out his principles. He has four wives, ma
tive, and foreigner, northerner, and south
erner, as the may be, each differently educa-
ted, and brought up with different habits and dis
positions, and different ages. To say nothing of
the room in the family carriage when going to
church, and the distribution of various fayors and
honors, too nmerous to MENTION the piece of meat
purchased on Saturday night must be divided into
four pieces, and even Shylock's balance would
be insufficient to give each their due proportion of
fat, lean and bony; and at the same time take in
to the difference of children in each house, to-
gether with the allowance for the time he intends
to board with each during the week. While knife
in hand he may puzzle himself for hours, and turn
it over again and again, and fail to mete out ius
tice at last If he takes up one baby there are
three more to be taken; and if he walks to church
with one wife on one Sabbath, he must take n,,m.
Der two the next and thus be taking lessons in
mnemonics constantly. If he is absent minded
or forgetful, or deeply engrossed in business, wo
to his peace! As no man can understand even
one woman how he is expected to comprehend
four OF them is an enigma; and the misunder-
standings that arise keep him in continual tread
mill. In short he finds he has got into "unex-
plored regions.'' His domestic comforts are not
multiplied in direct ratio with his increased FAM
lily. There is this wanted in one house, and that
in another, and he probably finds that having a
pretty mistress in some quiet corner, is yery diff
ferent affair from having several wives who want
regularly their bread, meat, and oven wood
On the strength of such time honored savings as
''to many cooks spoil the broth,' sswhat's every-
body's business is nobody's,'' and sthe child whom
many fathers share, hath seldom known fathers
care," venture to assert that man with three
or four wives will never know where his clean
shirts and stockings are, and what is worse, will
never know whether he has any at all. He may
begin at seven on Sunday morning to dress for
church, and though his houses are call in a row.
ne may run from one to another until he he too
late at last. "Now comes the winter of his dis
content" but he must choke down his regrets as
best he can, for there is no shirking the response
bllities he has assumed, provided his wives are
contented and behave themselves properly. If
however, they are dissatisfied, they can readily
get divorce without suffering in the opinion Of
the public.