The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-26
Certainly, gentlemen; and, as have a
spare hour, I will eheaperon you my
HIS HAREM.

Blessing our stars for our good fortune,
we followed our host into his drawing
room. There sits good natured lady,
''fat fair" and fifty She is Brigham's
senior wife, and is called Lady Young
There sits another person, about thirty,
who smiled very sweetly at Brigham on
his entrance. She is very good-looking,
tall, and majestic in figure, oval features.
soft blue eyes, light brown hair, and wear
ing an expression of subdued intelligence
She is Brigham's favorite wife; that is, he
shows her the most attention. Emeline is
Brigham's third wife. He was married
to her I believe at Council Bluffs, Iowa,
and she has born him six children, most
of them now dead Brigham liked Emil
line so we'll that he thought he would like
another from the same parent tree, and
therefore married her sister.
There sits another lady, merrily singing
to q fat boy baby. She is dark haired
and black haired houri. She is the last
wife of Brigham-an "thereby hangs
tale.n Eliza saw and loved Brigham
Young. She was but child, almost un-
known, and her-affection seemed hopeless
But she had read in the Old Testament
that Jacob served seven years to get
wife, she tho't it a very good thing too,
that he did so, and conceived the glorious
thought that perhaps what Jacob did to
get wife, she might do in order to obtain
a husband went to Lady Young
and made the proposition. Brigham was
consulted in this rather novel way of get
ting wife, and as Eliza was very good
looking, and her services very desirable,
of course he had no objections. She SER
we'd her time, demanded her wages, ana
obtained her undivided moiety,' of Broth
er Brigham. 1t wasan attachment on her
part worthy a better object Brigham
calls the baby "My English boy" as she
happens to be the only English wife he
has retained
PHILOSOPHY OF SEALING" "
There sits another lady. She is worthy
to be looked at. About forty years ofage,
with square brow, thin, straight nose,
emaciated and compressedlips, cold, freez-
ing, gray eyes, high cheek-hones, and an
gular jaws, is "Zion's poetess." Eliza
X. Snow is woman of decided ability.
She is the representative of another class
of Brigham's household She was among
the first extra ladies of Joseph Smith,
The Mormons contend that mans fu-
ture glory depends entirely on his children;
the more children, consequently, the more
glory; no children, no glory; hence, there
fore, the more women, the more glorious;
no woman, not glorious at all! All the
children woman may have after she has
been "sealed' to a man. belong to that
man, irrespective of any other claims he
may possess to paternity. She may have
had them by previous husband who died
or was divorced; she may have them by
a subsequent husband, to whom she was
married after the demise of the man to
whom she was sealed, or she may have
them by duly appointed proxy, during
any temporary absence of her sealed hus-
band, whatever the time, or whatever the
person, her children belong to the family
of her sealed lord and master. Hence,
after Smith died, so that he might not sac
riice any glory by his unfortunate decease,
Brigham took his widows! Eliza r.
Snow is one of these happy ladies These
blessed beings, who have consumated the
send and object of their existence!" cease
to be wives, and become Mothers in
Israel"
Their duties are very various, and Pc
culiarly Mormon; being to covert young
girls into advocates of polygamy; TO induce
young wives into advising their husbands
to take others, to instruct young brides in
physiological philosophy; to meet in a
weekly "Council of Health" attended ex-
elusively by woman, but presided over by
q man, and there debate, quite unreserv-
Eedly, the most indelicate questions, ETC.,
etc. They form q species of Matron
Club and devote themselves TO gossip,
scandal, and tea-drinking in general; and
are universally Brigham's most fervent de-
lciples, as wei! as the sternest and most
garrulous advocates for complete submis-
sion to the will of the Lord, as coming
through his prophets and lovely oracles u
Brigham, however, does not reverence the
claims of these old ladies to respect, and
throws in among them many irebrand
Of contention. They are supposed to be
| fully yersed in "the mysteries OF the king.
dom, = and they talk outrageous nonsense
on the most recondite subjects. God
angels, eternity, Great on of matter, and
the insolvable problem of good and evil
these old ladies make short work of; and
snuff and mysteries" abound in their re,
union.
MRS. COBB.
There sits another person smiling at 6
girl about II, with dark flowing ringlets
She is q fne-looking woman, although
now past age. She illustrates anothei
class of Brigham's wives. That is Mrs
Cobb. She saw, heard, believed and loy
ed Brigham Young; embraced Mormanisn
and ran away from her husband. a respec
table gentleman in Massachusetts, carrying
off her daughter, Charlotte, the young
Iringletted lady. She arrived at Council