The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-08-10
LATER FROM UTAH.
Mormon brigham Young at
PrOv0--IIis Recommendations Particulars.

! PrOvo--IIis sHarem--Various Particulars.
! We extract from the Utah letter to tho
N. Y. Times, dated at Salt Lake City, Ju
ly Sd, tho following interesting particulars
THE MORMON LINE or DEFENcEs.
| In the army the facilities of the Nor.
mons for defence against tho troops is a
topic of general mirth, and especially the
defences in Echo Canon, understood to
have been planned by Major 8. M. Blair
a brave and determined man beyond all
doubt--a superior Indian fighter, but a
perfect babc in military knowledge when
tho enemy arc to be dealt wih-aro COM
pesed of American troops under officers
famed for military science, knowledge and
skill. There are in this army many Off
GERS who served in Mexico, all of whom
declare that Echo Canon, even had it been
crowded with Mormon militia, would have
presented not quarter of the difficulties
to General Johnston's command that were
so brilliantly overcome ut Cerro Gordo or
Molina del Rey. The heights of the Can
on and its deep dells constituted nothing
more nor less than n trsp for those who
might attempt 10 dispute the passage of
troops, for they would require far greater
resources to defend them than to assail -
Such is the universal opinion in the army,
whose officers crack fusilade of Jokes over
the Ech Canon bug bear which had filed
the public eye in the States and at Wash
ington for months.
THE REFUGEES IN NPRovo-BRIGHAM's HAREM.
We found Provo ovcrfowing with the
refugees, living in all sorts Of habitations,
some campidg out in diminutivc tents of
calico, or white shceting-others in lodges
of willow twigs, and still Others under the
shade of roofs made of strong willow blank
cts or carpets stretched upon frame work
of poles. With all of these comfort was
out of the qucstion-but thousands have
nevertheless submitted in silence to the or
der of their pricstly leaders which consign-
ed them to such mode Of life. A few
Of the more wealthy have erected board
shantics for themselves, which ir this eli
mate, and during the summer season, are
very comfortable. Governor Young has
covered an entire block with this sort of
provision for the accommodation of his ''do-
mestic institution.' The locality which he
has selected is upon the bench on the wcs-
tern edge of the city, directly in the shad-
ow Of the steep mountain sides Hero he
has completely in1loscd n block with row
Of board shantics one s,ory high, all oacn.
ing to the centre, and with no windows
looking outup3n tho street The buildings
on two sides are fitted up for The accom-
modation Of his numerous family, and
those on tho other rs stOrchouscs. stables,
DC. The Gentle stranger witnessed
novel scene - he walked down the inner
front Of the tango OF family "shambes,"
amid the din OF CRYING children "too nu-
merous too MENTION as he passed the
Long row Of hooths standing sile by side,
each with a vie at its door. | should be
guilty Of an unparlonahle sin of omission
did | fail to say something in regard to the
appearance { Brigham's spirtuaIs.
| had vUy litllc opportunity, however,
for observation, as | found myself within
the precincts Of tic Prophets home sane
tuary ay acci Lem, and was not warranted,
therefore, in pau>iGg for inspection. Such
glance as | obtained, however. showed me
that Brigham is man Of somc taste, and
that his spirtuals are generally fine. looking
women-somc Of them, indeed, quito pret-
ty, and all Of them, so far as could Judge,
intelligent. | suppose saw in the shanty
Quarters" some thirty women-but wheth- |
or they all of them were wives of the
Prophet, or whether these constituted his |
entire household, Of course l am not in
formed. The general impression here
seems to be that he has nearly or quite
fifty wives. He only claims to have forty
children living, having had forty-scvcn al
together This, doubtless, is the highest
figure he can claim, as the "Saipts" con-
slider a large number Of children subject of |
pride and boast. These wives are all their
own servants, sn3 the nurses of their own
children. To see them sitting under the
overhanging caves of the shantics Just at
dusk, with their numerous children hang.
ing around them, all crying, chattering or
teasing as once, was certainly suggestive
or n founding hospital.
l was curious to know whether these
women were happy in the strange life they
led, and glance at their faces impressed
mo with the conviction that theirs was the
happiness Of stolid listlcss loss, an existence
in which all the higher and holicr senti-
ments of refinement and affection had been
sacrificed upon the altar Of fanaticism.-
They seemed TO me TO be virtuous; will
ling, perhaps, and rosigned-but nevcrthe-
less unhappy victims of self-inhicted tor
lures, by which they hoped to merit saint
ly reward. To few of them, perhaps,
these remarks would not apply. Some of
the younger females appeared thoughtIcss
or reckless, but the elder, who wrro elu.
Gated in circles whcro woman was queen
rather than vassal slave, wore their chains
evidently with inward murmurings.
Among the latter fancied | could dis.
tinguish her whose name had been secret
ly communicated to me by mutual friend
as one whose eyes had long since been
opened to the degradation Of her condi-
ton, and who was looking forward with
earnest anticipation to the hour when she
can safely claim protection and abandon
tho association with polygamy. 1 did not
attempt to converse with any of the isis
Lers" in Prove in regard to the institutions
amid which they live, for We geutilcs arc
watched with Jealous oyo.s and could NOT