The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-10-13

first. And | infer that the more sharp
sighted young mon will not always be con-
tent with this.
Since the foregoing was written, I
have enjoyed opportunities for visiting
Mormons, and studying Mormonism, in
the homes of its votaries, and of discuss
ing with them what the outside world re.
CARDS as it's distinguishing festure, in the
freedom of friendl ,, social intercourse. =
In one instance, veteran apostle of the
faith, having first introduced to me a
worthy matron of fifty-fse or sixty--the
wife Of his youth, and the mother of his
grown-up sons-as Mrs. T., soon after
introduced young and winning lady of
perhaps twenty Eve summers. in these
words: "Here is another Mrs To
This lady is recent emigrant from our
State, of more than average powers of
mind and graces of person, who came
here with her brother, as a convert, a
little over year ago, and has been the
sixth wife of Mr. t since few weeks
after her arrival. (The intermediate four
wives Of Elder T. live on farm or farms
some miles distant.) The manner of the
husband was perfectly unconstrained and
off hand throughout; but could not we'll
be mistaken in my conviction that both
failed to conceal dissatisfaction with their
position in the eyes of their visiter, and
the world. They seemed to feel that it
needed vipdication. Their manner to-
ward each other was cordial and sisterly
sincerely so I doubt not-but this is
by no means the rule. A Gentle friend,
whose duties require him to travel widely
over the Territory, informs me that be
has repeatedly stopped with Bishop,
some hundred miles south of this, whose
two wires be bad never known to address
each other, or evincs the slightest cordi
ality during the hours be has spent in
their society. The Bishops house con-
sists of two rooms; and when my inform
ant staiG there with Gentle friend, the
Bishop being absent, one wife slept in the
same apartment with them rather than in
that occupied by her double. presume
that an extreme case, but the spirit which
impels it is not unusual. metthis even
ing large party of young people. con-
sisting in nearly equal numbers of hus-
bands and wives; but no husband was at
tended BY more than one wife, and no
gentlemen admitted or implied. in our
repeated and animated discussions of
Polygamy, that be had more than one
wife. And | was again struck by the
circumstance that here, as heretofore, no
woman indicated by word or look, her
approval of any argument in favor of Po
lygamy. That many women aequinsce
in it as an ordinance of God. and have
been drilled into mechanical assent to
the logic By which it is upheld, | believe;
but that there is not woman in Utah
who does not in her heart wish that God
had not ordained it, | am confident
And quite number of the young men
treat it in conversation as temporary or
experimental arrangement, which is to be
sustained or put aside as experience shall
demonstrate its utility or mischief One
old Mormon farmer, with whom [ dis
cussed the matter privately, admitted
that it was impossible for poor working
man to have we'll ordered, well-govern-
ed household, where bis children bad two
or more living mothers occupying the
same ordinary dwelling. On the whole.
l conclude that Polygamy, as it was a
graft on the original stock Of Mormonism,
will be outlived by the root that there
will be new revelation, ere many yoars,
whereby the Saints will be admonished
to love and cherish the wives they al
resdy have. but not to marry any more
beyond the natural assignment of one
wife to each husband.
Il roget that have found time and
opportunity to visit but one of the nine
teen Common Schools of this city. This
was thiuly attended by children. nearly
all quite young, and of the most rudi-
mentary sttainments. Their phrenolog
ical developments were, 10 the average,
bad. say this with freedom, since |
have stated that those of the adults, as |
noted them in the tabernacle, were good
But am told that idotic children are
very rare, if not unknown here. The
male Saints emphasize the fact that a
% aiority of the children born here are
girls, holding it as a proof that Provi-
deuce smiles on their peculiar Institu
tiop." |. on the contrary, maintain that
such is the case in all polygamous coun-
tries and proves simply prepoDderance
of vigor on the part of the mothers over
that Of the fathers wherever this result
is noted. presume that majority of
the children of old husbands by young
wives in any community are girls.
But again the wheels revolve. aud
my face must once more be turned west
ward. With the most hearty and great
ful Acknowledgements of the exceeding
kindness and hospitality with which |
have been treated here, alike by Mormon
and Gentle, and with barely word of
praise for the magnificent gardens | have
been invited to visit-of which Brigham
Youug's is probably the most extensive
and eye pleasing. but like Heber Kim
balls the best bid adieu to Salt Lake
O:A- of rhosa noonJa ri