The Portland daily press., 1866-06-06
MISCELLANY.
How Bri CHAM Youne,s wives Live.

- 'eAocj a l1uy WIN l6o opCut oCN-
eral years in Utah, and enjoyed unusual facil-
tiles for obtaining accurate information in re-
lation to the domestic manners and customs
ofthe Mormons, has recently published a book
upon that subject 1t is a wel-written and
interesting work which we should judge will
be widely read. From it we extract the fol-
lowing account of the mode of life of the wo-
men forming the household of the Mormon
prophet:
The internal arrangement Of affairs at the
Harem is very similar to that OF young la
dies boarding school. Each woman having
her own room, her affairs are all centred there.
The culinary department is under the control
of such of the wives as Brigham rom time to
time appoints. She is the stewardess, and car
ries the KEYS. A cook is employed-generally
a man-and several servants besides who are
all under the control of the stewardess.
When the meals are prepared and ready the
bell rings, and each woman, with her children,
irshe have any, files down to the dinner table
and is seated as before stated
Each, on rising, has her children to attend
to, and get ready for breakfast; this over, she
commences the business of the day, arranges
her rooms, and sits down to her sewing or
other work, as the case may be.
A sewing-machine is brought into requisi-
ton, and one of the number appointed to use
it, For the benefit of those who want sew
ing-machine, it may be well to state how this
one was procured. One day man from st.
Louis came to offer one for sale, stating that
his price was ninety dollars Brigham bought
it, promising to pay the man whenever he
should call. The man being poor, called in a
few days. He did not get his pay. He called
again, a number OF times, with the same re-
suit. One of the wives became quite indig-
nant, and said: eff was in his place, 1 never
would ask it from one so high in the priest
hood. He had better give it to him than ask
pay of him." The poor man never received
his money, and soon as he could get the means,
left the territory. This is the manner in
which the Prophet becomes possessed ofmuch
of his property. ASA
Most OF the women spin and make their ev-
eryday clothing, doing their own coloring.-
They are quite proud of the quantity of cloth
year. All work hard, and take but very little
out-of-door exercise. Parties and the theatre
are the favorite amusements. At the theatre,
Brigham and one or two of the favored wives
sit together in the Kings box but the re-
mainder of the women and the children sit in
what is called SBrigham's corral This is in
the parquette, about the centre of the area
The Prophet goes down once OF twice during
the evening to the corral, and chats for a few
moments with one and another, but in short
time he can be seen beside his dear Amelia
again.
At the Mormon parties much gayety pre-
walls. Appearances are maintained, some
what, by paying more respectful Difference to
the first wives on such occasions. Gentiles,
with whom the saints are on good terms, are
we'll received and kindly entertained at these
parties, and all join in giving themselves up to
the influences of mirth and festivity. Dane
ing is not only a favorite amusement, it is
more it is cult waited to such an extent that it
becomes passion.
Brigham's women, though better clothed
than formerly, still work very hard. They are
infatuated with their religion, and devoted to
their husband. If they cannot obtain his love,
they content themselves with his kindness,
and endeavor to think themselves happy. AS
religion is their only solace, they try to make
it their only object. If it does not elevate their
minds, it deadens their susceptibiliries, and as
they are not permitted to be women, they try
to convince themselves that it is Gods will
they should be slaves.
A music-master, dancing-master, and a
teacher of the ordinary branches of an.English
education, are employed in the family school.
Also teacher OF French. His children have
muCIl U6tUcT duNdllbcSCo budu ally ObllCI Ill blC
territory. Dancing and music are the leading
accomplishments, and everything else is made
subordinate to these.
THE WEsTERNER.-Mr. Trollope thus
sketches him: "This man has his romance,
his high poetic feeling, and, you will find him
without coat or waistcoat, unshorn, in ragged
blue trousers and old flannel shirt, too often
bearing on his lantern jaws the signs Of ague
and sickness; but he will stand up before you
and speak to you with all the ease of letter
cd gentleman in his own library. All the obi
Gus incivility OF the republican servant has
been banished. He is his own master, stand
ing on his own threshold, and finds NO need
to assert his quality by rudeness. He is de-
lighted to see you, and bids you sit down on
his battered bench without dreaming of any
such apology as an English cottier offers to
Lady Bountiful when she calls. He has
worked out his independence, and shows it in
every easy movement of his body He tells
YOU OF it unconsciously in every tone of his
voice. You will always find in his cabin some
newspaper, some book, some token ofadvance
in education. When he questions you about
the old country he astonishes you bJ the ex-
tent of his knowledge. / defy you not to feel
that he is superior to the race from whence he
has sprung in England or in Ireland. To me
must confess that the manljness of such a
man is very charming He is dry and per-
haps squalid. His children are sick, and he
is without comforts. His wife is pale, and
you think you see shortness of life written in
The faces of all his family. But over and
above ii all there is an independence which
sits gracefully on their shoulders, and teaches
you at first glance that the man has right to
assume himself to be your equal. 1t is for
this position that the laborer works, bearing
lard words and the indignity OF tyranny
suffering, also, too often, the dishonest illus
age which his superior power enables the
master to infict."
THE New York SATURDAY PRESS