The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-22
How Brigham YOung's Wives Live.


From Mrs. Waites very interesting
work on the Mormons, Just issued by
Hurd and Houghton, we take the fol-
lowing description of the manner in
which the Prophets wives spend their
time:
"The internal arrangement Of affairs
at the Harem is very similar to that
of young ladies boarding school.
Each woman having her own room,
her affairs are all conferred there. The
culinary department is under the con-
troll of such of the wives as Brigham
from time to time appoints. SHE is
the stewardess, and carries the keys.
A cook is employed-generally man
and several servants besides, who
are all under the control of the stew
ardess. -
When the meals are prepared and
ready the bell rings, and each woman,
with her children, if she have any,
flies down to the dinner-table.
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
requisition and one of the number APP
pointed to use it. For the benefit of
those who want sewing machine, it
may be well to state how this one was
procured. One day man from st.
Louis came to offer one for sale, stat
ing that his price was ninety dollars.
Brigham bought it, promising to pay
the man whenever he should cali.
The man being poor, called in few
days. He did not get his pay. He
called again, number of times, with
the same result. One of the wives be-
came quite indignant, and said: If
was in his place, / never would ask it
from one so high in the priesthood.
He had better give it to him than to
ask pay of him. The poor man new
er received his money, and soon as he
could get the means left the territory.
This is the manner in which the
Prophet becomes possessed of much
of his property. Most of the women
spin and make their everyday cloth
ing, doing their own coloring. They
are quite proud of the quantity of
cloth manufactured in their establish
ment every year. All work hard, and
take but very little out-of-door exer-
else. Parties and the theatre are the
favorite amusements. At the theatre,
Brigham and one or two of the IA
vored wives sit together in the Kings
box, but the remainder of the women
and the children sit in what is called
'Brighams corral This is in the par
quette, about the center of the area.
The Prophet goes down once or twice
during the evening to the corral, and
chats for few moments with one and
another, but in a short time he can be
seen beside his dear Amelia again.
At the Mormon parties much gage
ty prevails. Appearances are main
tanned, somewhat, by paying more re-
spectful Difference to the first wives
on such occasions. Gentiles, with
whom the saints are on good terms,
are well received and kindly enter
tanned at these parties, and all join in
giving themselves up to the influences
of mirth and festivity. Dancing is nct
only favorite amusement, it is more;
it is cultivated 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 hus-
band. If they cannot obtain his love
they content themselves with his
kindness, and endeavor to think them
selves happy. As religion is their on
ly solace, they try to make it their
only object If it does not elevate
their minds, it deadens their suscepti-
bilities, 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 teacher of the ordinary
branches of an English education, arc
employed in the family school. Also
a teacher of French. His children
have much better advantages than
any other in the territory. Dancing
and music are the leading accomplish
ments and everything else is made
subordinate to these"