Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-17

MT. lEPWORTI DlADN, CuiloT vi Iuc LIii'
don AMeneuns, who has but recently paid
visit to The United States, has published o
book called New America" His pictures
of western life are most admirably drawn. A
large portion Of the book is devoted to Utah
and TIE Morlnons. The social effect of poly
samy receives a practical illustration among
the Morrnons, which Mr.. DIXON did not fail
to notice. His remarks on this subject are
very Interesting and instructivc
WOMAN AT SALT LAKE..
And what. as regards the woman herself,
is the visible issue OF this strange experiment
in social and family life?
During our fifteen days residence among
the Saints, We have had as many opportnnl
ties Afforded US for formirg judgment OH
this question as has ever been given to Gen
tilc travellers. We have seen the President
and some Of the apostles daily; &c have been
received into many Mormon bcGses, and in
troducet TO neary all tic leading Saints; We
have d.ned at their tables; We have chatted
With thor vrivos, haro "e'"rod nd r'.y~l
with their children. The feelings which We
nave raued as to the effect OF Mormon life
on the character and position OF woman, are
the growth Of care Of study, and experiences;
and our friends at Salt Lake. We hope while
they will differ from our views will no. refuse
To credit Us with candor and good faith.
If ynu listen 10 the elders only, you would
fancy that tie idea Of a plurality of wives
.yriJes in the female breast the widest fanati,
ism. They tell you that Norman preacher,
!wcllua on the examples of Sarai and uf
Rachel finds his most willing listeners on the
female benches. They say that ladies' club
was Gcr,aed at Nauvoo 10 foster poygamy,
and 10 make il The fashion; that mothers
preach it 20 their daughters; that noetcsses
praise Il. They ask J, 4 10 believe that the
first vie, being head of the harcm, takes
upon herself to seek out and court he pret.
:iesl giels; OILY too proud and happy when
she can bsinG pew Hagar, a new Biliah to
her husbands aruis.
This male version Of the facts is certainly
supported by such female writer's as Belinda
Pratt
Inmy opinion, Mormonism is not a religion
for woraan. will not say that it degrades
her. for the term degradation is open to abuse;
bu, it certainly lowers her, according to our
Gentle ideas, in .hc social scale. In fact.
woman is not in society heTe at ALL The
long blank walls, the embowered cottages,
the empty windows, doorways ard verandas,
ell suggest to an English eye something of
the ieaiougy, the seclusion. the subordnation
Of Mosem harem, rather than the gravity
and freedom of Christian home, Len rare
lv see each other at home, still more rarely
in the company Of thcir wives. Seclusion
seems to be fashion wherever polygamy is
the law. Now, By itself, and apart from all
doctrines ana moralties, the babit of seclu-
ding women from society must tend TO dim
tier sight and dull their hearing; for if con-
versa,ion ouickens men, it still more quickens
women: {: and re can roundly say, after expe-
rience in many households at Salt Lake, ts.st
these Mormon ladies' have lost the practice
and the power Of taking part even in such
light talk as animates dinner table and
drawing room. We haze met with only one
execution to this rule, that Of lady who
had been upon the Stage. In some houses,
The wives Of our hosts, with babies in their
arms, ran about the rooms, fetching in cham
parue drawing corks, carrying cake ard
fruit, lighting matches. iceing water, while
tie men were lolng in chairs, putting their
feet out of windows smoking cigars, and tos
sing of bcakors Of wine.
IN. B.-Abstinence from wine and Tobacco
is recommended by Young and taught in the
Mormon schools; but found cigars in ma
nv houses, and wine in all except in hotels y
The ladies, as a rule, are plainly, not to say
nooply. dressed; with no bright colors, no
ray r. iounaeS and furbelows. They are very
ouict q and snbdueG IL uiqpneF, with what ap,
ncnrerl TO us an unnatural calm, ss if al!
d,sb all sportivencss, all life, had been preach.
ed out Ct them. They seldom smiled, except
C with wan aud wearied look; and though
they are all of English race, we have never
heard them iaash with the bright merrment
Of our English girls.
They know very little, aud feel Iii ;.terest
in very few things. | assume that they are
all great at nursing, and know that many
Of them are clever at drying and preserving
fruit. But they are habiually shy and re-
served as though they were afraid lest their
hold opirion on sunuet, Oh watcrcourse
or mountain-range, should be Gcrsiiered
By their lords as dangerous intrusion on
the sanctilirs Of domestic lie. While you
are in tho house, they are brought into the
public room as children are with us; they
come in for moment, courtesy and shake
hands; then drop out again, as though they
felt themselves in company rather out Of
nlace. | have never seen this sort Of shyness
among grown women, except in Syrian tent.
Anything like the case and bearing of an
English lady is not to'be found in Salt Lake,
even among the households of the rich. Here
no woman reigns. Here, no woman hints by
her manner that she is mistress of her own
house. She docs not always sit at the table ;
and when sllc occupies place beside her
lord. i. ID not at the head, but on ,one of the
lower seats. IN fact, her. lie does not seem