The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-10-15
Mormon Wives.
CONFESSIONS TO ANNA DICKINSON.

CONFESSIONS TO ANNA DICKINSON.
In a late lcctu-c at San Francisco, Ans
na Dickinson related her experience at
Salt Lake City, from which we segre-
gate:
In Salt Lake City went to the house
Of q Mormon elder. was told before
hand that he had two wives. and that
they had both lived tugethcr some fif-
teen years, and were perfectly happy
and conlcnted--thcy lived together in
their house, and were perfectly con-
tented with their lot. and would not
change it if they could. | was not a
man; did not believe word of it, and
SO went TO see for myself. l went into
their house, and il was magnificent
one. Here in San Francisco ii would be
fine house. and there in Salt Lake il
was u splendid one. Magnificent furni-
turc, fine rooms, fine gardens. and MI
merous servants. | and my friends sat
down in the parlor, and in came one of
this mans wives. She was fine, good
looking, healthy Englishwoman, who
could not speak ten words Of gmmmati-
cal English to save her life. talked
freely TO her; there was no hindrancc to
that.
i asked her how long she had been
married. . Seventeen years" Married
!, ,hcrc:" NO Married in England 7"
i" No" "Where were YOU married.
them" I'm ST. Joseph Her husband
began to fidget, and sent her out TO get
Ia piece OF gold, or quartz, or something
of that kind. understood il all. She
came back and couldn't find it, Of course.
II i knew that. ! tried TO commence where
we had broken of, and her husband im-
iEcdiately wanted something OH the top
of the house. When she got back again
l tried TO commence again where we had
: left of, and lie broke in, Miss Dickin-
4 son came 10 cat Strawberries and cream
, now, Maria, go off and sec If they are
ready" l understood il all. Yes. every
word of il. by and by in came another
5 Isad-looking but handsome woman.
+ looked at her. Madam, you are the
second wife: I" and so it turned out.
She, also, was ali English woman, and
1.-The two Of them were the handsomcs'
5 women saw at Salt Lake. Dut she ap
peared sad and worn. There was nc
"joyous happiness of married life" about
her. There was piano IN the room
and in came the little girl of the house
c land at cncc the father said something
: iabont m,isic, and was evidently yer,
fIproud OF his caugatcr's capabilities in
l., tlat line. so asked her 10 play, and
I she did, and made a borrid din, and. un.
I der cover OF the noise and din, had my
t,ronvcrsation with the wife. She had
-lnot understood their doctrines. ! asked
G her: did you know when you married
fIyour husband that he could, il he would
marry another woman 2" No "Did
: he not tell You so ut tho iimc." "No
h he did NOT. Our missionaries and preach.
crs when they co out never preach that.
!, !" SO YOU knew nothing Of it," "Notline
at ALL" But when you came here and
$ saw it was SO. were you not greatly dis.
slappoincd and chagrincd:' mo, WA.
l. not Twas sure my husband woald nev.
| or marry again." "But he did," said /.
: "Ycs.r she answered. and a sad. lar.
l llrowcd look came over her couMenance
Z rI"Yes, cnly n year after nc married again.
f" And do you like that do you like him
have more wives than one!" "Oh
| YES do! l wish he had six or sevcn."
;. saw through it all in minute.
: understood the state of that woman.
: X looked blank and went back on the
old track. commenced and questioned
Z her about her English life, and
painted tho picture of the little cot.
ltagc at Nome and the courtshir, and
G lat last the marriage TO one wholc-soul
c ed. honest husband; and how they
" euld live together, and how she would
wait at the door of their home and watcl
I for him coming home in the evening
land asked her if she could not be lapp,
{ cItherc. Aud she put her handsome hant
I, to- her face and bowed her head ant
cried: "Oh. MY God! condn'sI! Ant
! then ii was plain. il was easy To see. how
!, that woman really thought and felt.
II ir.yA short time since. nam wei
r known in New York society. not young
: and who could not dance. was sitting a
h a party, near young lady. and watch
ling the n,azcs OF The "Ccrm1h.- II,