The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-04

Madame Olympic Audouard, 4 Partisan lady,
distinguished as traveller and author, made
a visit to this country in 1868. 1t will be re-
membcred that she lccturcd several times at
the theatre of the Union League Club in New
York CITY. She is witty and beautiful, and
was G,yorably received. Since her return TO
France she has wrtten;a book, which has Just
been published, and is sent to us from Paris.
The author. on account OF her sex, had most
favorable opportunities for observation OF
Mormon life, character and manners, and she
tells MS much that is new and interesting.
The following is an account in her own
words of her first entrance into Mormon
household, and of whit followed:
The great Mormon chief, knowing that Mr..
Durand would arrive at Salt Lake City with a
numerous party, in which would be included
ladies, had given order by telegraph to each
Mormon settlement to prepare for us geod
lodging and food.
We we're very curious to see these famous
Latter Day Saints, as they modestly term
themselves; all she more so when Mr.. Durand
showed US a dispatch from Brigham Young as
follows:
ing you"
We exclaimed, with JOY: '.At last we are
about to visit these households where seven
teen women have but one lord !"
On arriving at the station mentioned we saw
a Mormon who already awaited US at his door.
He bade us welcome, and conducted us into
A young woman threw final glance over It's
arrangement, made q gracious bow 10 US, and
was lost to sight in the kitchen.
ssSee the first?' l said TO myself; ''she is
pretty enough. Who knows what the others
are?"
of asking for some water. The young girl was
there, convcrsing with an old woman, who
was occupied in cooking '!My mothcr-!n-
law she said to me, introducing her. While
talking with these two glanced slyly around to
find where the other women could be- THEY
must be shut up somewhere" | said to myself;
ssthls Mormon, doubtless, does not wish to
shock us by the view Of his complete harem:" !"
The Young woman having asked whether 1t
would be agreeable to me to make slight
toilet in my room before dinner, eagerly as
sented, hoping to be able to see the Others.
She conducted me into very nice and very
simple little chamber 'Ifyou wish," she said
to me, ito invite the other ladies to come up
stairs, the room of my mother-in-lawis is at their
disposal"
could not control my curiosity any longer;
so arming myself with all my courage, and at
the risk Of seeming indiscreet, asked OF my
hostess:
.tBut where are the other wives ?'
She uttered peal OF laughter, and answered
me with touch of raillery:
'Ah, this is only just, Madame; you suppose
that Mormon with only one wife is NO Nor
mon at all. But you see our husbands possess
the right to take many wives, without being
under the obligation TO do so; thus | have
been married four years. and Charles finds he
has enough with one wife. As for the rest,
ii YOU 90 to Salt Lake City you will become
Convinced that all the stories written about us
are fables invented by the maleEolence OF our
enemies"
a little veXed. / descended TO the dining
room. "Gentlemen and ladies'" said to my
fellow-travellers, tive are sold, deceived; our
host has only one wife, and he has been mar
ried four years !"
On the following day it happened that we
stopped at the house OF another Mormon. All
our hopes centred here; he would present TO
us, without doubt, his seventeen wives.
We were again deceived, but somewhat less
than before, however. On entering the din
ing-room, we saw two young women setting
the table; discovered a third cooking.
I Immediately addressed word TO one of
them: sis this the mistress of the house to
whom have the honor OF ofspealing !"
She answered me, smiling: "lt is one OF the
mistresses of the house; for we are three"
Three breathed freely; had before my
eyes, then, real Mormons.
/ tell myself forced to assume q somewhat
sad air, in saying: "Ah this other young
woman is your rival, then ?"
s.My rival ~ she answered, with surprised
look, s'and wherefore She is simply my sis
ter, and doubly my sister; for she is this by
b.ood and by the will Of God, being, like my
SELF the wife Of William.
s.What!" exclaimed, ''has your own sister
brought herself to consent to be your rival"
'.But,n she said, with touch of impatience,
ssshe is not my rival at all. She is simply the
wife of my husband, just the same rs am"
perceived that, without intending it, had
paincl this pretty Mormon, who seemed to
find my aston,shment out OF place. and said
to her with the utmost gentlenesS: 'EXcuse
my curiosity, but am French, and am very
desirous to learn the manners of your country,
so rs to ascertain the difference which exists
between the Mormonism of Salt Lake and that
OF Europe
The fact that was French seemed to me to
arouse her sympathy. She changed her tone,
and said very graciously: "Sincc you have
come from so far 10 visit us. you arc welcome;
the Latter Day Saints, both men and
am happy to be the first to prove this to you.
] shall pray God to send you the gift Of the
Holy Ghost, so that he may open your heart to
the new gospel"
The hope of converting me to Mor:nonism
frightened me horribly, and could not restrain
myself from saying:
''Oh no. thank you; / have had French
husband; that is to say, know Mormonism
BY experience already, and have had enough
Of it
Madame Audouard became quite well ac-
quainted with many leading Mormons, among
whom were Brigham Young, John W. Young,
and Brigham Young, Jr. She went to the
Grand Mormon Theatre in Salt Lake City with
Brigham's senior wife, who, as she says. has
seen sixty other wives enter into the eoniugal
domicilc, and notwithstanding this she venc-
rates her husband and is full OF good will.r
The following story is told Of one Of these sixty
wives:
One of his wives Is very handsome, and at
the same time elegant and distinguished. She
Is named Amelia, and oltencr called Beautiful
Amelia.
She was formerly the wife OF 4 rich citizen
of New York. Romantic and unoccuplcd, she
dreamed OF something eccentric TO cure her
self of the ennui which became torment in
the prosaic middle way through which her life
led.
The newspapers spoke of the famous Brig
ham Young, both rs being pope and sovcr-
e;@n Amelia read oil this and one day she said
to herself: III will become the Queen of Salt
Lake City; by my handsome eyes and b. my
l,sr