The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-04-27
n o.. 4.
Curious Report OF MormoaisEi---A Visit to
the Happy Family.

Even Mormonism finds a defender out
side its own limits. A correspondent of the
Chicago Times, who is evidently Mormon
in disguise, or who has been deluded by
them, writes as follows:
| received a formal invitation from a gen.
tleman high in authority among the Latter
Day Saints to dine at his house with himself
and family, consisting of eleven wives and
more than thirty children. | was prepared
| for very solemn and sedate feast. The
hour finally arrived, and with it l arrived at
the mansion Of my polygamic friend. Your
correspondent has been about the world some,
and mingled in various sorts of society with
| out any distressing degree of diffidence.-
But when he was ushered into the spacious
and elegantly furnished drawing-room of his
Mormon host, and was introduced eleven
times to Mrs. Brown, wife of Mr.. Brown.
and every time Mrs. Brown was a distinct
individuality. he admits to slight pcrturba-
ton of spirits, and feeling of supreme and
excruciating awkwardness. Still, the intro
auctions by Mr.. Brown were genial. free.
handed, and in nowise calculated to disturb
equanlmity.
But the change from monogamic civiliza-
ton was SO novel and great that for few
moments it was hard to collect ones man.
ners and proceed to general conversation
However, the novelty of affairs soon wore off.
and the eleven Mrs Browns and Mr. Brown
and a few invited guests were rafting away
on all sorts of interesting topics. They all
were jovial, lady like, and evidently happy
as any wives you ever saw. Thirty-three
children were soon introduced, ard proved
themselves as well-behaved, and in CONVERSE
ton as polite and proper. as any juveniles I
have ever seen. Generally, the children #
Salt Lake City are as bright and as well-ad-
vanced in their studies as you fad anywhere.
Dinner was announced The diniDg-room
is spacious and wel-furnishcl The doors
and window castings are Of mountain cedar,
stained and striped with gliding. The table
is supplied with china and silver. About
seventy persons, including children, are soon
seated, and after grace has been said, roast
turkey, beef, mutton and boiled ham are
served, together with general assortment of
vegetables and their concomitants
The Mormon women are taking their own
words for it, perfectly satisfied with the sys-
tenn, and they certainly commend it in most
Jealous and earnest manner. Seated at that
table were ladies as well educated and accom-
pllshcd as you will find anywhere At the
head Of the table was the patriarch of the
family.
The offspring in polygamous families are
physiologically quite superior, and mentally
sharp. On Sunday observed
BOY taking down, in shorthand, the sermon
Of Elder Orson Pratt Upon enquiry. learn.
d that the youth was John @. Cannon, son
of Elder George G. Cannon, and that he was
only ID years of age, could report with enyi-
able correctness, and had just finished read
ng Caesars Commentaries in Latin. Upon
his | sought and made the boys acquain-
ance, and found hin fne student, ambitious
md dilisent And many other of the Nor
n IN youths whom [ met e,iuce1 equal ad-
'ancement in intellectual pursuits.
The Mormon people, numbering in the
crrtory Of Utah more than one hundred
thousand souls, aggregate as much honesty,
virtue and industry as any other one hundred
thousand human beings on tbs face of the
earth
At one mansion where I had the pleasure
IT visiting | met the six wives of my host
md his twenty-six children. The six wives
lad lived together happily and harmoniously,
earring their children together for eighteen
7ears, and they all assured me that they
xould not exchange places with any other
wives in the world.