Connecticut western news., 1872-04-19
The Mormon Chief.

The Mormon Chief.
 I asked the Elder, writes correspond ent, how many wives Brigham had, so as to get some authority upon that disputed point.
 "Living with him here in the house." replied the Elder, he only has sixteen, but then there are a number of others. 1 really don't know how many are married to him over the territory, many of whom he has not even seen since the hour they were married"
 "What is the use of that sort of mar riage 2" asked, with an eye to tho prac- tical as we'll as the spiritual. :. z "These marriages are for the next world l; they are spiritual marriages. We believe that marriages are for time and eternity. Because l marry woman it is no sign that am going to live with her. She is sealed to me for eternity. For instance, lady whom, perhaps, have never seen before, comes to me with letter of intro duction from some of our church officers, saying that she was a good, deserving lady, and desires to be united to a man for eternity, why, should consider it my duty to marry that lady, although I might never see her again in this world"
 "But suppose the lady has husband 2" I added.
 "That don't make any difference she can be sealed to me just the same; perhaps her husband is worthless fellow, and in every way unworthy of her."
 "Won't your wives object ?'
 "Oh, no, we understand all that; there isn't so much objecting going on as you think, whether we marry to cohabit, or simply for the next world. I didn't mar ry my second wife until my first had con- sented. I said l wanted some more chi1- dren-some sons to bear my name. It was the Lords will that I should have them. My first wife consented and told me to do the Lords will, and I married again, selecting a much younger woman than my first wife, and she bore some fine boys"
 give this as a specimen of the sort of talk one will hear among the elders and those high in authority in the Mormon church. They talk as freely about their families as they would about their oxen. And all this wickedness, these brutal prac- tices, this degradation of women, has nothing for its foundation but pretended revelation to Joseph Smith from Heaven. Of all the humbug and bosh, superstition and cleriral quackery that was never pumped into any creed or sect, the Nor mons have it. Yet their diabolical creed is not more marvellous than their perfect sincerity. ,. .-.a ... ,.
 All of Brigham's, sixteen wives with whom he lives have borne him children except one, called Amelia. Amelia is his most noted wife, spirited, pleasant and of rf1 hn is 1EY 1rf1 +xxyf, lacking some years of being half as old as her husband. His wives are of all ages, his last two being quite young, mere girls ir | fact, when they married him. I asked g | Gentle gentleman of their acquaintance why they should be such fools as to marry an old man with over dozen wives al ready. Was it for love2 "No, indeed, , said he, ".for know they did not love mm.' .t,.. -..-.5 --.. .:.-..,
 "Were they compelled to marry him ?
 "Oh, no; they did it of their own free will, as they thought it is a certain way to go to heaven
 Brigham has sixty eight children, about forty of whom are females. They are all ages, from three years to thirty. Several of his older sons are young men of promise and position. He is the father of a gooG deal of talent, and some of his children will be heard of in the world hereafter One night, at the theatre, I was particular ly struck with the good, I might say superb acting ofa young lady, and quite handsome withal. I made inquiry anG learned she was daughter of Brigham and one of the wives of II. B. Clawson Clawson being man of wealth and stand ing, and devout Mormon, has married twt of Brigham's daughters, in addition to hi - other three wives.
 Isn't that a curious way to do2 It cer
 tainly is to us Gentiles; but to the Nor mons it is all perfectly correct and proper In several States man is prohibited iron marrying his dead wife's sister, but her in Utah it is much the style to marry tw
 sisters at once, besides having severa , other wives. But as long as it is necessar
 to have two or more wives, think he is
 wise man who would marry sisters, if pos
 sible. -- =- ..
 Many of Brigham's children are hand
 some and lovable. Those by one of hi E wives, Mrs. Decker, are particularly so. He provides we'll for his numerous sons
 in-law, and takes great pleasure in seein , his children we'll married off and happy :, if there can be any happiness in the Mor ! mon married state, which I doubt. { , marriage takes place in his family no, : very often, as his numerous flock are rap idly maturing. One of his daughter married recently. I heard of one who ha to run away to marry, Brigham being or posed to the match because the youn 2 man who loved his daughter also love [ lager beer. Brigham tried to break 0 f the match and keep his daughter hom' . but his home had so many doors to it tha z he could not watch them all at once, an 6 she got away. If this teaches any mor' ? at all, it is either to have fewer daughter or fewer doors.