The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-03-12
Aulitudin0us Mat,imony.
HOW 1T WORKS IN UTAH--A pLun.r,x,
WIFE NARRArEs HER EXPERIENCE

Some interesting facts about the inp.,
workings of the peculiar institution OF TTtah
came out in recent lecture by Mrs. Steu-
house-an intellectual and on the whole
lovely woman, who found herself duplicated
and Implicated through the religious zeal Of
her husband. The lecturer was proud to say
that the Mormon women did not wiingy sc-
cept polygamy They were betrayed into
obeying arevelation which was said to como
from God, which made it necessary for their
salvation and exaltation in heaven that they
! should give to their husbands other wives
| even though that act of obedience should
| cruelty themselves; and they were betrayed
| by that abnegation which women have al
ways shown in religious cause. The moro
alluring doctrine OF kinship Of spirit, the
assertion that all women must have hus-
bands in order to be saved, and that true mar
riage was not for time only, but for all eterni-
| ty, was taught.
The first symptom Of coming polygamy that
Is perceivable by the first wife is generally
little quiet signing on the part Of the hus-
band. He becomes very serious. His mind
is evidently occupied. He exhibits a moro
than usual zeal for the faith. he goes reeu-
larly to church He becomes concerned
about his future kingdom. "Coming events
cast their shadows before If in good cir
cunstances, he is certain to bring homo
some present, and he tells his ''sweet little
wife,, how much he loves her, that ''she fills
his heart and that he sis 50 happy in her
affection" When wife in Utah hears this
kind of language she may be certain that
there IS another revelation awaiting her.
The afectionate husband becomes very re-
hectiye i've and observing, His Brother Jone:
has three wives, Brother Smith TWO, and
Brother Robinson, who has not been half 50
many years in the church as he has, has even
four wives, while he, poor man, has only
one. He then begins very gently with,
"This will never do, my dear, we are not
living our religion. l am SON etimes afraid
that the anger of the Lord viii be kindled
against u.s." He makes his wife feel that it
is as much her duty as his. He asks his wife
which of all the young girls of her acquain-
tance would make good wife--a pleasant
companion for her-one who would respect
her, He mentions half dozen, one OF
whom he had determined upon, and that one
is selected. The wife, of course, is not de-
ceived; she feels that opposition is useless.
Soon the husband has meetings to attend.
business engagements after business hours
He is seen walking or riding with a young,
girl, and then she feels that she has been de-
ceived, and her IDOLS broken. Ii man has
twenty wives he makes the first one believe
she is his first and only love.
| There is class of women in Utah pro-
fessedy devoted to polygamy, as they are to
| the other women. These lead Mormon poly
| gamic society and get up memorials to G m
gress, etc. They form what is called the
| Female Relief Society, and to women who
| object to marriage they say, "Would it not
be better for you to be one Of the officers of
fine ship of war than to be the captain of .
small ''fshing smack?" meaning it is better
to be one OF the wives of a great man than
the only wife of an obscure man.
A brOken-hpartpd wife went tn Miss Eliza
r. Snow-one of the wives of Brigham
Young-and told her the misery Of her life.
II cannot endure it," exclaimed the unhap-
py woman. "But you must endure it," re-
piled her comforter. "It will kill me, know
1t well % she uttered in despair. ''Then you
will wear martyrs crown, sister," replied
this s0ulless woman.
In Utah it is no uncommon thing to find .
wife's own sister or sisters brought home as
wives, and some mothers have been obliged to
give their own daughters to be wives to their
husbands. Brigham Young once admitted to
Hepworth Dixon that he saw no objection to
brothers and sisters marrying.
Mrs.Stenhouse told the funny story OF Sis
ter PicknePs funeral. The following was
Bishop Hardy's sermon: ''Wal, bruthrun
and sisters, you are all here, I 'spose, and so
we'll begin. Wal, our sister is dead; let her
rest. Our sister has suffered and made 9TH
ers suffer, but now she's dead we'll let her
rest. She opened the door to the devils and
let them in five years ago when her husband
took his young wife. 1 told her then they
would kill her ifshe did not take care, and
now they've done it. She was torment to
her husband, and l guess if he'd a know'd
that she'd bin such torment he'd nevera
married her. Amt that so, Brother Pick
nel?" 'sThat's so, bishop" 'sWal, Broth
er Picknel, have you got anything to say ?'
''Not as know'd on, but / 'spose ought
ter say sum at, and If do / shall be sure to
offend some OF the sisters, so Pspose we'd bet
ter close the meetin'." Thus ended the funsr.
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