Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-09-17
Brigham young's Pet Daughter

At the table of one Of the principal
Chicago hotels yesterday might have been
seen a particularly handsome and attract
i've looking woman with complexion Of
great beauty, abundant golden hair, and
n set of the most perfect teeth, which
shone like pearls when she smiled. She
was dressed in extremely good taste in a
fashiorably made dress of black brocade
and satin, with borderings Of crimson
satin. Her white hands displayed several
elegant and costly rings, and her shapely
arm was set off to good advantage by the
rich lace of her short elbow sleeves. She
was q woman who would have attracted
attention anywhere by her pleasing ap-
peBrance and attractive manners. Had it
been generally known that this was Dora
Young, the favorite daughter of the great
Mormon apostle, and one of the seven
children who prosecuted to successful
issue the suit against his estate, receiving
large amount of money and property,
the interest she excited in the minds of
observers might have been unpleasantly
intensified Dora Young, until two years
ago, was never out of Salt Lake City
Until two years ago she scarcely ever
saw book except her school books and
the Mormon Bible. Until about that
time she was n firm believer in the Nor
mon doctrines. Now she regards the
whole system as infamous beyond de-
scription. Not only has she been excom-
municated by the Mormon church, but
she has voluntarily forsaken her early
home and connections, and intends max
ing her home in some Of the States. The
successful termination of her suit against
her fathers estate has made her mistress
of a handsome competence, and, to use
her own expression, she feels like bird
who feels Tor the first time that it can use
its wings beyond the confines of its
cage.
OF course all who meet her regard her
with degree OF earnest curiosity. One
thing surprises them all, that q young
woman, scarcely more than girl, who
was born. and reared in Brigham Young's
harem. should be SO entirely at her ease
in general society. Her manners are
without the least shadow of self-con-
SC -lvss, and, are very pleasant and
winning her hse OF language is fluent
and she expresses herself with great ac-
curacy, correctness and ease. Naturally,
all who converse with her are anxious to
learn about the peculiar institution, and
what the feelings of SO gentle and refined
a lady must be toward Mormon princi-
pies and practice.
In the first place, while abhorring their
polvgamous doctrines and practices, she
has no animosity toward those among
whom she has grown up. Her mother
was the seventh wife of Brigham Young,
and was an elegant and fashionable wo-
man, whom her husband was fond of pre-
senting to strangers or taking to fashion
able assemblages. In reply to the ques-
tions of some ladies to whom she was in
troduced, she said Z: MY mother was
devotedly attached to my father. She
worshipped the ground he walked on.
She has never been herself since his
death"
.How many wives were in the house
which was your home?
i was brought up among the wives
and children who lived in the Lion house.
There were about Il wives and about 40
or 42 children"
Did your father notice and seem at
tached to all lis children?"
"He knew ard noticed all of them, but
he was much more attached to some than
to others. | was one of his favorites, and
| loved him beyond anything that words
can tell. When he died j wanted to die
too. He used to come III the evening to
hold family prayers in the large room
used for that purpose, and if one OF the
children was missing he would send for
it. The statement that Is sometimes
made. that nv father did not know all
his children is false; he knew them all
by name, and caressed them all. He
L a. I
up and down the territory, and l can as
sure you 1 had nice time Every indul-
gence, every attention was lavished upon
me- My father had way when he had
anything nice for me of giving the cutest
little wink, and calling me to him with
gesture, saying: Look here what I've
got for daughter Dora. Won't We have a
nice time?" He was the most magnetic
person ] ever knew or heard Of Every
touch Of his hand-and he had beauti-
full, soft white hand-was IA caress. "Ah,"
said the lady earnestly, 81 can feel the
touch of his hand to this day."
$50 your brothers and sisters all grew
up In one house?"
.'Yes, we were all one family The
house was Just like large hotel, and we
had school-room built on purpose for
u.s."
"Who took charge of and managed for
this large family ?"
well, We generally had ahousekeeper,
but sometimes one Of the wives would do
it. Then there were plenty Of servants
1t was Just like q hotel"
''Did the wives live pleasantly with
each other?'
"There Tyns au outward semblance Of
goodwill, bat ia reulty the Mormon wives
hate each other with deadly hatred. This
alone Is one ~ the most evident evil eff
fects pf tie dreadful system, this hatred
tnat exists under roofs called homes,
which are often perfect hells, and scenes
of the most dlsgraceful quarrels.
Our census enumerators report a color
cd woman on Martin Rice's place ia
years old. Seeing that the old woman
was proud of her age and her recollec-
tions of antiquity, he asked her some
questions touching General Washington's
horse and the Revolutionary war, all of
which being satisfactorily answered, he
said, "Old lady, you must have heard
the Roman Empire when it fell?" 81
don't 'zactly member de circumstances
you spoke OF now, but heard a mighty
rumblin' noise de years de stars fell, and
i spect it must been dat Things was
constant fallin' dat year, and if it fell in
old North Carolina you bet your bottom
rag, honey, was dar r"-Demopotis
(1!1J Nf1rs.