The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-10-31

| Deen OeScTlOcU frequently. AHc nAco
church property, the Amelia palace,
referred to in my last letter. Brigham
Young's old homestead, with the ston'
lion over its front doer, is just across tn
street. Adjoining it on the east is
large, squa. e-looking house, now occupied
by members of the Young fslnily. 1t
porches are very deep, twelve feet or so
1 should judge, and run around two side
| of the building. Here noticed move
and exceedingly comfortable looking ar
rangenent of outdoor bed rooms. Bed
are arranged, on the second story porche'
simply surrounded by curtains, which
may be drawn at will by means of silk
en- cord and tassel This looked like {
very advantageous arrangement for sum
mer nights, and must be especially desir
able in the case of these large Mormon
families. The hammock also comes into
play in these Salt Lake homes.
Speaking of this Young family,-what
part it has played in Utah history
You encounter the descendants Of old
Brigham everywhere. As he left fifty
four living children out of a progeny
numbering seventy-two souls, it is not to
be wondered that they turn up every
where. Some OF the SONS who are in
business here, be it said, are exemplary
and most agreeable men; while among
the daughters are numbered some ladies
unexcelled in graces of heart and mind
Bull alas! there has been a sadly large
number of male scamps and female sirens
in the list. The daughters may be found
among the demi monde of this city, San
Francisco and New Orleans. At least
two sons are already in drunkard's
graves. Scandal, contention and want
onness have added poison to the family
cup. Here is Mormonism's own answer
to Mormonism! Even Amelia, the favor
ite, the beloved seventeenth wife of the
old patriarch, after whom the Amelia
palace was named, remembered her liege
lord but four short months after his TAX
ing off, and then became the life part
ner of another. And there are wives
living here who bitterly tell now Of the
days when Amelia rode about behind
Brigham's best span while they more
faithful wives, took in washing to earn q
subsistence. Two of the daughters were
married on the same night to a leading
Mormon, and are now living together in
his harem on one of the principal streets
here.
"Has the Edmunds law accomplished
anything whatever good, bad or indif-
ferent?" was the question which ad-
dressed to prominent Gentiles and then
to Mormon churchmen. And the reply
in both cases was substantially this: "No,
unless the law be regarded as the cause
of the unprecedented number of plural
marriages which have taken place since
the passage of the law" And the Gen.
tiles added: "These marriages have been
ordered by the church, in order to COM
plicate the infractions of the law, 80 that
the authorities will be discouraged in
their efforts to enforce the law. It is
also significant fact that this multiple
ity Of marriages is among the lower
classes. The wealthy and ofiice-holdlng
saints do not hazard their liberty by
much marrying. They are content to
protect their institutions by promoting
polygamy among second and third class
humanity. They will also rally to the
defense Of a prosecuted culprit-in some
instances"
+ l have seen good many types of Nor
monism. In its most elevated phases it
does not impress you with its dangerous
ness. I have seen homes where culture
and refinement presided, where love and
consideration for the veal of all the
household governed, and where it was
hard to believe that serpent lurked.
No creed can ever smother certain IN
stincts and attributes of the soul; yet I
have become convinced by the conclu-
sive testimony Of my eyes, as well as my
ears, that the Mormon system is intrin-
slcally abomniable, even while it mum.
bers among its devotees those whom ]
am willing to characterize as sincere.
"DO you see those two girls by the
soda fountain?" asked companion last
evening, as We were passing leading
drug etore. I directed my gaze in the
direction indicated, add observed two
richly-dressed, fine-looking young ladies
one blonde and the other a brunette
who were quenching their thirst with {
draught from the fountain. They wert
such young ladies as command immedi
ate respect wherever seen-intelligent
thoughtful-looking girls.
"Well, continued my informant, "they
ale Mormon half-sisters of irreproachabl'
character, and I don't think I ever me
two sisters in the christian east VIII
seemed to think more of each other, an,
possess such generally favorable disposi
tions."
was prepared for such scenes as this
and simply thought, with regret, of tn
other side of the system, the degradation
and squalor which really supplies thi
refined evil with its vital breath.
The worst thing about the physics
qualities of Salt Lake City is the dus
The frequent windy days make it yer
disagreeable on foot. for it is impossibl
to shrinkle the broad avenues thoroughly
Each side of the streets are streams
:. swift-rushing water from the mountain
which insure good supply of foliage. l
these gutter streams the Mormon chi
dren have royal times wading and floa'
ing their homemade boats. The wome
also dip water from these streams #
mopping purposes. 1t is nearly for
months now since this section of countr
, experienced any rain to speak Of. Tw
sprinkles have constituted the extent
the rainfall. As for the vegetatio
j watered by these streams by the roa'
side, it may be said to be multifariou
I have noticed apple trees in front
business houses on the main thOrougl