Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-28
HOME LIFE IN UTAH.

The private home routine of polyga-
NOUS family is matter upon which so
much curiosity is constantly expressed by
my acquaintance that venture to say here
what little know; but the reader must
remember that less than ten per cent. of the
voting Mormon population of Utah are
polygamists. The polygamist, as a rule,
has accumulated some property and owns
house before he takes second and success
sive wives, though sometimes he begins by
marrying two or three at once. All Of these
marriages, however, except the first, are
made secretly by the church, and no record
of them is accessible. In the city, at least,
it is seldom that the different wives share
the same quarters. In the country this is
not so uncommon, but the natural unpleas-
antness follows in most cases. The general
method is to have large house, the main
part of which, perhaps, is occupied by the
first wife, and wings or additions by the
successive candidates for marital hOnors.
These large, struggling, hotel-like houses
are common in Salt Lake City, and mark
difference between it and town of small
houses like Cheyenne and most other West
ern villages. In many cases, however, the
either side by side, or in different parts of
the city. In any case, each has her own
kitchen, garden, etc. I have in mind a
wealthy dignitary of the church, whom you
might have mistaken for the late Peter
Cooper, and who is possessed of seven wives.
Each of these women has some farming and
garden ground of her own, and all are greatly
devoted to rearing bees. With the help Of
their grown children they each raise large
amount of produce and honey annually.
The husband acts as their agent. Hehives
their sWarms of bees, and charges them
for it; he renders special aid when called
upon, and is paid for it, he sells their crops
and honey when it is ready, and credits
each wife with her due share. Most of them
live in suits of apartments under the roof of
his great house in town, but the first wife
has beautiful farm of her own little out
of the city, to which she and her children
have retired, to end their days in peaceful
independence. The way in which this old
gentleman has arranged his domestic life is
reported to be thus: He had certain rooms
in his house where he kept his bed, his
wardrobe, his books, and saw any visitor
who called upon him. Here he was bach
elor, and here he stayed every other day
and night On alternate day and night he
was the guest of one or the other of his
wives in regular rotation, devoting the one
day Gin this case fornightly) which was hers
diligently to her society. Of course this
part it was regularly followed.-Edrnest
h'gersolm Ha,per's Magazine.
CoMETs.-Something 1000 comets are sup
posed to have been seen since records began,
the greatest number of which was invisible
without telescope. Of these 2S5 have had
their orbits determined. Professor R. H.
Tucker, Jr., of Lehigh university, studying
these, finds indications that more comets
come in from the hemisphere from which
the sun is moving than from that toward
which it is moving-that is, more turn and
follow after than fly to meet their solar chief
This is explained by the statement that by
the comets at great distance have yielded
to the attraction, not strongly felt until the
sun is directly opposite them, the sun has
passed on and can only fall into his train.
WRITING ON METALs.-To write on met
ais take half pound of nitric acid and one
ounce muriatic acid. Mix and shake well
together, and then it is ready for use. Cover
the plate you wish to mark with melted
beeswax; when cold write your inscription
plainly in the wax clear to the metal with a
Sharp instrument. Then apply the mixed
acids with feather, carefully filling each
letter. Let it remain from one to ten hours,
according to the appearance desired, throw
on water, which stops the process, and re-
move the wax.