Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-11-06
Mormon Sharpe's Wooimg.
4 Style Of Courtship Thai IL Utah is Thought
Romantic.

on hand which has given him great trouble.
He employed girl named Mary White as
a servant in one of his families. Mary was
fresh, plump, rosy checked young Mormon.
( Her father was saint with two wives
| Mary was the daughter of wife No. |. Wife
No. was gay and giddy, and when DIR.
Sharpe carried Mary back and forth be-
tween her fathers home and the place of
/ her service. he saw and bewitched her as
White said After while Sharp enticed
No. , away from her husband, and then
/ White got an idea that the doctor had be-
/ witched him also. Another saint came along
who was in the soothsaying business, and
he told White he had something that was
good for him, but that it would cost money.
The price was agreed upon. White bought
the charm. worked il, and the evil spirit of
Sharp was exercised. JUS; as White was
beginning to feel at ease once more, Sharp
drove up with Mary and asked permission
to make her Mrs. Sharpe No. 3. To this
the old people objected, for they believed he
was possessed of the devil, and they thought
he did not support bis other wives any too
well. When they gave Sharp the reasons
for their refusal he was furious, and he took
an oath in their presence that he wonld
have Mary.
In the course of time he convinced the
old man that it had been ordained from all
time that Mary should become his wife;
but the old lady said that the doctor had
/ hoodooed her husband once more, and she
refused to assent to the union. Then Sharp
had vision or two which he related to Mrs.
White. She was still inexorablc. Two or
three DAYS later he had Il revelation that it
would be very acceptable to the Lord to
have Mary become his wife. Ii had no ef-
feet on her mother. Then Sharp dreamed
dreams of mighty import every night, heard
tremendous rumbings in the skies, saw
great light, and read many commands writ
ten on the fleeting clouds, all to the effect
that Mary was his and his only. The old
lady's teeth ereset tight.
Taking new tack, the doctor then threat
ened to summon Mrs White before the high
council. She told him the Sanhedrim of
I the saints bad no terrors for her. Then he
appealed 10 the bishop OF that ward and
finding him dull of apprehension, he went
before the council with his grievance
Here be found sympathetic listeners. The
old bishop WAS promptly removed and a
new one who believes in marrying of the
young women, was appointed. Sharpe is
on good terms with the ecclesiastic, and
considers himselfas good as married already.
Mary is now at school Mt Provo, and Sharp
has gone after her The new Bishop is
wrestling with her mother, who now sees
the futiity of further resistance, and who
will, in few days, it is understood, formal
ly consent to the union In Mormon socie-
ty this il considered very romantic court
ship All Marmon love stories begin and
end something like the above.
Since the reopeningof the crusade against
the Mormons the elders Of the Church have
decided that the saints must be urged to a.
dopt more generally the polygamous rela-
ton. Many good Mormons have never in
dulged in that feature of the faith, but
with the powers that be it is considered OF
vital importance. At the last meeting OF
the priesthood the women were sent home
alone and after they had disappeared the
saints not in polygamy were asked to retire.
When they had gone Cannon aud others oi
the chief priests announced that the time
had come when MOrmOnism must put on
bold front and practice all that il preached.
The priests and others in authority who had
but one wife must give way to better men
who had two, six, or ten wives. Men who
did not live up to their religion were un-
worthy Of positions of honor under it. This
sentiment was asssnted to with rapturous
applause by all present. The wedding out
of the half.hearted saints will begin al once.
This action has been brewing for a long
time. A good many very faithful Mormons
deferred by poverty, respect for the feelings
of their first wives, and by fear Of Govern
ment precautions, have not "liyed up to
their religion in the past. All such will
be tolerated hereafter, but they cannot hope
to rise to places Of honor in the church.
Most of the big polygamists, OF course,
are old men. One young fellow, named
Rudger Clawson, son Of Bishop Clawson,
now about twenty -one years Of age, inspired
by the belief of the elders that polygamy
should be more general, has already two
wives, and is looking around formore- Two
wears he married Florence A. Dinwoody,
and one year later he was joined to LYDIA
Spencer. Both are young women, brought
up under the teachings Of Aormonisn, and
both are seemingly very much attached to
their Young lord. The conduct of this young
fellow in taking two wives almost before ne
WAS out of school so worked up the Gentiles
aud the Federal officials here that they de-
termined to make an example OF him, II
possible. step by step they proceeded on
his trial, gathering the needful evidence,
until only the testimony OF the second wiie
was wanting. This cost them many chase
and numerous long yigils. AZ soon as
Young Clawson and mis- brides discovered
that the officers we're after them, they broke