Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-14
AMELIA POISON.
YHE-RuLE or BRIGHAM youNo's IA
vohire, NUMBER SEVENTEEN.
TLs,e Lester in New YORK World

Lsle Lester In New YORK World
Old Brigham Young bad been gathered to
his sseaIed wives in glory" only about one
year when his fasorite-polyg amou' favor
ite, Amelia FoIsom-stepped into another
harem as number two in the household Of Q
Mormon railroad official Amelia Folsom
vas then about IS years Of age, and among
the Younger women of the Young harem
She was the first to re-enter poiygamy after
Brigham's death, AMI her days OF mourn.
ing" were probably long enough to add East
to the new courtship As soon as Brigham
Sshrfied Off his mortality and passed be-
hind that vail where a score Of sealed divini-
ties awaited him, the lony-petted Amelia set
about making - change She placet her
self second in the new household. She
found that she could not live In the same ex-
travagance, as the property OF her much
married lord was subject to litigation, and
secured her chance against disaster IN her
second poly gamic marriage.
She went 10 Salt Lake City with her
parents, who were converts to Mormonism
in Council Bluffs. Ia. and enigrated there
from in 1859 In 1851 Brigham had one OF
his convenient revelations to marry Amsiia
She was not easily led into tbs family o.
sixteen other wives, and proved
refractory subject for Mormon courtship
Finally through what is called counsel"
otherwise the will Of the prophet enforced,
which every good Mormon will obey and re-
CARDS as the word OF superhuman prophecy,
she became the seventeenth wife. and Al
ways held her place as his favorite. She u
far from being an attractive woman and Is
without any special talents; but she -
possessed Of naive shrewdness and tact and
was in constant employ in moulding the
old man" to her capricious will She Wa
the only one he ever seemed to b afraid OF
and she exercised her power accordingly.
She was unpopular with the rest OF the
wives, who usually companionsd well to.
gether: her unrefined, coarse nature stood
out prominently beside the Others,
1t used to be Q common remark among
the more intelligent Of his wives that the
lack Of refinement In Amelia and her taste
for vulgar repartses cni witticism was the
main attra ction that kept the old prophet At
her side He certainly enjoyed her society
and wa afraid Of her tongue. which he
knew she could use to his modification and
disadvantage, not only in his household, but
in the church and wherever she might
choose to do So Unless verifying " ent te
suit her will, she made things for the
prophet very lively. Her whims, freaks and
high temper wers all borne with uncon-
plainin. patience by Brigham Young, while
all the rest of the family wondered. For
over all his wives and children he held q
kind Of dignifisd reserve and awe that m ade
them all reticent and silent in his presence.
Amelia was the only exception.
Some years prior to Brigham's death che
was given a separate house and always
made . better appearance in dress than any
Of tho rest She drove in her own carriage
and was given the place OF honor at the
theatre in the prophets privats box, while
his other wives AMI children occupied three
tires of the best seats in the parquet Other
ma Ks Of honor fell to Amelia She was the
first partner in the dances they attended
and was always seated in the chair Of honor
at his side at all banqusts. His other "bet-
ter pieces OF wives" waited for such atten-
tions as fell to their divided lot after the
favorite was waited on. This marriage oil
the Mormon seer was highly disapproved by
the church authorities at the time. No one
considered Amelia a suitable person for the
wife Of prophet
Amelia Folsom has blue eyes that open a,
one in bold steady defiance with glance oil
naive cunning and rewdness; medium
height, n good figure. brown hair. straight
thin nose and generally tapsring features
Her manner is free and familiar. rather
boisterous at times, utterly regardless Of the
feelings of others, and she has a relish fol-
gossip She was always a cause Of disturb
anco between the children Of the othel
wives and the prophet, but, being the favor
lite, hsr intrigues wers overlooked by hei
polygamous master.
One of her characteristic pastimes va
spending Q few hours with soma OF the lss.
favored wives and indulging jokes and stor
les on -Brigham-teiling what he had con
fided to her, upon matters he did not expsc
to be spoken OF. Some of this gossip relative
to the 'eld man" she spiced NJ with her nd
ditions and merriment, always tending Z,
make him as ridiculous as possible.
Amelia's open revolt to Brigham's author
ity was one Of her chief boasts, and among
his wives it was a comm,n remark, III on.
| Of us had said or done what Amelia did VI
should have heard of it before this" In he
way she was as great tyrant over him .,
he was over the church. Whatever she BEL
Ter mind to do tina: she did, irrespective o.
his wish or opposition
To have her enmty was dangerous 70 any
| person, man or woman, who depended for
favor and prosperity On Brigham's favor
| They knew Amelia's power over the prophe
and stool in fear Of her accordingly. Hei
home in Salt Lake City before Brigham
death was one Of tie b,.t in the City o
Saints. 1t stood oppo ite the Lion and Bee
Hive houses. and was the envy Of other
| W no felt the need and realized the value o
sole possession and authority OF ones owl
household that this favorite wife PRACTICAL,
enioyei