Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-06-28
A GLIMPSE Nro MoaMoSlsx.



! him, the long.petted Amelia set about max
ing "a change" She placed herself second
n the new household. She found she could
not live in the same extravaganza, as the
property of her much.married lord was sub
ject to litigation, and secured her chance
against disaster in her second polygauic
marriage.
She went to Salt Lake City with her par
entS who were converts to Mormonism In
Council Bluffs, Ia, and emigrated there
from in 1859. In 1861 Brigham had one
Of his convenient revelations to marry
Amelia. She was not easily led into the
family Of sixteen other wives. and proved o
refractory subject for Mormon courtship.
Finally through what is called counsel"
otherwise the viii Of the Prophet enforced,
which every good Mormon will obey and
regards as the word ofsuperhumsn~ prophecy,
she becsmsthe seventeenth wife, and always
held her place as his fayorite. She is far
from being an attractive woman and Is
without any special talents; but she is pos
sessed Of native shrewdness and tact and
was in constant employ in moulding the
old msu' to her cspricious will She was
the only one he ever seemed to be afraid of
and she exercised her power accordingly.
She was unpopular with the rest Of the
wives, who usually compsnioned we'll to-
gether; her unre6ned, coarse nature stood
out prominently beside the others.
Ruling With q Rod of Iron.
1t used to be q COMMON remark among
the more intelligent of bis wives that the
lack Of refinement in Amelia and her taste
for vulgar repSrtees and wirticism was the
main attraction that kept the old Prophet at
Ter side. He certainly enjoyed her society
and was afraid OF her tongue, which he knew
she could use TO his modification AID dis
advantage, not only in his household, but n
the church and wherever she might choose
to do 20. Unless everything went to suit
her will, she made things for the Prophet
very lively. Her Whims, freaks and high
temper were all borne with accomplishing
patience by Brigham Young, which all the
rest of the family wondered. For over all
his wives and children he held a kind of dig
ni6ed reserve and awe that made them all
reticent and silent in his presence. Amelia
VAS the only exception.
Some years prior to B~righsm's death she
Was given q separate house and always
made q better appearance in dress than any
of the rest. She drove in her own carriage
and vas given the place of honor at the
thester in the Prophets private box, while
his other wives and children occupied three
ties of the best seats in the parquet. Other
marks Of honor fell to Amelia. She was
the first partner in the dances they sttened
and was always seated in the chair of honor
at his side at all ~bsnqlets. HIS other bet
ter pieces Of wives" waited for such atten.
tions as fell to their divided lot after the
fayorite was waited on. This marriage of
the Mormon seer was highly d~isspproyed by
the Church authorities at the time. No one
considered Amelia q suitable person for the
wife of a prophet. The ~sntsgonism went to
such lengths that Brigham explained him
self from the pulpit in the following words:
MY motives for marrying are because | be-
Geye her to be q good woman and will have
beautiful children, and l would not marry
the handsomest woman in the world If |
did not believe her to be q good woman"
This settled things ~outwsrdly, but not in
wardlY for her polygamous sisters refused
TO countenance or fraternize with her.
Amelia happened to be one Of the few
wives who never had any children.
Amelia in Appearance
Amelia Folsom has blue eyes that open
at one in bold, steady defiance with a glance
of native cunning aud shrewduess; medium
height, q good figure, brown hair, straight,
thin nose and generally t~spering features.
Her manner is free and familiar, rather
boisterOus at times, ut'ecly regardless OF
the feelings Of others, and she has a relish
for gossip She was always q cause Of dis
turbance between the children of the other
wives and the Prophet, out, being the favor
lite, her intrigues were overlooked by her
p~olygsmous master,
One of her characteristic pastimes was
spending q few hours with s0me Of the less
favored wives and indulging Jokes aud
stories on Brigham-telling what he had
conided to her, upon matters he did not
expect to be spoken Of. Some of this gossip
relative to the old man she spiced up
with her own additions and meIriment, a.
ways tending to make him as ridiculous as
possible.
Amelis's open revolt to Brigham's su-
thority was one of her chief boasts and
among his wives it was a common remark,
at one of US had said or done what Amelia
did we should have heard from it before
this" In her way she was as great q tyrsnt
over him as he was over the Church. What
ever she set her mind to do that she did, ir-
respective of his wish or opposition.
An Enemy In the Harem.
To have her enmity was dangerous to any
person, man or WouSn, who depended Tor
favor and prosperity on Brighsm's favor.
They knew Amelis's power over the Prophet
and stood in fear Of her accordingly. Her
home in Salt Lake City before Brigham's
death was one of the best in the City OF
Saints. 1t stood opposite the Lion aud Bee
Houses and was the envy of others who felt
the need and realized the value of sole pos
session and authority Of ones W house
hold that this fsyorite wife practically en-
joyed. -.
No one envied her the fsvoritism Of
Brigham personally; neither did they care
for her advantages in dress and outside
show; but the sense Of Inundated woman
hood, the sbnegation Of all marital sacred
ness under ~polygamic relations and domin-
ance, pressed heavily upon these women
who, through unparalleled fsnaticism,
thought to secure 9 sure immortality OF
happiness through Mormon faith and, when
late, found its utter degradation to be
the greatest cross AID sacrifice that could
be required of them. Amelia's sxtrsya-
gance served to embitter the experience OF
Young's better wives without srousing them
jealousy or envy,ior suffering had eh~astened
these women beyond these petty phases OF
character.
Counsel to the Mormon Artists.
When Brigham Young lived the photo
artists in Salt Lake, being Mormons, were
never allowed to sell or give away q pic
ture Of the Prophets wives and daughters.
Once in q while, in spite of "coun.
sci" some one outWitted both artist and
Prophet and skipped the Territory with a
picture or pictures Of ssinted wives. The
picture presented in the World OF Amelia
Folsom was taken, as the old style OF dress
shows. some wears ago. 1t is probably the
onlv picture to be found Of her outside the
TaLorv LIsLE LESTER.