Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-11
The "Honored" Mormon Wife.

From the Boston Conl,aercj0L BuILetin.
One of these women, "highly honored
and tenderly cared for" lay dying in her
husbands house. For weeks she had
been left without medicine. without
nurse, and without proper food. Then
her poor mother, herself a poor widow,
hearing of her wretched condition. came
and took her away. She was carried from
her miserable bed to the wagon at the
door by strangers, and her husband did
not even turn his head to look at her. She
was so emaciated and in such a condi-
ton through neglect that kind neighbors
grew sick at heart as they tried to minis
ter to her wants. la her mothers house
everything that love could suggest was
done for her, but she was already beyond
human help, and in a few days bre athed
her last.
Now, had the husband OF this woman
been asked TO obey the law and give up
pOlygamy, he would have been the first
TO protest that he could not break such
sacred ties, and that il would be the act
OF a coward and a traitor to give up the
women who had conided their happiness
to his keeping.
Not long ago the plural wives of one of
our citizens complained that they were
disturbed in the evening by shadowy
figure fitting through their grounds, and
a wild face looking in at their windows.
| The face and form were those of the first
wife, who had been driven insane by the
miseries OF p0lygamy, and VINO, when
ever she could escape from those who
cared for her, would revisit the place that
was once her home, and look in upon the
women who had usurped her place. Who
Will say that the husband of this woman
ought to be compelled by law to sever tue
endearing relations between himself and
those to whom he had been sealed for
time and eternity
One Of our neighbors, a wealthy and in
tluential representative of Mormons SIN. is
a gentleman who always mas an eve to
business, even in his love affairs. 1t was
his custom for years TO hire an attractive
servant girl, keep her until her wages
amounted to $50 or $40, and then make
her an offer OF his hand and heart in lieu
OF cash payment. If accepted, she re-
manned in the kitchen doing the work OF
the family. without wages. until her chill
dren became troublesome, wnen she was
turned out to make room for fresh i'm
portaton. ! have seen one OF the wives
OF this man, one OF the women who are
"highy hOnored and tenderly cared for"
out in the field on a bitter November day
husking corn on shares, TO earn a little
food for her children.
Some years ago hired the second wife
of farmer near by TO assist me in house.
woman, an excellent houseKeeper, and
could have commanded a good salary any
where in that capacity. She used 10 90
home at night, after finishing her days
work, walk to town, distance of four
miles. to do various errands for her hus-
band, then get up In the morning and feed
aud water his cattle and horses before
coming over TO get the breakfast for our
family. The husband always collected
her wages, and he soon told me must
pay MIN more than l had done for her
services.
BECAUSE" ne said, 81 am obliged TO
hire a man in her place 10 work in the
field while she Is with YOU"
/ think have heard that this man has
been indicted for violating the Edmunds
law. If so, what a sad spectacle it will
be when he is torn from his families, and
his wives, who have been 80 tenderly cared
for, are left to face the cold world alone.