The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-03-27
RRlGHAMs DOMESTIC BLISS

One of the multiplicity of daughters
of the more or less lamented Brigham
Young has just given to the world a
book which is apparently calculated to
correct prevalent false impressions
concerning the family life of the
prophet. ltreally seemst to be about time
for somebody To present some redeem
ing fact in relation tn Brigham Ioung's
life, for with the passage of years the
public is fast forgetting tf il ever
knew that the Mormon prophet was
anything less rcpulsive than al adulter-
Gus monster and a wholesale murderer
at whose door rested the responsibility
for some of the most %atrocious crimes
known TO history. But aside from his
great capacity for blood letting and APP
preparation of other peoples belong
ings in the name of religion, and aside
from the outer manifestation of what
might be considered an excessive liking
for matrimonial appurtenances there
was the inner domestic life of the Nor
mon leader Of which the world hereto
fore has known but little. except in
imagination. unrespecting newspaper
writers have INDUCED not a little in the
picturing of this feature of brigham
Ioung's experience, and knowing
nothing Of the facts, have contented
themselves with measuring il by their
own one-wifed standard. Thus, for
instance: Il have one wife and my
domestic life is made up Of JOY and
sorrow. Brigham's domestic life is
also made up of JOY and sorrow, but
having fifty wives, his joy when il Is
joys turn is fifty times as great, and
his sorrow when il is sorrows turn is
fifty times as sorrowful."
II appears, however, from Brigham's
daughters book that this kind of logic
was not correct, and that l,righam's
h~earthstone was as peaceful and calm
as that of the average husband, not
outstanding the apparent opportunity
for discord afforded 10y the presence of
such herds of wives and children.
Here is a pen picture of an evening
scene in Brigham's home from the
book under consideration.
How pleasant were the seasons Of evening
prayer when ten or twelve mothers with thcir
broods az rhiliron, together with the various old
ladies and orphans who darlt under the shelter.
ing care of this roof, came from every nook and
corner Of the quaint, old fashioned, roomy house
nj the sound of the prayer he'll. Even the bcll has
"A memory all It's own. for no matter how family
the sound came Ia our distant ears, We always
knew whether father rang IL, or some of the
others. lie had q peculiar, measured, de
ltsIatr ting tang that could not lie successfully
initiated. To the rlang Of the familiar hell We
crowded from upstairs and downstairs, each one
taking his accustomed place, mothers surrounded
by their children. while near father sat Aunt
Eliza snow, the honorcd plural wife of Joseph
smith. the prophet. A little merry or grave chat;
questions asked and answered, then the quiet
ysilprnal request Come now, let us have pray
ers,' succeeded 10y a subdned rustic rs every Knee
bowed and every tongue was stillcd while the
dear voice prayed for "thc poor, the needy. the
sick and the afflicted, the widow aud the father.
less, that lie might be "A stay and a stan IL the
aged and a guide 10 the youth The prayer was
always a short, simple. earnest one. never too
wearisonlc for the tinicst restless listener, while
The sstetly solemn hush Of the room held a
calm over even the baby's laughing voice.
With the general amen, all rcsumcd their seats
and were at liberty 10 return To their rooms or Ia
stay and hear the rlJ that usually followed.
Sometimes, especially on Sunday evenings, the
girls would be requested 10 sing and play, or W.
would all join in a hymn. Arcrward father
would kiss the children. dandlc a baby on his
knee with his own familiar accompaniment Of
"link. cardle," surprising baby
into round eyed wonder by the odd noise
then q general good night and W. would all