Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-01
HOW 1T FEELS
TO BE THE WIFE
OF A MORMON
ues Hure One of the Most Famous of French Critics. Tells
the Result of His Investigation of the Mormons the Fol
lowing Article Which He WrotefOr Figaro, the Lead
ing Newspaper of Paris:

For long time had wished to
beet some Mormon women, and es.
3ecially such as are members of
,olygamous family. The opportunity
ame to me when one day Mrs. Wells
srranged a o'clock tea at her home,
b which l was invited. Mrs Wells was
respectable Mormon woman, gray
Haired, with trace of gentle firmness
tamped on her fine and regular fea.
nres, and even pretty in spite Of the
bet that she was sixty years old.
She told me in gentle voice that
he had invited several Of her friends
b dine with her having selected
hem from among the best known
Ind most respected women of the sect.
Dne Of them, l was told was the
laughter of Brigham Young, that ex-
raordinary man who succeeded
Joseph Smith to the presidency of the
Mormon exodus from the Mississippi
bailey to Salt Lake across the Rocky
hountains in the middle of winter
bnd with the Indians continually har.
sssing their line Of march. She told
d the wonderful impression Brigham
Young left in the minds of those who
had ever known him, how everybody
pbeyed him like a king or even like a
od.
Presently the women arrived, ex
fnsing themselves for being late.
There was seven Of them scruti.
tized them as closely as l could with.
but seeming rude, but with an intense
Inward curiosity.
Exaltation, Mysticism, Energetic
Faith.
At first there was little about them
10 distinguish them from other women
Except, perhaps, their simplicity of
bress. There hats we're without feath-
ers and their dresses had little tim
nings on them. All in all they re-
minded one of some English bour'
teois. But on observing them more
osely, however and especially when
hey spoke, it was easy to detect a
oertain intense exaltation Of thought,
kind of mysticism, an energetic
Nth which no opposition could shake.
When explained the motives of my
snriosity l Immediately became aware
hat / was the object of curiosity,
fhey regarded me with curious look
ID their eyes and the peculiar smile
on their faces of those who are as.
ionished at the astonishment of
others.
~ confessed my ignorance Of the
Mormon religion and morals ana beg
ged them beforehand 10 excuse the
.ndiscreuon and perhaps harshness
tf my questions.
They smiled with an air Of conde
sension at what l said, and Mrs,
Kells assured me that it would not be
ecescary for me TO put my self under
by restrain, fer which assurance I
Mas duly thankful
then explained 10 them the diff
fculties the Europeans have in com
prehendi g how any woman, outside
~ those az the oriental nations. could
he induced to share The love OF man
uith an indefinite number Of rivals,
Mormon Wives Love one Another.
tBut," responded Mrs Wells, they
are not rivals The wives Of a Nor
mon should all love one another. 1t
ie fact that people having similar
tastes are attracted towards one an
other. and for that reason we would
expect that the wives OF a Mormon
would in principle, sympathize with
oae another"
fBe that as it may" | answered
tbht you say in principle AS a mat
~ Of fact, dosent this sympathy
04ase the moment one woman takes