The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-07-03
By Martha Edgerton Plassmann

band had learned to a c~ertaint.
that he was to be superintendent 0
its schools, as | did not care to tax
the long journey twice.
"Why not?" asked my husband
"Coaching isn't hard; I've tried
in the White Mountains"
Il think you'll find a stage jour
ney here altogether different"
replied. 81 never tried the White
Mountain variety of coaches; bu
| have the Western, and [ assure
you it is not an experience one
cares to repeat frequently. I an
quite comfortable here at the hotel
with the Beardsleys, who are ole
Akron acquaintance, and | viii
wait until | hear fom you"
After Mr.. Rolfe left, | visited a
friend at Camp Douglas-the wife
of Captain, later General Gilbert
Carpenter. An army post near a
city is apt to be full of life, and the
center of social activity. Such was
not the case at Camp Douglas in
September of 1876. Almost all the
officers, including the husband of
my friend, and most of the privates
had been called out to fight the
Sioux, after the Custer Massacre.
Scarcely enough men for guard
mounting remained at the post,
and the women remained in con-
slant state of apprehension for the
safety of their husbands. Ar air
of funeral gloom pervaded the
place. [ had an opportunity of
there seeing what an army post is
like in wartime.
Here, because of my friends
limited quarters, | shared the room
of a young woman who proved to
be one of the numerous nieces of
Young, and from whom
I gained an inside view of Mormon
life, her mother-a Virginian-be-
ing the third wife of a church Of
On my return to Ogden, I found
a letter from my husband awaiting
me, stating that he had secured the
desired position, and requesting me
to come on Immediately. The let
ter ended with the confession that
the writer had discovered the diff
ference between staging in the
White Mountains and the Rockies,
the later being so different that he
dreaded to have me undertake it.
the more hat | must travel alone.
At that time the Utah Northern
was built to Franklin, for which
place [ left the day following the
receipt of the letter. I was in the
car, and curiously watching the
passengers who followed me, when
[ noticed a middle-aged man and
woman enter together. The wo-
nan vas refined in appearance and
we'll dressed. She seated herself
the rear of the ar. The man
ooked like a farmer, but he had
he air of authority that indicated
lie might be a person of Importance.
He took the seat behind mine.
In some unexplained manner, we
lrifted into conversation, according
the unconventional Western Gus
ON, and I found this stranger we'll
on everything pertaining
Utah, and an interesting talker.
One topic lead to another, until we
we're discussing the all-absorbing
question of polygamy, on which /
lad very strong opinions, and was
'erfectly willing to express them,
With the self confidence of one who
lad never studied the subject.
I said / had seen large Mormon
antilles, where there were two or
1ore wives, and the children were
.ot properly clothed, to say moth
ng of the wretched houses they
allied homes. 1t did not seem right
. bring children into the world to
uffer the privations endured by
1any Mormon Children, especially
l the country districts.
My new ACQUAINTANCE agreed
18th me in this, and added that the
me might come, when polygamy
-ould be a thing of the past in
Jtah. Then he rose and went for
ard into another car. No sooner
id he leave than the woman I had
cen enter the car with him at Og- !
en-, hurriedly came and took the T.
lace he had vacated, and without
eremony, took up the thread of !
onversation where the man had J
it. '
"That man who just went out, is l
~ husband" said she. 81 am from I
'ew Hampshire, and he is from
yNTo .o.-oJ +Io M