Brigham Young's Favorite Wife

A correspondent of the New York World, wliüe trirryirig at Salt Lake City, early in November, in company with a fricnd, oalled opon Eineíkie Free, once known as "The Liglit of tbo Hari-m." l''or mauy ycars she was tbe favorite wife, aud reigned almost supreme mistress of Urigham'a heart. So markt-d were his attentions that the hatred and jealousy of the other wives were excited sgainst her. She did oll power to retaíu Brigham's favor, and was lavish of her attcnlions to him whenever he visited her apartments. It is said that she combed his liair, washed his face, at.d petted bim liko a cbild. Iu spite of every cifort made by the other wivcs, she continued to retiiin his favor rnany years. Brïgbam found that iu going to the aparlments of Emelioe, be had to run a perfect gauntlet of black, wrathful looks, for tho door of everv room was sure to be open and tho occupant standing thereio, looking ncutterable thiugs ut Brighatu as he pass cd. It did not always end d look?, cither, for bitter, biting words were often hurled at him. To renieiy these little drawbacks, Brigham had a passage way built from behind his room and offices to Emtliué's room, tbrough which he passcd in peace to 1 hu light of her presence. But the tlay carne at last when Emline was cast afide for anotber, and Amelia was assigned the place in Brigham's affections so longoccupied by her. In vain she redoubled the arts eo long used, to draw him to her side ; she struggled long and desperately, but her power had departed forever. The other wives were jubilant, and urged on the match between Brigham and Amelia, as the best revenge they could obtain upon their hated rival. After the marriage Emeline was inconsolable; she pined away day by day, and bitterly moaned her sad fate. It eoon became evident that her residence under tho samo roof with her rival, was killing her, and Brigham had her removed to another houe near the theater, from whence she fiually removed to her present residence on Main strect. Although time bas healed over the woundsinher beart, she still wears a sorrowful air, and appcars at times much deprfsped. She is the finest and best looking of any of the wives ; which probably accounts for Brigham's partiality to her so long. She is somewhnt stout, and has light golden hair, a peculiarity inherited by all of her daughters. My friend introduced me, and, after becoming scated, the usual questions, "How do you like Salt Lake City?" and 'Whfltdoyou think of the people ?" were asked and answered in the usual way. In response to aa inquiry as to the health of her family, she replied that they were all well at present, except Miranda, whose eyes wrre very bad. Ella and Miranda, her oldest daughters, had been afflicted with sore eyes from childhood. All the healing powera of the ptiesthood, a3 well as tho resources of medical art, had been invoked to effect a cure, but all in vain, and it was now expected tbat Miranda at least must become blind. Both daughters had been married about ft year. Emeline has a larger family of cnildren than any of the other wivcs, and she is the inotherofthe last cbild bom in the harem, It is now over six years old. Turning to me, Eraeline said : "Do you think of remaining long in this country ? ' "No," I replied, "I expect to continue my journey in a short time, and I think that I ehall always remember with pleasure my visit to this city. I have enjoycd myself very mach eince I have been here." "I hope," said she, "that you will give a good report of us to your friends 10 the East There are euough bad repoits to make us feel oshamid of ourselves if they were truc." "Many of the reports," said I, "are given by persons, both male and female, who have left your ehurch and returned to their friends in the East and Eiirope. They say they have discovered tho corrupt prácticos of tho leaders, and the falsiiy of the religión once believed by them, snd so abandoned it." ';No doubt," ghe replied, "many leave Utah dissatiefied, but I do not think that all of the cvils of which thoy complain exlst here." "Perhaps," said I, "in tho iofition which you occupy, you have no opportunity of judging or viewing these evils as well as those living among the mass of the people, wlio are con?tanlly subject to all the cliuroh requirements." "Probably not," said ebe ; "I only speak as far as my own experience goe. 1 aui frcc to confesa tbut my experience hits not always beca a plcasunt oi)e, hut there is no pleasurc without pain, and we Lattcr-l3ay Saints have geen more nf the triuls, troubles and vexations oí lifo tlian ita pleasures; but of course we are cuütciit to boar niany things lor the sako of our religión." "I suppose," eaid I, 'that you bclieve in tlie divino origin of polygamy ?" "Cerlainly,"' sbe replied, "or I shoiild not havo gouo with it. Although it is hard for many to bear, still we shall reap our rewurd in the world to come." l'rom tho tone of voice iti wliich s!ie gave utterance to thesj word?, I wns satisfiud tliat she fully bilieved in the doctrine. Shc fuither said that 6lic kiicw but littlo of what was transpiring in tbo great wcirld bcyond Utah, for the care oí her family occupied eo much of her tirce and attention that she could not at'eiid to anything e!se. After sorne desultory conversation we arese and took our leave of Emeliue, tho once "Queen of tbo Harem " Several of Brigham's wires, including Mary Von Cett and Ann Eliza Webb, bis last acquifitions, I did not sec, but was informed that thcy were young aud [uite good-looking. One was a widow and the otber bad been divorced from lur husband. Alott of the wives vero of English birth, a fuw aro Americana, and one or two Scotch. From nhat I ïoard and s:iw, a book upon harem life among the Motmons would be a cuiiosiƒ