History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

588 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL.
ing from polygamous unions. It has never been
shown that physical development suffers from the
polygamous system, especially when regulated by religion,
as in the case of the Mormons. The children
of saints are much like other children. In the streets
of the capital, however, during the period under review,
might be seen youths of eighteen or twenty, some of
them the children of church dignitaries, whose highest
ambition was satisfied when they could ride through
the streets, hallooing and shouting, fantastically attired
in fringed and embroidered buckskin leggings, gaudily
colored shirt, and slouched hat, and with the orthodox
revolver and bowie-knife conspicuously displayed. 40
They resembled somewhat the cow-boy of the present
day; but their presence was barely felt amid this
staid and order-loving community, 41 the forwardness
of the second generation of the saints being attributed,
not without show of reason, to the corrupting influence
of the gentiles.
In order to estimate fairly the character of the population
of Salt Lake City, which numbered in 1860
about 14,000, 42 the visitor should attend the bowery
or tabernacle, where according to the season of the
year about 3,000 of the populace assembled on Sunday.
The men appeared, in warm weather, without
coats and with open vests, but always in decent and
cleanly garb, most of them being clad in gray tweed,
though some of the elders and dignitaries wore black
broadcloth. 43 The women wore silks, woollen stuffs,
40
Jennings' Mat. Progr. of Utah, MS., 3-4. Mr W. Jennings, ex-mayor
of S. L. City, who supplied me with the above MS. in 1884, says that this
condition of affairs came to an end when the railroad reached Utah.
41
* There were no lamps in any but Main Street, yet the city is as safe as
St James Square, London. There are perhaps not more than 25 or 35 constables
or policemen in the whole place.' Burton's City of the Saints, 273.
' The few policemen that have been on duty during the summer were discharged
on Monday last.' Deserel News, Sept. 12, 1860.
42 In 1S63 Brigham stated its population at 16,000. Atlantic Monthly, Apr.
1864, p. 492; Burton, in 1860, 9,000. City of the Saints, 284; Bowles, in
1865, 25,000 to 30,000. Our New West, 227. The last two are wide of the
mark.
43
Before this date Brigham attempted to lead the fashion, appearing in a
yellow slouched hat, much too large for his head, green frock-coat, pants