The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah — John Shaqi
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in UtahLindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Religion
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah
Lindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Latter Day Saints; Theater -- Utah -- History
Such in brief is the history of Potter's Academy of Music. The
merchants and lumbermen who had given Potter such liberal credit were
now sadder but wiser men.
Potter got away as soon as possible, for matters were very pressing
and unpleasant for him. His company drifted off in various directions,
except Belle Douglass, who got married to Captain Clipperton and
settled down in Salt Lake, and after a while got into the Salt Lake
Theatre. Hardie also got back after a time, long enough for him to
become repentant and express his regrets for what he had done.
The season, by the time the Academy's brief career had ended, was well
advanced into the spring. Julia Dean Hayne had not only not played
out, but had steadily grown in the affection of the people. Mr.
Waldron continued to to be a favorite also; but Julia Dean was the
bright particular star whose effulgence can never be effaced from the
memories of those who attended her performances during that memorable
engagement. She received many marks of personal favor from President
Brigham Young; indeed, it was current gossip that the President was
very much enamored of the fair Julia and had offered to make her Mrs.
Young number twenty-one. How much, if any, truth there was in this
gossip will perhaps never be known; the fact that Brigham did pay her
unusual attention and gave several parties in her honor and had a fine
sleigh built which he named the Julia Dean was quite enough to set the
people talking. The probability is that the President was very much
charmed with her, and sought to win her to the Mormon faith; had he
succeeded in this, he might then have felt encouraged to go a step
further and win her to himself, for in spite of his already numerous
matrimonial alliances, he did not consider himself _ineligible_. The
fair Julia was not ineligible, either, for she was divorced from her
husband, Dr. Hayne, the son of a "favorite son" of South Carolina.
Speculation was rife, and much surprise and wonder was excited in
certain quarters that President Young should go out of his way to show
more marked attention to an actress than he had ever shown to any of
his wives; but he was bent on getting Julia into the fold; once there,
he could have played the good shepherd, and have secured her an
exaltation. She had another man in her eye. One she had set her heart
upon, too. "As hers on him, so his was set on her, but how they met
and wooed and made exchange of vows I'll tell thee as we pass."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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