Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1869 — A Singular Romance. [ARTICLE]

A Singular Romance.

There is a romance-a "sensational" romance, if you will-underlying the appearance of Joseph A. Young, in San Francisco. It is said that he has come in pursuit of a young lady who not long ago made her escape from Salt Lake City. The lady is pretty, attractive, virtuous, accomplished, and possesses extraordinary talent as an actress, though that talent has never been illustrated anywhere except on the boards of Brigham’s theatre at Salt Lake. But though lovely and young she had strong objections to becoming Mrs. Young. When the Saints brought a powerful pressure upon her to induce her to be "sealed," and solemnly assured her that “she would be damned if she didn't,” she replied that she “would be d-d if she did.” Accordingly, as she wouldn't marry, she had to get out of Utah. She came to California, and Joseph came after her. Our financiers, bankers, merchants, and newspaper men have been led to believe that Joseph came here on business connected with the Union Central Railroad, and he has been extensively feted and dined and wined in consequence of that impression, our hospitable disinterested merchants being beguiled by the pleasing illusion that their attention to this scion of the Brigham dynasty might possibly result in the increase of trade between the City of the Saints at Salt Lake City, and the City of Sinners at San Francisco. But the fact is, Joseph is regarded at home as a lost sheep and a prodigal son. He does not stand high in the good graces of his august father, who would never dream of intrusting him with an important business mission. He has no influence or standing at home, where he is regarded simply as a fast young man, more addicted to pleasure than to business, and better qualified for distinguishing himself at billiards than at bargains. The very pleasant gentlemen, therefore, who have been paying particular attention to this branch of the Young family, under the idea that something was to be made out of it, will find that they have slipped up. Our readers will remember that Miss Alexander, reputed to be an actress of more than ordinary talent in soubrette parts, was to have made her appearance at the Metropolitan Theatre on last Saturday night. She did not appear according to announcement. Why not? Because of Joseph Young’s arrival here on Friday. This caused a change in her programme. She dares not appear while he is in the city. Why not? Because she has been warned that she cannot succeed and will not be permitted to succeed on the San Francisco stage. They want to compel berth return to Utah, and to accomplish this purpose she thinks they will resort to the most desperate measures. Young, however, has already discovered that San Francisco is no place for the accomplishment of any purpose he may have cherished of using force in securing Miss Alexander’s return to Salt Lake. He has discovered that she has a multitude oi friends here who would be prompt to avenge any outrage that might be attempted upon her. Consequently he has seen that any scheme of forcible abduction, or any, attempt to influence her by threats, would not only be futile, but dangerous. It is understood that he is already convinced of the impossibility of effecting the object of his mission, and left San Francisco on his return to Mormondon yesterday, so that Miss Alexander, will make her first appearance in this city at the Metropolitan Theatre, on Saturday evening, she having been so impressed with a conviction of the power and unscrupulousness of her saintly persecutors that she would not dare to appear in the public until Young and his companions had left the city. Though brought up from her childhood in the midst of Mormon society and under Mormon influences, Miss Alexander always entertained a strong repugnance to Mormon ideas. Having a decided talent for the stage and an early developed taste for acting, she was induced to appear at Brigham's theatre. She made her debut

in the character of Matilda Peppercorn, in the farce of “Marriage at Any Price,” in October, 1863. Her beauty, grace and vivacity, together with the talent she manifested, made her first attempt a complete success. Several of the Mormon magnates fell desperately in love with her and she immediately became the victim of “ attentions ” and persecutions, which she could not have resisted had she not possessed remarkable individuality and strength of character, and had not Brigham himself, who admired her talents and considered her an indispensable ornament of his pet theatre, extended to her a certain measure of protection. At length, however, the pressure brought to bear upon her became so strong that she was obliged to make her escape from the City of the Saints. -San Francisco Chronicle.