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Show - 2 - I did a Mormon- theme book for Rapper ' s which they took some six months in turning down . But it was such a near miss that I have confidence that another try for them, bas3d on such a wealth of authentic background, will make the grade . May I impose on your time a little further for a word· of advice . The skeleton of the story was told to me by a friend whose great- grandmother, daughter of an Indian squaw and an Idaho Pmoneer who did "some tradin ' and a li t tle cow-ranchin ' . " married a young Mormon boy and joined the church . Or, joined the church and married the young Mormon boy . Anyway, it was a romantic match, did beautifully for a time , producing three sons , the elder two being straight and stalwart and Indian- like , the youngest , a gay and two-headed youngster, son of his father . Then John, the husband, firm in the faith, son of one of the original Salt Lake settlers , is sent by Brigham Young to colonize an outlying community. He is advised, for various cogent reasons , to take a second wife . After a terrific inner struggle , he does so, managing to by -pass the usual stipulation of having the . consent of the first wife . The new wife , Effie , a Swedish immigrant, widowed and with one son, and a servant in the ¥ousehold of Brigham Young, leaves on the trek in her own outfit and it is sometime later that the first wife discovers the situation. What she became because of her di~illusion with her marriage has evidently become something of a legend -- a veritable virago who drove a spirited team of horses througp. the town., standing erect., black hair st:reamin~ behind her . That she was a tnorn in tfie flesn of the earnest and rron-scientious husgand , as well as a source of torment to his emotions, is easily seen. She reverts largely to the mores of her people , follows. their handicraft, trades her wares for cattle , bee ome s something of a power in the communi~y ; and tho gh she has ceased. to lave with John, though she occup1es a wing d~ his house , she frequently comes to his rescue financially . Altogether, the situation presents a nice play for psychological and emo"ttional development . Now -- the reason for this hastily sketched ou, line - - could you make a suggestion on · locale ~ For many reasons I do not care to use the original se ttlement . I ·have wondered about the possibility of one of the southern ~daho colonies , some place in ~hich the Indi.an background could be fOgically used, and where a wo~n of that t ype might have been a party of the community life . Were the Utes in this area? You may be sure that I will be very gratefUl for any help or suggestions you can give me . My agent will be out here from New York next month and I am anxious to have some th~ ng a little less sketchy to discuss with him at that time . Sincerely y ours , ~~(?~· Helen P. Thurman |
