The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-12-04 00:00:00

LYXINGTON.
THE SHAKERS.

At the County Seesions on Satunlay, Henry Dance,
a member of the Sh tiOT cointilunity, was charged
with neglecting to support his wife and three
children, leaving them chargeable to the Lymington
Union. Mrs. Dance in giving evidence, stated. I hose
been married to defendant twelve years. I went with
him four year+ ago next June, to the St sker community
at Flordle. I was with theni when they were turned out
of New Forest Lodge. I was not satisfied with the mode ,
of living. I was half starved. Half the time we lived on
swedes and turnip: sometimes we ate them raw. I '
objected en the daneing without clothes, which took place
in New Forest Lodge. Roth sexes danced like this
together, with arias round one another. When people
join the eommunity, Mrs. Girling tells them that they
must put away the thing+ of the world, but they do
nothing lost court earh other. My huslund was con-
stantly walking out with Annie Frond, is married womon,
aged 40. I did not eve any immorality except kissing,
cuddling, and sitting on ,•ne another's knees. I went to
live with them in the tents. This was whore the woman
, went about with my husband so much. Ceedia, Cooper
aged 26, washed all the men all over in a bath. She told
, me, when I spoke to her about it, she often washed the
! men all over when they were in the New Forest leelge.
, W. were shorter of food in the encampment than at the
We have gone forty-eight hours without any food.
' I comp' tined to my husband alrout my food and
children',: they used to fall down and faint for want,
and he vail ' Ion.: ati Tall notee they wiil leave it to
God." Mrs. Girl ing did not take use by the shoulders
and turn in. out, but she toll me she would not have me
nn the idart, a, I was jealous of my husband. I had
been watching bin) walking out with one of the women of
the community. I applied to him on the 16th October for
relief. He toll me to come into the tents and see Mrs.
Girling. I told him I would not. Ile declined to provide
any other plums of at for use. He told me he had
made a vow t, s God not to provide any other place for me
event the tents, and in consequence I became chargeable
to the Li mington Union. I am willing to live in any
place except at the tent or Mr. Tiller's. Ile goes off in
the spirit—Ls they call it—in the middle of the night, and
if you have not the same spirit as he has he turns you out
of the house. Mr. Tiller is one of the community that
1411 red without clothes. I 4..1,1 not be aisle to have the
children at Mr. Tiller's; soy husivin I wonld have them.
Mr sister-in-law sent a shilling's worth of fo si ev,ry ,iay
to the children when they were in the tents, lest they
were not allowed to have it. There is no agreement t
separation between use We sent a great deal and brought
a good deal of money when we ininel them. The men do
to work for wages. There is about three sores of land
at the encampment, and between SO and 90 able-bodied
persons to live off it. They exist on charity. My
husband asked me to join them, but I Pahl "No." Ile
nabl he thotild go, and I was obliged to go with him- 1
did not like it the first day that they daneel without
clothes. Mrs. ()Ming sent me away. Defendant did not
deny what his wife bed said, but said this was two years
ago. He and his wife hid made a covenant with Gad
when they join-"! the Shakers and, although hi., wife had
broken it he could not. The tents were still open to his
wife and children. The magistrates, however, decided
that those tents were not proper places for them to lire
in, and ordered defendant to contribute 15t. a week
towards their support. It is reported the Shakers have
gained another wealthy convert.