The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-12

on one who sat nearly opposite, and who was pass
ing fair, though her cheeks wore more Of the lily
than the rose. don't know how it was, but her
slight figure and Somewhat melancholy cast of
countepapee, though her eye often frightened up
into smile impressed me with the conviction that
the sunshine of the heart was wanting, and that
her young beauty was doomed to IN early cxtinc-
ton. Isauntered about the grounds for some time,
my mind still revertng TO that pensive bro we'd
maiden, and specializing whether she was not one of
those who had
But let affection like a worm 4 the bud,
Frey upon her damask cheek.o
Toget rid Of such reflections, turned my steps to
where blaze Of light and burst Of music an
Dounced that light hearts and tripping feet were
treadiDg the mazes of the Dance when, as reached
the door of the ball room, saw my melancholy
beauty whiring about in the polka embrace of q
most exquisite dandy, her cheeks flushed with exer-
else, and no trace Of heavness or sorrow on her
brow. All the romance which had begun to attach
to her was thus in an Instant rudely disspated, and
having inquired and learned that she was one Of our
New York bellies, vanished from the vestibule of
denouenent, and in FIVE minutes my fancy was deeply
engrossed by Scott's Pirate" which found on
the shelves Of the library. Minna and Brenda,
Norma of the tful head Triptolemus Ycllo ylcy and
Mrs. Baby, crowded out all thoughts Of my inan,o
rata, and my dreams were not intruded upon by any
visions Of her gentle countenance.
The principal village of that eccentric community
the Shakers-lies within two miles of the SPRINGS
Of course could not think Of leaving Lebanon with
out seeing this most marvellous Of all curosties,
sect of people who rebels to the great original
mandate, go forth and multiply and rcplenish the
earth" and who are SO supernal and platonic
in their affections that they can trust themselves
to live together-male and female-without fear
ing the arrows of the rosy God Of love. A cisurey
stroll along an excellent road brought to- gen.
tic cminenoe, shaded with lofty trees, and in the
There IS an air OF prosperity, and even opulence,
about the place, which impresses the behoder with
conviction of the thrift tact, and good taste, of
the busy workers in this human hive. The village
was established upwards of sixty years ago, by
few disciples and teachers of tho queer doctrine,
and IL now contains q wealthy community Of some
six hundred persons. Five or six large six story
ediices principally frame) are the dwelling houses
of the sect. There is d sort of distinction MAIN
tanned between the sexes, as they occupy distinct
portions of the building. Eath brother and sister
has bedroom neatly carpeted and furnished, but
all take their meals in the common dining
room. Barns, stables, stores, factories, and work.
Shops give evidence Of business and thrift The bre
thren are engaged at the various daily occupations
to which they are best adapted; farming, horticul
ture the mechanical arts, tannng attending to the
cattle, cutting timber, and travelling round the
country IN wagons, diposing of their manufactures
and farm produce. An extensive business is carried
on by them in rearing and drying seeds of plants,
and IN making simple vegetable extracts, medicines,
oils, powders, and nimentf, which are very gene
rally esteemed, and 10 be procured in almost
every druggists throughout the States. The women
are Ass occupied invaious departments of business,
making haIs, mating carpets, baskets, aud other
such wares as come within the range of feminine la
Dor, and IN cooking, housekeeping, SC. The man.
agement Of their temporal affairs is committed to
trustees, appointed bv the elders and mnstry-the
latter being composed Of both sexes, and holding
the leading authority OF the society. The conmu-
nifty IS DIVIDED into several different branches called
families, and they have also three progressive
degrees of order, viz: the Noyitiatc, Junior. and
Stnior classes. They receive disciples of every
q, oplcp III aud r1a
such as have property and such us have none. The
iolmer arc at liberty 10 donate their possessions to
the society if the spirit moves them to do they
may simply entrust it to the management of the
trustees, and resume 1t at whatever time they may
take notion OF leaving Such as bring no property
into the association not entitled TO any COM
Tensation tor their labor performed during the pc
rod OF their residences of course, any person is Mt
liberty 10 leave when il suits his incnatons or that
q revival Of religion takes place within him
There are in the Upited States eighteen shaker
Establishments but this OF New lie banon is the Oldest
and most important. They own some five Thousand
acres OF land here, and from their industrious and
saving habits, the association is very wealthy
and prosperous. They are however, most unconi-
muncatiye set OF mortals, and will not give much
Information to strangers on such points, il being
very ,ifficpt 10 get anything out OF them bat the
moDosyllables Gee, 'nec, nhich, being interpret
ed, mean yes and no. The men dressed in home
manufactured stuff. wearing long white, or blueish
coloied sack coat, reaching TO their ankles. and
=
cd from the suu BY straw or felt hats of an eStrava-
eanly wide bri,n BUT the dress of the sister,
hood. hog comical sketch Of it would look in
periodical OF fashion aud how acbel would shine. in
Putaan's beck Of beauty, alongside with our up
town Venuses. Looking at one Of them, q ra11t6e,
you would have much difficulty in recognizing the
human form. and, even il convinced Of its being one
Of the genus, you would imagine it was some most
extraordinary species of it First the c0ppt is dis
guised in sort of barrel shaped straw Init, with o
circular aperture in front, for the accommodation of
the wearers optics, and to admit air, and the pos
terror section extends beyond the back of the
Uranium Upon the narrow, angular shoulder Is
fastened check handkerchief. in the shape
.of smoothing iron, aud Of size suited to q
baby, the point of it reaching four inches down
the back, and there meeting belt, from which
sombre c9iored irock descended to the heels. in a
straight line, US if it merely hung pair OF ami
mated stills. suppose the Shakers adopt this odd
looking attire from holy policy, that the brethren
may never be tempted, even IN imagination, to
tiansgress their VOW of chastity, and, certainly,
less Seductive looking piece Of animated nature
could not well be got up, than one of these lank.
sided sisternood. The children in school rugged
out in the same style, and their vacant, idlo,ic
countenances evince the violent distortion of the
natural feelings of childhood to which they have
been subjected. An unbelicver in tn, Shaker pu-
rity would wonder how there came to be children
in such n community, but his skepticism ought to
DO satisfied with the explanation that they are
adopted, rot native born members, and that q CON-
mittee appointed by Congress some few years sincc
reported as the result Of their Investigations, that
the Shakers relgiousy observant Of their rules
Of faith of which virgin purity, strict temperance,
arr life of Innocence, are the chief bases | re-
GREETED that could not stay to witness their devo-
tional exercises on the Sabbath; but the prime Gle.
mcnts Of them are known to consist OF n kind Of
jumping molten, or dance, which they perform in
their meeting house, to the tune of of, vi, VI"
played by fiddler Of the community, and sung or
shouted by the worshippers. Having spent some
hours In seeing the elephant in the shaker village,
! strolled lcisurely back TO the hotel, and, next
morning, babe adieu to Lebanon with something Of
regret.
Our Newport Correspondence.