The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-27

The Rappfte Community In Pennsylvania.
The editor Of the Pittsburg Dispatch writes as
follows from the village OF Economy, Beaver county,
Pennsylvania
This place was finished, long ago. The commu
nifty or society once numbered eight hundred souls
they are now less than three hundred. From one
third to onehalf the houses are tenantless. Neat,
comfortable dwellings, both brick and frame, are
"voceess as the grave" Elsewhere in the town all
Is still enough, indeed, at most hours Of day or
night, save for the strangers who come to relieve
the quetude. After o'clock p. NJ not football is
to be heard when traveller drops in from the
road, or locomotive snorts by, with its rattle and
clatter.
At six and a.half A. M. all who hope to eat
breakfast must be ready to sit down at the hotel
table; those who are aggard will have sound
scolding, most surely, from "Joseph," the worthy
host, who occupies that troublesome post for
his share OF duty as member OF the society, aid
ed, as far as practicable, by David" another ex-
ceent little fellow who in addition to the duties of
cutting tailor and barber for the whole community,
also helps Joseph at the tavern.
The fashions do not vary much, however. and pro-
baby David has not an onerous post tailor; but
Der of the community is shaved at least on Sab
bath, though all wear whiskers, great or small.
The community seems to be pretty evenly divided,
male and female-the latter almost as hearty in APP
peaiance as the former The society, as you are
aware, settled first at Old Harmony, Butler county,
In 1905; finding themselves too far from navigabl
waters and markets, they removed thence, about
ten years afterwards. to New Harmony, on the Wa
bash river, in Indiana. Here, owing to the I'M
healthy climate, many died, and the community
again removed in ls2425 to their present location;
having remained at each Of the first places chosen
about ten years. and here to the present time, thir
~ odd years. George Rapp, their beloved leader
from Germany, came here with them.
He had adopted a son called Frederick, who also
came to this place, and died before his adopted
father. George Rapp died in the fall of ls47-then
in 40 mir 9th Ia had al
fifty years. had led his people in all their wander
ings, from Germany to their last promised Land"
here; and when all was settled hopefully, the COM
munity prospecting beyond its most sanguine expec-
tatiOns, he prepared to lay down his shepherds
crook, and summoning his people around his win
dow in the YARD of his dwelling, he thence deliver
ed to them his last discourse and though of age so
advanced, and on the graves verge, his voice was
yet strong enough to be heard for half square,
During that same week he died, and lies buried,
like all the rest in the common lot without even
hillock to show where be hes Mr. r. L. Baker, q
very able and worthy man. succeeded in the spiritual
and temporal leadership of the society. More re-
Gently M. Heinrich, the very Intelligent treasurer of
the society, has been appointed joint trustee with
Mr.. Baker
In the society, as is known, there is a perfect
equality in all respects all are propriet0rs, all equal
in rights and dignity, none hireings. The co ok
at the hotel, who for thirty odd years has occupied
that post David, the tailor. barber &c. and ALL of
whatever occupation, stand alike respected. The
D
about them-except on Sunday-and then they ap.
pear truly plain, devout worshippers.
We attended morning service in the nice cool
church yesterday. Mr.. Baker led the services with
two old men sitting on either side of him in the pull
pit The choir had about twenty.four performers
male and female. Two pianos were in lieu Of an or
gan; Miss Gertrude Rapp played one, and Mr.. Hen
rici the other. the music rather monotonous, but
fair. The services were-frst, music, singing, &c
then prayer: then chapter, oermOn, singing and
prayer. For the first prayer. all rose during
the succeeding service preacher and audience
satin the last prayer leaning forward. On
entering the church the MN end women came in
by different doors and took opposite sides Of
the house. On leaving, the men sat waiting till all
the women had gone out and the coast was clear;
then the preacher led out, and the other male peo-
pie followed We omitted to say that, at the close
OF each division Of the service. the audience
responded "amen" in Whit sounds exactly like a
sharp quick cultural "ugh and rather startles, at
first. AL the men wear blue clothing-al the
women blue clothing, with silk caps Of exactly the
same make and material-as IL moulded. The
ceiling OF the church is arched handsomely, aud
it also painted blue-bright blue. Blue is "the
rage here, decidedly.
estimated, pretty accurately the congregatio /,
at 225-the balance OF the near 800 were c0ntine
at home by their avocations, or by age and mfr.
nifty. There are few young people, and eve
saw infant child whose parents re emily jone
the community. bnt the average age Of the mem
bers is computed to be now over sixty, and some
are over ninety; so that death must soon be busy
thinning out their ranks i observed very few
lettering steps, but nine-tenths OF the men ar
bald. and most of the Others gray; the women look
more fresh; some wear wigs.
The evidences Of decline and decay are NANTES
painfully, and teach sad lesson OF mortality. Couu
Leon took away about $50 OF the original eight hun
dred others left at other times; death has reaped
many; and less than three hundred remain. The
advance of fage and decrease OF numbers compel q
curtailment Of occupations. Silk manufacture is
therefore abandoned; cotton and woollen manufac-
lures are confined now to the little winter work for
their own wear; so Of tanning and other employ
ments. The museum IL gone long ago: their music
lands are no longer kept up; even in the harvest
fields they must hire help, and reduce the amount Of
land in cultivation. They have fifty Of the finest mich
cows ever saw, and even this spring Mr.. Baker
purchased five hundred dollar bull and eight or
nine cows at two hundred each. for improved stock:
they have also the choicest varieties of Shanghae and
other fowls in thousands; but Of sheep only two
hundred for mutton; none for wool; Of hogs about
seventyve. which are bought for fattenng and kill
ing alone each year, they raise none; of horses,
about fifty head, for ploughing, &c Every dumb ami
NAL Is kindly tended-all are a. fat ~ can be-and
neither man nor brute Is overtasked.
The people feel independent, and care very little
for accumulation at present: hence they labor regn
larly, but never hurriedly and the hotel Is merely
kept up as matter OF public accommodation. They
osn some five thousand acres Of land worth say
slO0 per acre: add value OF town buildings, money,
stock, &c, they cannot be worth less than two mIl
lions, believe. They are kind to the poor; house
IS set apart for INDECENT travellers, where beds are
furnished, and supper and breakfast freely given 60
any wayfser. They have also kindly received back
several truants. who went abroad in former times,
did badly. and returned, like the prodigl SON The
sccCty las some very active members yet; some
very ingenious mechanics, too. They have. within
ier years, purchased pine land up the Allegheny,
and have saw mill here, where all kinds Of timber
are sawed and sold to the neighborhood. They
have a cider mill and press Of home nve?tion, which
VIII turn ont forty barrels Of cider In day. Grape.
currant and other wines are made in abundance "a
also beer. and even whskey hut drunkenness l. I'M
known among them Tobacco Ia not used BY a sin
gle individual Ia any way. On the whole, they are
happy and contented, and, think, a really reli.
gious people.