New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-20

Three Days among the Shakers Of New-
Ecbanon-Thcir Node Of Lifc-Products
and Neutrality-suspicious. Religious and
Political Opinions.

Political Opinions.
Correspondenc. of The NJ y Tribune.
Nsw-YokK, Aug O. 1862.
have just returned from visit TO the Society II
Shakers, at New-Lebanon, Columbia County, N. Y.
The main object Of my visit was to see new barn,
lately completed, that I might describe it for tho
benefit of American farmers. As saw and heard
msny Other things which may be interesting TO the
readers Of The TRIBUNE, propose TO have y pleas
ant chat with them. l went mp the Harlem Road
upon tue train that leaves Twenty.sxth street for
Albany at lOi O'Clock, July %. The date is OF sore
Importance, in connection with weather and crops.
At that lime most of tue hay and rye near Now-York
was harvested, and oats turned yellow. The
weather, however, was cool enough before night to
make two stout wooden coats comfortable. Perhaps
two degrees north by latitude, and another BY eevas
ton, made some difference for found most OF the
grass uncut and some of the rye not ready and oats
all quite green, and Indian corn looking very unlike
ripenDg this season. With that exception, tho sgr.
cultural prospects all along the road looked most
cheerful.
Reader, have you ever been mp this roadi Ifnot,
if you city resident, go out some day sad SEQ
what lovely country there is north Of New-York
City. Not hiyhly-improved, richly cultivated re-
gion, but very pleasant one to live in, and very
healthy wthal. 1t is undoubtedly the plessantest
railroad route for pleasant excursion, out OF New
York, with some charming mountain scenery on the
right for long distance, and many lovely spots TO
stop at all along the route 1t has what roads
have not-an excellent place for hungry passengers
10 get lunch at midday. 1 commend you TO the
good fare and exemplary neatness, and good atien-
ton of those in attendance at Pawlngs Station, 81
miles from New-Ycrk.
At Chatham, with the afIix Of -Four Corners,
which is 1870 miles north Of the city, VIC leave ths
Harlem Road and 70 eastward on the "Weston
Road to Canaan )" -Four Corners" and there iaAe
the Lebanon Springs stage six miles Of the eight, TO
that noted waterng-place, to one equally noted as
"Shaher Village" 1t is unlike any other than =
Shaker village, because it shows no church spires,
no tall mandatory cbimneys though there srs
numbers Of buildings large enough for almost air.
manufacturing purposes. The largest are barns the
next larges, are dwellings, and next workshops
for various purposes. There is an Herb House
that is about the size of half city block; and the
Meeting House." though wholly unlike church,
is as roony as some Of the largest city ediiices.
AltoA ether the appearance OF the village is unlike
any o,her than its counterpart, everywhere to be
found here there is large settlement OF ShaEcfds
The location Of the New.Lebanon village is upoN
the western slope of Of the spurs of ,he Green
Mountains that projects from the more mountainous
se zion Of Vermont down through Berkshire County,
Massachusetts,. Tho rock is generally sla'y lime
stone. and soil clayey, inclined TO be wet and
rather cold, and more fit for grazing than gran. 10
is Tot such location in any respect, with one excep-
ton, and that is on account Of its hssthDess as
purely agricultural people, living in community OF
interest would naturally select. Indeed 1t never was
selected it grew up ont Of little neighoorhood VI
believers who happened 10 live near together whore
little farms joined who united their interests and
lands and out Of that the Society has grown and as
they became able have purchased adjoining farms
and mountain land, until they have some six
thousand acres adjoining which lie held by trustees
for the Use aud benefit Of the whole community, bns
is temporarily div ded off in parcels aud cultivated by
six families each Of which conducts It's atairs hide.
pendent of the others, and manages all business ca:-
ters by family organization uDconneetcd with the
Others except upon general principles. In pceunisry
Affairs each family is a separate community; each
having its own elders, male and Tensile, with their
assistants who like fathers and mothers over tho
household and the other members are ike brothers
and sisters and, like any wcregulated family, lv-
ing in love ard harmony together thus lives each
family Of Shakers
Each society, wherever located IL conducted upon
the same general principles aud divi!ed into families
in the same way.
There are in the United States eighteen societies
of Shakers located ss follows: three III tue State Of
New.York, viz, the fist and largest Al New Leba-
non, two and half miles south Of Lebanon Syringe,
% miles east Of Albany; ono at Waervlist, seven
miles northwest of Albany; one at Groveand, Liv-
ingston County, four miles south of Mount Morris.
In Massachusetts there are four: One 1t Hancock,
Berkshire County, three miles from the Lebanon SO.
cety Center though the lard of the two a1oins, and
about five miles wet Of Pi,iseld. Another at Tyr
ingham. in the same county, is three miles soutn Of
South Lee. Another at Harvard, in Worcester
County is 80 miles northwest Of Boston, two miles
from Groton Junction Station. Another is seven
miles west of Harvard, IN Mddlesex County.
In Connecticut, there ia a society at Enfield ca tho
Connecticut River threo miles from the station at
Thomsonville. 1t is eight miles by pleasant road
south of Springfield, Mass.
In New-Hampshire, there is q society at Cantsr.
bury, Merrimack County, twelve miles from Con.
cord, norhery and ono At Enfield, Grafton Coln.y,
twelve miles southeast of Dartmouth College
In Maine, there is Il society at Alfred, York Coun-
y 80 miles sonth-west of Portland; and one 70 miles
northwest Of that city, in NewGlouces'er, Cumbsr.
land County.
In Ohio, there are four soceties. One at Union vii.
lage, Warren County, four miles west OF Lebanon,
and 80 miles northwarily Of Cincinnati. This is the
parent Society Of the Western States. Another Ut
Watevlet, Montgomery County, six miles south