Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-09-18
For the Gazette.
A Visit to the Shakers
BY JOHN KNOX.

On Monday last, we started in two carFi
ges, at a quarter before seven, for an excursio
TO the Shaker settlement at New Lebanon,
Columbia county, New York.
The morning was uncommonly fne-cot
enough for overcoats and shawls and clear 9
crystal. As we looked down before starting
from our elevated position on Stockbridg
Hill, into the valley below, filled with whit
fog, it seemed like great lake. But as W
drove down into it, it began to melt away i
the morning sun. Gradually, as the day ad
vanced, the overcoats and sbawls were Iai
aside.
The drive through the gorge in the noun
tains to West Stockbridge, is exceedingly fin
and reminded me of some of the drives IN th
White Mountain regions Beyond Yves
StOckbridge, which is in itself village of in
terest, we came to the iron ore beds, with the
accompanying shanties for the workmen, sur
rounded by little garden patches, filed witt
hourishing "praaties" and other vegetables.
Of in the distance yonder, is Saddlebock
mountain, at the base of which, though not
visible from here, nestles Wiliamstown and
its excellent seat of learning Williams Col
lege, from which so many good men have gone
forth in the service Of Christ Over that noble
institution, Marsh Hopkins, D. D., presides
with so much ability that the students who are
not, as a class, given to compliments, excIaim
of him, "Marsb, the perfect man."
As we approached the end of our journey,
we could easily perceive by the improved con-
dition of things, the higher cultivation of the
land and the superior fences, that we were on
Shaker soil, for although they are the devotees
of false relsgion, and their social systems are
contrary to nature and detrimental to the best
interests of all concerned, yet SO skillfully are
their affairs managed that they greatly excel in
the excellence of their of their productions and
in the order and system in which things are
done. As one as our party remarked, ait
seemed as though the very fences had been
scrubbed" As we ascended the Shaker Noun
tain, on the other side of which the village lies,
we mel the first specimen of the Shaker Breth-
rem. A most outlandish looking set they are,
with their broad brimmed hats, their hair cut
short in front, with a curlyque behind and
their loose blouse and linsey- -woolsey trowsers,
all of their own manufacture. The men have
a sinister, pharasaical look, which is not so
conspicuousIy observable in the women. This
first specimen was in one horse wagon, laden
with apples, which he was probably taking to
sell to the ''world's people," as all outsiders
are termed.
AS we reached the apex, we came in sight
of the Village, which stands on a terrace of
the mountain, not far from its base.
The houses are ranged on a long street about
hundred yards apart, and are almost all ex-
actly alike, not unlike what Methodist meet
ing houses used to be before they were built in
marble and brown stone, i.e., in the more prim-
itive days of that excellent and active branch
of the church of Christ. The houses are all
painted dull buff color the windows are
composed of great many very small panes OF
glass, while over every door is a small projec-
tion without any pillars to support it, some
thing like the front of boys cap, only made
of wood instead of glazed leather.
We drove up to the Office and were introdu-
ced to some of the Sisters by the friend who
accompanied us, who had ofted visited there
before. They are much better looking every
way than the men, at least those are who are
selected to take care of the offices and stores
They wear sort of grey or drab material,
a ,
Of course are guiItless of crinoline and have
very narrow skirts. Round their necks they
wear an article not unlike the stocks formerly
worn by men, only made of white Gotten cloth,
while over their shoulders they have neatly
pinned a three cornered white cotton handker
chief. A plain muslin cap over their short
lair, at the one extremity, and pair of blue
Torsted shoes with small, high heels, at the |
)ther, campletes all that is visible of their at
ire-unless they are going out, when the inev-
table scoop-shovel bonnet is put over all. The |
is, they look much the best in the !
louse. Their manner of conversation is lit |
lie peculiar. They do not follow literally the
Scripture injunction of saying yea and nay,
out they say "yee and nay; of course all such
erms as mann and sir, mister and miss are |
carefully avoided. One of our party by an in- |
ldvertance, said to one of them, "Miss White |
."Anna, if you please" was the prompt re-
ply.
Ore one side of the hall is the Office where |
he general business of the family is done,
While on the other, is the store where the fan
y and useful articles of their own manufac-
ure are exposed for sale. AS we entered the
be shelves were drawn aside and q perfect
,laze of pretty things appeared. There were
cores of ladies work baskets, needle books,
lin cushions, table mats, wooden napkin rings
md scores of other beautiful articles too nu
nerous to mention.
When we had completed our little purchas-
s, including among other things a supply of
heir celebrated maple sugar, we were invited
. inspect the dairy. We were taken into
arge room in the basement of a neighboring
ouse, the floor of which was painted red and
Ens scrupulously clean, where were the cheese
'resses, milk boilers and other machinery for
making cheese. The next room was covered
With milk pans filed with the lacteaI fluid.
hey have set of blocks about two inches in
ength on which are painted the days of the
week, two for each day-one for the morning
nd the other for the evening; one of these is
aid on the shelf where that days milk is plac-
d, so there need never be any doubt when
ach painful was drawn from the COW.
The next room was filed with cheese a
being attached to each stating
Vhen it was made. Some were quite new,
While some were two years old.
Now began a difficulty about a matter of
ONE Importance to US, viz: how and where
7e were to get our dinner, for riding and sight
eeing are both very provocative of appetite.
he Sisters sometimes provide dinner for a
onsderation, but that dey they seemed pecu-
arly unwilling to do So The gentleman to
7ho m we were indebted for suggesting the
rip and for most of the circumstances that
lade it pleasant, argued the matter in a kind
= way with them, but without success; so he
etermined to apply at the other Office. l k
hould have said that the people in this village
re divided into three lamilies-distiuguis
thr 81 |