The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-08-13
THE WATERVLEIT SHAKERS.

j - ILL w Ii 11IlA llLIIa OuAAb0Os
A Visit to Peculiar People--Their Re-
lgious 0eremonies--Domestic Life
Origin, &C.,
from the Troy IN. " Budgetl
Six miles from this city, in the town of
Watervleit, lives radically queer people.
They form sort of distinct world in
miniature, with peculiar notions of re-
llglon, dress, manners and domestic
economy. We allude to the Shakers"
Let us here remark, gentle reader, that if
you have never visited the Shakers you
nave missed sight worth seeing, and to
convince you of the truth of that propo-
sltion we will attempt to describe our
trip to the society of believers" on
Sunday last. Drawn by a brace Of
"Dexters," and surrounded by boon COM
|panions, the six mile drive, although over
u sandy roadand under sun that "histed"
the mercury to ninety, was an ENJOYABLE
one. ''Fhe Shaker Village consists of
about dozen buildings, all apparently
new and III excellent repair Eyerythino
IS scrupulously neat about the grounds,
ana numerous placards enjoin upon visi-
tors the necessity of keeping off the grass,
SSSAASHL ChCN &C.
THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
are open to the public, and the Shakers
are very polite and attentive to strangers,
although they are very strict in suppress
ing levlty or. INDIGENOUS conduct on the
part OF the worlds people Entering the
commodlous hall used for religious
worship, we found nearly all the seats
provided tor visitors filled with Deople.
who, like ourselves, were anxious to "see
the show The Shakers carry out their
notions to the fullest extent, and the
audience is therefore separated as regards
sex. A solemn old Shaker
watched the assembly unceas-
lngly, ready to prey upon the first poor
sinner who should indulge in any I'M
seemly conduct. The floor was polished
as smooth as glass, and a positively I'M
comfortable air OF neaJnes5 prevailed here
as everywhere about the establishment.
After sitting half an hour in the most pro-
found silence, the performers if we NAV
use the term, came LII ana the Circus
oegdn They numbered about one hun
dred, male and female, old and Young.
ne men and boys wore brown pants and
blue Waistcoats, with their hair cropped
Father short ana combed straight down in
lront--the Whole make up being highly
suggestive OF Barney Williams or Dan
Bryant in Irish comedy The women and
girls were dressed In white or very
light drab stuff, with cropped heads and
neat white caps. Contrary to our expee-
tatlons, there was fair sprinkling of
young and good looking females among
+ harr, GFaxr lty h
found sense OF awe they formed in lines
racing each other the males on one side
and the females ON the other, and lively
air was struck up, followed by brief ex-
hortatlon by venerable Shaker. Then
a line was formed in the center of the
room,a portion of the brethren and sisters
face to face singing, while the |
rest moved round them in sort of dance, |
moving their open hands as though wait |
ing to catch blessing We are inclined |
to think that negro minstrel "sonq and |
dance men might pick up few telling
points from this portion Of the perform |
ance. We were then favored with some |
what lengthy but very interesting dis
course by visiting brother from the Leb- |
anon branch. He explained the peculiari- |
ties OF the Shaker belief, especially re-
ating to celibacy, and quoting scripture
IN abundance to prove the correctness OF
ms views. The Shakers rose again aG the |
close OF his remarks, and striking up an
.lr closely resembling 1.-THE Girl l Left
Behind Me, joined in dance that we
are bound to say beat anything we had
seen III this terpsichorean line
It consisted of forward and back"
movement, combined with sort of
double shuttle, and was executed with a
Eaultless precision that could only have
oeen attained by long practice. After
another short "walk round" by the entire
company, the audience was thanked for
heir attention and good behavior, and in
formed that the exercises were over The
services altogether lasted two hours and
halt Although novel and to a certain
extent ridiculous, the ceremonies are par
,lcipated in with apparent sincerity The
shakers hold to the example OF Miriam
and King David and other members of
The ancient church in manifesting their
Joy and gratitude at the goodness of God
towards them in spiritual songs and
dances