Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-09-28
Among the Shakers.

tne Lebanon Shakers, says The Shaker
settlement, foundedin 1890, is u remark
able picture of neatness, and at the same
time, romance. The tall, clean, symmetrical
houses dot along under the hills, and
great flower and seed gardens show
patches of brilliant color that contrasts
with all the delicacy of natures artistic
handiwork against the dark greens of
the pines and spruces. Down the vii
lage streets may be seen squads of men
and women vending their way to the
Westinghouse, while now and then a
load of believers rollin from Canaan,
Brick Yard and New Lebanon families.
There is no sound of church bell, but,
borne along on the breeze, one may
hear the tinkle of those at the Springs
The Shakers are not believers of noise
of any description. In their houses
they walk on tip-toe, are firm believers
in Benjamin Franklin's motto, that a
door should never be slammed, and
speak in subdued whispers. The meet
ing-house is long and imposing build
ing, some $50 feet in length by rs or
100 feet in height. Along the side wall
are arranged ascending benches for the
accommodation of visitors, the males
being seated on one end, the females on
another. The floor fairly shines from
scrubbing, and is waxed, as that of a
ballroom. The male and female men,
bers of the community are separated af-
ter the same fashion as the guests, and
present very picturesque appearance.
The women are dressed in light gray
stuff, spotless white kerchiefs around
their Threats, and the dantiest and most
immaculate caps upon their heads. Here
and there may be caught a glimpse of
a fresh, young and beautiful girlish face,
but as rule, the women are elderly, and
present comfortable, happy appear
ance that savors but little of the ascetic
save in the peculiarly waxy p0llor of
their faces, which arises more from
the absence of meat from their daily
diet than from any other cause. This
pallor, though, does not extend to the
men. They are sinewy sons of toll, and
their hands and faces are bronzed and
hardened from laboring in the fields.
Like the women, they, too, are uniform
ly clad in suite of homespun, and wear
their hair in peculiar fashion, the front
being cut short, like that of the beau
ties in Charles the Seconds merry days,
while, behind, it is allowed to grow long
and flowing.
Seated opposite each other, for some
time, the men and women maintain q
perfect silence. Their hands folded,
and on the face Of each calm look of
reflection. Then one Of the elder men
arises and speaks to his companions,
thanking Heaven that they have been
allowed to meet together for another
Sabbath ; that they have become so
perfect that they are at peace with all
men; that so much peace has been ac-
corded to them, and that prosperity has
been given to the labor of their hands.
One continued prayer, in fact, of thanks
to the God whom we all, Christian, and
Intidel alike, worship and recognize. AS
the speaker arose his companions have
arisen with him, and when he has ceased,
one OF the number has started the first
notes of hymn, and soon it is taken
up by all the number until it swells into
one great monotonous chorus, accompa-
MED by a shuttle Of the dancing feet of
the worshippers. The dance consists of
one, two, three shuttle, and now and
then, the dancers will stop, while one
of them again returns thanks to God
that so much grace has been granted to
them. The faces of the spectators are
a curious study during this performance.
On some turks a covert sheer, and on
others an almost irrepressible smile
but, for the most part, they are marked
by an interest, and, in some cases, rev
erence, that is very noteworthy. The
thought is plainly visible that these
casual spectators have been taught that,
although the form of worship of the
people before them may be eccentric
and peculiar to their eyes, still it is earn
est, honest, and evidently the offspring
of firm conviction. The founders OF
the sect, so runs the Shaker tradition,
were moved by the spirit in just this
manner, and SO their descendants follow
out the doings Of their ancestors.
The singing and dancing concluded,
benches are quietly brought, the broth
ers and sisters sit, and he who has been
selected to deliver the discourse steps
quietly forward on tip-toe, and begins
to speak. The discourse is delivered
towards the visiting spectators, and is
almost invariably defence of the Shaker
doctrine.