Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-08-17
Deer Isle and Clam City-Fsther Ames
and the Community that he Governs
What Free Love Doctrines Lead to.

has its unpleasant side, and especially dur
ing portion of the year. but at this season
1t presents rich and varied field for those
inclined to enjoy the fishing, which may
be said TO be as good as any on the con-
tinent. Deer Isle is twelve miles long. and
in the widest portion nearly as many
broad. Ii has several small villages con-
tanning from one hundred to five hundred
inhabitants. Southeast Harbor, on the
land side of the island. Is the regular land
ing for steamers that pass through the
thoroughfare on their way up the Penob-
scot river. At the mouth OF which Deer |
Isle lies This village has about six hun
dred inhabitants, and supports twenty |
stores. Ii has also one Methodist church |
The inhabitants. like most of the others on
the island, live by fishing, and one or two
have the reputation of being wealthy. |
From Southeast Harbor a road leads d.
reetiy across the island to Green's Land |
ing. small hamlet named after Mr.. |
Green. the first settler, who, still in ripe |
manhood. resides in a small house built |
with his own hands nearly half a century |
ago. AT Green's Landing there is a de- |
lightful harbor, which is sought by many |
vessels In stormy weather. aud which has |
made this place prosperous, as IT is com |
mon for the storm-stayed mariners TO re- |
plenish their stores there, consequently we |
lind three fiourishing mercantile houses |
doing business in the town.
CLAN CITY.
south of this place in our wanderings We
came 10 a hamlet built on the shore known
a Clam City. This is village OF about
thirty houses, mostly In very iilapidated
condition. Once before we had heard of
tins village and its people. and We were
not little pleased 10 find ourselves tread
the nf this 4 oh
clam City is curiosity. and the inhabi-
tants are worthy of place in the history
oi tins wonderful country. The town it.
sell may be called an orderly place. as
nothing but ragged children disturbs the
tourist a. he makes his way over and
among pyramids of clam shells which
would appear 10 be either very valuable
As relies or SO plentiful that the good peo-
PIE pile them in the streets to get rid Of
them. On further inquiry we learned that
lam City was founded by one Ames. a
pious man. and clam-digger by occupa-
ton- lie came to this place. he said.
many years ago; 30 MANY wears indeed
mad passed that he was unable to remem-
Der the year of occupation. Through hi.
agency others had been induced 10 take up
their abode on the lonely shore and ioin
with hum IN the digging of clans. which
they sold 10 coasters who came that way.
The CLANS are dug and opened. after which
they are picked and packed in barrel. and
there Kept until they are in merchantabie
order. in which condition they are eagerly
sought after by a certain class of
rASkEE SPECTATORS.
In this village there are about li0inhab-
iants- The greater portion of the Young
men and women were born on the spot.
and were early trained 10 the art of dig
~. =
deued themselves with book iearuinr and
very few know how to read or nrite
Ather Ames, as he Is famiiiarlv called
promises them that a. long a. the rapiuv
hii!ows roll against the Island and the
ciam OanA continues 10 discount for any
person who calls with hoe in hand. whc,h-
er he be rich or poor in this world goods
they shall never come to want and thai sn
long a. he lives the tyranny of man shall
never be known in their beloved Village.
FATHER Ames has established among hi
people form of religion thar /, certainI,
quite original in it, way In a personal
interview he related to u the beautiful
workings Of tie religion of which b..
claims to be the founder
ANEsT or YREE-LovrRs
ON know. laid he. ITO make man
Kind happy and contcni.d. YOU must not
Cypress females; they are the ones who
breed every discomfort Now. To maxi 4.
woman happy you mnsi let her have her
own way. and the worst thing YOU can do
= to bind a woman down for A lifetiru. ia
one man. no matter how much >h. loves.
she Vas born 10 be the equal of man and
not his slave; therefore | say unto NV
Young women. Go mate with a man. bu,
ever consider yourselves free To leave him
when yon believe il YOUR duiv.''-
- Ruf - said Il,
this Freedom often leads To the breaking
up Of families?
IL does sometimes. replied the old vet
eran. but even that l. better than having
them live together and quarrel and npbt.
We believe that il j. the Woman'> duty 10
help the man, and If she does not, why II
leads to misery. and il often happens that
she would do her duty IL that duty was a
matter Of pride. Therefore we saw unto
them on the day of their union. Y on start
equal. and let the one who fail, 10 do his
OF her duty suffer for it,
THE TRIBUNE THEORY RECOGNIZED.
This theory was not altogether new. but
lis adoption by this people was something
startling 10 one who saw before him A elias.
of human beings. the very humbl.st of
Gods creatures. living in 4 state of wretch
edness little if any better than that of our
Western Indians. Father Ames is a man
full sixty-five years of age. with hair A
white Is nature ever fades it, He ha.
some education. and can read and write.
We understood that every SUNDAY he wa.
in the habit of preaching in a building fit
ted up FOR the purpose. and that he some
times visited the school house on the j.
land. and held forth for the benefit of
those who might choose to 20 and hear
him. Seeing the village itself and the So
called - fanf flf.-
could hardly understand why the beauti-
fal theories OF Father Ames were not pro-
ductive of some outward result equally A.
beautiful. We left the old man and went
in search Of some one who could give us
information more serviceable than that Of
fered by him who had founded a city.
Stroiling along through the streets not
caring which way We went, We at last
came TO house quite on the outskirts OF
the town. The door was open. and near
the threshold SAT woman OF ordinary ap-
pearance. with face expressive Of a Ger
tain degree of intelligence. Stepping To
the door. We asked for a drink of water
She arose. and. going out around the
house. soon returned with tin can of wa
ter. which she proifered with a willing
hand. She eyed u from head to foot and
eagerly answered 4 few commonplace
questions relative 10 the island
WHAT WOMAN SAYS ABorrrr
Hardly knowing how to proceed. we al
length asked her abruptly how long she
had been resident OF the village. Her
reply was that she came tai the place when
a mere child. and that she had ever since
resided there. We told her that. visiting
her village BY mere chance We found our
selves very much interested aud would be
thankful for some Information about their
mode OF life. as we had been told thar wo-
men possessed MANY advantages The
people on the island call Us Mormons.
she SAID "but We are not. We believe
that il is mans duty to love his wife.
and il IS also the wife's duty 10 love her
hu Sband. and If they do not love one an
other. that they should be free 10 do as
they please She herself did not believe
il was wonian's duty when once yoked
to man 10 live with him if he misused
her. She thought IL was woman's nature
10 bear and forbesr. that all this must and
should come Of her own free will. This
was de ivered in good language and show
ed that she at least understood well what
l. I'D Of n L..