Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-23

somewhat sharply what our business thefe
might be. My companion handed him the let
ters of introduction he had brought with him,
which the doctor read attentiyey through; he
then introduced nv humble self as literary
man and assistant editor of well known mag
aziue, who had come TO Oregon for the special
purpose of visiting DR.. Kei, and of inspecting
his colony. | learned from him that his name
was William Keil, and that he was born at
Beicherode in Prussian SaXOUy. He now left
the apple gathering TO his men, and offered TO
show us whatever was interesting about the
colony; as to the life insurance project, he said
he would take some more convenient opportu
nitv to speak with Mr.. KOrner about it.
The doctor, who after this showed himself
somewhat loquacous, was man of agreeable
appearance, perhaps oil about sixty years of age,
with white hair, broad high forehead, and
an intelligent countenance. Sound as a nut,
powerfully built, of vigorous constitution aud
with an air of authority, he gave the idea of a
man born to rule. He seemed TO wish TO
make a good impression on US, and | re-
marked several times in him a searching side
glance, as though he were irving to read our
thoughts. He sustained the entire conversation
himself, and it was somewhat difficult 10 follow
his meaning; he spoke in an unctious, orator..
cal tone, with extreme suavtv, in very general
terms and evaded all direct questions. When |
had listened to him for ten minutes was not
one whit wiser than before. His language was
not remarkably choice, and he used literally
mixture OF words half English, half German,
as uneducated Commandments are apt TO do.
When he first came mo this region, in 1886,
he found the whole district now owned by his
hOurishing colony covered with marsh and
forest. Instead, however, of establishing him
self on the praires lying farther south, in the
midst of foreign settlers, he preferred a home
shared only with his German brethren in the
primitive woods; and here, having at that lime
very small means, he obtained from the govern
ment, gratis, land enough 10 provide homes for
Nj -, tl., ti,,ha
of capital, which lie at once made productive.
He next proceeded to build a block house as Il
defense against the Indians, who at that time
were hostile IN Oregon; then he erected a saw
mill and cleared off the timber, part of which
he used TO build houses for his colonists, and
with part opened an advantageous trade with
his American neighbors, who, living on the
prairie, were soon entirely dependent on him for
all their timber. The land, once cleared, was
soon cultivated and planted with orchards; the
Gner varieties of fruit he shipped for sale to
Portland and San Francisco, and from the sour
apples he either made vinegar or sold them TO
the older settlers, who very soon made them
selves sick on them. He then attended them in
the character OF physician, and cured them OF
their ailments at good round charge This
Joke the good doctor related with especial salts
laction.
BY degrees, the doctor continued to say, the
number of cUlonists increased; and his means
and strength being thus enlarged, he established
a tannery, factory, looms, Touring mills, built
more houses for his colonists, cleared more land
and drained the marshes, increased bis or
chaTdS, laid out new farms, gave some attention
to adornment, erected a church and school
houses, aud purchased from the American set
tiers in the neighborhood their best lands for
sony. He did everything Systematically. He
always assigned his colOnistS the sort of labor
that they appeared TO him best fitted for, and
eacl one found the place best suited to his capa-
biltips Objected n 1plup his will
and Obeying his orders, he was driven out fthe
colony, for he would endure no opposition. He
made the best leather, the best hams and gath
cred the best crops in all Oregon. The posses
sions of the colony, which he added TO as he
was able, extended already over twenty sections
Ga section containing $40 acres, or au English
square mie), and the most perfect order and in
dustTy existed everywhere.
Should any one wish to become a member of
the colony, he must in the first place, put all
his ready money into the hands OF DR.. KeiI; he
will then be taken on trial. Ii the candidate
satisfies the doctor, he can remain and become
one of the community; should this, however,
not be the case, he receives again the capital he
paid in, but wthOu: interest. How long he
must remain ION probation" in the colony and
work there, depends entirely on the doctors
pleasure. Ii a member leaves the community
yoluntary-a thing almost unheard of-he re-
ceives back his capital without interest, together
with a pro rata share Of the earnings of the
community during his membership, as ap-
praised by the doctor.
Ali the ordinary necessaries of life are sup
| piled gratutously 10 the members of the COM
munty. The doctor holds the common purse,
out of which all purchases are paid for, and into
| which 90 the plofis from the agricultural and
| industrial products of the colony If any menu
| Der needs coat or other article of clothing,
| -four, sugar or tobacco, he can get whatever he
wants, without paying Tor 1t, at the "Store;" in
| the same way he procures meat from the butch
| er and bre3d from the baker; spirits are for.
| hidden except in case of sickness The doctor
| also appoints the occupation of each member,
| so as to contribute to the best welfare OF the
| colony, whether he shall be a farmer, me-
| chanic, commoa labOrer, or whatever he can
| be most uSefully employed in; and the time
| and talents of each are regarded as belonging
| to the whole community, subject only to the
| doctors Judgment If member marres,
| separate dwelling house and a certain amount
OF land are assigned him, so that the families Of
| the settlement are scattered about on farms.
| The elders of the colony support the doctor in
the duties OF his office by counsel and assist.
| ance.
| The lands Of the colony are collectively re-
| cordedin DR.. keirS name, in order, as he says,
| to avoid intricate and complicated law papers
| 1t would, however, be for the interest of the
| colonists to make speedy change in this re.
| spect, so that the members of the community in
case of the doctors death, might obtain each his
| snare OF the lands without litigation. Should
| the doctors decease occur soon, before this al
| teration is made, his natural heirs could claim
| the whole property of the colony, and the mem
| bers would be left in the lurch. He does not an.
| pear, however, TO be in great haste TO effect this
| change though it ought to have been done long
| ago. il is always said among the cOlonists,
| naturally enough, that all the ground is the
| common property Of the community Whether
| The doctor fully subscriOes to this opinion IN his
secret heart might be a question.
| DR.. Kel is at the same time the religious
head and the unlimited secular ruler of the col
| Ony of Aurora, and can ordain, with the con.
| sent OF the elders (who very naturally uphold
| his authority, what be pleases A life free
| nom care and responsibility, such as the mem
| Oers OF the community (whO, for the most part,
| belong to the lower and uncultyated CLASSY lead
| "a life in regard to which no one but the doe
/ tor has the trouble Of thinking--is the main
| ground OF the undisturbed continuance OF the
| colony. The preemlnent talent Tor organiza-
| ton, combined with the unlimited powers OF
| command, which the doctor-juStly named
| king OF Aurora"-posSesses together with the
| Unborn industry peculiar TO Germans, is the
| cause of the prosperity of the settlement, which
| calls itsell cOmmunisic but is certainly nothing
| more than vast farm belonging to It's talented
| founder. IL has its schools, It's churches news
| papers and boOks-the selection and tendency
| OF which the doctor sees to--and no lack of So
| cial pleasures, music and singing. Taken to-
| gelher with an easily procured livelihood, all
this satisfies the desires Of the colonists entirely,
| aud the doctor takes care of everything else.
LippineotPS Magazine.
AN OLD DEMOCRATIC SENATOR COMES 0 UT