The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-07-27

We have just commenced cutting grass,
and it is good Tobacco is starting
pretty slow. Potato bugs have not done
much damage this year, and the potatoes
are good. Yours truly, w C. A.
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
The Society of Harm onists or
Economics In Pennsylvania.
Mr. EDITOR: The Society of Rappists
at Economy, below Pittsburgh, has al.
ways possessed, for me, peculiar inter
est. Perhaps this may have arisen from
an acquaintance, in early youth, with that
excellent citizen and worthy Christian,
ISRAEL LENrz and his eslimable wife
both now deceased, Mr.. anil Mrs. LENTz
were members Of that community until
their marriage
In a recent number of the Cincinnati
Commercial, correspondent gives q
sketch of the first settlement of the R,p
pists at New Harmony, Indiana. After
there for some years they sold
the property to company of which Rob
ERT OWEN, the father of ROBERT DALE
OWEN, was the head.
The following extract from the article
of the Commercially correspondent will,
| believe, interest your readers. The Mr.
LENTz referred to is brother Of Mr. Is
RAEL LENrz, deceased, and an uncle Of
Mr.. DAVID LENrz, the Democratic candi-
date for Commissioner of this county:
NEW HARMONY.
The distance Of IL miles from Mount
Vernon, by gradual ascent Of the undu-
lating country, brought US to the brow OF
the ridge Of hills surrounding Now Har
mony on the north and west. A prettier
scene does not often meet the eye. To
the left of the road, ON an elevation be
low the highest reach, was the cemetery,
its white monuments rising above the
verdure and bathed in the Ii ght of the set
ting sun. To the right, under the shadow
of the hills, and mills, and in front is the
old, old town, in the distance of q mile,
conveying the illusion Of German set.
Element. The illusion was not dispelled
on nearer view. We ratified down the
dusty Main street, sans pavement, with
the queerest old fashioned houses on
either side. The old houses, built ot
brick or wood, are situated on what the
English would call large properties, and
are directly on the corner of the street
The style is uniform, either two stories
on one, with tall, peaked roofs, tile win
tlows on the main and door on the side
street. Each dwelling has large and
highly cultivated garden, and the amount
of trailing vines and blooming flowers
gives holiday air 10 the humblest dwell
ling. All the lighter gardening is done
by the women, who are proportionably
sun burned and healthy.
The principal business part Of the town
about six squares, in which, Of
the original Rapp buildings,there remains
a store room, the otel,building, the the
ater, the granary, and part of the old
Town Hall. There is but one wing Of the
last, and it is devoted to the library Of
the Workingmen's Institute, which con-
sists Of some 5000 choice volumes. Blu.
sincss needs have changed the exterior Of
the building occupied by the Fretageot
Brothers as a store, but the hotel retains
nearly all its Rapp features.
NO. 8. 1924.
Itis approached by short turn from
Main street, and the first object which
meets the eye is the name "Vietz House,
the handsome gilt letters on new frame
sign, swung in an antique frame. There
is no pavement, and quite close to the
house, which is ten feet back from the
street, are two immense shade trees, ,undel
which the most of the guests and the land
lord are seated. The stage lands ont
near by large door, with one stone step
and, as the eye takes these points in, it i.
attracted to another large door and an
other stone step, as like as two peas, ant
above, between the doors, at distance o
two feet, is huge slab of stone, with th'
number and date cut in-"No 8, 1924"
One of the doors opens into the parlor
a long and wide room with low ceiling
terminated with folding doors, now clos
ed, but admitting of throwing the who'll
side of the house into one room. A sid
door opens into the office, out Of which
there is long hall leading to the dinin!
and other rooms, partitioned of from tn
two original apartments of the lowe
floor. At the end of the hall is a doc
opening upon broad porch, extendin!
the width of the house, and at this writin
tits shaded by vines adorned with flower
in pots, and is used as sort OF sitting
room. The yard infront is filed wit
flowers, and on the side is a large spac
alled with grand old trees that Cola
could not span, and which stretch thei
grateful shade over the windows of tn
second floor.
There is no mystery about the cuisin
of this old time inn. The kitchen, like
wise covered with vines,is building wit
open door and windows q little off to tn
left and back is garden in prime order
with all green things growing. Even tn
covered we'll with rope and windlass an
moss covered bucket, is not wanting t
complete the quaint Dutch scene. Som
idea of the antiquity of the house can b
obtained from the stone doorstep whic
was turned upside down, and then nearl
worn through from both sides, was sui
mounted by sill of stout oak. There
no sign of damp or mould in the ston
foundation of the house. It'is from 2 t.
feet thick, and the solid brick walls loo
as if they would last for ages. The mol
tar was made of muscle shells taken fror
the Wabash River and burnt by the earl
settlers. The floors are deadened by
double flooring Of stout timber filed wit
perpendicular layers of wood, wrappe
with straw, and bedded in cement. Th
steps in the stairway are made of timbe
6 inches thick, with wide projections, an
are of easy ascent They are guarded b
a substantial railing. "No 32was use
as a dormitory by the Rappists, and,
one had a mind to moralize, there is foo
for sentiment in the deep hollows wor
in the steps and landing by the numbe
less feet that have long, long ago "turne