New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-21
PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.

LANCASTER, Penn, Aug. 16.-The Commits
siOner gcuure Washington is reported to have
said that the farming In the Union Is carried on
about York Penn, and through the region stretching
thence to Philadelphia, and that It was marvel that
the pennsylvania Dutch farmers could extract so much
the SOIL 1t is certain that the region referred to
the garden spot Keystone State and that this pro-
ductiyeness largely due to the energy and industry OF
the Pennsylvania Duton.
Lancaster County the most fruitful county in this
region was separated from Chester County Penn, IN
1920 the fourth county laid out IN the state
time embraced nearly all the region referred
to by Of Agriculture 1t has been re-
duced to its present limits by the formation Of YORK.
Cumberland. Berks, Northumberland, Danpbin and
Lebanon Counties It's length is thrtythree miles and
breadth twenty-eight. 92S square miles The gen
eral surface OF the county Is thai OF gently unduatng
plain interrupted by few abrupt elevations. Toe
south mountain. here known the COnewago Hills.
forms the northern boundary TO that succeeds broad
belt OF red shaIe and sandstone. South Of this, and
occupying the central township, Is wide tract VI the
finest limestone lands. few high sandstone ridges
Chiques Ridge and the Welsh MOuntaDsare protruded
through the limestone. Another broken sandstone
range, composed OF Mine Ridge, Martiek Hills and
Turkey HILL crosses south Of the limestone, and the
southern portion Of the county is principally composed
Of primitive talc-sate producing rather sterile SOIL
The value OF the farms Is reckoned to be SIO7Z4SO5
The annual agricultural products valued az &c.,
O6I722. In 1870 the value Of the manufactures was
$14034,190.
The county particularly rich In minerals 1t was the
first county produce iron for the American Colonies
works being established about 1925. The iron business
Is still very extensively carried on, and the numerous
beds OF iron ore are still yielding, and to be mex
haustbe. The copper mines near the Cap which were
discovered in 1873, are now yielding 1000 tons OF
nickel ore per annum the United States Mint receiving
its supply from this An extensive lead mine Is
pafa N
there are large Of magnesite which Is extensively
manufactured into supnate OF magnesia from which
1,9OOO pounds OF epson salts are manufactured an
nuay Chrome is found Fulton Township, granite is
auarried worry extensively Falmouth, and slate on
the susquehanna River
The population OF county in 1870 was 121 $40 be-
ing nearly one hundred aud thirtyOne persons 20 the
square mile 1t is mainly composed OF persons known
as The Pennsylvania Dutch VINO the descendants OF
MennOnsts or German Baptsts, MoraVians, Schwenek-
folders, and Dunkers, or Seventh Day BaPtlsts,
who fed TO this country from the upper parts
OF Germany to avoid persecution during the sew
enteenth and eighteenth centuries The MennOnists
derived their namo from Memo SimOnis, VINO Was
born in Fresland in 1905 In 1887 having been pre-
viousy Catholic he united with the Baptists Afew
years previous his union with them the sect had been
led away by Zeal Into the most fanaea excuses al
Minister Memo collected the most sober minded aud
formed independent church under the name OF hel-
nonsls, or MennOntes They profess 70 derive their
creed directly from Scriptures and TO follow In their
organization aud social intercourse the peeniartes OF
800 Primitive Apostolic Church. simonis died in 1861
After his death his followers became divided, aud Il
would require dictionary by Itself 10 trace the ETY.
OOgy their and the Decuaties OF their doe
tlnes They opposed 20 she baptism OF infants, hold
ing only the baptism OF adults They refuse TO bear
arms or hold office, and viii not take Oaths OF go to law
with one another. Disputes between members are adj
I,v fltraa
Their preachers are selected by lot previous educa
ton for the Office required, is any compensation
allowed They originally discouraged and despised ed
ucation but of late years their views this respect have
greatly changed.
The AymIsh or omish are a sect Of the Mennonsts
VINO profess TO Follow rgidy the primitive customs
Of the Apostolic Church. Taey derive their name from
Aymen their founder. They.neyer shave, and reject all
supeuties In dress diet and property. The men wear
earrings and salute each other with kiss when they
meet Like the Mennonists, they wear peculiar style
ofdress which makes the boys look Ike miniature men,
Although they originally all settled in Lancaster County,
they have spread Into Maryland, and throughout the
West II Is estimated that there at the present day
100000 OF them In this country They are much liked
wherever they SETTLE their habit Of ex
ciuslyeness
Tne OF Dunkers was organized IN 17Os by Alexans
der Mack and seven others IN Schwurdzenam, Germany
The name given the society was Dunkers or First Day
BefaecuLeu
portance they we're driven into Holland, some 10
Creyfels in the Duchy OF Cloves The mother church
voluntarily removed TO Anterior IN l1l9, the majority oil
tBe members settling IN Lancaster C0uny Ine{ receive
laws for cnurch government They 40 not admit the
nor allow one ot or little TO DE added rejected In tho
administration OF the ordinances They believe in the
DIVINITY OF CnrIst aud in the Trinity OF the Godaead
bath They celebrate the Lords supper nc night wash
ing az tho same time otners 1eeL Ceioacy they
consider virtue but do not require IT. Formerly they
held all their property IN common the income oelonsing
exclusively 10 the single brethren ana sisters.
Although nearly two centuries have elapsed since the
MenuOnlsts aud Dunkers emlgrated to tins country,
their descendants still adhere 10 the manners aud Gus
toms OF their ancestors aud do not become American
lied as do most foreigners. Dutch Is the language
spoken IN all Of the families and many adults born In
thus country do not understand the English language.
This is aned by fact that they rarely associate
with any persons except OF their Sect Their
language is corruption OF the German language Is
known as Pennsylvania Dutch aud is not Ineligible
20 q European German. IL is common 20 hDd colored
persons, VINO nave been raised among theu VINO talk
Dutch nnently Ihey laDor eary anu iate ~ -
unusual during tho harvest season. Tor them 10 wOrK
from a. m TO 3 p IN, and such work as spreading
lime ana husking corn is frequently doe at night after
days work. Tney refuse 90 attend market unless
after returning home. seyenty-hye per cent OF the
worked by their owners the members OF tne
ono OF great activity Tue farmers wives aud daughters
barcfooted wearing short gowns, frequently assist
Breakfast taken rising, aud at o'clock snack"
or lunch is carried to fields by the rls Dinner Is
eaten at u O'clock Rt p. another snack Is taken
the eds ana at dusk supper eaten. The provision
furnished OF the very best and OF great abundance
The farms are small aud would be considered mere
patch In parts Of the Union. have known per
soma to grow rich sixty acres. and 100 con-
sidored aiar-slzed farm. 10 lind q farm containing
more than 200 acres is something rare They
rule well watered, and laid OF in fields about ten
acres In oxtent and farmed with mnch is
given in some parts of the country vegetable garden
The soil very productive and fertilizers used
except barnyard manure and lme-many Of the farms
having limestone Quarrtes them rotation OF crops
is system pursued and each field bears crop each