The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-12-31
LIFE AMONG THE SHAKERS.
CLEANLINEss WITH, OR WITHOUT,
GODLINESS.


GOODNESS.
a Description OF the Queer People
Who Reside Among the Berkshire
Hills OF New York.
lF}'om the Ne,cs and Courier.]
In our nineteenth century we
find many singularities in modes of
worship which are hard to reconcile
with the spirit of the age.
For instance, the "Shakers," q
sect singular in the habits of life,
personal aspect, and form of worship
OF its members. We visited a
Shaker village in the summer among
the Berkshire Hills of New York,
and found one virtue at least per
fectly Observation-Disclosures. Of
''godliness"' we saw nothing. With
in mile Of the village we met a
lumbering vehicle proceeding at a
funeral rate, with two men and two
women sitting very erect and
looking exceedingly uncomfortable.
AS they approached, the curious
garments, the queerly cut hair Of
the men, and, above' all. to the
feminine taste, the outrageous and
unmistakable bonnet of the women,
proclaimed them undoubtedly s'Sha-
kers.". As we passed, the men gave
lis a sober, dignifed bow, which, 1
am sorry to say, we returned by a
rather curious gaze 'It's re-
markable fact" said our driver,
"thnt you never find one man and
one woman riding together. It's
elthor one man and two women, or
two mon and several women"
"Ihen they do not allow Airtations,
evidently, remarked young lady,
who certainly looked as if she was
not above such amusement. "Bless
your heart, no !" lie exclaimed, tho
men haven't nothing to do with the.
women" At the, entrance to the
..Shaker Village" fields of onions,
then going to seed, (for which these
people are noted,) and priin looking
apple orchards bordsred the road,
forming Il relief, howevea, ltU 'tfis
stiff, pinkish houses, the sbodas Of
the people. These dwellings" are
very large, built of stone nnI brick,
and generally of a pinkish color. :.
most Offensive to the eye OF the
fastidious. The ,non 1--we on one
sldo Of tho house and the women on
the other. As we wore anxious to
make a few purchases, as relics of
the place, we stopped at a store.
Ihe articles for sale were very
expensive, nearly all of them being
fancy, such ss baskets, boxos, fans,
&c. One thing attracted us strong
~, and that was a box of maple
sugar, which everybody said was
particularly we'll made by the
Shakers. All of us ate it until, as
Mark Twain would say, we loathed
the yer" sight of it,. It tasted like
a MKT ire Of brown sugar and
water, which to me was not very
appetizing. The store was pain
fully clean, not speck of dust to
be seen on the floor. ceiling or wall,
the latter being adorned by little
placards With directions for becom.-
ing good. Several of us were ad-
vised to invest in these, but we en-
dorsed the sentiments and dida't
buy. A Shakeress now came in and
asked if we would not like to 20
down to the dairy. The maple
sugar eaters welcomed that idea
gladly, thinking of a hospitable
invitation to partake of milk, &c.
Poor creatures they we're doomed
to disappointment. for we were not
allowed to touch nor taste. The
dairy was cleaner than the store, if
comparison be possible. Large
hospitable cheeses adorned tho
shelves and tables, creamy and
inviting in their appearance. Tall,
bright looking cans of cream and
milk rested on the floor, while
bright tin plates anl pans adorned
the walls. We pissed from the
dairy into tho laundry, and there,
ensconced in rocking chair, was
pretty young Shakeress. Now
there was a handsome young man
in our pwty, "a necessary append
age to all parties,) and by a strange
coincidence (such things happen
some times) he looked ct he.. and