Smyrna times., 1879-10-01
The Shakers Of Canterbury.
'HEY 10 NuT MARRY THEIR FEACEFII. FARM
LIFE: THE ~ISTEi,S AND THE ELpEEs:
CONYEES ALTON WITH ELDER
KAMES: THE MOON
CN THE HILLS.


editor of The New York Gisrrr:
Some seven or eight miles south of me,
and in full view from the hilltop on which
our farm and farmhouse rcposc, is the
Shaker Village in Canterbury, ~ H. We
drove over there Yesterday 80 much ro.
nance, sentImpnt and poetry have been
Invested IN these Shaker communIti-s. that
cne is hardly prepared for the hard, pIacti
cal work away communities they are, when
he comes to see them. They ar. related
- the lpervshes Of Turkey, the Monks of
Italy and the Saints of the D,ser.. One
touch Of madness makes them all akin:
the buudrr that 10 be outside of duty is
doing il: that God is pleased with those
who shirk his preccpts, and set u their
own vasp.irs n place OF his will. Free.
man, the Iocaset Adventist, slew his little
daughter under 4 mistaken idea of duty
! the Shakers sacrifice the husband, wife,
/ father and mother, under an error as wild
alI as fatal as the fanatic of cape Cod has
made. But this is not telling you what we
saw and heard
Shaker Villages are substantially alike.
\ lew large, bayn-lIlle houses, pierced with
many windows and few doors a meeting.
house, shops, and barns for the crops and
cattle, all near together, no ornaments, no
architectural taste, nothing to please or to
offend the eye, but rigid lines. perfect
cleanliness and order, these are the prnci.
pal features of the settlements.
We drove up to 4 door over which was
tie sign "Trustce,' Office" cur party
WAS large, e,-fourtecn,-and We were look.
.ng for something like a hotel, tu. there
was nothing 10 be found more public
than this. We were welcomed at the door
by neatly att.rcd and prm Sister, who
pleasantly invited us in, and gave US seats,
in the reception room. Another Sister
Joined her both OF them bright, smiling
cheerful women, and, without waiting tC
be asked, they gave Us ice.water, and alsc
mint water, a pleasant beverage. Then
kind attentions, especially To the ladies o.
the party, were grateful in their simplicity
Presently Elder, Ei.un and kamcs entered
and gave Il, u cordial welcome. Then
cheerful, animated conversation, the III
trrcst they showed in the topics Of the day
and tHcjr lcadiLes- to make US acguliute,
with tuc.r uud- Of lie. won upon oar re
gard and w- felt that 81, were with friends
Elder H..un invited u, to walk throu.l
the VILLAGE, tnr hou>,- and barns. Most o
thr conn any followed ham in what IIoyc,
to be- I, pleasant ami entertaining. stroll
II v- stalls t"r tAt' COWS. winch "cIc ia til,
. urI >.uE.wJr at that hour, WEI" >crupu
.ou-iy ,irJu; ,ar miik-uaid-, mostly young
tid no. take hindiy to the exhibition. an,
rather hlI tAcir faces under cover OF tn
cos. lhr COWS knew their own stalls
over each Of which was the name Of it
Il tenant. Ihr school room was supple,
wi.h All modern Improvements, but schoo
was out toI the day. The shop, were model
OF ncatnc,- and convenience place TO
v everything, and everything in its plac,
being evidently the law Of the house
= Machinery and factories have chcapeneI
the production Of many articles which tn
Nh tkcrs once made, 50 that their line c
business IS much restricted. But they d
nothing which they do not intend to Il
we'll, and their work in the dairy. til
garden, the field or the house, is hOncstl
done and commands its price.
Elder Eames remained with me whil
the others surveyed the village, which
being as nearly like other Shaker village
as one pear - like another, was not TO nj
a novelty. our conversation ran along:
How many persons have you now
your community
y Filter h-About one hundred and fft,
Y In years past the number has been muc
y larger, as many as three hundred at on
time.
L. l''H your IuIllOcIS IdlIltI ulllllnlS
than increase. DC you have frequent a
cessions to your connection?
+ EHLr h.-Ncarly every month in Il
year persons come who wish to Join. B,
. they are mostly broken.down, disgustC
and discouraged people, who think it
sor: Of asylum for pIaycd.out Parties-thC
bsoon get tired Of it and pass on. We +
c,iyc none rs members until they sho
that they understand our principles al
intelligtutly adopt them. Even our ov
members are not restrained when tn,
insist upon going. If they have brous
property into the community, they a
pail what is Just if they leave, and no Of
is sent away empty.
L-IIow then are your members
cruitcd rs you do not marry, and sol
must die?
EHLrr K.-Childrcn are brought to us
their parents and guardians, and wa bri
them up IN our ways. When they ha
reached mature years, and are disposed
do 50, they Join by signing the covena
Tho boys are less inclined than girls
to fall in with us. Boys are moro restlt
ambitious and disposed to 90 into
world. Hence we always have mu
larger number Of women than of men
the Community.
I-You are a corporation, ] suppose,
that you can hold your property and peo
under law2
Elder h.-Nay, we are not Incorporate
our bond is a voluntary covenant by VIII
the management is confided to trustees,
u whose name the property is held, and
,ion business 4, done We have between Nh
'eay and four thousand acres Of land heres
s,ea farm in the State Of New YORK, VII
- we raise wheat and sell il, and we buy
-four here, for tkss is not wfleatgroN
region. We havs no trouble from a "
re III OF legal charter, and il il not the csa,
of Dur people to put themselves intos b
4, q ishation ia tile State.
~ I-You have a poxt roftice under