Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-20
AMONG THE DUNKERS.
The Curious Habit of u Very Queer Peo]

AMONG THE DUNKERS.
The Curious Habit of a Very Queer People
On any Saturday, says correspondent
OF the New York San. a visitor to the
larger towns in Mifflin, Snyder Or Hunt.
ington counties, in the interior of Penn.
sylvania, meets strangely dressed parties
of men and women. While the writer
was wandering aimlessly along the rag.
ged main street of Lewistown, in Mifflin
county, few days ago, there suddenly
appeared ahead Of him two gaunt, tall
men, in homespun of peculiar color
their fine brown hair half waving and
half in curls, reaching below their should
ers from beneath great felt hats, like
those of the priests of Mexico and certain
parts OF Spain wear, but with the brims
at liberty, instead Of being caught up to
the crowns. Suddenly they stopped,
shook hands solemnly, kissed each other
resounding smack, and went separate
ways. Before an explanation could be
sought a beautiful and fleet-footed horse
trotted down the street before a light
wagon, containing two men Of even
stranger mein. These also kissed each
other, when one alighted from the vehi.
Gle. They were round and ruddy-faced
and possessed of double chins and twink.
lug black eyes. Their garments were
as peculiar as those of the gaunt and SOL
emn pedestrians. Both wore hats alike
except that the jolly looking fat men had
broader brims and lower crowns to theirs
Coats like theirs are seen only in pictures
of Russian everyday life. They began
with close, military sort of collar, and
depended almost to the ground, having
for the first half tight fitting bodice,
and for a termination a long frock like a
feminine skirt. Not a button held these
garments in place; instead, hooks and
eyes were used.
The lean and hungry osculators were
"Dunkers" and the heavier pair were
"Omush." The visitor drove over next
day to the nearest Bunker settlement
in time to see the quaint people in their
homes, but to late for church.
Maitland, the Bunker settlement, lies
just off the Pennsylvania railroads main
line, deep down among the iron -freighted
hills that wall apart the Juniata and the
fertile Kishacoquillis valleys. The little
hamlet looks unreal-at any rate IMAM
erlcan- 1t is so scrupulously white and
neat, and seems to possess so many open
houses and so few locked doors. A cider
mill, :. saw -mill, and another large build
ing stood open, although the road was
close at hand, and any one might easily
walk off with it's mercantile and manufac-
turing interests.
The door of the Bunker church stood
open, and one of the six ministers of the
parish invited his guests to enter. From
him, from observation, and from inter.
views with Others, the following infor.
nation was obtained:
The Dunkers will not take an oath
and are not allowed to hold office
although where they comprise nearly ali
OF the population of settlement they
perform agreeable duties, like those OF
an overseer Of the poor. One of the
preachers naively suggested that the
government did not miss the Dunkers
from it's council fires, as Americans have
not all got similar computations against
office holding. They do not fight or en-.
gage In war They do not sue or appeal
to the courts for any sort of legal settle
ment; that can be arranged by the church
1t one brother owes another and canno
pay, all the brethren sustain equal shares
of the debt and wipe it out. If {
brother does not pay, but can do so
first one, then three, then all thu
brethren labor with him, and if he i.
still stubborn they cast him out of thu
church. This seldom fails to bring thu
sinner to his senses. The same course il
pursued when bunker ofends in an,
way; but such cases are very rare. If {
brother fails or desires to start in bust
ness, all the brethren club together ant
set him on his feet. They do this thre,
times. If he does not then succeed the,
consider him no longer worthy of help
and he has to look out for himself. The,
are severe upon liars and dishonest per
sons, and profess to have hardly any i,
their ranks. Their condemnation fall
upon outsiders, also, in this respect, ant
the tradesman who cheats one bunker
hunned by all forever afterwards. The,
are kind-hearted and hospitable, and ar
.cheerfully obedient to the law that com
pels them to lodge and feed and cloth
whoever calls upon them for assistance.
"But tramps are pretty plenty here
What do you do with them?' the visito
asked Of a Bunker.
owe take 'em in, said he, 'but we ge
fearfully imposed on. Day before yes
terday a tramp called just as we were a
supper. gave him place at the table
l could have sent him to the county
house for his lodging, but didn't lik
to, and he didn't stir; SO I gave him
bed and his breakfast in the morning
Soon afterwards an impudent, half. tips,
tramp came along. He had been sent, a
many are, to enjoy our hospitality. H
wanted mes to point out a bunker t
him. I might have sent him to neigh
Dor, but that would not have been right
so told him was one. Then trot on
pair OF boots said the tramp, and h
showed me that his left boot was abso
lutely worthless. His right boot wa
sound. | happened to have good LET
boot, and so l gave it to him. It was Q
more good to him than to me.''
You do not fight, but you are stron
and human; suppose some one, struc
you"
~ cannot say what would d." ar