The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-10
PENNSYLVANIA'S DUNKERS.
THE QUEER HABITS AND QUEER DRESS
OF A VERY QUEER PEOPLE

On any Saturday a visitor TO the larger
towns in Miflin. Snyder or Huntington counties.
IN the interior OF Pennsylvania meets strangely
dressed parties OF men and women. While the
writer was wandering ainlessly along the
ragged main street OF Lewistown. in Mifflin
County. few days ago there suddenly APP
peared ahead OF him two gaunt. tall men. in
bomespun OF a peculiar color their fine brown
hair half waving and half in curs. reaching
below their shoulders from beneath great felt
hats like those that the priests of Mexico and
certain parts Of Spain wear but with the brims
at liberty instead OF being caught up to tho
crowns. Suddenly they stopped. shook hands
solemnly. kissed each other resounding
smack, and went separate ways. Before an ex-
planation could be sought, a beautiful and fleet
footed horse trotted down the street before
light wagon. containing two mon OF even
stranger micn. These also kissed each other.
when one alighted from the vehicle They
we're round and ruddy-faced. and possessed Of
double chins and twnkling black eyes Their
garments were rs peculiar as those OF the gaunt
and solemn pedestrians. Both wore hats alike
except that the Iolly-ookng fat men had
broader brlms and lower crowns TO theirs.
Coats like theirs are seen only in pictures Of
Russian every day life. They began with
close. military sort OF collar. and depended
almost to the ground having for the first half
tight.fttlng bodice. and for the termination
long frock like feminine skirt. Not button
held these garments in place: instead. hooks
and eyes were used
The lean and hungry osculators wero Dunk
ers." and the heavier pair were "Omish."
The visitor next day drove over to the nearest
bunker settlement in time to SEQ the quaint
people in their homes. but too 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 kishacoquilis
valleys. The little hamlet looks unreal-at any
rate un-American-it Is so scrupulously white
and neat and seems TO possess so many open
houses and so few locked doors. A cider mill
4 sawmill and another large building stood
aud any one might easily walk off with its mer-
camille and manufacturing interests.
The door Of the bunker church stood open.
and one OF the six ministers of the parish in
vited his guest TO enter From him from OBJ
seryation. and from interviews with others the
following Information was obtained:
The pu1k 9 Will not take S an oath and
where they comprise nearly all Of the popu-
lation OF a settlement they perform agree
able duties Ike those OF an overseer OF the
poor. One OF the preachers naively suggested
that the Government did not miss the Dunkers
from its council fires. as Americans have not all
got similar computations against ofilcuholding
They do not fight or engage in war. They do
not sue or appeal to the courts for any sort Of
legal settlements that can be arranged by the
not pay. all the brethren sustain equal shares OF
the debt and wipe II out. II a brother does not
pay but can do so. first one then three. then all
the brethren labor with him. and IL he IL still
stubborn they cast him out OF the church. This
seldom fails to bri ng the sinner to his senses.
The same course Is pursued when a bunker
onends in anv other way: but such cases are
very rare. II a brother fails or desires 10 start
in business. all the brethren club together and
set him on his feet. They do this three times
II he does not then succeed they consider him
no longer worthy OF help. and he has to look
a N "A
dishonest persons. and profess TO have hardly
any in their ranks. Their condemnation falls
upon outsiders, also in this respect. and the
tradesman who cheats one bunker is Stunned
by all forever afterward. They are kind-hearted
and hospitable. and are cheeriully obedient to
the law that compels them to lodge and feed
and clothe whoever calls upon them for assist
But tramps are pretty plenty here. What
do you do with them? ?" the visitor asked Of a
I'VE take 'em In" said he; =" but We get fear
fully imposed on Day before yesterday a
tramp called Just we were at supper / gave
20 the county house for his lodging. but DIDN'T
like 70. and he didn't stir so gave him b ID
ward an impudent halt-tipsy tramp came
along. He had been sent Ms many are to en-
JOY. our hospitality. He wanted me to point out
bunker TO him. might have sent him 10 n
neighbor. but that would not have been right ;
SO told him was one. Then, trot out a pair
of boots, said the tramp, and he showed me
that his left boot was absolutely worthless. His
right boot was sound. l happened TO have u
good loft boot, and so gave il! TO him. 1t was Of
You DO not fight. but you are strong, and
human; suppose some one struck YOU
cannot say what would do" answered the
Dunker that has never occurred"
You do not sue to recover money; suppose
ing you with your peaceful disposition and re-
Il fear should be Obliged to sue in such a
cnse," the bunker gravely replied.
You do not wear gold. l am told but how
about gold watch, or are watches forbidden -
No. watches are necessary. and as a bunker
usually buys the best OF what he uses sup
pose II gold watch was believed TO be better
than asilYer one it Mould be ppr.
exhibited II. II had no guard or chain.
bunker services are interesting The church
edhce Is invariably simple. barnlike struc-
ture. white. with drab shutters without and fit
ted with plain pine benches and Kerosene lamps
the middle benches; outsiders are seated at the
sides. where the benches face the centre and are
raised one row above the other, as in theatre.
and draws no salary. He is chosen Tor his
piety eloquence. and intelligence. from among
his brethren, and. as there are many at each
central church. one remains each sunday while
the others are sent about the country 10 what
other worshlppers would call missions" The
church pays the expenses OF these preachers
while they are at work. The bunker men are
all seated together on one side Of the edfce. the
women are together opposite. The men are I'M
covered. because st. Paul said men should be
while at worship. The women wear linen caps
because Of the same authoritative suggestion
middle because the Saviour is SO represented.
For the same reason their boards are never
shaved They wear short frock coats. rounded
at the corners. because tho original emgrants
20 this country wore n similarly shaped gar
ment. and II 10 not fashionable to pay any atten-
ton to fashions. The women wear plain. tight
fitting dresses, and cover the fronts thereof with
white aprons They are nearly all pretty.
Our most serious trouble said preacher.
y was over the admission OF hoops; but while
We argued with the women about them they
went out OF fashion and were no longer desired.
The women had declared them 10 be necessary.
but this proved them TO be mere vain orna-
ments. You see. we adopt whatever We believe
10 useful. as we adopted buttons when they
were invented. although the Omish' have not
done 30 yet"
A bunker Sunday service is like Methodist
observance. except on communion Sundays
then the form observed Is truly novel. After
preaching. prayers, and song two deacons grid
themselves with towels. rs the Saviour once
did. and two others carry large tin basins OF
water Four women on the other side Of the
house act similarly. In groups OF half n dozen
the brethren and sisters advance to the front
bench, divest their feet OF shoes and stockings,
and those members are washed and dried by the
basin and towel bearers. The feet are clothed
again. the six men and women retire. and an
other group comes forward and receives
the same treatment. With the washing
and drying OF all the feet the cere-
mony ends. Then brethren and sisters assigned
10 the service descend TO the basement and pre-
pare tby the help OF well-hlled larder and a
roaring log fire. great basins OF beef soup and
platters OF boiled beef and sliced bread, and