New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-01
AMONG THE SHAKERS.
THE TWO FAMILIES AT CANAAN.

| SUPERIOR AGRICULTURE ON THE SHAKER FARMS
| ioCsEkEEPING AND MANUFACTURING-REA-
SUNS FOR THE STEADY NUMERICAL DECLINE or
THE sEcr-A FORLoRN HOPE OF A REVIVAL
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rptpuxrI
oANAAN, Columbia Co., N. Y. July 24-The
Uanaah shakers attend the church at Mount
oo''hoh' ana are closely associated with the pres
eii' community at that place. Their two families
arc hoe as Old, however, having been established
III oiy ABOUT hfty years. These families number
ABOUT thrty members each, and although prosper
GUS SNOW none of the signs of wealth which the
Lebanonites display in their substantial dwell;nco
anu "oihshops, their big barns, their reservoirs hos
pi' anu gas works. The structures here are simply
exaggerated farm buildings, but the small size of
no'ooic'ieS seems 20 operate to make their MEM
"erS more sociable and their domestic life more
homeiike than those of the big communities Tho
upper familys lands ndoin those of the South Fam
lily OF Mount Lebanon and are boundod ON th
south by the small domain Of the Lower Family
whose snug house nestles in valley near the shores
OF pretty little Lake Queechy / am the puest TO-
night OF the Upper Family but have visited the bretb
rehdoWh by the lake for short time and been shown
over thelr premises with great kindness Whom
you go TO Shaker community You see the Elder
and the Eldress, who are attentive and bosnitablo
and moderately laxative if you do not ask foo
many Questions Without exception they are men
anu women OF superior minds. They do not care
much about things and events in the outside yor Id
ouo tI" ny no means Ignorant of what is going on
anu III, II you guide the conversation any ground of
piliioSophy' religion or morals, you find them al
ways interesting One of the Elders here has n
magnihcent physique and head that would DELIGHT
painter IN search of model for Saint
faui. Most of the brethren thouob
look top-heavy and deficient in back brain. visi
tor sees little of the rank and file of the order not
that they are kept aloof by any rule but they are
too busy to chat. Only the Elders and Elderesses
In 10 tl,o;,
"mie 10 entertain strangers. Sometimes after SUD-
per- nave intercepted lay brother on his way to
the Darn or dairy and been rewarded by the net re-
suits OF what may have been months of deep
Thought on some of tho problems of humanity.
Inc oaik Oh the Shakers is curiously sententous
IKE that OF all secluded, reflective people. 1t
abounds In apt Bible quotations On religious topcs
there is much more OF berality than | expected to
ma. Indeed, there Is nothing of the bigot about
them. Perhaps there years ago i'm the early
days OF the Sect but the beralizing tendencies of
the times have invaded their isolated retreats and
made them as tolerant the most intelligent of the
christian sects In fact, there many differences
OF opinion among themselves on doctrinal points
put they dispute about them less and less and lay
more and more stress the Importance of right
living.
Inc OASIS OF Shaker morals is asceticism. The
great virtue in their eyes is selfdenial. Most of
their quaint original hymns are full of the praise of
selfsacrice. The first and greatest of all sacrifices
they require is that of the passion of love- with the
family ties and joys it brings. Next the ambition
for separate property must be abandoned and then
the desire for beauty in dress and furniture and for
stmulants and Injuries in food and drink No
brother Shaker shakes hands with n sister Shaker
lest 1T should awaken the affectionate nature No
shakeress dare adorn her hair dress with the
commonest garden flower. There are no pictures in
the nails OF the Shaker houses and ornaments of
any kind can be found IN them They use no mn
steal instruments and engage in no diversions
save their religious songs and dances. 1t is needless
to add that they are not cheerful people never
theless their mild demeanor, their unfaling polite
ness and their genuine frendliness make their COM
pany very pleasant They address each other as
brother or sister, adding the first name, and give
no other titles save to the Elders. People who do
not belong 10 their order given the cognomen of
friend in introductions and ordinary discourse
They do not, like the Qnalers use the prononn thee
but they invariably say yea and nay for yes and no.
pronouncing the yea as If spelled gee. Their polite
ness is admirable The highest church dignitaries
thank the humblest members for the most ordinary
services, and their Thank you, Brother Joseph"
or Thank you, Sister Mary" is said in such sweet
and winning tones that the phrase never seems an
empty FORM Every brother has a sister specially
assigned tolook after his clothes, do his mending
sew on his buttons. and inform the Eldress when he
needs new garment. Some of the Shakers who
theorize about the finer features of their faith say
that there should exist between these two a special
spiritual affinity, but this does seem to be the
case i'll practice. Probably sister would be more
likely to be drawn in spirit toward some brother
whose old stockings she did not have to darn.
The agriculture of the Shakers is remarkably
thorough, intelligent and systematic They care
fully feed the land with manures remove all stones
stumps and weeds from the fields house their crops
WELL improve their breeds of CATTLE and provide
warm stalls for their stock in winter, There is
nothing shabby or stingy about their farm build
ings, and they never try to money by stinting
their animals in feed. l wish every farmer reader
of THE TRIBUNE could sec the barns, sheds,
hen-houses, manure vaults and dairy belongings
to the North Family at Mount Lebanon,
which / explored yesterday. Everywhere are
cleanliness, system, and the best modern
conveniences and appliances. In the big hay barn
eight teams unload at once. In the cattle
stable below the arrangements for labor-saving in
feeding. watering and handling manure excel
lent Warm water slightly salted is given the cows
in winter to increase the yield of milk. In the dairy
the tall cylindrical mlk-cans submerged in watts
OF running spring water and after twenty-four
hours they removed, and the milk drawn off by
spgots at the bottom Of the cans leaving the cream
which is poured out from the top, thus saving the
work of Summing.
The Shakers produce such good results in their |
farming by having intelligent direction and by be-
ing able to throw large force of men upon any |
kind of work that needs attention. This is the |
great advantage of cooperative farming. The most
pressing work be promptly disposed of, and the
force transferred to the next in order Thus
the ploughing sowing, planting, hoeing and
reaping arc done speedily and at exactly