Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-09
A WEEK AMONG THE AMISH
TRAITS OF THE PECULIAR PEOPLE
OFF THE CONEsTOGA VALLEY.

TRAITS OF THE PECULIAR rkOPLE
OF THE CONEsTOGA VALLEY.
Dress and Social CustoMs-Rich.
but Not Corrupted, and liv-
ing by tho Golden Kule.
Fairvilie, Lancaster county, Correspondence
New York sun.
Summerins among tho Anish is next
neighbor to absolute solitude. From the
metropolis to the quiet valley Of the Con-
estoga is like the change fror. tho clatter
of an elevated train to the rustic of the
waving corn The Amish people are
abundant in this section Of Pennsylvania.
They own fine farms, splendid teams OF
horses, great fat barns, and plain white
and yellow farm houses. Quakcrs are
generally regarded as the most quiet and
orderly people in the world. If there can
be a people more modest, reserved, unas-
suming, well behaved, and unOstentatious,
it is the Amish. They have no church,
no creed, no elaborate ritual, no ministry
and no meeting houses. Their religion is
based upon their teaching of tho Golden
Rule.
NV host this week has been a middle.
aged Amsh farmer who owns 3O5 acres Of
fine cultivated fields. The outside walls
of his stone house are plastered and white
washed. 1t is two stories, with a high
gabled and slingled roof. In front is a
broad piazza shaded by three venerable
willows. A spring of cool water is under
an apple tree yonder, while below some
distance is great barn five times the size
of the house, and finished in much better
style. That is the rule hereabouts. My
host is six feet tall, bread shOuldered, and
sun-browned. His black hair is long and
cut squarely Off at the neck. He wears a
black sOmbrcro-like wool nat most of the
time, but when the weather is extremely
hot Il wide trimmed, common hickory hat.
He raised the sheep that furnished the
Wool for his clothing. and fed the cattle
whose hide furnished the leather for his
boots. The Amish tailor makes the
clothes in the style now that was in use a
century ago. There are no changes in
fashion. and, despite the many temptations
to the contrary, hooks and eyes exclusive
ly perform the Office Of buttons.
A few days ago, sitting upon wide
open armed hickory rocker, on the piazza,
was told the story of the every day life
Of the Amish people. "TO-mOrrOw, said
the farmer. '' would like you to 60 with
us to meeting. Our people will come to-
gethcr Just ut the next farm house down
the road. You will be welcome, no mat
ter if you are from tho city. All are well
come with us. l just came up from the
farm Of one Of our friends, three miles
from here. Last week his barn was burn
ed, and VIC are building a new one for him.
Wo generally make good each others
losses Of that kind: Our friend has had
considerable trouble, and l pity him very
much.'
The farmer was suddenly called into the
house. | was surprised that he told me as
much as he did. The Amish talk very
little, and never refer to things irregular
l was sojourning here two weeks before l
heard of the scandal that was agitating
tho home circle of nearly every family in
the valley. An Amishman had pretty
dark-eyed daughter. Her apparel, like
that of her mother, was brown hOmespun,
made up in the most primitive style. She
was secretly courted by 4 young man who
was not Amish. and the young couple
eloped and were married. She was dis.
owned forever by her parents, and the most
indescribable anguish on the part Of the
old folks followed. There is no relentins,
no forgiveness no undOing of what has
been done.
Our journey to the meeting was in a
large . Amish buggy "a spring carriage
drawn by two powerful farm horses
The family consisted of himself aud wife
his invalid sister, and two little girls, his
children. Tho children were dressed in
the same style rs their mother. Theil
L. o,,I ,o,,,,l ac
were hidden in the deep recesscs Of little
black SCOOP bonnets made of pasteboart
covered with silk. Their gowns were o
were drawn Obliqucly over their shoulders
in several rows, to be heightened as the
girls grew taller. Their plain white mus
lin pantelets nearly reached their shoe top:
and their back hair was cOmbed up from
behind and arranged in 4 neat knot on
the top of the head. The Older female,
were dressed in the same way. except that
coat was of straight up and down pat
tern, very high at the neck no collar, M
buttons, and no trimmings. His vest also
was high, and without q collar, a long row
of hooks and eyes keeping it close up and
OuuIs hCdSufs ohty ITO uuSVnslOlOu "hIVo
muslin collar visible at the top. His
trousers were half tight and without
"spring."
Upon our arrival 1T tho farm house
where the meeting for this month is held,
long lines of buggies and carriages arc
seen near the barn. The stables and shed
ding are filled with the neighbors' horses
Outside the house everything is extremely
quiet, though within nearly every room il
filled with people. From all sections tbs
Amish have come. They are welcomed
and invited in, and SO arc We.
The farmer is the preacher, and wher-
ever the meeting is held, there the minis
ter is found. The talking is generally in
the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, but very
often also in English. A text is taken
from the Bible, and the farmer interprets
it as be thinks best. He has been giver
plenty Of time to prepare his discourse
When tho meeting closes the place for the
next meeting is at once named, and notice