Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-09


contented and happy. It was said that
'the meeting was shortly to have been
held at his house, and that because he did
not feel good enough to preach he pre-
ferred death rather than hypocrisy and de-
ception. Others say that he was out Of his
mind.
When all the friends had arrived at the
meeting they left the house and went to
the orchard, the men carrying tho chairs
and seats after them. The women left
their bonnets and shawls inside. They
never wear coats. A seedy-looking tramp
passed along the road, and was at once
invited to seat in the shade. This is an
invariable practice. The congregation
sang a familiar long metre hymn, but in
an exceedingly low tone. Their singing
was as subdued as their manner and dress.
The subject of the farmers remarks was
kindness-not only kindness to fellow men
and to family, but kindness to the beasts
of the field, fowls of the air, and TO every
thing that lives. He spoke against the
wanton destruction of anything that na-
ture has caused to spring up for the benefit
of men. "We should even be kind to the
crow" said he. He took strong ground
against fishing and cunning for the mere
sport of it.
At the end of tho talk a simple marriage
service was performed by the speaker, who
united bashful young Amish man and a
modest Amish maiden. All that distin-
ruished the bride from the rest of the
women in the matter of dress was her
white silk kerchief. Any Amish farmer in
good standing in the society is authorized
to marry Amish people in the presence Of
witnesses. When the marriage was con-
cluded there followed quiet congratula-
ton. The entire asscmblage were then
invited to the farm house to partake of
refreshment. This is done after every
meeting. At each plate is a knife and .
cup. No forks or saucers arc to be seen,
either at meeting feasts or at funeral
meals, which are another custom of the
Amish. At the meeting meal which at
tended they served splendid white bread,
rich golden butter, milk, water, or coffee,
roast veal, cold dishes, pickles, pie and
cake. Tho meat had been cut in small
pieces and was raised to the mouth with
the fingers. Coffee was slipped and knives
were used only to butter the bread.
Men, women and children, all in the
family, attend these meetings. No one is
left behind to take care of the farm but
Whenever poor Amishman comes along
and wants employment he is not hired,
but assisted into some kind of business
for himself. Nearly every Amish farmer
of large means has tenant house or two
on his place. Any poor Amish family in
good standing that may pass that way arc
privileged to move in, rent free. and to
remain there until they can help them
cc1uoc II fnn InlYSac r,nt fha
neighbors, not Amish people, are privi-
legged to use them for Sunday school pur-
poses.
1t was late in the day when We returned
from the meeting. had heard very little
interesting matter discussed. Farm topics
and domestic subjects were about all that
were spoken Of Very little if anything
was referred to that is now interesting the
outside world. They were intensely inter
ested, however, in the recovery Of the
president, of whose attempted assas.ina-
tiun they wcrc thoroughly informed. The
Amish pay very little attention to the Or
binary run of the days news. They read
very few if any secular papers. Occasion
ally 4 home weekly is met with among
them. They are well informed on the
markets, and generally have ono place to
sell their farm products. An Amishman' 5
word is as good rs his bond. That is the
rule that guides them in III! their business
relations with each other. They never 90
to law. Occasionally, however, they are
forced into it by their business dealings
with outsiders, but only after all other
peaceful efforts have failed. They do no t
marry outside of their own sect, and are
very strict in this matter. The horses
that an Amishman intends to use on Sun
day arc never worked on Saturday.
Last evening there was a committee
meeting at this farm house. Six sturdy
Amishmcn reined in their horses about
dusk and met my host in i back room.
They met to investigate not only the finan-
cial standing Of member of their circle,
but certain charges Of dishonesty. Thus
are all internal Irregularities secretly and
quickly cleared up by the committee. 1t
was only by chance that l learned the
cause of the meeting. innOcently asked
my host, and, not to be rude, he gave me
some sort of an answer which left me to
infer what is written above. A complaint
is quietly made by the person aggrieved,
the accused and accuser are summoned
face to face, statements are made. and the
committee renders Judgment. This is
done only in extreme cases, for tho Amish-
men generally settle their disputes among
themselves without resOrting to the com
mittce. Sometimes they are baseiy de-
ceived. Not long ago an Amish farmer
defrauded his brethren out of $50, 900 bor-
rowed money, and theu quilted the coun-
try. The losers took no steps to punish
the offender. They seemed to be concern
ed only in hushing up the scandal.
This morning my host called one of his
help and said to him edward, drive our
white COW Mary down to Widow PhGbe's,
aud tell her it is hers until she has no
more use for it," To me the Amishman
said that the widow up the road had lost
her COW by collie that morning, and that
she must have a COW. Should the widow
| die, the COW reverts to the former owner.
The Amish people try to live as nearly
right as they can, and they prefer to deal
as little as possible with the outside
world. While they are hospitable and kind
to strangers, they do not seek their soci-
ETY.. During my Sojourn among them was
not asked dozen questions upon the bus
mess, social or political affairs of the out
side world. They were. however, free to
| talk about religion, churches, orthodoxy,
and FREQ thought. Col. Ingersoll has
| no admirers among them because
they do not understand him. Visitors do
as the Amish do. We retire some.
times as early as 81, never later than 81.
We get up at 5. The visitor may walk OF
ride over tho farm a half hour, rest and
read until q, when the farmer ard his he,r
have completed their work, and breakfast
is served, invariably with prayer. There
is a lunch at 10, dinner at II, supper at s.,
sometimes at 6, moro work for an hour Or
SO. when comes the evening for smoking